When a “Sale” is NOT a Good Deal

Everyone wants a bargain. Why wouldn’t you want to pay as little for something as you possibly can? But a sale isn’t always a good deal, and just because something is supposedly on sale doesn’t mean you should buy it. Here five reasons to pass on a sale.

1. Two For or Buy One Get One Free are only a good deal when you really are getting two or more for the price of one. Some stores will raise their prices on the original item and then offering two for one. That’s not always a deal. Now, if you actually need two or more of the product, and the price increase still makes both of them cheaper with a BOGO, that is indeed a great deal.

2. If something is on sale that you’ll never use, not even as a gift for a friend or family member, don’t buy it. It’s so easy to get excited about a sale, but you’re just throwing away money if it’s something for which you have no use.

3. High shipping costs can turn an online sale into a waste of time and money. Sometimes you have to buy quite a bit in sale items to make the shipping costs worthwhile. Check shipping rates before you start shopping online. If the shipping rates are based on how much you spend, just know you may have to buy a lot to truly get a deal.

4. A bargain for someone else may not actually be a bargain for you if you have to go in debt to buy it. Remember, the whole point of buying something on sale is to save money. If you buy it on credit and end up paying interest for several months or even a year, it’s costing you more money to buy it on sale.

5. Sometimes “all sales are final” conditions apply on sale and clearance items. If something breaks, tears or has some other defect you can’t see when you buy it, you’re throwing away money. If you’re thinking of buying something that can’t be returned, examine it closely before making a final purchase.

Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. Really think about if you need it first, and then make an informed decision.