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How To Find The Best Sales For Black Friday And Beyond

PITTSBURGH (KDKA)- 'Tis the season for deals, bargains and sales, but what's really worth buying right now and what can be saved a little more, if you wait?

Duquesne University Marketing Professor Audrey Guskey says Black Friday has really lost its luster and doesn't have the power that it used to have.

Guskey says, "Overall, I would say the sales are going to be much stronger as we get closer to Christmas."

That doesn't mean there aren't bargains to be had right now, especially on tablets.

Guskey says, "Tablets are hot this year, really, really hot. They're probably one of the biggest electronic items."

Android and Windows ones are going to hit rock-bottom, anywhere from $20 to $45. But for just a little more, the $50 Amazon Fire is said to offer a better tablet experience.

As for Apple's iPad Pro, which just launched last week, getting a deal on it will be slim-to-none right now and even if you do find one, it probably won't be substantial.

Instead, look for deals on the iPad Mini 4.

For the gamers, expect to find sales on the Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

In fact,shoppers will likely find the best bundles of the year right now.

Guskey says, "Whenever you can get a package deal or a bundle, whether it's for games or for other items, that's probably you're best bet, because retailers are trying to put it together and you can save money with that."

Look for bundles that offer two free games, instead of one, and make sure the math is done properly. If each game in the bundle comes out to less than $60, it's a good deal.

Refurbished gaming consoles are a cheaper option, but Guskey says consumers may want to make sure that it's operational and that it's a good price because a lot of times, buyers are only saving a little bit of money. So, it might be better to buy new, rather than used.

When it comes to smaller kitchen appliances like mixers, as well as tools, Guskey recommends waiting until right before Christmas to get that.

She says there's typically more of that type of merchandise available and retailers offer bigger discounts right before Christmas in order to get rid of their current inventory to make room for new.

However, when it comes to larger appliances, like washers, dryers, refrigerators and dishwashers, Guskey says to wait until after the first of the year.

She says the biggest discounts on those items come in March.

For clothing, holiday sales are usually the same, year-after-year, with sales offering anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent off.

Guskey says, "I would say buy that sooner rather than later. The reason for that is it can be picked over if you're looking for a particular size, particular color or particular designer. You may want to grab those items as soon as you can."

Keep in mind that online retailers typically start their Black Friday clothing deals a few days early.

Also while shoppers find deals now on winter gear, like coats and boots, better bargains  are available when clearance sales start, which will start as early as January.

And if anybody's looking for a new HD TV, hold off a little bit. Guskey says, "Retailers know that's a big-ticket item and so you may want to wait until they're trying to clear their shelves."

Be sure to look for the biggest deals on 60" sets.

They're expected to drop to as low as $550 over the holidays. If you're OK with something a little smaller, 32" sets could drop to as low as $70!

As for the new Ultra HD TVs, Guskey recommends waiting because the first generation of new electronics sometimes have bugs that need to be worked out.

She says, generally, the best deals on TVs come closer to the Super Bowl.

Finally, if you're thinking about a gift for yourself, perhaps a vacation in early 2016, you'll find much better bargains on airfare and hotels if you wait to book until January.

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