Black Belt Shopper
(featured column)
Strategies
for After-Christmas Sales
by Larry
Wiener
They don't call
me the black belt shopper for nothing. Here it is the week before
Christmas and I'm already thinking about the after Christmas sales. If all
goes according to plan, I'll be out there on the 26th at 6 AM or whatever time
the stores open looking for bargains. More...
True black belt
shoppers, however, do their homework and don't just lap up every item in sight
during the after Christmas sales. They think and plan to get the most out
of the sales.
Okay, so what strategies do we use for the after Christmas sales? Here are
a few.
* Think about what you are looking for. If you plan to shop
the after Christmas sales, think a little about what kind of items are you
looking for. Do you need a winter coat? This would be the perfect
time. Are you looking for electronics? Clothing? Tools?
* Make a list. Sometimes writing down what you are looking for
helps focus you and also may help you stay away from items you don't want or
need or can't afford. Make your list and start with the items you need.
* Have a general idea on how much the items you want cost. There
are real bargains and there are false bargains out there. For example, a
higher priced store might take 25% off of an item that you may be able to get
for 30% less on regular price at another store.
* Ask yourself this question before you buy: If this item were full
price and I could easily afford to buy it, would I? Unless the
answer is a resounding yes, you may be lured to items that you won't really be
happy with.
* Clarify the store's return policy. Sometimes sale merchandise is
not returnable or not returnable for cash. Make sure you can live with the
store's return policy.
* Use your newspaper to help you plan. You can't be everywhere at
once and often the best bargains are grabbed up in a hurry. You probably
should start looking at the paper Christmas Eve day and then begin cutting out
coupons and taking notes.
* Consider upcoming gift giving occasions. This may be a good time
to get gifts for birthdays and other gift giving occasions coming up soon. Just
be sure that price isn't driving you too much in your selection of items.
* Don't go into debt to take advantage of these sales. The interest
you will have to pay could easily cost you more than the money you save. You'd
be better off waiting to buy some of these items until you can afford them.
Remember, sales take place throughout the year.
* Don't forget to check out the online auctions. The days after
Christmas many recipients will be auctioning off gifts they don't want, but are
not going to return either. Ebay,
of course is the best known auction site, but you may also want to check out Yahoo
and Overstock.
* Buy quality. It's been said that the sting of low quality
merchandise lasts a lot longer than the thrill of getting a bargain.
That's a good point to remember during the after Christmas sales.
* Have fun. Don't get grumpy because you miss out on a certain item
or because of the crowds. That will keep you from making good buying
decisions. If you start getting in a bad mood, go home. You'll be
better off.
The weeks after Christmas can be a great time to snag some bargains. Being
a clever shopper can make these days both fun and profitable.
Have a great Christmas and, if you are so inclined, have fun shopping after the
holiday!
Want more great
ideas for bargain shopping all year long? Check out Larry's ebook, The
Black Belt Shopper's Guide!
* * *
Copyright
© 2006 by Larry Wiener, author of The Black Belt Shopper's Guide. All rights reserved.
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