Strange as it may be, but there are certain days of the week which are better for shopping for particular items. It is all governed by the retailers, customer paydays, general public shopping patterns, delivery of goods to a store along with supply and demand.
First look at the end of the work week, Friday. Merchants know many people have gotten paid at the end of the week, now have some time on their hands, so there will be little or very few bargains available. Friday is considered a traditional shopping day for all types of items so there will be very few sales on that day. This is a day to avoid shopping.
Next day is Saturday. It is also traditionally a big shopping day with individuals off work and having just been paid, this is when they go out to the hardware store, the grocery store or the department store for those items they will need that weekend or for the following work week. Saturday will also not offer much as far as bargains or sale items. The merchant already knows the greatest number of customers will be shopping on Saturday, so in turn the prices remain the same. Occasionally a few stores who have big advertisements running in the Sunday newspapers which they might start offering on sale late in the day on Saturday.
Shopping on Sunday should be reserved for grocery shopping. The sales the the grocer started on Thursday run through Sunday, there will be coupons from the Sunday newspapers available and the stores, especially in the afternoon, are less crowded. If a Sunday is part of the beginning days of a new month, even better, more grocery items will be on sale then to clear out non-perishable items from the last month. Another great bargain is to call for a motel or hotel reservation on a Sunday. Management will be eager to provide a discount to the room rate to make sure the rooms are filled in the near future.
On Mondays, that should be when you shop for a car, new or used. First, given that it is the beginning of a work week, there are fewer people on the car lots. You will have more time to ask questions, test drive and negotiate a deal. Shop there as early in the morning as possible. The salespeople are very enthusiastic to jump start the week with a car sold. The very best time to shop for a car is a Monday morning in the month of September. The new model cars will be arriving shortly and the dealership wants to clear inventory.
Going out to a restaurant for lunch or dinner on a Tuesday is the best choice. The establishment has received their fresh food items late Monday and early Tuesday. Fewer people go out to eat on Tuesdays, so the restaurants are less crowded; you get better service and possibly a discount on the meal, if you ask. Fill the auto with gasoline on Tuesdays. Only make sure you go early in the morning or in the evening. Gasoline stations tend to change their prices between 10 a.m. and noon on Tuesdays. If you notice the gas prices have been rising, go early morning. If they have started to drop a few pennies, go in the evening.
At mid-week, Wednesday, several things can be better to purchase that day. First, there are fewer people shopping in the grocery stores on Wednesdays, so to avoid crowds, shop then if you can not on Sunday. Next, many of the movie theaters, amusement parks and recreational centers; such as miniature golf, find that Wednesdays are very slow traffic day for them. Check these places and ask if they offer any special discounts or buy one – get one free tickets on Wednesdays.
Another bargain on Wednesday can be obtained when scheduling airplane reservations. To get the cheapest rate, make the reservation on Wednesday morning and do so 21 days before the desired flight date. Generally the various airlines are setting up their fare schedules on Monday and Tuesday and trying to keep their fare lower than competitors’ rates. By early Wednesday morning you will have the cheapest flights
For most department stores their deliveries arrive on Wednesday or early Thursday in time for the big weekend crowds of shoppers. The merchants get the newest merchandise out very quickly. So shopping for clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry is great on Thursday, especially after 1 p.m. when they have had time to unpack and display the goods. Available will be those sale items that didn’t sell from the other weekend plus the best selection of the newest products or clothing. The merchant has to make room for the new merchandise so the older items offer up some great deals on Thursdays.
Know which day of week is good for certain services or products and reap the greatest rewards.
Sources:
Smart Money, by Kelli Grant, September. 5, 2006.
CBS News, ‘Early Morning Show’, September 13, 2010.
