Black Friday: 10 items NOT to buy
(MoneyWatch) If you are one of the brave souls who will venture out on Black Friday (and the newer version, "Gray Thursday"), one of the best ways to save money is to not fall prey to retailers' seemingly "great deals." According to dealnews.com, not everything will be a good purchase on Black Friday. The site has compiled 10 items that are not worth buying this Black Friday.
1. Toys. Were you tempted by the "Toys-R-Us 2012 Holiday Hot Toy List"? Well, you may want to wait to buy that coveted Furby. Most retail experts say that without a "must-have" toy this season, many will see deep discounts within two weeks of Christmas.
2. Apple iPad mini. While there may be an iPad mini promotion out there, chances are the price will remain close to the current $329. Early adopters should be aware that the iPad mini is fairly close to the iPad 2, and that's the version that is likely to see a steep Black Friday discount.
3. Microsoft Surface RT Tablet. If you aren't an Apple fan boy or girl and wanted to give the new Microsoft Tablet, you may want to show a little restraint. If the new Surface sales are weak, the tablet's price could fall considerably by the spring.
4. Windows 8 PC. This item was not on the dealnews.com list, but ZDNet's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols warns that "before you buy a new Windows 8 PC at any price you should keep in mind that many of your old applications aren't supported on Windows 8. Some older Windows applications, such as Quicken, aren't supported on Windows 8."
5. Jewelry and watches. The worst time to buy these items is the holiday season and Valentine's Day, when demand peaks. Deal News says this category should be on the "Do Not Buy List" for the entire holiday season. Save the purchase of these items for the spring and summer, when the best deals occur.
6. Game consoles without a bundled item: If you're looking to buy any of the major video game consoles this holiday, you will probably get a better deal with bundled products. In the past few holiday seasons, consoles that included premium accessories and two or three game titles were frequently discounted 30 to 40 percent off their retail prices.
7. Name brand HDTVs. If you have been holding out for a sweet, new HDTV and plan to splurge on Black Friday, make sure to skip the name brands. The best prices will be found with third-tier manufacturers. If you really want the big name, wait until after the New Year, when manufacturers mark down older models in preparation for the new ones due in spring.
8. The latest digital cameras. Like HDTVs, your best bet for a digital camera is an older model. If you are hoping for a new digital SLR, hold off until February or later when it becomes an "old model."
9. Holiday decorations. You may not be able to put this off if you have no left over holiday paper from last year, but not surprisingly, holiday decorations tend to be terrible items to purchase on Black Friday. Remember that deals on Christmas items get better the closer we get to the holiday itself -- and of course are the best after the holiday.
10. Winter apparel: Unless you really need that winter coat or scarf, wait until January, when winter apparel goes into the clearance bins.
Don't forget that if you are going to brave the crowds this holiday season, conduct research before you go out. Many of the large brick and mortar stores will have online coupons, so you can easily compare prices from the comfort of your home. If you have a smart phone, load it up with shopping apps like Nextag, TGI Black Friday and Snip Snap. As always be sure to bring a list of the items you want so you don't blow your whole holiday budget early with spur of the moment, emotional purchases.
