The Best Post-Christmas Deals
Dec. 26, 2011 — -- The frenzy leading up to after-Christmas sales is nowhere near that of Black Friday, said Lindsay Sakraida, features editor at dealnews.com.
Sakraida said 35 percent of post-Christmas deals on dealnews.com last year were editor's choice picks, compared with 48 percent of editor's choice picks for Black Friday this year.
But the day and week after Christmas is one of the busiest times for gift card redemption, said a spokeswoman for Walmart. Stores are often also inundated with gift returns.
Those intent on finding a deal for themselves after the holiday crunch will find them both online and in stores.
A spokeswoman for Groupon said the deal site is not planning to have a post-Christmas promotion, but it will continue Grouponicus, its holiday gift offers.
Groupon also offers deep discounts on product deals that are not affiliated with Grouponicus. The site is selling the 75th anniversary edition of the "Joy of Cooking" cookbook for $12 plus $5.95 shipping online. That compares with $23.10 plus shipping on Amazon.com.
Groupon's deal for the cookbook expires on Tuesday evening.
Deals will be different in-store and online, so research is key. A spokeswoman for Walmart said its website and stores would offer 50 percent discounts but on different items.
Many Walmart stores will open at 5 a.m. Monday, and the store will have a clearance on select toys, home products, some apparel and seasonal merchandise, the Walmart rep said. Most retailers offer deep discounts on Christmas decorations, even fake Christmas trees, that shoppers can easily stow away in the basement or garage for next year.
Apparel deals will be aplenty for those who are in stores returning gifts. Last year, American Eagle, Aeropostale, New York & Company, Polo Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic factory stores, Express and Old Navy offered in-store deals the day after Christmas. The Gap offered an extra 50 percent off sale items in-store until noon, according dealnews.com.
A spokeswoman for Gap could not share information about its after-Christmas sales but said that leading up to the weekend, stores offered up to 60 percent discounts and 40 percent off sale items.
Nordstrom's traditionally begins its men's half yearly sales on the day after Christmas and in mid-June. Jennifer Black, retail expert and president of independent research firm Jennifer Black and Associates, recommends shoppers save receipts in case items are discounted further. Some retailers offer price adjustments.
Black said apparel retailer Talbot's is likely to offer a 40 percent discount, because it had been struggling with holiday sales.
Last year, department stores offered a plethora of online coupons. Macy's, Nike, Ann Talor Loft, JCPenney, Best Buy, Walmart, Tory Burch Timberland and Kiehl's are examples, said Sakraida. Macy's had a coupon of $10 off a purchase of $25 or more.
