Don’t buy another television until you read this

Photo of author

By Christopher Elliott

Before you run to the store to buy a television on Black Friday, you need to know about Larry Valverde, who purchased a new set from Best Buy last Black Friday.

“I paid $800 for the television,” he remembers. “The salesperson told me that if we found a better price in 15 days we could have the difference refunded.”

And wouldn’t you know it, a few days later that same store had the same TV on sale for $200 less.

“When I went to store they said, ‘We don’t give credits for televisions purchased on Black Friday,'” he recalls. Best Buy also wouldn’t refund the $200, as it had promised.

Why? “The salesperson never said the company had any restrictions to make it hard to get a refund or credit,” he says.

And that’s why you absolutely must read this story before Black Friday. If you’re thinking of buying a television, one of the most frequently purchased items during the frenetic sale period after Thanksgiving, then there are a few things you need to know.

When is the best time to buy a television?

I’m fascinated by the seasonality of prices. When is the best time to buy something? When is the best time to ask for a refund? And, on the flip side, when should you not buy something or ask for your money back? Only a few sophisticated consumers know the answers to these questions. I believe businesses have a vested interest in keeping that information from the rest of us, and it’s time for that to change.

When it comes to televisions, here’s what you need to know: television models are revamped every year. The worst time to buy a television is in January to May, when new models are being introduced.

Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. Learn more at Sodexoinsights.com.

“The best time to buy a late model television is at the end of the year, especially in November during Black Friday, or right around that time,” says Wheeler Dixon, a film studies professor at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. “That way, you can get a current year model television for a steep discount — sometimes less than half its original price.”

That’s generally true. But “around” is the operative word. Valverde’s problem with Best Buy suggests that some retailers will play price games, setting a higher price on a TV during the traditional sale season and then lowering it as Christmas approaches.

Is your television deal real?

The TV is what really puts a smile on our faces, so how can you tell if the deal you stumbled upon is real? You can consult your favorite search engine or a site like Pricewatch, which lists the street prices for consumer electronics.

A recent study by Gap Intelligence and Consumer Reports of 2016 television models suggests that after new television models are introduced from early March to late May, prices began to drop immediate and predictably. When Black Friday promotions began in November, prices fell in tandem. “We found many sets selling for as little as 50 percent of their original retail price,” the report concluded.

But the Gap analysis also found another buying window just a few weeks before the Super Bowl and running through March. Average television prices rose as new models entered the market, but prices on the preceding year’s televisions hit their low point as retailers worked to clear out old inventory and create shelf space for new arrivals, according to the report.

And there’s another consideration in the ebb and flow of supply and demand for used televisions. On secondhand marketplaces like OfferUp, the best time to buy a television is during the month of July. The average price of televisions on OfferUp during July is $180. (Related: Mom’s Element doesn’t work – can you help her?)

“We can guess that with busy summer travel and planned vacations, OfferUp users are more inclined to price televisions at a lower cost in hopes it will sell quicker,” says Natalie Angelillo, an OfferUp spokeswoman. “The Fourth of July holiday is also a popular time for electronics to go on sale, meaning an opportunity to find a TV at a cheaper rate.”

There is no perfect time to buy a television

In other words, there’s no one perfect time to buy a television. If you want last year’s model, buy around the Fourth of July, when the market is flooded with used sets. If you want a brand new unit, start looking around Black Friday, but don’t fall for the first sale. Remember, retailers may offer even more aggressive discounts as Christmas draws near.

Never, ever buy a television during the spring. That’s when you’ll find the highest prices for a set. But, as Valverde will tell you, mind the traditional sales, too. You may still find a too-high price or purchase terms that are not favorable to you.

And remember, if you run into any problems, you can always contact my advocacy team. We’re here to help.

Photo of author

Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter. He is based in Rio de Janeiro.

Related Posts