You may not have finished your holiday shopping, but this year, procrastination could pay off. So-called after-Christmas sales could start as early as this weekend, according to DealNews, a site that tracks online promotions.
Last year, after-Christmas sales began going live as early as Dec. 23. Since Christmas Eve falls on a Monday, don't be surprised to see a few branded sales begin as early as Friday, Dec. 21, Louis Ramirez of DealNews wrote on the company blog.
In the electronics category, big-name HDTVs could come with big savings — prices lower than those during Black Friday week — as retailers are desperate to move out their 2012 inventory by the close of the year. You can expect to see deeper discounts on high-end TVs (including smart TVs with Internet connectivity) compared with their lowest November prices, DealNews said.
For example, if an HDTV was on sale for 30 percent off during Black Friday, after-Christmas prices will likely be marked down an additional 5 to 8 percent, so you could wind up saving around 40 percent on the original price. Digital cameras and laptops should also receive their lowest prices of the year.
And don't worry if you're not ready to face the after-Christmas crowds either this weekend or next week. With the annual Consumer Electronics Show opening on Jan. 6, retailers will continue discounting electronics into early February to make room for new products as they become available in the months following the show.