How retailers inflate prices before deal events

Holiday shopping this season may look different than years past, as tariffs gradually increase prices on everything from electronics to kids’ toys. If you usually wait until Black Friday to find deep discounts, you may want to update your strategy this year. 

Wirecutter’s deputy editor Annemarie Conte joins us to discuss how tariffs are impacting the prices on a range of goods, and how to plan for your holiday shopping accordingly. You can find more of her reporting in Wirecutter’s Guide to Navigating Tariffs This Holiday Season.

This episode covers:

• Price increases may sneak up on you this year: Wirecutter’s deals team has seen incremental price increases across many categories. “This is death by a thousand cuts,” Annemarie told us. “It may be a couple dollars here, a couple dollars there. As you're shopping, you may actually not notice, and then when you think about how much you've spent in the cumulative, you're like, ‘Where did all that go?’"
• Retailers are running out of existing inventory: Before the tariffs hit, many manufacturers and brands imported as much as possible to preempt extra costs. However, as they sell down this stock and need to import more, they will likely pass the increased costs on to customers. 
• Why you probably shouldn’t wait for Black Friday: Wirecutter’s deals team doesn’t anticipate seeing as many deep discounts as in years past. If you find a good deal now, Annemarie advises against waiting.
• Beware of artificially-inflated prices: Retailers often inflate prices right before a deals event, such as Black Friday, so that they can then drastically cut the price during the event. For Amazon shopping, use tools like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel to track an item’s price history and how the price compares to past deals. For other sites, you can use Google Shopping to track prices. 
• Shipping may be slower this year: There may be shipping delays, especially for international orders. If ordering online, make sure you’re giving yourself at least two weeks for delivery. 

Additional Listening:

• The Wirecutter Show Bonus Episode: Tariff Shopping Confusion 

Additional reading:

• Wirecutter’s Guide to Navigating Tariffs This Holiday Season
• We Tracked Prices on 40 Wirecutter Picks for 60 Days. Here’s What We Learned.
• How to Avoid a Huge Customs Bill on a Cheap Online Order

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