Starting the day after Christmas, you can find great deals on pretty much everything. Here are some tips before you hit the stores:
Overstock Items
- The deals on these items are still new and in sealed boxes. They may not be the best known name-brand models, but can still be of good value. Items like these are usually the first to go in an after-Christmas sale, so if you want to get your hands on an overstock item, it’s best to get to the store early.
Soon-To-Be-Clearance Items
- In order to beat the competition in placing new products on store shelves, retailers must clear out current products from their warehouses and stores as quickly as possible. This can mean big savings for consumers. If a retailer makes the mistake of over-estimating the demand for a particular item from last season and has lots of stock left, he will often place notice of a “Price Drop”, “Instant Discount”, “Instant Rebate”, “Special Purchase”, “While Supplies Last” and/or “No Rainchecks” on the older model, to make room for the incoming new stock. It’s a win-win; the retailer gets rid of a product that will soon be discontinued and the consumer gets a great price.
Gift Returns/Exchanges
- Stores want to turn these around as quickly as possible, so often they reduce gift returns/exchanges at a 5% to 15% percent discount, depending on whether the product was returned open or closed. Just be sure to check the contents of the box to make sure there is an owner’s manual for the product and all accessories are present; if anything is missing or has been used, negotiate for a lower price; you may also want to ask to see the item plugged in and working before you leave the store.
Old Display Models
- Most display items stay on display from 90 days to six months, but some can sit out for as long as a year. Stay away from products such as camcorders, digital cameras, and televisions. Not only have they been on display, but they have been on and running for twelve hours a day for months, with camcorders and digital cameras being handled and bounced around by everyone. Other display items, such as DVD players, don’t get quite the same abuse as they are only turned on when a salesperson actually demos them. Again, there are some things to check on before you buy: What’s the return policy on the item? Is the manufacturer’s warranty still valid? Can you purchase an extended service plan for the unit? Are all the accessories and owner’s manual included?
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