The Best Time and Place To Buy a TV

While it’s always fun to have new electronics in the house, we know shopping for them isn’t necessarily easy. Televisions are no exception, but there are a few things you can do to ensure you’re getting the best deal on a quality TV. 

You will get the best deal on a TV if you buy it at the right place and at the right time. So before you start shopping, it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for.

What You Need To Know Before Buying a New TV

Shopping online is great for comparing prices, but it’s also a good idea to visit a few stores and get a feel for different TV sizes before taking the plunge. And don’t get sucked in by a particular brand. 

“The reality is that you hurt yourself more if you pay more for a brand name TV,” money expert Clark Howard says. You can often find TVs of the same size with similar features that are significantly different in price simply because of the brand. He adds, “You’re best off going down on brand and up on screen size — or down on brand, keep the same screen size and keep more money in your pocket!” 

After you’ve identified exactly what you want in a new TV, then it’s time to shop! In this article, I’ll cover when and where you should look first in order to avoid overspending.

The Best Time To Buy a TV

Our team at Clark Deals has been searching for the best prices on quality TVs since 2016. I recently took the time to go back over each deal we’ve posted since the beginning to see when and where the most TV deals have popped up. 

On average over the past few years, we’ve seen the most TV deals posted in November. Unsurprisingly, Black Friday is arguably the best time of year to buy a TV at a discount.

Still, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to grab a great deal if you’re shopping at some other time. 

The beginning of the year is also a great time to check for deals. Playoff and Super Bowl season during January and February means you’ll find tons of promotions and price reductions on TVs of all sizes.

In addition to major holidays, you’ll also see regular daily and weekly deals at electronics stores like Best Buy.

If you aren’t pressed for time, you should monitor the price of potential purchases at a few different stores for a while. Using websites like CamelCamelCamel can help you track a TV’s price history, but it’s always best to watch the prices yourself for a period of time. 

If you do need to buy a TV right away, be sure to check for those current daily or weekly deals, and you still may be able to score a great price!

The Best Place To Buy a TV

Since 2016, we’ve seen Walmart, Best Buy and Fry’s Electronics post the most TV deals. Unfortunately, Fry’s went out of business in early 2021.

Walmart and Best Buy are not only great places to check for markdowns, but they’re also great to use for your price comparison if you think you’ve found a good deal at a different store. So far this year, we’ve seen a few great daily deals posted on Amazon’s discount site, Woot.

Based on what we’ve seen, Walmart lists the most TV deals because of constant rollbacks and restocking.

As mentioned, you’ll also find lots of daily and weekly deals throughout the year at places like Best Buy and BrandsMart USA. Other great places to check include Amazon, Target, Sam’s Club and Costco. 

Always be sure to check out local stores and price compare online before committing to any one store.

Using tools like Google Shopping can help you to find the best available prices online, but always make sure you’re ordering from a reliable source!

Online stores such as eBay, Walmart and Amazon often show products from third-party sellers, so be sure to read reviews and familiarize yourself with the shipping and return policies for each item to avoid unexpected fees. 

Best TV Deals Right Now

See even more deals here.

Final Takeaways: 

• Avoid overspending on brand. You’ll get a better deal by going “down” a brand and up a TV size — or choosing the same size TV and pocketing the difference in price.
• Watch prices and hold out for holidays. Use tools like CamelCamelCamel and watch prices yourself over time to see when you should make the purchase. If you can hold out for Super Bowl season or Black Friday, you’ll have more choices on better deals! 
• Compare prices. Always check more than one store (in fact, check as many as you can!) and use tools like Google Shopping to avoid overspending. 

Don’t be afraid to shop for used or refurbished electronics for even more savings, just be sure to buy from a reputable seller and get to know the seller’s policies. If you’re currently in the market for a new TV, check out these great deals on TVs right now!

Where have you seen the best deals on TVs lately? Let us know in the Clark.com Community!

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