The holiday season shoppers get a head start on the season, and a few popular retailers are paving the way.
Amazon recently announced the start of a two-day “Prime Early Access Sale” sale in October. 11 and Target is running their own “deal days” starting in October. 6.
“It’s just an arms race,” said Jeffrey Galak, associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University and expert in consumer behavior.
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With sales starting early, retailers are hoping to entice shoppers with promotions ahead of Black Friday and Internet Monday, as consumers become increasingly concerned about higher prices.
“For consumers who are getting a head start on the holidays, that can be really helpful,” Galak said. “If you plan to buy something and get it at a discount, that’s a win.”
On the flip side, “If you buy something just because it’s on sale, it may cause you to spend more instead of saving money.”
What to expect from the Amazon sales event in October
To make the most of the “Prime Early Access Sale,” expect to find the best discounts on Amazon devices like Kindle, Echo, Fire TV Streamer and even private-brand apparel, according to Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews. com.
“It’s just Prime Day 2.0,” she said.
This time around, though, Amazon will likely be showing more gift suggestions — with deals on popular brands, such as Hasbro, iRobot and KitchenAid — rather than household goods.
“They will try to hit all the big holiday gifts: home décor, apparel, brand accessories, toys, toys, and games,” said Casey Runyan, managing editor of online shopping store Brads Deals.
“Summer rush feast was very toothpaste; it wasn’t like buying a great kitchen appliance or a hot toy,” added Runyan. (CNBC’s Select has a full report on the best early Amazon Prime Day deals to shop right now.)
Ramhold warned that markdowns on laptops and other electronic devices may not work. “We could see lower prices when Black Friday starts and more retailers are involved.”
To take advantage of Prime Day deals, you must be an Amazon Prime member.
You can sign up for a monthly membership or a 30-day free trial.
However, Ramhold advised bargain hunters to beware of the monthly promotion, as it will not extend into Black Friday.
“By hosting this event in October, Amazon has effectively confirmed that people will have to pay if they want to shop in November.”
The annual membership also comes with a catch since the retail giant raised the price to $139 from $119 earlier this year.
What to expect from a big target sale
At Target, expect to find seasonal items at a deep discount, along with Target brands like Good & Gather, Brightroom, and Room Essentials.
Shoppers also benefit from the retailer’s price match guarantee, meaning any purchases made between October. 6th and Dec. 24 will be eligible for a price adjustment if the target price drops any lower before Christmas Eve.
“Overall, this is a great incentive to shop on Target Deal days because it takes the worry out of lower prices later — for example, during Black Friday,” Ramhold said.
Of course, you don’t have to be a member to participate, and you can still take advantage of free shipping by ordering online and choosing in-car delivery so you can get your items the same day.
“There is a good chance that many of the shows we see around deal days will come back for Black Friday; however, if you see something during bargain days that fits in your budget, you should get it as often as possible,” Ramhold said.
“Waiting for these items could mean you risk losing everything.”
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Ramhold recommends creating a wishlist and then using a price tracking browser extension like Camelcamelcamel or Keepa to monitor price changes and get price drop alerts for your desired items.
“Once you have an idea of what they’re charging now, you’ll be able to tell if something is a really good deal or not.”
Runyan added that it might also depend greatly on the type of item. “Deals vary a lot by category,” she said. “For electronics, the 10% discount is a good thing; for apparel and accessories, the margins are a lot bigger, so there’s more room for the discount.”
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