Making my list and checking it twice…

December 22nd, 2009

Can you believe it? I’m making another shopping list!  But this one contains all the items I’m planning to wait for, because I believe I can save the most if I buy them after the holidays.

Most after-holiday deals will start the day after Christmas, though some retailers may even feature Christmas Day online ads. The stores will be crowded during the last week of December, filled with customers who are making exchanges and returns. So if you want to miss the crowds, you can wait until January, or shop online. I plan to do both.

Here are the general categories where I expect to find the best bargains:

• Overstocked Items - Usually these are surplus unsold stock new in the box that become featured items to lure shoppers into the store after the holidays, hopefully inducing them to buy other items while they’re there.
• Last Year’s Models – Retailers are clearing out inventory to make room for new deliveries.
• Exchanges and Returns – These generate inventory in the days after Christmas that have to be liquidated to make room for more merchandise. Look for those on clearance in January. A reminder, be extra vigilant with this group of merchandise, inspecting it carefully because it has left the store and may now be incomplete.
• Display Items – Once the stock is cleared out, the display models will also be sold.  The problem here is that there is probably no original box or paperwork, manuals, or warranty cards.  You might ask for an additional discount if these items are missing, especially if they are being sold “as is” or with no return allowed.

These are the specific items I’m looking for:

1. Christmas cards and decorations – I always get a head start on next year by shopping in the stores on December 26 to get the best selection and deepest discounts on gift wrapping paper, cards, ribbons & bows, ornaments, lighting, and trees.  I’ve always been able to score some great buys at 75-90% Off at department stores, drug stores, and grocery stores.

2. Storage containers for decorations – These are typically put on sale in January. If you have received woolen articles as gifts during the holidays, they may need special protective containers for storage in the off season as well.

3. Bath & bed linens – Retailers typically have a month-long promotion in January, and I only buy these once or twice a year for maximum savings.

4. Christmas-boxed candy and gift items – Grocery stores and drug stores discount these items heavily to clear them out within a few days, and they really go fast at these prices. Ribbon candy is only available at this time of year, and stocking up at sale prices is doubly delicious!

5. Books -  Book stores discount thousands of books after Christmas, as well as music, DVDs, video games, magazines, calendars, and albums.

6. Toys and games – When stores overestimate their holiday needs, they will mark down items that are new in unopened boxes. During this time you will be able to find some of the best deals on video games

7. Electronics – This includes last year’s models of televisions, digital cameras, home theater systems, GPS, computers, and computer accessories. Store buyers who attend and place orders at the January Consumer Electronics Show are motivated to make room for the new merchandise.

8. Apparel, shoes, and handbags – Just like electronics, last year’s styles = new low prices. January is a great time to pick up last year’s still in style clothing at a big discount.

9. Furniture and appliances – These always have the biggest markdowns in January.

10. Jewelry and watches – Jewelry stores are anxious to get rid of last year’s inventory.

It’s pays to wait:

As you can see from the examples above, unless you are buying gold or oil, it pays to wait until after the Holiday’s, especially for fad or seasonal products. Don’t get sucked into buying something during a peak shopping time like Christmas just because you can’t wait. In most cases, you can save a lot of money just by passing on the latest trends whether it be fashion or electronics. Finally, fads and trends will most likely move on in the next year. So you might not even want that $80 electronic hamster that seemed so appealing now.

Photo Credit: goddess_spiral

Entry Filed under: Shopping