Beware of Boxing Day Sales

[Statica]

Just spent a couple of hours in an exercise in futility trying to get some friends to look more carefully into these so called Boxing Day Sales, and I'd urge all of you to do the same, especially the canucks.

Be careful to check for:
1) Whether it is something you really need, and to do your research just as if you were buying it at regular price. Check for compatibility, and whether all the software is provided
2) Check how low in the mfg-er's model line you are at, when you buy something on massive inventory sales. Most (especially chain super)stores will try to dispose of older product lines in the name of such sales. For example, if you are interested in a printer by Epson, and the model number is EP-309, and EP-309 is the lowest model of printers that has updated drivers for Windows XP, you can pretty much be sure that they will probably discontinue creating new drivers for that printer with the next version of OS .. and rely on the goodness of the OS to support the printer natively
3) Beware of mail-in rebates
(a) Firstly, I dont know where you shop from, but the stores out here are lousy at honoring mail-in rebates properly. Its a chance that they may not send you your refund.
(b) Be aware of the time it takes to get your mail-in rebate refund. Some places ask for 8-12 weeks. Are you sure that you couldnt get a better CD-writer cheaper in 3 months time?
(c) Be aware of the actual price of what you are paying for. This is especially true out here in Canada. Remember that the tax (15% out here) is before the mail-in rebate. So you're paying considerably more on taxes than your final price.

[HAL9000]

I pull my phone cord on boxing day. Too many friends telling me about these great deals. I get tired of telling them it's not so great, trust me.

[archie]

I read an article today about boxing day ... lost the details , but apparently, it's unique to commonwealth countries ... so if our American friends are unsure about it, it's a day/week of 'sales' [there are some bargains to be had] where retailers/shoppers are in a frenzy.

[Omletteboy]

Indeed, Boxing Day deals are not that great. If there was anything good, it will be gone by the time you wake up...