13 THINGS NOT TO BUY ON BLACK FRIDAY 1. Toys Weve said it many times already, and well say it once more: Black Friday is not the best time to buy toys for the holidays. Many will likely see discounts on Black Friday, and it may feel pretty good to get your shopping done early, but you wont love the sinking feeling youll get when you see the same toys for even less about two weeks before Christmas. 2. Game Consoles Without a Bundled Item Speaking of toys, if youre looking to buy a video game console this holiday, youll get more bang for your buck by opting for a console deal that includes a few extras. In years past, the vast majority of Editors Choice console deals went to holiday bundles that included premium accessories and two or three game titles. These were frequently discounted 30% to 40% off their retail prices. A note about next-gen consoles: Unfortunately, we dont expect to see any discounts on the new Xbox One or PlayStation 4 this holiday, bundled or not. However, because these consoles are in high demand and will sell out quickly, we consider just finding one at list price — even if it doesnt come bundled with a game or controller — to be a deal. 3. Brand-Name HDTVs Black Friday is an excellent time to buy a new TV, as we predict a variety of size categories will hit their lowest price points. But dont expect the best deals to be tagged with name brands. Typically, the rock-bottom prices apply to third-tier manufacturers; brand-name TVs tend to see their best price of the year in late December as manufacturers look to clear stock after the holidays. 4. DSLR Cameras Theres no shortage of digital camera deals around Black Friday, but premium current-generation cameras are just a few months away from being replaced by a new line of 2014 models. If youre eyeing a brand new digital SLR, we recommend waiting until after CES and into February for 2013 cameras to become old, and thus receive aggressive discounts from retailers. 5. Winter Apparel On Black Friday, well likely see some of the best apparel coupons of the year from a variety of retailers. However, if a new coat or jacket is on your list, its smarter to hold off until January when winter apparel is added to clearance sales that will receive much deeper base discounts. We will inevitably find additional stacking coupons then too, which make end-of-season sales even better for your wallet. 6. Christmas Decorations While not typically on anyones To Buy on Black Friday list, Christmas decor tends to end up in-cart on impulse buys. Sure, that string of lights or holiday wreath might be on sale, but deals on Christmas items get better the closer we get to the holiday itself — and of course the best deals appear after the holiday. Last year, we listed the Musical Charlie Brown Christmas Tree in early November for $19 shipped. On Black Friday it fell to $15 shipped. By Christmas Eve it was available for $9 at Kmart. 7. Exercise Equipment For those of you looking to get a leg up on any New Years Resolutions to get fit, you should resolve to wait to buy any fitness equipment. During Black Friday weekend 2012, we listed just two Editors Choice fitness deals, while December and January each saw more than five times that amount on a variety of gear including heart rate monitors, ab machines, ellipticals, and yoga equipment. 8. Jewelry and Watches Were flagging this accessories category Do Not Buy for the entire holiday season. Much like Christmas items, there will be lots of sales advertising shiny, metallic objects perfect for him and her. But the discounts on jewelry around the winter holidays are no better than those around Valentines Day, when baubles are at their most in-demand. Last year, we posted just four Editors Choice watch deals and three Editors Choice jewelry deals from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. 9. Apple iPad mini 2 with Retina The stylish and new iPad mini 2 (with Retina) will set you back the same amount as an iPad 2 — $399 — and if the iPad mini 2 follows the price pattern as its predecessor, it wont see a 10% discount until several months from now. While theres an off-chance that an attention-seeking retailer could offer an iPad mini 2 Black Friday deal, the original, first generation iPad mini is a better buy this holiday season: the Apple Store has already discounted to $299. 10. Kindle HDX For the past two years, no new Kindle Fire HD tablets have seen any significant discounts on Black Friday. But the device has fallen in price: with the addition of the Kindle HDX to the Kindle tablet lineup, Amazon dropped the price of the Kindle Fire HD to $139. However, we still dont anticipate seeing any dollar-off discounts on the Kindle Fire HD because its already sold at cost. Moreover, the current generation Kindle HDX is also a dont buy for Black Friday — unless you find a bundle deal that increases its value. 11. Bedding & Blankets While we dont know anyone who doesnt appreciate a seasonal throw blanket, we dont recommend giving them as gifts this year unless youve got a stock of them in the closet from last season. Not only does holiday decor get cheaper after the holiday in question (see Christmas Decorations above), but bedding and blankets fall to their lowest prices of the year come January and February during White Sales, which have been a colorful tradition since the 1950s. 12. Wine & Specialty Foods Perhaps better received than throw blankets, gift baskets and wine subscriptions are especially popular during the holidays. But as the giver, youll get a better deal on specialty foods (i.e. Omaha Steak gift bundles, fruit baskets, assorted baked goods) if you wait until December; last year we saw twice as many Editors Choice deals close to Christmas than around Thanksgiving. 13. International Airfare If you have your sights set on a trip California or Florida, by all means purchase airfare around Black Friday and even closer to Christmas. Last year we saw up to 50% off coupons from Frontier, JetBlue, and Virgin America. However, if its an international getaway youre after, we advise you to hold off on booking your flight until the new year. Last year we saw zero Editors Choice airfare deals between Thanksgiving and New Years. But in the first two months of the year, Air Canada offered the lowest base rate wed seen for flights to Toronto; JetBlue took 80% off select flights to the Caribbean; and Lufthansa offered roundtrip fares to Europe for $471. While we advise against purchasing the above products around Black Friday, keep in mind that nothing is written in stone, and we may still see some stellar deals within these categories; however, its more likely that well encounter so-so offers, so its best to temper your expectations.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 03:12:44 +0000
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