WASHINGTON – If you’re looking for a new TV, July is the perfect time to buy a high-quality TV for lower-than-average prices.
Prices on many major brand 55- and 60-inch TVs have decreased hundreds of dollars because of high inventories and fewer people in stores, according to NBC News.
The lower prices are expected to last through the month, according to NBC.
TV prices will go up again near September when the NFL football season begins.
TV makers are adopting “unilateral pricing polices,” which allow them to set the absolute lowest price a dealer can sell a TV. This means if you spot a model on Amazon.com, chances are, it may be listed for the same price at retail stores, such as Best Buy.
Here are some tips from NBC to get the most bang for your buck with TVs this month:
- Wait. The longer you wait for a model this month, the less expensive it will be.
- Avoid sales tax. Buying a TV online from an out-of-state retailer means you may be able to avoid paying sales tax. While many states collect sales tax, there is not (yet) a system for online sellers.
- Check your retailer. If a shadier dealer is offering a TV for prices far below the unilateral prices you’re seeing at Amazon or Best Buy, it may be too good to be true. The lowest prices don’t always mean the best deal because unauthorized dealers can have terrible return policies, extra-cost extended warranties and more.
- Haggle. Some retailers are able to negotiate a price lower than the one listed or will match some unauthorized online retailers’ prices. Talking about the pricing options allows you to possibly get a price similar to an unauthorized online retailers’ without the risk associated with it.
Veronica Robinson contributed to this report. Follow her at @VRobWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.
