Although the streets and malls were, at intervals, overflowing with shoppers in the last two days before Christmas Day, several merchants told the Sunday Observer on Christmas Eve that the bulk of their sales were low-end goods, the prices of which varied according to the type of commodity but which, in many cases, were under $5,000.

In the hotel district, a jewel retailer said that although his store catered to the high-end market, the less expensive items were the ones mostly being sold.

“They are buying low-end items in the high-end market,” said the man who declined to be named.

At Specialist Jewellers, located across town on King Street, Charmaine McKoy said that not only did more people shop at her store last year, but that the products they bought then were more expensive that those purchased this year. This Christmas, she said, people were, for the most part, selecting small appliances valued anywhere between $1,000 and $9,000 such as toaster ovens and cake mixers as gifts and were staying away from more pricey goods such as flat screen televisions and refrigerators.

“Although there is a crisis, people are still shopping but not as much as last year. The gifts they buy are mostly low-end. Very [much so],” she said.

In Ammar’s, Leona Murray observed a similar trend in the type of gifts her customers were choosing. Most of the clothes bought, she said, valued under $1,000.

“It’s been mainly low-end but there is still a cross-section because there are still people who go high-end, although they went more all out last year. Now, they buy for example, a non name-brand shirt and a pair of socks or a handkerchief to compliment it rather than a very expensive shirt,” she said.

Even those who bought books this Christmas exercised thrift and went for the less expensive titles, which at one particular store, ranged between $500 and $600.

“There are still customers who do high-end purchases… but in general they are buying more low-end books,” said the manager at a popular book store chain in New Kingston.

“If it used to be the case that they bought one high-end book, now they get two low-end ones, which still wouldn’t push the value up to the high-end cost, but still…,” he said, pointing out that books classified as high-end fetched between $5,000 and $6,000.

In spite of that, however, shoppers on the streets of Kingston told the Sunday Observer that although they would prefer expensive gifts for Christmas, they would appreciate less expensive ones on the basis that the thought was more valuable.

“I would like a flat screen TV which cost between $80,000 and $100,000 but realistically, I’m expecting jewellery,” said Cameel Francis.

A man who gave his name only as Tony, said he wouldn’t mind if his gift were a pair of socks and a handkerchief because “it’s the thought that counts”.

Nyoka, who was out shopping with friends Jennifer and Stacey, shared her wish list with the Sunday Observer. “I would like a blender, an iron and a microwave from my friends, but on a relationship basis, I would like jewellery or perfume, even if it not expensive,” she said.

“It don’t matter what I get, a gift is a gift,” Jennifer chimed in.

Added Stacey: “And even if him don’t give mi any gift mi love him same way.”