Saturday, 25 November 2023
by Rose White
Image source: Getty Images
The holiday season is when retailers make their best attempt at getting our foot into their store or cookies on their website. Most of the big dogs — Amazon, Target, Walmart — command attention with ongoing deals, but they’re not the only ones that can help your personal finances with big savings. As you’re looking for holiday deals, check out sales at these five underrated stores.
I know what you’re thinking, and, yes, this store went bankrupt. But ever since Overstock purchased its intellectual property, Bed Bath & Beyond’s online store has been pretty robust. It sells pretty much the same inventory and still gives out 20% coupons for single items. It also has immense sales on a variety of items, from Christmas decor to furniture to kitchen appliances. It’s worth taking a look, if only for nostalgia’s sake.
Costco isn’t an underrated store, but during the holidays, the warehouse retailer’s sales can be easy to miss. That can be a huge loss, as Costco’s prices are often the lowest you’ll find for certain products.
Of course, Costco doesn’t have the largest selection and may not have specific items that people have asked for. For example, you’re likely not going to find the hottest toys at Costco, nor will you find a wide selection of electronics and gadgets. But you will find heavily discounted kitchen appliances, furniture, clothes, and even wine. It might not be a catch-all for everything on your list, but if you’re a Costco member, it’s worth exploring.
One thing that Costco does well is gift cards. Costco sells gift card packages to a variety of retailers — from restaurants to games for popular consoles — with savings ranging from 10% to 30%. Many of these gift cards come in packs of two or four, so this could be an excellent way to buy several people a gift at once.
During the holidays, the online Disney Store runs frequent sales on its toys, clothes, and accessories. Often, it gives you a coupon code that you can apply toward one item at checkout. For example, during Black Friday, Disney is offering 20% off toys and sleepwear with the code DREAM and 25% off with the code GIFT. If someone on your list wants Disney items, buying them directly from the Disney Store in this way could offer the most savings.
Even though Amazon’s prices dominate for single book purchases, Barnes & Noble remains a top contender when you’re buying more than one. One of the best deals you’ll find on books is the bookseller’s “buy one, get one 50% off” promotion. Through this promotion, which you’ll find in store and online, you can save a significant amount of money on popular fiction, nonfiction, and kid’s books.
For pet parents, Chewy’s “Goody Boxes” make good presents. Like a gift basket, these boxes come with pet treats and toys. Better yet, the boxes are discounted by 30% with code PET30 through Nov. 30.
All in all, it’s easy to go with your favorite retailers for your holiday shopping. But by keeping your options open, you might find greater savings opportunities elsewhere. Keep tabs on these retailers and strike when the deals are hot.
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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.