This year better deals before or after Christmas? (Costco)

[bale002]

I believe that traditionally there are better deals on consumer goods in the days and weeks after the Christmas than before (Black Friday is a possible exception).

In the current economic climate, do you believe that this is still the case?

I have to buy some consumer goods in the coming weeks, including a TV, but I could wait till after Christmas.

Do you think I will be better off by waiting?

[Gerania]

You can always find a sale in January. That's when I used to look for the best deals. I don't think that's the case any more. The pre-Christmas sale, excluding Black Friday, has been going on for some time. Holiday sales have been down for at least the past few years and this season threatens to be pretty bad. End of year sales make or break a lot of stores, companies and competition is fierce for the money that people are willing to spend. You should be able to find a great deal on something like a TV. If you're looking for a particular model or the newest hot item, you may have to wait.

[subsound]

Are black friday deals any good this year? I've looked through a portion and so far not really find anything excessively good on that one day (except one at Costco). All the stores are marking stuff down to move it, a couple % off is no big deal if you have to fight crowds of other shoppers.

[bale002]

Originally Posted by subsound

All the stores are marking stuff down to move it, a couple % off is no big deal if you have to fight crowds of other shoppers.

Thanks to all for your input.

I'm not looking for any particular brand or the latest thing - on the contrary - but this last argument has convinced me to wait.

And not only that, but I expect the recession to deepen in the first quarter 2009, and so possibly even lower retail prices. They certainly ain't going up, at least for the moment.