Source: antwerpenR's photostream on Flickr
If you plan to shop the sales this Presidents’ Day weekend, consider these tips to help you score the best deals:
Use Apps to Price Compare Instantly.
While shopping save time and money with price comparison apps like RedLaser and ShopSavvy. Find out if a local competing store is offering a better price just by scanning the bar code of the item. You may even be able to just show the lower price to a store manager and get the price match right away.
Track Down Coupon Codes.
Retailers are ramping up online deals – free shipping to additional percentages off of existing sale items. When in doubt, always see if there’s a code you can plug in to get a discount. Sites like CouponCabin and RetailMeNot can help you find valid coupon codes. Or, simply going to a search bar and typing in the name of the retailer plus coupon code plus President’s Day and you may find what you’re looking for.
Check Facebook for Early Deals.
If President’s Day weekend is anything like Black Friday, then retailers will be marketing via their social networks like Facebook and Twitter. It doesn’t cost anything to check out retailers’ sites and twitter feeds to learn about sales. When I was talking to a rep from Target over the holiday shopping period she said the company sometimes announces weekly deals and specials on Facebook FIRST, and so you can snatch the deal faster that way.
Get Informed: Download weekly circular/local ads online
Sears, Target, Lowe’s, they’ve all got their weekly advertisements online. You can find it on their home pages. Take 15 minutes to study up on who’s offering what so that you don’t waste time in the stores or driving around.
Don’t be shy: Ask for a discount or free delivery.
Especially if you’re buying furniture this weekend. New inventory tends to hit showrooms this month so whatever’s left from last season has to go…use that knowledge to negotiate a better price, at the least free shipping when in furniture stores this weekend.
Go in on bulk deals with friends.
Stores will be desperately trying to unload inventory. You’ll see a lot of buy three, buy two get one free deals. Or 10 for $10. Be cautious. You don’t want to get in a situation where you’re falling for these sales gimmicks and end up spending more than you should or hoarding all this stuff in your basement. My advice – for bulk deals go in on sales with friends and neighbors.
Stock up on winter items for next year.
Hats, scarves, gloves. Winter clothing and accessories will be marked down aggressively. I just checked and my down coat that I bought from Brooklyn Industries in November is on sale now for 60% off. It’s a great jacket…It won’t ever go out of style. So, I’m actually considering getting another one and holding onto it when I’m ready to replace my new one down the road.
