(CNNMoney) — Shoppers can get their hands on Black Friday deals earlier than ever this year. Many stores are opening their doors Thursday evening. But it may be better to hold off buying certain items. Here’s a list of what shopping experts say not to buy.
Toys
Black Friday ads for the season’s hottest toys are everywhere — from Toys R Us to Wal-Mart and Sears. But PayPal shopping specialist Claudia Lombana says that shoppers will find deeper discounts two weeks before Christmas, when stores try to get rid of old stock.
Brand name HD TVs
“Doorbuster” deals on flat panel TVs are one of the chief draws for crowds that camp overnight outside electronics stores in their sleeping bags, a common Black Friday image. But Paypal’s Lombana said that while electronics are a top seller on the annual shopping day, the best prices on high end HDTV’s tend to come in January and February when manufacturers gear up for new spring models.
Clothing
It’s hard not to make a beeline for the “50% off today” sign next to the winter coat or boots you’ve been eyeing. But the crowded shopping day is not the time to snap them up. Hana Ben-Shabat, a retail partner at consultant A.T. Kearney, says clothes and shoes are usually discounted even further as the holiday season wears on because stores have to gear up for a change in seasons.
Digital cameras
That high-tech digital SLR camera that you have been wanting may be on a big sale on Black Friday. But don’t reach into your wallet for the splurge on that day. Technology is changing so quickly that stores will be lowering prices even further come February, when models considered “new” now will be replaced.
Christmas decorations
Stores may be decked out with Christmas trees and playing their finest carols, but shoppers should stifle their Christmas spirit the day after Thanksgiving. Resist the urge to buy Christmas decorations on Black Friday. Paypal’s Lombana says that as Christmas gets closer and stores worry about unloading their holiday items, prices fall fast. Of course, if you are a good planner, the best time to buy decorations is once the holiday is over.
