Retailers are primed for Presidents’ Day sales – but the trick for shoppers is to know which h items to jump on now, and which ones where it’ll better to wait until later.
Brent Shelton, shopping analyst for FatWallet.com, tells NewsRadio 740 KTRH that some of the best bargain can be found with winter apparel. Clothing and outdoor gear can be found at 20 to 50 percent off – even more sometimes, if you move quickly, he says.
Shelton, shopping analyst for Fat Wallet, also says wireless and Bluetooth electronic gadgets and accessories (listed below) are at their best prices of the year – be not computers; he says; instead Shelton says to wait until the Christmas price wars to buy a laptop or desktop.
Shelton also says to hold off on lawn and garden supplies and patio furniture until spring.
Here’s Fat Wallet’s full list of President’s Day recommendations:
WHAT TO BUY NOW
Winter wear. President’s Day is the kic-off of winter clothing retail clearance featuring discount pricing ranging 50-80% off on a seasonal clothing, outerwear and footwear, or 30 percent to 50 percent off sports and outdoors gear. Shopping for these items in February can help assure finding preferred styles, sizes and colors in stock.
Wireless electronics. Just beyond the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, new tech is starting to fill inventories this month, creating price drops on last year’s electronics models. Presidents’ Day deals “will bring deep discounts on wireless/Bluetooth electronics, including smart home needs, routers, streaming media players, headphones, portable audio speakers and fitness trackers,” Shelton says.
Major appliances. Home improvement stores have discounts ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent off major appliances. These sales feature different brands on sale for two- to three-week runs starting now until March.
Spring Break travel. With just weeks away from college spring breaks, “waiting any longer to make travel reservations will cost more money, limit selection, or both,” Shelton says.
WHAT TO WAIT ON UNTIL LATER
Laptop computers. Although consumers can find limited laptop deals this month, waiting for Back-to-School sales and Black Friday will provide the year’s best savings.
Patio furniture and grills. Spring discounting on patio furniture and grills “won’t play into weekly retail sales events until April, with the better discounts peaking during Memorial Day sales, just in time for summer use,” Shelton says.
Lawn and garden supplies. April and May brings comprehensive spring sales on lawn and gardening supplies. “Shoppers should wait for yard prep when discounts on mulch, soil, plant food, fertilizers, pesticides and grass seed are in full supply and demand,” he says.
IT DEPENDS
Mattresses. Bedding is the wild card, according to Shelton. Memorial Day sales are widely regarded as the best time of year to find mattress deals – “but in recent years, Presidents’ Day sale prices on new mattress sets are very competitive,” Shelton says. “Shoppers can save can average of 40 percent.”
… AND A STRATEGY
Shelton reminds shoppers that they can leverage their buying power if they know they’ll be getting money back from Uncle Sam.
“Presidents’ Day sales offer families an opportunity to stretch their tax refunds by taking advantage of short-term 0% financing until refunds are available to pay off any purchases,” he says.