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It’s not the carbon tax, David Jones. It’s you.

Amanda Yap

Fri Jul 15 2011

David Jones

INDIGNANT shoppers have bombarded David Jones’ Facebook page with angry comments after the Australian retail giant blamed the carbon tax for its poor sale performance.

David Jones chief executive Paul Zahra told The Age the Gillard government’s looming carbon tax had dampened consumer confidence.

“As far back as our records show, we haven’t seen these sort of declines in sales,” he told The Age.

The carbon tax is only set to be in effect starting July 1, 2012.

Disgruntled consumers have dominated David Jones’ Facebook Wall since mid-morning to vent their annoyance and announce their plans to boycott the retailer.

“Sorry to hear your sales woes are the result of carbon pricing… are you serious?? It hasn’t even been fully passed in Parliament yet – how can it possibly be affecting your sales?” one shopper said.

“The brand damage you’ll incur from this will make other retailers think twice before making such outrageous claims,” said another.

Other consumers said they stopped shopping at David Jones because its products were “marked too high” and staff were sometimes “rude and unhelpful”.

Most of the international students Meld Magazine asked said they wouldn’t shop at David Jones.

“Nope, I don’t shop much at David Jones because most of the stuff sold there are too expensive,” Rachel Tan, 20, said.

Jasmine Yap, 22, said she didn’t have the “excess budget to shop there”.

Nicola Robyn, 20, said she only shopped at David Jones “occasionally” because it was “sort of higher end”.

“I don’t really want to spend that sort of money on clothes or household items,” she said.

“David, where?” another student asked.

“I’m not very familiar with the place,” he said.

Do you shop at David Jones? Is the carbon tax to blame for its poor sales performance? Tell us in the comments section below.

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