How to find the best holiday deals
Since Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed, you might be wondering whether you can still find good deals on popular products. You can if you;re willing to do a little research and even some negotiating.
With the holidays in full swing, it’s no surprise that deal-hunting is a competitive game of cat-and-mouse, especially with the added challenge of supply chain interruptions.
Fortunately, many top products are still available, and with a couple of weeks left in the season, there’s a good chance they’ll be marked down. If you brush up on a few smart shopping techniques, you can make sure you get the best deals of the season.
How to make sure you get the best deals on top holiday gifts
Compare discounts
Compare coupons, discounts and rewards among retailers selling the same products. When a product is more expensive at one retailer, it might be more cost-effective to buy it there if you can cash in reward points or coupons from loyalty programs. With that said, select brands may be excluded from discounts at one retailer, but they may be eligible at another one.
Research older deals
Research older deals by sifting through your emails. Old holiday sales event circulars are good reference points to determine whether it’s worth buying a product at its current price. Don’t just look at Black Friday and Cyber Monday emails, though; go back a couple of months and compare prices from other major sales events, like Back-to-School and Labor Day.
If you’re shopping on Amazon, another way to find out if you’re getting a good deal is by using CamelCamelCamel, an Amazon price tracker. It displays price information as far back as a few years for certain products, and it lets you toggle over specific dates to pinpoint prices during peak shopping days.
Use price matching
Price matching is an under-the-radar way to get better deals on products, mostly because some shoppers may not be aware of a retailer’s price matching policies. Detailed information is usually available at most retailer websites and sometimes at the end of receipts, but it may involve some digging to find it.
Some retailers will match the price of a competing retailer when you provide a current circular. There are a handful of retailers that accept competitor coupons instead of price matching, too. Other retailers match their own prices. If you buy a product and it drops in price within a few weeks, they may issue a refund or gift card for the difference.
Ask for ding-and-dent discounts
While ding-and-dent discounts are usually associated with buying floor-model appliances and electronics, you might be able to get a discount on other products. When you come across a toy box with light damage, like a dented corner or scuff, you can ask for a discount. Some may not offer one, but those that do may give up to 5%-15% off the price.
One thing to keep in mind with ding-and-dent discounts is that they may impact return policies. Certain retailers may indicate on the receipt that the product isn’t eligible for returns when it’s sold as a damaged product. In some cases, they won’t even return the item if it has manufacturer defects.
Opt for in-store pickup
Many retailers let you take advantage of online-only pricing and promotions with in-store or curbside pickup. Depending on the product, it may result in extra discounts of up to 30% off. It’s an economical alternative to having orders delivered, which may prove to be a gamble later in the season with anticipated supply chain interruptions and delayed shipping. You save on your bottom line by not paying for expedited shipping to boot.
Add items to your cart
One of the easiest ways to track price fluctuations is by adding products to your carts. Most retailers inform you when prices drop through emails or push notifications. Amazon even lets you know how much products have increased or decreased since adding them.
It’s not practical for some shoppers to hoard items in your cart. Instead, retailers like Macy’s and Ulta let shoppers save or favorite products and add them to boards or lists. More often than not, you can subscribe to alerts to find out when these items go on sale if you don’t want to keep checking back.
Top 8 popular products to watch for deals
Theragun Prime Handheld Massage Device
Theragun Prime offers four attachments and five-speed settings that deliver customized massage experiences. The device is ergonomically designed for comfortable use.
Sold by Amazon
This top-rated Roomba is equipped with a three-stage cleaning system and intelligent mapping to clean quickly and efficiently. It has 10 times the suction power of previous models.
Sold by Amazon
Shark Anti-Allergen Pet Power Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Shark cordless vacuum lifts deep-set pet hair and dander from floors, and it has an advanced HEPA filtration system to keep allergens at bay.
Sold by Amazon
Dive into immersive gaming and social experiences with this premium VR headset. It has dual-OLED displays and 3D spatial audio that deliver true-to-life visuals and sound.
Sold by Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE Tablet
This Galaxy tablet has a 12.4-inch display that brings content to life, like movies and mobile gaming. The device comes with the S Pen, giving users an authentic writing experience.
Sold by Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live True Wireless Earbuds
Besides giving listeners rich, full-bodied audio during music and video calls, Galaxy Buds Live has a voice assistant for hands-free navigation.
Sold by Amazon
Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook
Lenovo’s 2-in-1 device, popular for work or casual use, has extra-long battery life for all-day productivity. The Chromebook has a sleek, durable design with aluminum chassis.
Sold by Amazon
KitchenAid 7-Qt. Pro Line Stand Mixer
The 7-quart stand mixer comes with three classic attachments to cover most cooking and baking needs. It’s powerful enough to mix even the thickest cookie batters and bread doughs.
Sold by Walmart
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Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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