Best Time to Buy a Laptop
Buying a new laptop won't cost a fortune if you know when to shop. Stick to these times of year to save money without having to settle for an inferior product.
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- April
- Back to School Time
- Labor Day Weekend
- Late November
- After the Holidays
April
If the laptop you've got your eye on was made in Japan, then April may be the perfect time to snag a deal.
The fiscal year for Japanese manufacturing plants ends in March. That means retailers need to make room for next year's models.
Back to School Time
The influx of students (and parents) shopping for school supplies brings discounts on many items, including laptops. However, since demand is highest at this time of year, the savings generally aren't too deep.
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Labor Day Weekend
Once the Back to School rush has settled, retailers will move excess inventory for less.
Just be sure to make your laptop purchases before the end of the Labor Day sales. Prices will rise again until the holiday season begins on Black Friday.
Late November
We're all familiar with Black Friday - the most popular shopping day of the year. If you're willing to score an irresistible deal on a laptop by waiting in a line for hours, kudos to you.
But for everyone else, Cyber Monday is a more convenient option. Just be sure to compare the sale price to the standard retail price to get the best bang for your buck.
Post-Holiday Shopping Period
Once the season to be jolly has blown over, you may still find a good price on a new laptop. While the discounts may not be quite as steep as Black Friday's, you'll likely see better deals than those offered around back-to-school time.
Bonus Tips
Consider a store card
Many retailers have store credit cards with additional purchase incentives, especially on big-ticket items like laptops.
The Walmart credit card, for example, offers cash rebates that rise in value as your spending on the card increases, while the Best Buy credit card has a reward program that earns rewards back on all Best Buy spending.
If you plan to buy your next laptop at one of these stores - and it's a place you shop often - you may benefit from signing up for such a card.
Check out older models
If you're laptop shopping outside one of the ideal time frames, check out models that have been on the market for a while. You might mind a better price.
(Writing by Allison M, Analysis by Leah N)
Allison Martin is a contributing writer at CreditDonkey, a credit card comparison and reviews website. Write to Allison Martin at allison@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.