consumer purchases, visitors and local shoppers said yesterday.

Claiming little or no prior knowledge of the post-Christmas sales which began in the city yesterday, several visitors said it was the rain more than anything else which led them to the shops.

And many said that something should be done to make shopping available to visitors here for just the Christmas holiday.

However, yesterday's torrential rain provided an unexpected boost for shop owners as droves of potential buyers bombarded stores in pursuit of bargains.

"We came out in search of sales but if it had been sunny we probably would have been on the golf course,'' said the Stamper family. "We're from Canada and we thought there would be sales here as there are there -- it's the British tradition. But there should have been more signs up. We didn't really see any advertisements at all.'' Mrs. Simone Waystack from Boston agreed. "I was here two years ago and so I knew that after the holiday there would be sales. But it was only because of that that I had any idea.'' Said Mr. and Mrs. James Miller of Pennsylvania, here on their 15th trip: "We have seen nothing in the newspapers (about sales) whereas in the US, we could spend hours at a time just looking at all the sale advertisements. We primarily bought Christmas decorations to take back. But we haven't really seen what we would consider a great markdown in clothing.'' Mr. and Mrs. Miller also complained that shopping was not available to those visitors who arrived Christmas Eve and left yesterday.

"Fortunately at the Southampton Princess a few stores were open, but many guests had no idea that everything would be closed up. Many people who came here for just the Christmas holiday couldn't shop at all during that period.'' Local resident, Mrs. Edith Durrant said some of the advertisements which appeared in the newspaper were misleading.

"I didn't see any advertisements before today,'' she said. "And in many of those in the paper, the ads do not indicate when the sales will start so I'm sure many people have just assumed they begin today. It seems they're just putting out their stuff today for sales that are due to start tomorrow.'' Retailers explained yesterday that locals were aware that their post-Christmas sales are held on an annual basis.

Mr. Andrew Trimingham of Trimingham Bros. on Front Street said that his store was always well patronised during its sales.

"But even now, there's not a great floating population willing to work on Boxing Day or any other public holiday. We would have to spend money to stay open any extra length of time and we would not get back any more than we would otherwise. It's very expensive and not at all practical. It would only raise the prices on everything.'' Agreed Mr. Henry Vesey, president of H. A. & E. Smith Ltd.: "It's most unfortunate for hotel guests but in other countries, I know especially in the US, people can find plenty of labour to work because of shifts in the retail industry. But in Bermuda, because of the type of labour market we have, it's more difficult. I don't know that there's much we can do about it. Next year will be worse with Christmas Day and Boxing Day falling on a Saturday and Sunday -- it means more time for the shops to be closed.

"We also have to consider the staff to some degree. You can't expect them to stay away from their families. Hotels could tell their guests of Bermuda's customs.'' Managing director of A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd., Mr. Peter Cooper said that his store, which began its annual sale yesterday, was full of both visitors and locals.

"The fact that it was a rainy day helped a lot,'' he agreed.