Labor Day Sales: Where to Find the Best Deals
It's sad to realize that the summer season is winding down, but Labor Day is indeed here already. That means a farewell to pool parties and summer hours -- but heralds the arrival of the Labor Day holiday sales extravaganza, when many stores offer special discounts on summer clothing and accessories and end-of-season furniture and housewares.
"If you're on the lookout for clothing, it might be a good weekend to snatch up late-season apparel, a lot of which you can easily transition into a fall wardrobe," says Lindsay Sakraida, features director for dealnews.com. Also, "keep an eye out for Labor Day coupons that will take an extra discounts [on] existing markdowns, which are popular for the holiday weekend." Sakraida points out that the current round of coupons can bring as much as an extra 35% off reduced prices: "In many cases they aren't the best coupons we've seen from these stores, but they sweeten existing sales."
Here's a round-up of some specific deals from major retailers this Labor Day. In general, sales begin Saturday and end on Monday, September 5, unless otherwise noted below.
- Amazon Beauty store: Spend $20 and save 25% promotion on select Johnson & Johnson items from Aveeno, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, RoC, oral care brands (Listerine, Rembrandt, Reach), wound care (Band-Aid, J&J and Neosporin). The sale runs for a week starting on Sunday, September 4.
- PCA is featuring the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach for $149 (reg. 199) from Thursday, September 1 through Friday, September 9.
- Amazon Student: Buy $50 in qualifying textbooks and get $5 in MP3s.
- Jewelry sale: Get an extra 30% off necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.
- Up to 50% off medical books, including references, test prep aids, pocket guides, manuals, etc. Find all sale titles here.
- Free $5 eGift card when you purchase any Madden NFL12 video game. Offer ends September 13.
- Receive a $15 eGift Card when you purchase or rent $150 worth of new or used print textbooks -- only at bn.com while supplies last. Offer ends September 9, 2011 at 2:59 a.m. Eastern.
The mega-retailer is offering storewide savings. Online shoppers can use the code FALL and receive an additional 10 to 15% off select merchandise. Specific promotions include:
- 30-50% off fine jewelry
- 20% off watches
- Garmin GPS on sale for $199 (originally $299)
- Buy 1 get 1 free on men's suits (Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole, Van Heusen, Alfani and Club Room)
- 10% off Macy's entire home store
- 60% off bedding (Hotel, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger)
- 50% off luggage
Like Macy's, JCPenney is featuring a wide variety of sales for the whole family:
- For kids: Okie Dokie mix-and-match tops or bottoms for $5.99 (orig. $11.99)
- For teens: 50% off T's for him and her; City Streets colored denim for $17.99 (orig. $38); Southpole and Arizona guys polos for $9.99 (orig. $25-30)
- For dorm: Twin-pack bed pillows for $7.99 (reg. $19.99) and jcpHome twin sheets for $17.99 (reg. $40)
- For women: 40% off dress shoes for her from brands including Worthington, Nine & Co., Studio Paolo and more
- For men: 55% off men's sport coats
- For home: Philippe Richard 16-piece nonstick cookware set for $49.99 (reg. $124.99) and 40% to 50% off all furniture and mattresses
The home improvement chain is offering 10% off all appliances $397 or more purchased online. Many appliances have already been reduced, so the 10% discount is an added savings. Purchases included free delivery. The deals include:
- Maytag 25.3 Stainless Steel Refrigerator on sale for $988.20 (originally $1699). Save another 10% for a total of $889.38.
- GE Adora 30-inch Self-Cleaning Freestanding Electric Convection Range in Stainless Steel for $808.20 (originally $999). Save another 10% for a total price of $727.38.
- Admiral 6.5-cubic-foot Super Capacity Electric Dryer for $298 (originally $349). Save another 10% for a total of $268.20.
Like its rival Home Depot, Lowe's is offering competitive deals on home and garden merchandise such as:
- 20% off Char-Broil grills
- 15% off Troy Bilt snowblowers
- 15% off Energy Star qualified appliances $397 or more
- 10% off other major appliances $397 or more
Labor Day deals at the home furnishings chain include up to 60% off clearance items and 50% off outdoor furnishings. For example:
- Bennett Dining Table for $1099.99 (was $1499)
- Lowell Mirror Drop Chandelier for 299.99 (was $399)
- Stamped Teapot for $19.99 (was $49)
- PB Classic Towels for $3.99 to $9.99 (were $8 to $16)
Gap Outlets
Gap owns Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store, both of which are running specials until Labor Day.
- Gap Outlet: Get 70 percent of select styles and purchase select men's and women's sweaters for $14.99. Use this coupon and earn another 20% off purchases of $75 or more.
- Banana Republic Factory Store: Take another 40% off the entire store, including clearance items. And when you use this coupon you can take an additional 20% off purchases of $100 or more.
- Baby Sale: Save on car seats, cribs, strollers and high chairs. Offers runs online starting Thursday, September 1 through Saturday, September 3 and in-stores Sunday, September 4 through Saturday, September 10.
- TV Sale Event: Find discounts of 10% to 20% on 10" to 60" flatscreen TVs through Saturday, September 10.
- Patio Furniture: Price cuts of 5%-20% off select patio furniture
- 5%-20% off select Halloween costumes
- Get 15% off furniture and rug purchases of $125 or more. Some exclusions apply.
Now through Saturday, Sept. 10, Best Buy is running a special called "Perfect Match Promise." Here's how it works: Best Buy will offer free delivery of appliance purchases above $429. If the price of the item drops within 60 days, the company will refund you the difference. If you get it home and decide within 30 days that it's not your "perfect match," Best Buy will pick it up and take it back for free. Featured discounts include:
- 35% off Samsung High Efficiency Top Load washer and dryer for $649.99 each (originally $999.99 each)
- 20% off select Samsung High Efficiency Front Load washer and dryer for $559.99 to $719.99 each (originally $699.99 to $899.99 each)
- 20% off Maytag Top Load washer and dryer for $399.99 each (originally 499.99 each)
- 30% off select Samsung refrigerators
Farnoosh Torabi is a personal finance journalist and commentator. She is the author of the new bookPsych Yourself Rich, Get the Mindset and Discipline You Need to Build Your Financial Life. Follow her at www.farnoosh.tv and on Twitter/farnoosh.
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