Everywhere you look, electronics play a part of your day. You use them to work, to talk to friends and even to doom scroll on social media and YouTube. You use them to keep your house locked up, your car parked safely and your home at an optimum temperature. Electronics really do play a big part in our world, but finding the best deals requires you to be a savvy shopper who knows where to look.
Whether you’re shopping for a brand new gadget for the house or you’re looking to upgrade the gadgets you already have, you should think about how you find the best deals so you’re not overpaying. Below, we’ve got a list of strategies that you can use to help you to find the best deals.
Compare on shopping websites
There are so many websites out there that you can use to compare your electronics before you buy them. Even Google Shopping offers you the chance to compare prices across more than one retailer, allowing you the chance to see the best possible deals for the electronics you’re looking for. All you have to do is enter the name of the product you’re interested in, and you can see a range of sellers who have products available for you. Always check for shipping costs, too, so that you can get the price comparison as accurate as possible.
Check your email
If you’ve ever signed up for retailer newsletters or website alerts, you’re going to find that they throw deals into your inbox on an almost daily basis. Signing up for newsletters from your favorite stores is also going to give you access to early bird deals, discounts and more. There are usually sales codes and coupon codes that are sent ahead of a holiday and you can benefit from these by signing up to get your product as soon as you see them. When specific products that you have your eye on go on sale, you’ll be able to access those benefits – and all because you checked your email.
Flash sales
Keeping an eye on the websites your electronics pop up on for flash sales is a great idea if you’re shopping for electronics. Let’s be honest, electronics aren’t cheap, so you want to make sure that you can get as much money off of them as possible. Plenty of shopping sites have ‘daily deals’ segments that can list off some of the deals of the day and you can take advantage of those, too. Flash sales will often last for a short period or until the inventory runs out, so they are regularly limited.
Buy refurbished
There are plenty of manufacturer refurbished items that you can buy that are in excellent condition. Consider purchasing refurbished electronics to save some cash and as it’s been refurbished, you won’t have to compromise on the quality, either. These are electronics that have been repaired and retested to ensure that they are like-new, meeting the right standards with warranties attached. Open-box items are often returned products that are resold after inspection at a discount. The bigger the brand you buy refurbished, the better the condition the electronic item will be in.
Seasonal sales
Everyone loves Black Friday sales, right? You can find the best deals periodically through the year released before big holidays and major shopping events can often give you the best deal. Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just a handful of the seasonal sales days. Winter sales, Summer sales and Easter bargains often knock huge amounts of money off the original pricing and that can give you an amazing deal no matter the electronics you pick.
Cashback and reward programs
If you can take amazing advantage of cashback and reward programs from your credit cards and even from your retailers. Plenty of credit card companies will offer cashback on purchase that include electronics. These add up to huge savings over time and they’re worth the initial investment. When you combine these programs, you can take even more money off your electronics, too. Some of the credit card and retailer loyalty programs out there will reward their frequent shoppers, too.
Haggle the prices down
There are some electronics retailers who will offer you the chance to haggle the price down. Some retailers will tell you that they will happily match prices to other retailers if you find their item cheaper elsewhere. You might not always get told yes, but it’s worth asking whether there is wiggle room for a little bit off the price. If you have proof that their competitor is offering an item for less, you’re more likely to be told that you can have a discount.
Student/employee discounts
If you are a student and you hold a student card, or you’re an employee working for a certain business, you may be eligible for discounts on your electronics. Retailers will often offer special pricing for students, especially buying electronics related to studying. Check with your school to see what’s on offer and see whether or not you qualify for these discounts. When you do that, you’ll be able to take advantage of them!
Clearance items
Going to local electronics stores and looking at their clearance electronics will help if you’re looking to find some great deals. Don’t overlook those clearance sections in electronics stores, either, because you might find that their deals come with the fact that there are newer options being released. Open-box items, floor models, last year’s models and more will all be knocked down in price and that allows you to catch a great deal when it becomes available.
Read reviews from purchasers
If you want to make sure that you’re getting the best deals on electronics, check out the reviews from previous purchases. In the same way that you’ll trust a review for a vacation, trust people’s opinions on their electronics. You can bet that they’ll have something to say whether good or bad and that can give you a realistic idea of what you’re getting.
