Smart Shopping Strategies for Holiday Bargain Hunters
ShopSmart magazine has insider tips on how to get the very lowest sale prices.
May 26, 2008 — -- Over Memorial Day weekend, retailers compete for your cash and offer big sales on electronics, cars, clothing and more.
Lisa Lee Freeman, ShopSmart magazine's editor-in-chief, offers insider tips on how to get the best deals possible.
Research online. Go to comparison shopping Web sites like www.bizrate.com, www.pricegrabber.com and www.shopzilla.com and plug in the product and model you're looking for. The sites then give you a list of vendors and prices. Bring price information with you when you head out the door, and you'll be ready to negotiate for lower prices. And if you know exactly where you're going, you'll save time and gas.
Focus on the extras. To get a good deal on electronics such as cameras, TVs and computers, work on getting deals on the extras. For example, if you're buying a flat-screen TV, ask for a break on installation, extra cables or cleaning products.
Last year's model. If you're not fixated on getting the very newest gadget, you can get good deals on last year's models. The fact is, you're helping the stores clear their floors to make room for new merchandise. They have to sell the out-of-date products, so take advantage of it.
Try haggling at smaller businesses. When shopping for home appliances, go to smaller, independent businesses that are competing with national chains like Home Depot and Sears, which rarely negotiate. Go prepared with your ads, and you can often strike a deal.
Ask for a volume discount. If you're redoing your kitchen, ask the salesperson for a break if you buy two or more items. Even if you're not going to use more than one item, you and a friend could buy bigger ticket items like a washing machine or refrigerator at the same time and try to negotiate a discount.
Ask about the display model. For big appliances, you can often get an unused floor model for a great price if you're willing to wait a little while. A ShopSmart reader "stalked" a refrigerator by going back to a store week after week to ask for a deal on the display model. As the season went on, the price kept dropping. When it was time for the store to bring in the new models, she made her pitch to the salesperson and got the refrigerator at half price.
You can also get display models of furniture if you can compromise on fabric or color. And look over the merchandise closely -- any imperfection means more of a discount.
Timing is everything. Stores want to move merchandise during holidays, so if you miss your deal now, wait until July 4 for another opportunity to save big.
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