The Best Times to Shop Online for Maximum Savings

On February 16, 2025 By newsroom Topic: Shopping Skills

Here’s a comprehensive guide on the best times to shop online, broken down by quarters, months, and specific categories, along with some year-round tips to maximize your savings.

General Trends

Best Days to Shop:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: Historically offer the best discounts.
- Avoid Sundays: Discounts are minimal.

Best Months for Deals:
- November: Biggest discounts due to Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday season (average 5.99% off).
- January: Post-holiday sales and clearances (average 4.95% off).

Worst Month:
- March: Discounts average only 2.76%.

Quarterly Breakdown of Best Deals

First Quarter (Jan/Feb/March)

Off-Season Deals:
Gas grills, air conditioners, and wedding supplies.
January Highlights:
Sporting Goods & Bicycles: Buy summer gear in winter for discounts.
Furniture: Clearance sales for new February releases.
Gift Cards: After holidays, discounted on exchange platforms like Plastic Jungle.
Linens & Bedding: Best month for "white sales."
Video Games: Post-holiday sales on newer releases.
February Highlights:
Boats: Boat show season clears out older models.
Cellphones: Valentine’s Day promotions like BOGO offers.
Home Theater Gear: Super Bowl discounts on TVs and sound systems.
March Highlights:
Frozen Foods: National Frozen Food Month.
Luggage: Lower demand between vacation seasons.
Golf Clubs & Gardening Tools: Pre-season sales on last year’s models.

Second Quarter (April/May/June)

Seasonal Highlights:
Televisions, cookware, winter boots, and kitchen accessories (graduation season).
April Highlights:
Cruises: Off-season pricing.
Laptops: Better deals than back-to-school season.
Sneakers: Spring fitness sales.
May Highlights:
Mattresses: New models arrive in summer, so older ones go on sale.
Patio Furniture: Clearance sales before new inventory arrives.
June Highlights:
Dishware: Wedding season discounts.
Gym Memberships: Post-resolution drop in demand means lower prices.
Tools: Pre-Father’s Day sales.

Third Quarter (July/Aug/Sept)

Summer Deals:
MP3 players, computers, and appliances.
July Highlights:
Furniture: August releases mean July clearance sales.
Grills: Post-Independence Day discounts.
August Highlights:
School Supplies: Back-to-school sales on stationery and dorm essentials.
Outdoor Toys: End-of-summer discounts.
September Highlights:
Bicycles & Grills: Summer gear clearances.
Wine: Harvest time offers great deals.

Fourth Quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec)

Holiday Shopping: Cookware, toys, wedding supplies, and digital cameras.
October Highlights:
Broadway Tickets: Off-season discounts.
Jeans: Clearance post-back-to-school season.
November Highlights:
Black Friday & Cyber Monday: The best time for electronics and tools.
Holiday Airfare: Buy tickets for Christmas travel early.
December Highlights:
Champagne: Competitive pricing during the festive season.
Pools: Deep discounts on next summer’s fun.

General Year-Round Tips

Timing by Day:
- Appliances are cheapest on Sundays.
- Electronics and computers are discounted on Mondays.
- Jewelry deals are best on Wednesdays.

Seasonal Off-Peak Shopping:
- Buy convertibles in winter and SUVs in summer for better deals.
- Stock up on holiday-themed candy after Halloween, Christmas, Easter, or Valentine’s Day.

Monitor Sales Regularly:
- Watch for random sales on platforms like Newegg and during off-season inventory clearances.

Newer Sites:
- Startups and newly launched e-commerce platforms often have larger discounts to attract customers.

Summing it up

Plan purchases around these time frames and days to get the best savings, and always keep an eye on clearance sales and end-of-season discounts!