There it is! The brand-new Q-900 55” Ultra HD 8K TV is on the showroom floor at Best Buy. Look at that picture! Imagine watching football on that bad boy. And it’s on sale! Just $2499. Should you buy it? You can if you want to, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The Samsung 7 Series is right beside it. It came out last year and it’s 4K, not 8K, but it’s 65 inches and only $549.
Welcome to the wonderful world of electronics buying. If you’re one of those folks who just has to have the newest model, you may not like what we have to tell you here. You should never buy electronics when they first come out, unless you can get them on sale. That Q-900 will be selling for $1200 in January. Wait and pay less. The 2021 Superbowl isn’t until February.
Just like with other home items, such as a mattress or refrigerator, there are good times and bad times to buy electronics. So, what is the best time to buy electronics? Let’s find out!
Electronics Buying Tips
That old boombox may bring you back to your youth, but where are you going to buy cassette tapes? In an age of digital music, cassettes are almost impossible to find. You’re better off with a turntable and some classic record albums. Avoid buying obsolete electronics and be careful about buying new equipment that may not be able to deliver yet. Examples of this are:
- 8K Televisions
- 5G Wireless Devices
- Virtual Reality Projectors
These items are expensive, and the supporting technology is not quite there yet. There’s no 8K content on Netflix or Amazon. The only place you can actually get it is in Japan. 5G networks are still being built, so your phone and laptop will only work in 4G or 3G for now, depending on where you are. VR projectors are cool, but you’re better off with the headset.
It’s always nice to have the latest models and newest technology, but when buying electronics, you’re better off waiting a while after their initial release dates. Most of the iPhone models released in the past few years needed a fix or two. UHD 4K TV’s listed at $2000 when they first came out. Now you can buy them for $500. Keep that in mind when you go shopping.
Best Time To Buy A New Television
If you’re looking for sales on new TV’s, the days of the year to get the best deals are Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the day after Christmas. That’s not all, though. Best Buy and other retailers usually run sales in January to get you to upgrade your HDTV before Superbowl Sunday. Refrain from buying during the holidays and you might save a few dollars.
Memorial Day and Father’s Day are typically big sale days, also. Obviously, electronics retailers are targeting men and couch potatoes before the lazy days of summer. If you miss those events, check out Prime Day Sales on Amazon. They’ve been running them in mid-July for the past few years. You’ll find their selection and prices to be better than most retailers.
Best Time To Buy Apple Devices
The new iPhone always comes out in September, so buy the previous version immediately after that happens if you want the best deal. Apple Stores don’t run sales. They don’t have to. The demand for Apple products is high, so discounted pricing is almost unheard of. They do give out gift cards on Black Friday, but only for in-store customers, not online shoppers.
College students and teachers are eligible for discounts any time of the year. If you’re shopping in-store, you’ll need a college ID. If you’re online, look for the “Shop for College” portal at the bottom of the Apple website. You’ll find MacBooks, iPads, and Apple job opportunities for students. Pricing is discounted by as much as 10%, so it’s worth the visit.
Best Time To Buy Video Games
There are recreational video game players and then there are serious gamers. If you’re looking to buy a new gaming system for the kids, go to Best Buy online right now and grab the new Xbox One Special Edition console bundle for $299.99. They’ll love you for it and you won’t have to buy a new system for a few years. Xbox One has great graphics and hundreds of games.
Serious gamers should shop more selectively. Updates and release schedules are announced at the E3 Expo in May or June each year. New systems come out in November or December, right on time for the holiday season. Grab one on Black Friday if you can. That’s the best day to shop. You can also get great savings in January or February after the holidays.
Best Time To Buy A Laptop Or PC
People are fickle creatures when it comes to laptops and PC’s. We get accustomed to using a certain model and have no interest in switching to something new, even when the current machine breaks down. That makes shopping for a good deal difficult. Try to avoid waiting until the last minute to buy a new laptop. You’ll get better deals if you plan your purchase.
I’m sure at this point you’re tired of hearing about Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Believe it or not, late July and August may actually be better times to shop for a laptop or PC. Both are essential items for the back-to-school crowd and sales are plentiful. This is also release season for many electronics retailers, so you can find older models on sale in May and June.
External Monitors And Ergonomic Keyboards
Taking your laptop to Starbucks to work on a school project is cool, but if you’re working from home, you’ll want to connect it to an external monitor. Remote workers, gamers, and graphic designers already understand the value of a good external monitor. You can get one on sale while back-to-school shopping or during the holidays.
If you’re spending a lot of time at home, as most of us are right now, investing in an external ergonomic keyboard isn’t a bad idea. They’re designed to release strain on the hands, wrists and arms. Higher end models run around $200, but you can usually find them for less at Amazon. The wireless Logitech K350 is on sale there right now for $39.99.
Final Thoughts: Best Time To Buy Electronics
Whether you’re buying a new computer, a video game, or a TV there are times to purchase that will allow you to save some cash. Electronics are important and, depending on what you’re doing with them, they can be essential. Now you know the best time to buy electronics. Make sure to use this guide and buy at the right time so you don’t spend more than you have to.
