You can find PC sales pretty much all year, although some months are better than others. Checking the sales before buying a computer can save you hundreds of dollars and even snag you some free software or peripherals.
One of the most convenient tools you use in searching for PC sales is a sales notification widget. There are many online stores and price comparison sites that offer these notifications at no charge to you. Quite often, you’ll even be given an additional discount just for purchasing your PC using the widget. They are quite simple to use; after you download the application and install it you just insert the parameters you are looking for. List the brands you would consider, the price you want to pay and the extras you need. The notification software will send you an email any time your requirements are met or your price range is hit.
In the meantime, look around the internet for printable coupons or coupon codes so that when you do find a PC at the right price you’ll be able to save even more.
Timing your purchase for a sale will save a lot of money. You can generally get some of the best prices in August during the back to school sales, in December during the run-up to Christmas and in January when the new models come on the market. There are other sales, of course, but these times of year are the big ones. You’ll find some of the best sales just before the new models come out, shortly after the Consumer Electronics Show in early January.
Black Friday has traditionally been the best time to PC sales but in recent years the deals haven’t been as good. While it’s true that Black Friday signals the start of the Christmas and holiday shopping season, recent economic downturns have stifled those sales somewhat. Prices can vary from city to city depending on the local economy. If you live in a smaller city, your electronics store may not have as good a sale as that in a nearby, larger city. It pays to look at circulars within fifty miles of your location to compare sale prices—you may save more by driving a few miles!
If you’re shopping online, look for stores that offer free shipping as many of them do. Combined with a good sale and a coupon code, you could save more than you expected.
Another good time to find sales is at the end of the fiscal quarter or year. The larger electronics outlets need to show a profit to satisfy their shareholders and often sacrifice up to 23% of their profit to show good numbers. Therefore, shopping around near the end of March, June, September and December might net you some really good deals.
Another place to look for PC sales is online overstock outlets. A computer model that isn’t wildly popular might be just what you are looking for but one that the manufacturer can’t unload. They commission overstock stores to offload that inventory, often at substantial discounts for consumers. It may not be the latest model but if it has everything you need at a great price you’ll come out ahead. If you find an online coupon code you could save even more.
Finding great PC sales isn’t so much a matter of timing as thinking creatively and taking advantage of coupon codes, excess stock and knowing exactly what you need in a PC.