In this day and age, there seems to be a sale popping up every other day, but is there a best time of year to pick up a lawn mower for a bargain? In my experience, some months of the year and a few select holidays are ideal for saving a significant sum of money on your new mower. So, before you rush out to grab a new mower, let’s look at the best time to get the best deal.
When Do Lawn Mowers Typically Go on Sale? (The Short Answer)
Even though there are a lot of holidays in the year, some stand out as the best when it comes to lawn mower sales. Thankfully they are spread out through the year, so you don’t have to wait too long to snag a deal. Here are the major holidays to look out for:
- Memorial Day – May
- Father’s Day – June
- Independence Day – July
- Labor Day – September
- Black Friday – November
- Cyber Monday – November
The Best Time to Buy a Lawn Mower?
If you plan ahead for your new mower purchase, you can save a good amount by waiting for the time of year when lawn mowers go on sale. So let’s go over the best time to buy a new lawn mower at a bargain.
If you have ever paid attention to how the big box stores stock their stores, you will have noticed that they usually have one area that is rotated for seasonal products. If you walk into stores like Home Depot or Lowes during the summer, the first thing you’ll see is garden furniture, BBQ, and lawn mowers. These products dominate the rotation section from early spring all the way through late summer. But once the fall and winter holidays get closer, the summer products get pushed to one side until they completely disappear. And as the seasons change, the cycle progresses, and lawn mowers get replaced with Halloween decorations, Thanksgiving decorations, and Christmas decorations.
By what I can tell, the stores start to reduce their stock of lawn mowers starting as early as Labor Day and have a final push to free up room in their stores for Black Friday. So I would say the best deal you are going to get for a new lawn mower is when demand falls after the summer season. The fall and winter are when lawn mowers go on sale. If you can wait to buy your mower until Labor Day or Black Friday sales, then you’re in for some savings. The only drawback of Black Friday and end-of-the-year sales is that choice can be limited.
However, it might be a good opportunity to purchase last year’s model at a lower cost. If you are open to different mower choices and you’re not specific on which mower you want, then you could be looking to save 20% during this end-of-season mower sale.
Other Sale Periods During the Year
Life is unpredictable, and if your old mower dies on you and you can’t wait until Labor Day or Black Friday sales in early September or late November, then you’ll need to look at the other holidays. Here are some of the best times to buy a lawn mower:
Memorial Day
Looking through the consumer price index, it appears that on Memorial Day you could get a 15% discount on a new lawn mower in one of the big box stores here in the USA. This is a very convenient holiday, as it falls early in the year during May, as the cutting season is starting. Unfortunately, this is also when many people decide that a new lawn mower is needed, so the mowers will likely sell out fast. But if you can snag one, a 15% discount can definitely make a difference.
Independence Day
Lawn mower sales can be limited during July. Stores know that the cutting season is in full swing and consumer demand is at its highest. As a result, a 10% discount would be considered a good deal. In general, I wouldn’t classify the summer season as a great time to purchase a new mower, but 10% off the retail price is better than nothing.
Labor Day
Because Labor Day falls within the summer period, discounts are not going to be anything to get super excited about. You will likely find a 10% discount off the recommended retail price. If you can’t wait until Black Friday, then Labor Day sales could be a good option.
Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is an online-only sales event that tags onto Black Friday sales. Retailers aim at consumers who like to shop online and have their products delivered straight to their doors. The benefit to Cyber Monday is that you may find models that aren’t available in your local store and usually come with free delivery. Like Black Friday, you could look to save around 15% on your purchase.
How to Snag the Absolute Best Deal on a New Mower (My Top Sales Tips)
But what if you’re on a tight budget and need to find a better deal than the discounts offered? I’ve been there too and have some tips for you. Here are a few ways you can increase the savings offered.
Loyalty Cards
In-store loyalty cards or points cards allow you to accumulate points with purchases made within the store. Once you have enough points, you can redeem products from the store. If you are making big purchases, these points can add up quickly and make a difference.
Store Credit Cards
Most retailers offer their own credit cards, which instead of offering points, offer cash. The upside to cashback is that you can spend your reward outside the store.
Personal Credit Cards
You probably already have a credit card that is affiliated with one of the big-name retailers. These cards usually offer additional cash back when you purchase items within the affiliate program. So, if you already have a credit card that is affiliated with stores like Lowes and Home Depot, be sure to make the most of their programs. I’ve seen programs that offer up to 10% cash back on purchases. This makes a holiday sale of 15% much more attractive.
Alternatives If You Want to Save Money on a Mower But Can’t Wait for the Sales
Combining different sales throughout the year with credit card reward programs can help you save money, but how do you get a bargain if you need a new mower when there aren’t any active sales? If you use a couple of different approaches, you can still achieve savings that make a difference.
Older Models
Manufacturers are always coming up with new models. It’s a well-known fact that suppliers want the latest and greatest products lining their shelves. As a result, any old model sitting in the store is taking up valuable space. I recommend you visit your local stores, check out the old models, and see if they are discounted.
Display Models
Display models in some stores are classified as used or open box. This means the retailers are not allowed to sell the products for the full MSRP because they are technically used. You’ll find that when newer models become available in store, the old ones are discounted. This means the old display models may have an even bigger discount.
Price Matching
Most stores these days have a price matching program, meaning they will match the prices of other retailers. More recently, these price matching programs have started to include online retailers. If you find a product online for a lower price, then many stores will match the price.
Ask for a Discount
Even though a product may not be displayed with a discount, it’s still possible to get it for a lower price. This trick is best used in those independent stores like your local mower shop or farm store. So, don’t be afraid or embarrassed, just ask for a discount. There’s no harm in asking.
Used Models
Finally, buying secondhand is the biggest discount you’ll get on a lawn mower. This is the way to go if you want a 60% discount. Sure it will have scratches and a few dings, but you can save 60% or more on the cost. Big savings when buying a second-hand mower doesn’t mean it’s old or close to death; it just means it’s used. If you go down to your local mower store, you’ll find they have a selection of used products that they have serviced. Alternatively, if you are a budding mechanic, online marketplaces like Facebook and Craigslist can gain you significant savings.
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