Yahoo Finance 5 Smart Ways to Shop the Memorial Day Sales
If Memorial Day weekend is your excuse for heading to the mall or shopping for summer must-haves online, you'll want to make sure you're securing the best price on that next purchase. Many clothing retailers and big-box stores are slashing prices over Memorial Day weekend to clear out inventory for the summer months, making this a great time to stock up on a few extra items for the season. But, you may not have to wait until the holiday weekend to get started. DealNews.com reports that many retailers are getting a head start with sales that began as early as May 12 and are running all the way through the weekend.
Whether you're in the market for new clothes, electronics or just want to spend the holiday weekend bargain hunting, you'll find plenty of places to save big. Here are five smart ways to shop the Memorial Day sales this year:
No. 1: Get comfortable with mobile apps. Many stores have launched their own mobile apps that make it easy to find the best deals on any given shopping day and take advantage of exclusive discounts. If you know which stores you are planning to visit this holiday weekend, download the apps so you can keep up with the latest inventory of sale items and deals. You could also use comparison shopping apps such as ShopAdvisor and ShopSavvy to monitor prices and get alerts on any price drops.
No. 2: Hit the outlets. Early. Make a day of shopping by hitting the outlet mall as early in the day as possible and take advantage of additional discounts and clearance offers at some of your favorite designer outlet stores. Many stores offer an additional discount on purchases over Memorial Day weekend, making this the perfect time of year to shop for both in-season items and basics. Whether you're in the market for a new swimsuit, shoes, handbags or home goods, don't miss the chance to make your rounds at the nearest outlet mall to scoop up some deals. Get there early to avoid parking issues and big crowds that may be hitting the mall after Memorial Day parades, barbecues and other daytime festivities.
No. 3: Get on the email list. If you're in the market for a particular item from a particular brand -- a designer handbag, a television or another big-ticket item -- sign up for the email newsletter from the designer or brand so you can take advantage of any flash sales or exclusive offers over Memorial Day weekend. Many retailers are vying for shoppers' attentions over the holiday weekend because they know they are competing with other retailers and Memorial Day festivities. You may find a great deal on those higher-priced items when you take advantage of email-only coupons and exclusive online deals. Just head to the company website to see if you can sign up before those email blasts are sent out.
No. 4: Have it shipped. If the store has run out of a coveted item but you find it online, don't be afraid to ask for free shipping so you can still secure the item on sale. Many stores will run out of in-demand items in the early shopping hours over Memorial Day weekend so you will either need to be among the first to get in line or place an online order quickly to snag the deal. Many stores will be happy to cover the cost of shipping or offer an attractive alternative if they do run out of the advertised item or item on sale -- all you have to do is ask.
No. 5: Sign up for text alerts. Whether you're shopping the outlet mall for clothing and household goods, or heading to your favorite big-box store to round up supplies, home decor and other essentials, don't overlook the option of saving money with text-only deals. Many retailers now offer exclusive discounts to customers via text message and will post the number to text somewhere in the store or in an email. These can be anything from $5 off a $25 purchase to 15 percent off or more of the entire purchase. Get on the list so you can just show the code at checkout and snag an additional discount on your entire purchase.
Sabah Karimi is a columnist for the blog Wise Bread, where you can find consumer tips like how to select the best balance transfer credit cards.
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