5 Things You Should Never Buy During Labor Day Sales (and What To Get Instead)

Labor Day is right around the corner, and so is one of the biggest end-of-summer shopping events. But before you whip out your credit card, you should know that not every discount is worthy of your consideration. We talked with Chris Ribeiro, founder of the market research and consulting agency Starlight Analytics, and shopping expert Trae Bodge for their insights on what to skip during Labor Day sales — and what you should get instead.

Labor Day Sales To Skip

Tech Deals

Both Ribeiro and Bodge suggest that you avoid purchasing technology such as smartphones and TVs over Labor Day. It may be tempting to pick up a new Apple iPhone if you see a deal, but remember: The new iPhone is announced most often after Labor Day, and then retailers will usually mark down prices for older models. According to Ribeiro — who worked for years on the brand side at retail companies — sales at this time of year are usually “retailers just clearing floor space, but not giving you a good deal.” Overall, tech deals are much better later on in the year, during the holiday season, so you should hold off on purchasing until then if you can (with one exception, which we’ll get to below). 

Toys and Holiday Gear

Though it may be tempting to get a head start on holiday shopping for the grandkids, you also shouldn’t get anything toy-related right now. “Toys tend to be on sale over Black Friday/Cyber Monday,” Bodge says, and if you can wait, “prices are often even better in December.” 

The same goes for winter and holiday-related items — prices will be much lower around Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Skip any holiday gift sets you may see popping up, too. There won’t be a ton of variety, as it’s a bit too early, so you should instead “wait until later in the season to see what’s available and for the best prices,” Bodge says.

Fall and Winter Apparel

Apparel is another category to avoid. “Fall apparel will go on sale in late fall, so while you might be tempted to pick up a few pieces now, you’ll be paying close to full price,” Bodge explains. “If you need cold-weather apparel, you’ll start to see discounts over Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and the discounts will deepen in December.”

Labor Day Deals To Get Instead

According to Bodge, Labor Day is a good time to shop for “small and large home appliances, mattresses, summer clearance, and lingering back-to-school deals.” 

Ribeiro recommends scoping out what you think you may want to buy before sales kick off and taking a screenshot of the price. That way, you’ll “know if you are actually getting a deal or if the retailer just marked it up.” He also recommends checking the return window, as a lot of these items are “sold as final sale, and people wind up getting stuck with things over a moderate discount.”

Back-to-School Products

Whether you need a few extra supplies for a child who recently headed back to school or simply want some new notebooks and pens yourself, there are plenty of back-to-school deals on Labor Day, according to Bodge and Ribeiro.

You can save “on essentials for kids K-12 and college-aged students,” Bodge says. Savings “span a variety of categories, from school supplies to clothing … to home organization and cleaning products.”And while you shouldn’t make most tech purchases at this time, Bodge says Labor Day sales are a good time to get deals on back-to-school tech — specifically laptops. 

You can take advantage of early savings on back-to-school supplies now at Amazon, Target, and Walmart, and on back-to-school laptops at Office Depot and Best Buy.

Summer Clearance

Summer items are another category Bodge and Ribeiro recommend picking up during Labor Day promotions. From poolside equipment and bathing suits to patio furniture and grills, you can find quite a few discounts at this time of year that will allow you to be prepared for next summer. Summer items go on sale because “retailers need to get rid of it before fall and winter inventory lands,” Ribeiro says. 

Wayfair is already kicking off the outdoor savings, with deep discounts on things like patio tables and planters. Pottery Barn also has big discounts on high-quality outdoor furniture. Keep an eye on outdoor savings at Home Depot and Amazon for items for your backyard or patio. 

Mattresses

Both Bodge and Ribeiro say that you can get great deals on mattresses at this time of year. “Labor Day tends to be a big mattress sale period in general, but you tend to see the more premium brands go deeper than usual during this time period,”  Ribeiro says.

Casper has up to 30% off mattresses at the moment, with up to 35% off if you decide to bundle your purchase. Sleep Number also has deals, including 30% off on bundles. And DreamCloud is running deals that could get you up to 66% off.

Small and Large Appliances

If you’re looking for appliances for your home, now is a great time to take advantage of savings. “New models are put out [in] early fall,” Ribeiro says, “so last year’s stock is getting marked down.” Appliances with the biggest discounts include “refrigerators, washers, and dryers,” Ribeiro notes, and according to Bodge, you can get great deals on small countertop appliances too. 

Bodge recommends that homeowners “use this time to replace an appliance that’s on the fritz.” In particular, you “should look for bundle deals where you can save more the more you buy,” she says. “Homeowners should check with their power provider too, as there may be trade-in offers or statement credits for EnergyStar appliances.”

Home Depot is showing generous discounts on refrigerators, with savings of as much as 42%, and washer and dryer sets as much as 37% off. Lowe’s also has some great savings right now, with as much as $900 off certain selections of washers and dryers and $1,600 off on refrigerators. “Don’t forget to go directly to the brands you like,” Bodge says, “because they will be offering savings, too, especially bundle deals.”Meanwhile, Amazon has excellent discounts on small appliances, including items for the home and kitchen. 

Knowing what you should buy now and where you should be patient can help you save big. And with those decisions made, you can focus on other important Labor Day matters — like throwing an epic barbecue or what you’re going to put on your hot dog.

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