Buying “out of season” can save customers nearly half the regular retail price on some items, new research reveals.
PriceSpy, the price and product comparison website, found that consumers will pay a premium for buying in “peak season”.
The website’s analysis of a wide-ranging of home items found that buying a barbeque in December saves 42 per cent while buying a garden storage shed at the end of summer means shelling out an extra 38 per cent.
While different trends may emerge in 2024, the findings may at least give an indication of when we might expect items to be cheaper or more costly.
PriceSpy says It’s always worth doing a bit of research and looking out for sales and offers as they crop up.
Price comparison websites and price drop alerts can also help people to check whether they could be getting a decent price.
Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, UK country manager at PriceSpy, says: “Simply put, no one wants to pay more for something than they have to. Knowing the best time to buy can help with year-round budgeting and ensure you’re in a position to snap up great offers when they come around.”
File photo: A family prepares are barbeque— (Getty Images)
She adds: “Seasonality is nothing new when it comes to retailers’ pricing strategies, however PriceSpy’s data reveals just how significant the premium can be when it comes to peak seasonal pricing.”
Here are PriceSpy’s tips for price savings and price premiums in particular months of the year, based on data from its website in 2023.
The typical percentage savings and extra costs in particular months are based on a comparison with average prices for these items across the whole of 2023.
Past prices do not necessarily reflect future trends:
January
Buy:
Laptop (10% saving)
Don’t buy:
Football boots (7% extra cost)
February
Buy:
Sunglasses (11% saving)
Don’t buy:
VR headset (12% extra cost)
March
Buy:
Slippers (14% saving)
Don’t buy:
Barbecue (17% extra cost)
April
Buy:
Ice-cream maker (24% saving)
Don’t buy:
Dehumidifier (7% extra cost)
May
Buy:
Tent (7% saving)
Don’t buy:
Television (9% extra cost)
June
Buy:
Lawnmower (9% saving)
Don’t buy:
Vacuum cleaner (5% extra cost)
July
Buy:
Calculator (23% saving)
Don’t buy:
Pizza oven (28% extra cost)
August
Buy:
Backpack (7% saving)
Don’t buy:
Gaming chair (11% extra cost)
September
Buy:
Lego (12% saving)
Don’t buy:
Garden storage unit (38% extra cost)
October
Buy:
Espresso machine (10% saving)
Don’t buy:
Mobile phone (12% extra cost)
November
Buy:
Airfryer (14% saving)
Don’t buy:
Pressure washer (7% extra cost)
December
Buy:
Barbecue (42% saving)
Don’t buy:
Pushchair and stroller (16% extra cost)
