6 min. read
So, you’re looking to upgrade to a bigger and better television? Over the last few years, TVs with all the bells and whistles have become much more reasonably priced, but there are still ways to save even more money on a TV. In fact, there are several times during the year that you should be looking out for sales.
Yes, we all know that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are THE days for deals on electronics of all sorts, but there are plenty of other days of the year to sneak into the store and grab yourself a smart TV at a great price. Let’s take a look at the best time of the year to buy a TV.
One of the first things you should do is start following the release cycle for new television sets. If you aren’t concerned with getting the most recent model, you can save a buck by waiting for the release of a new TV from the brand you like and snag one at a discounted rate from the year before.
New TV models are typically released starting in March when the NCAA tournament March Madness starts. The release cycle continues into April and through May, so keep an eye on it for discounts.
What better time of year to upgrade to a nice big TV than right before the biggest football game of the year? January and February are two of the best months to buy a TV in because retailers know people are going to be upgrading for the Super Bowl, so they want to draw you in with deals.
17% of Americans planned on buying a new TV around the Super Bowl [in 2020].
According to a survey done by NerdWallet[2], 17% of Americans planned on buying a new TV around the Super Bowl in 2020. This applies specifically to TVs on the larger side. If you are looking to score a good deal during Super Bowl season, the sales are typically on 49-65-inch TV sets. Go big or go home, as they say.
Prime Day typically happens during the second week of July. They will have bundles online that pair a TV with a Firestick, and some deals can be under $200. Prime day is a competitive sport, so plan accordingly, do your research and make sure you are online to get the item you want because things sell out very fast.
The best month of the year other than the holidays to buy a TV is August. This is because of the back to school specials and Labor Day. When parents send their kids off to college, it’s usually with a small TV for their dorm. Retailers have caught onto this, so there will be deals usually up to 30% off of smaller TV sets for back to school specials.
The best month of the year other than the holidays to buy a TV is August
So, if you aren’t concerned with getting a large TV, keep your eye out for deals throughout the month of August. The sales will usually last throughout Labor Day.
Of course, the best time to buy a TV is typically around the holidays.
All three-day holiday weekends will have some sort of deal to draw people in on their free day. There also cannot be mention of buying televisions on a holiday without mentioning Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving is notorious for door buster sales on electronic devices such as TVs. The deals, however, are not always on the best models.
Most Black Friday deals are on TVs that are called “derivatives”.
Most Black Friday deals are on TVs that are called “derivatives”. They are new TVs, but without all of the features of the more high-end models. So, you’re still getting a nice TV, but maybe not the best on the market.
If you want to avoid the chaos and crowds of Black Friday but still check out the deals, they last through the next week with Cyber Monday, where you can purchase similar items online instead.
After the chaos of the gift giving season, the next best time to buy a TV would be the day after Christmas. Everyone has that holiday gift money burning a hole in their pocket, and retailers know that deals will draw people in to buy TVs. The deals are not a gift to the customers, however. The end of the year is prime time for stores to get rid of inventory to make room on the floor for the new year. They scratch your back with deals, you scratch theirs getting inventory out of their store.
Speaking of the end of the year, another great day to buy a TV is New Year’s Eve. This is crunch time to get inventory out of the store before the new year begins. Your best plan of action is to watch the prices of TVs throughout December and see how low they get and where which retailer has the best price and go on the last day of the year if you can.
Another holiday to keep an eye on is Father’s Day. What do dads want more than anything? A gigantic brand-new TV, of course. Retailers like to play up this gimmick and advertise hot deals for Father’s Day, which is typically in June. If you are looking for a new TV and don’t want to wait for holiday season specials, this may be your time to buy.
If you are looking to buy a new TV, waiting in line on Black Friday isn’t your only option anymore. Buying in the Fall and Winter will still yield the most opportunity for sales, but checking around Father’s Day and other three-day weekend holidays can provide just as much savings.
Do your research before shopping, and keep an eye on prices before pulling the trigger on something. If you aren’t concerned with having the newest model, pay attention to the release cycle to get your hands on last year’s model at a discounted rate. You never know what kind of deals you’ll find during the best times to buy a TV.
