When Is The Best Time To Buy PCs?

It can become quite daunting when preparing to buy a PC. As you think of the best time to get one, be clear about your motivation. 

Are you seeking an excellent price or an up-to-date product?

Since it is costly to acquire a new device, it pays to recognize the best times for this. It can help you get a bargain. If your requirement for a computer is urgent, go ahead and obtain one. You do not have to wait indefinitely for the ultimate product or price. 

Otherwise, if there is no urgency, take time, and research. The next section helps you do this by expounding on what time of the year to spot computer deals. 

The Best Time to Buy PCs 

These are the ideal times to secure a computer.

1. Annual sales
2. Product release
3. Daily deals
4. Special days 
5. Holiday weekends
6. Generational transition 
7. Back-to-school

Best time to shop for pcs 

The amount of time you have affects how you shop for a computer. Allocate some time to compare pricing and determine what you prefer. 

Rushing can see you miss out on a deal or purchase what you do not need. 

Read on for more information on when to clinch competitive deals over the year.

1. Annual sales 

You can arrange to acquire your PC during post-holiday, seasonal, and one-day sales. 

Look out for Christmas sales as retailers want to exploit the free-flowing holiday cash. They give massive discounts to attract buyers in a bid to clear their inventory before year-end. 

The discounts are in the form of cashback offers, the usual price reduction, or voucher codes. 

Single-day-only deals happen when the holiday season starts or towards its end, such as around New Year’s Day. Have a keen eye on the retailers’ websites during the holiday season as you may find sudden discounting.

2. Product release

Retailers who expect to add fresh stock start offering discounts before the arrival of the new stock. Timing product releases can save you several hundred dollars. Deals begin a few days after the launches and continue for more days later. 

Different manufacturers have different cycles. Apple has product releases each September where you can get a MacBook at a discount. Microsoft’s event takes place the following month, in October. 

New releases happen during the spring, mid-year (back-to-school), and the holiday period that begins in September. These timelines apply to manufacturers like HP. 

Once you know which company releases products at what time of the year, you can wait for these discounts. 

3. Daily deals

It is hard to miss a deal nowadays as they are many. Popular online retailers such as Newegg always have bargains. Ensure that you keep checking to see if your specific device is on offer. 

Some manufacturers offer flash sales. Dell had a flash sale a while back where they presented a “Black Friday in July” occasion. 

Stores with physical locations also have daily discounts in which they change what is on offer every day. BestBuy is one such retailer. You have to keep checking to find the PC that you want at good prices.

4. Special days

Black Friday is best known for bargain prices on PCs. It is ideal to check what is on offer as many department stores adjust their prices downwards to attract more sales. 

Hot on the heels of Black Friday is another special day, Cyber Monday. They are three days apart. 

Cyber Monday has attractive offers for PCs, and it is worth waiting for. The two days have discounted prices on computers that may target a set amount of stock. If you see what you like, be sure to act swiftly as many others are timing those discounts. 

As you look for bargains, be cautious as some unscrupulous retailers may offer outdated systems at not-so-friendly prices. It pays to research before shopping to avoid overpaying for what may be cheaper elsewhere.

Amazon’s Prime Day was the pioneer in offering great computer discounts. This sets the pace for the back-to-school shopping season. Prime Day happens in mid-July. Amazon offers a range of computers and you are likely to find a pc that suits your pocket and style.

If you live in a state that offers sales tax holidays, you will also benefit. The tax holidays take place over the summer period to motivate spending more on back-to-school shopping. Discover computers at a fair price even though there is a limit to what the pcs should cost to be sales tax free.

5. Holiday weekends

These include the Presidents Day weekend, Labor Day, and Memorial Day weekend. They are not popular times, but retailers do give bargains. The thinking behind this is that since most people are free, they can benefit from and be attracted to exceptional computer deals. 

6. Generational transition

If you desire a computer that is not the latest in the market, you can land a competitive discount when product transitioning occurs. With the latest release of particular models, the older ones drop in price. 

It does not mean that the quality of the older PCs is inferior. It is just that the manufacturers want to do away with the old stock. They also want the consumers to embrace their released products, so heavy marketing occurs as the launch nears.

7. Back-to-school 

Though it targets high school and college students, you can cash in on back-to-school offers. It runs from late July to September when parents start buying stuff for the new school year. 

You are likely to save cash when you secure a PC at this time, as the deals are good. As the back-to-school season wears off in late summer, you’ll notice a lot of aggressive deals. 

These are in the form of computer bundles. Retailers give various things like gaming consoles or gift cards with every purchase of a new device. 

Other bundle packages include laptop sleeves, pc cleaning kit, antivirus software, and printer. The disadvantage of bundle deals is that your choice of computer is limited.

When to buy Apple PCs 

Plan to buy Apple computers around the time new products are released. This works well if you do not mind an older model, and if low price is your motivation. 

Apple has three media events annually where they share information regarding their next releases. Apart from September, other releases happen in March and June. You may secure great discounted rates at these times. Apple computers offer great bargains on Black Friday also. 

When to buy Microsoft Computers 

The ideal time to acquire Microsoft computers is when the shopping holidays have kicked off. At this time, the majority of retailers want to maximize their revenue from sales. 

Amazon Prime Day is the perfect time to secure a PC. You may get a bargain when they do product launches. This usually happens in October each year.

What to bear in mind as you look for budget prices 

1. Be clear about your computer needs: if you have no immediate urgency, patiently wait for the economical markdowns. To discover great deals each day, compare prices using tools like Google Shopping. Observe the cost of the specific model you want for a period to avoid regrets when you find better discounts after you buy one.

2. Determine the type of PC you want: be clear about the specs and model you desire. If your plans do not include using it intensively for tasks such as video editing and gaming, then be flexible. Go for a simple device that will give you value for your money. Knowing the specs you need simplifies your search.

3. Do not be hoodwinked by special or extra features. If you require the device for light tasks, there is no need to buy a fancy, high-end PC. Instead, think of increasing storage by getting external memory and accessories. This will improve your computer and assist you to avoid exaggerated prices for superior models. 

For instance, a certain customer was attracted to a computer that had wonderful features. He was about to buy it as the offer was irresistible at 50% off the initial cost of $2000. On scrutiny, he discovered it was a heavy-duty device with a focus on durability rather than performance. Thankfully, he acquired one for $800 that was better, and a free Xbox accompanied it.

4. Check reviews. Reviews of the particular model on sites like BestBuy and Amazon can provide insights on how good it is. Be wary of fake reviewers because they will give false ratings. 

5. Return policy. Find out about the return process. Some items, especially low-cost ones, might be a final-sale, meaning you cannot return them. 

6. Warranty: Ensure you understand warranty issues. Find out if the retailer offers a warranty. Confirm whether there is an extension. Warranty extensions are different depending on the retailer and the pc. Compare extension prices before settling on what suits you best. See what previous buyers say in their reviews concerning keeping their word on warranties.

7. Service agreements: Confirm whether they are available as they allow for updates. Updates are essential as they boost performance and uncover security issues. If the service agreements are unavailable, your productivity will be affected by outdated software.

For an in-depth guide to buying used computers and computer parts, go ahead and read this article.

What is the best month to buy computers? 

Deals differ from one retailer to another and one month to another. The ideal months to obtain new and old models are as below:

• January – This is the post-holiday time when the shopping frenzy has died out. The deals at this time are heavily discounted because most people have little to no money to spend. Besides, retailers are doing inventory clearances to pave way for new stock.
• July to September – As a back-to-school period, shoppers get excellent bargains as retailers target students.
• November – This month has three power days. These are Black Friday, Small business Saturday, and Cyber Monday where the hot deals are irresistible.

Is it better to buy a computer before or after Christmas?

Pros for buying before Christmas

• More variety of computers to choose from.
• Prices may be higher.
• You can still get great deals from such places as slickdeal.com.

Pros for buying after Christmas

• There are multiple sales that start from Boxing Day through to January.
• Considered the best time to purchase computers because of clearance sales.
• No urgency (you can take your time) as most people are not interested in shopping at this time.

Conclusion 

Do not be carried away by the hype that happens before a computer launches. Yes, the release could be of the newest and shiniest device, but you do not have to pay a premium price to get one. 

Do some homework, liaise with friends and family, search online and offline before making a decision. With a little patience and some reality check, you could save cash. You will end up getting the computer you desire at a price that appeals to you.

If you’d like to make some money by selling your old computer, consider listing it on Sheepbuy. Sellers on the platform aren’t charged a commission on sales, and if you sign up to our free basic tier, you can have up to three active listings at any given time, free of charge. If you’re planning to sell a higher volume, consider one of our affordable paid tiers starting at $2.99. Find out more about our packages here.