What Not to Buy on 2014 Cyber Monday
Think twice before buying these things on impulse on Cyber Monday or Cyber Week.
— -- Deals, deals, deals. The 2014 Cyber Monday offers may seem tempting, but discounts in later weeks or months may have you wishing you waited.
Maybe you exercised self-control on Black Friday. Good for you. Many retailers will slash the prices of these items well past Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Of course, if you see a lightning deal that fits under your budget, just make sure you won't experience buyer's remorse if you do or don't buy it.
Here are some items you should think twice about before making the plunge on Cyber Monday or Cyber Week:
1. Winter clothing and gear
"Research from past year's shopping and sale trends have shown that it's smart to wait to buy some things, including coats and other cold-weather gear, because they tend to be cheaper right before the holidays," said Jody Rohlena, deputy editor of ShopSmart, a Consumer Reports publication.
These items, including coats and boots, often have deeper discounts during winter clearance sales in January and March.
2. Brand-name smart TVs
Hold off on buying a TV, as the best deals pop up in late February and March, Rohlena told ABC News. That's when new models are introduced and may be marked down, while older models go on clearance.
January's annual Consumer Electronics Show gives manufacturers a showcase to reveal their new product lineups in Las Vegas. But, DealNews reported, last year the best 55" name-brand TV deal came in September, and it was 10 percent cheaper than November's best deal.
3. High-end laptops
While November may be a great month to buy laptops, shoppers should hold off on "powerhouse" computing machines, writes features writer Marcy Bonebright at DealNews.
Companies such as Apple offer "Back to School" promotions in the weeks leading up to the start of the school year. This year, Apple offered people with student or teacher IDs who bought a Mac a $100 Apple Store gift card, and gave customers who bought a qualifying iPad or iPhone a $50 Apple Store gift card.
July and September can offer laptop deals that are 9 percent cheaper (about $50 on average) than even November's best deals, according to DealNews.
4. Exercise equipment
"December consistently sees an uptick in both the quantity of exercise equipment offers and the quality," writes Bonebright. Last year, DealNews marked almost 30 percent of December sports deals as Editors' Choice, compared to just 15 percent in November.
5. Home and patio furniture
Most retailers discount these items heavily in the warmer months. The number of home furniture deals increase in July and August, with patio furniture clearance sales "dominating" in August and September, Bonebright writes.
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