Shopping 4th of July sales? Don’t buy these three things, according to experts
Plus, learn how Amazon Prime Day deals compare.
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A little bit of everything is on sale during the Fourth of July, but there’s a few product categories you should focus on. I broke them down below and included examples of the types of deals you’ll see this week. All products I recommend are at least 20% off and highly rated.
Many parts of the country are currently experiencing a heat wave with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees in some areas. If the heat and humidity are causing you to consider buying a new air conditioner or fan, now is the best time to do so. “Inventory and selection decrease later in the summer, while prices go up, so you’ll want to purchase sooner than later,” says Porwal. He recommends browsing deals from high quality A/C brands with lots of positive reviews to get the most value since window and portable units tend to be an expensive investment. Windmill, Midea, LG and Frigidare are some of our favorites.
July Fourth sales are the first time this year when retailers offer strong discounts on outdoor furniture and patio decor, including dining sets, lounge chairs, couches and umbrellas, says Stephanie Carls, a shopping expert at RetailMeNot. If you buy now, you have the rest of the summer to enjoy using your purchases. Popular styles tend to sell out quickly, and since July Fourth marks the transition from summer to pre-fall in the retail world, companies won’t likely restock when seasonal items are gone, says Carls. That said, don’t wait to check out if you fall in love with something.
Retailers won’t offer the absolute best deals on grills until the end of the summer when they host clearance sales. But if you need a new one immediately, you’ll find plenty of worthwhile discounts across models during July Fourth sales, says Carls. She recommends looking for grills on sale at big-box home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s since they tend to have the most inventory and lowest prices.
Hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, lawn games — whatever your favorite outdoor activity is, it likely involves some type of gear, which will be discounted during July Fourth sales, says Porwal. Specialty retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods and REI tend to have the best deals on these types of items, and you can expect to see discounts up to 30% off.
Clothing and shoe stores like DSW, Gap, Old Navy and Foot Locker usually host sitewide sales around July Fourth, giving you the opportunity to refresh your warm weather wardrobe. Look for adult and kids activewear, bathing suits, beach attire and footwear like flip flops and sneakers between 20% and 40% off, says Porwal. Brands will discount seasonal apparel and footwear even more in the next few weeks, but overall, there’s lots of lucrative deals during Fourth of July sales, says Carls.
Strong mattress and bedding deals are a guarantee during Fourth of July sales, and they tend to rival Memorial Day’s offerings. Pay attention to promotions from direct-to-consumer brands like Casper, Tempur-Pedic, Leesa and Avocado, as well as browsing deals at retailers like Mattress Firm, says Carls. We’ve historically seen deals over $800 off, and companies usually throw in a free gift with purchase, like pillows and bedding, or offer free haul-away and white-glove delivery services if you buy during the holiday weekend.
Fourth of July sales are a great time to buy appliances like refrigerators and dryers, especially because retailers want to get rid of last year’s models to make room for newer inventory, says Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, a shopping and savings strategist at Rakuten. You can save even more when you buy multiple pieces together — you may unlock extra discounts or rebates if you’re bundling appliances, like a washer and a dryer, or a dishwasher and a refrigerator, says Carls. She also recommends looking for delivery perks when you buy large home and kitchen appliances, like free shipping, installation and haul-away services.
You won’t see strong strong sales on the below product categories until later this year.
Yes, it’s worth shopping Fourth of July and Amazon Prime Day sales, experts say. The two events focus on different types of products — July Fourth sales center around seasonal products and big-ticket home and kitchen items, while Amazon Prime Day sales focus on personal devices, smart home products, luxury beauty and household essentials. Fourth of July sales are also open to all shoppers, while Amazon Prime Day is exclusive to Prime members, giving them access to special pricing, promotions and free shipping they won’t see at other retailers earlier in the month.
Overall, if you want to shop Fourth of July sales and Amazon Prime Day, think about what you’re in the market for and decide when is the best time to buy each item based on experts’ advice above.
Fourth of July sales are comparable online and in stores, experts say. But there’s pros and cons for both, which I detail below. Also, remember that some retailers have a buy online, pick up in-store option, which gives you the best of both worlds.
Since the Fourth of July falls on a Friday this year, most retailers will extend their sales through the weekend, says Porwal. You may see some July Fourth sales morph into general “summer sales” come Monday, July 7, and extend through Friday, July 11, because Amazon Prime Day is that week and other retailers want to capitalize on the overall uptick in online shopping activity
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who’s covered sales and deals for five years, including topics like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. To write this article, I interviewed three experts about what you should buy and skip during Fourth of July sales, and rounded up a handful of tips about how to save money while shopping.
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