CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After a very un-merry shopping season, stores are offering major sales after Christmas in the hope that customers with gift cards and returns will buy what's left of inventories.

"I got two pairs of jeans for about $40 and they would've cost me $100 if they were the regular price," shopper Alexus Creel said on Friday.

The Christmas Day paper looked a lot like a Thanksgiving paper, stuffed with ads from stores promising long hours and deep discounts. J.C. Penney's circular bragged of doorbusters beginning at 5:30 a.m. and 60 percent off. Macy's opened at 6 a.m. with discounts as big as 75 percent off. Old Navy and Kohl's even advertised on TV.

"I think the sales after Christmas are going to be very good," UNC-Charlotte professor of retail management Dr. Charles Bodkin predicted. He also warned, "I would be out the day after Christmas because at that point you are looking for inventory whether they have the size you want or the style you want. I mean things have really been shopped, so I would go early after Christmas."

Spending Pulse released its holiday season sales shopping estimate on Christmas Day predicting a drop between 5.5 and 8 percent. Figures still due from the International Council of Shopping Center are expected to show their holiday sales were off by 1.5 to 2 percent from a year ago. That would make it the worst season since 1969.

We'll get a full picture of shopping results when major retailers release their sales results Jan. 8.

After-Christmas Sales

J.C. Penney is offering 50 to 60 percent off private-label clothing for men and women, as well as 75 percent off Christmas decorations.

Target is offering up to 75 percent off on select clothing, furniture, electronics, holiday décor, and more. You can also save up to 50 to 70 percent on bath and bedding.

Sears has up to 75 percent off on electronics and 50 percent off on Craftsman tool storage chests. Kmart will add 40 percent off to clearance items, already marked down 30 percent.

Crate & Barrel has savings of up to 70 percent.

Starting on Saturday, Wal-Mart is slashing prices on electronic games, $60 savings on some HDTVs, and reduced prices on home and office products.

Other stores promoting special after-Christmas sales are Toys "R" Us, KB Toys, Barnes & Noble, Bath and Body Works, Circuit City and Kohls.

Deals and Coupons

For coupons, try www.dealio.com/after-christmas.html and www.cybermondaydiscountcodes.com.

For deals, check these sites:
•  Dealhack.com
•  Bradsdeals.com
•  Promotioncode.org
•  Slickdeals.net
•  Fatwallet.com

Mall Hours

SouthPark: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Northlake: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Carolina Place: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Concord Mills: 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Rock Hill Galleria: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.