Hanging out at the mall has never been so cool. It is not just the air-conditioning: It is more pleasant to wander around them nowadays, easier to get a parking lot, and what is more, there are bargains galore.

Shoppers are being wooed like never before with vouchers and super sales slashing prices of items such as clothing and shoes.

There is an extra reason to say 'time to go shopping': No GST. That is, in the case of department stores such as Robinsons and Marks & Spencer, which are absorbing the 7 per cent goods and services tax for a limited period of time.

The open-your-wallet moves come amid the economic downturn, which has made even the most diehard of Singapore's nation of shopaholics think twice about enjoying some retail therapy.

Hunkering down for bad times may seem the natural reaction.

But unless shoppers open their purse strings, their favourite retail hangouts face grim prospects, which is not good for the wider economy.

Big discounts and the most pleasant shopping experience that most Singaporeans will ever have experienced here - think hectares of room, peace and quiet, eager shop assistants - give even the most crowd-hating, carpark-queue-averse tightwad reason to venture out.

Marketing executive Marisa Tan, 22, says: 'It's great to shop now. There's no need to queue for the fitting room and the stocks don't run out as fast.'

Just how different is the scene from the shop-till-you-drop bustle?

LifeStyle checked out 18 shopping malls last weekend and during the week, and found more than the usual post-Chinese New Year quiet.

Normally crowded Raffles City, for example, was fairly quiet last Sunday. Most shops were empty or had only one or two shoppers in them.

The situation was similar over at The Centrepoint that same afternoon, with the rare sight of no crowds on its escalators.

It was the same at the heartland malls. Ang Mo Kio Hub was quiet on Wednesday and it was easy to find seats at its foodcourt even though it was lunch time.

At Junction 8 in Bishan on Tuesday evening, commuters walked through the mall from the MRT station to the bus interchange, rather than venturing into the shops.

Even at newly renovated Jurong Point last Saturday, there were crowds of window shoppers, but only a few inside the individual stores.

That may all change once word gets out about deals such as:

Robinsons' Shopper Relief Measures, which include free home delivery and absorbing GST on its items.

Isetan's post-Chinese New Year sale. Its Shaw Centre outlet is holding a sale on clothing labels such as Warehouse and Karen Millen, with items at 80 per cent off.

m)phosis sale. The local fashion label is cutting prices at its 13 stores by 50 to 70 per cent.

Wing Tai Holdings is absorbing GST across its fashion brands, such as Topshop, Fox and G2000, today and from Fridays to Sundays for the next two weekends.

Mall managers are doing their bit to help their retail tenants, too.

Ms Stephanie Ho, general manager for Asiamalls Management, says it is giving out shopping vouchers to encourage shoppers to spend at its malls, including Tiong Bahru Plaza, White Sands and Century Square.

She says: 'We encourage tenants to re-look their merchandise mix and offer value-priced products and services.'

Mrs Wendy Low, general manager of mall developer Frasers Centrepoint Malls, says some of its existing malls have been upgraded to provide a more attractive shopping ambience.

'Compass Point at Sengkang recently completed upgrading works and tenants such as Costa Spice Kopitiam and Metro have renovated their stores,' she says.

Retail expert Lynda Wee, who has a PhD in retail marketing, says the quickest way for malls to attract shoppers is to hold sales or themed fairs.

A mall can hold a Japanese fair, where shoppers can enjoy a cultural performance and buy Japanese merchandise.

'Or stage school performances, which will attract kids and their parents, and they will end up spending,' she suggests.

Some retailers are still enjoying rolling good times, though.

Local shoe company Charles & Keith continues to draw crowds. Group marketing and communications manager Lau Tse Ling says 'the economic crisis is unlikely to dampen business drastically because we provide the latest fashion at affordable prices'.

The label rolls out over 20 new shoe designs weekly, with prices around $40. 'We give shoppers something new each time they step in,' she adds.

Golf equipment distributor Pan-West held a warehouse sale last weekend which attracted about 3,000 people. Golf clubs and apparel were up to 75 per cent off. A spokesman says it made more than $500,000 in sales, 'more than our target'.

Supermarkets and F&B (food and beverage) outlets have also not felt the bite.

'Groceries and food are necessities so I'm not cutting back on them,' says housewife Leah Tan, 36. 'But I think twice about buying a bag that I don't really need.'

Bank officer Joyce Pan, 23, who was shopping at Ngee Ann City last Friday afternoon, says: 'I'll buy whatever I want at the moment if the price is right. I'm planning to spend less although I have not started cutting down.'

Sales executive Sharon Lim, 42, who bought Puma shoes for $145, down from $189, says: 'I'll definitely buy if there are sales.'

As stores go all out to woo shoppers, Singapore Retailers Association's executive director Lau Chuen Wei says: 'Those who have the ability to spend should continue to do so within their means and with discretion, but certainly without feeling guilty.'

Encouraging Singaporeans to spend the money in Singapore rather than overseas, she adds: 'This will contribute to our economy, to help businesses continue to have jobs for our own people, to ultimately ensure that you have places to go to to shop, to eat, to enjoy yourselves - to have a full and enriching life in Singapore.'

Additional reporting by Fiona Low, Rachael Boon and Natasha Ann Zachariah

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.