Autumn can usher in good deals on seasonal products

When it comes to shopping, a new season means an influx of fresh items and a discounting of merchandise related to the previous season.

National consumer publications and websites give lists of things that are good to buy in September, October and November because prices are at a low in those months.

“We have a whole department of market analysts, and they look at what consumers buy and when,” said Mandy Walker, senior project editor of Consumer Reports. “They find out that some things don’t go by the calendar, but some still do: electronics, appliances, sports gear.”

Items such as gas grills and lawnmowers go on sale at many stores because it’s the end of the season, Walker said. But inventories also are lower, so you may not get the color you want, and you want to be sure you are still getting a reliable model.

“You want a marriage between a great price and a great performing product,” Walker said.

Even for local businesses that don’t do clearance sales, there are waves when deals come along.

“For us, we’re very different from big-box stores. We don’t treat barbecuing and outdoor living as seasonal,” said Josh Cary of All Things BBQ. But “people will find coming into the holidays or April-May add-ons, covers, fuel, other things discounted or free.”

At Ultra Modern Pool & Patio, “September is still our biggest kick for all things pool and spa and outdoor living, because October can get cold, and we’re really trying to move a lot of stuff in September,” said Nick Dillon, manager of the east-side store.

But stores don’t only discount things from the past season. According to Consumer Reports, snow blowers go on sale in late summer, including into September. Those will be last year’s inventory, Walker said.

And there are teaser sales to new models coming out, such as in digital cameras and wireless speakers. New camcorders will be coming out in the fall, too, so look for deals on older models.

When the coolness of October and November arrives and thoughts move away from swimming pools, Ultra Modern focuses on billiards, offering discounts on items related to them, Dillon said.

Also according to Consumer Reports, new bicycle models come out in the fall, meaning older models will be discounted.

September and October are popular months for weddings, so look for deals on china, dinnerware, glassware and flatware – whether or not you are shopping for newlyweds, Consumer Reports says.

According to the magazine’s website, “new car models often debut in the fall, so you might find discounts of 15 percent or more in August and September on leftover models. Buying a year-end closeout model makes particular sense if you plan to keep the vehicle for five years or longer. Otherwise, you’ll lose out on the trade-in value because cars see their biggest depreciation in their first year.”

Walker recommends doing a lot of research especially before buying a car. If the extras are being discounted so that the price of the car comes in at what you wanted to pay, it may still be a good deal.

No matter what you shop for and when, “you still want to compare prices, too. You want the best price,” Walker said.

And it’s best to wait for deals on some things, according to Consumer Reports. For example, cruise lines offer their deepest discounts starting in January; most fall and winter clothes are marked down the most right after Christmas; February is best for markdowns on last year’s furniture; spring is the best time to find a deal on a refrigerator. You may be able to get deals on gaming systems right before the holiday season, which is when most new games come out, often with free add-ons such as a controller and subscription membership. Gaming systems and accessories also may be bundled for the holidays, the publication says.

Here are some of the items that national websites list as things to shop for in the fall months:

September

Bicycles, cars, holiday airfare, wine, older-model appliances as retailers want to clear out inventory for new appliances coming out in October, digital cameras, patio furniture, gas grills and grill supplies, lawnmowers, plants and trees, small consumer electronics, snow blowers, disposable party supplies, school supplies, office supplies, underwear, socks, Broadway tickets

October

Bicycles, denim, back-to-school clothing on clearance, older-model appliances, cars lingering from September, computers, digital cameras, gas grills, lawnmowers, winter coats

November

Candy (after Halloween), baby products, bicycles, camcorders, cookware, gas grills, GPS navigators, toys, TVs, tools

Black Friday and Cyber Monday fall in November, but the sales get earlier and earlier than those actual days, so be aware of what’s out there. Also do your homework and be sure you’re getting a real deal.

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Autumn can usher in good deals on seasonal products."