Every year, shoppers face the same question: grab a deal early or wait for the big day? The honest answer is that it depends on what you are buying and how much risk you can tolerate. If you plan to browse the Boxing Day sales at The Good Guys, a clear plan will help you decide when to buy and how to avoid mistakes. This guide compares early and late shopping across five areas: price, stock, convenience, risk and timing, so you can choose the approach that suits you.
How retail seasons have shifted
Sale periods are no longer limited to a single day. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that retail turnover seasonality has changed, with November’s share of annual non food retail turnover rising from 9.3 percent in 2003 to 10.6 percent in 2021, before easing to 9.8 percent in 2023. December’s share fell from 12.7 percent in 2003 to 11.3 percent in 2022. The ABS links part of that shift to Black Friday, which mainstream retailers began joining around 2017. In plain terms, more spending now happens before December, so early deals are a real part of the calendar.
Round one: price
Early sales can match or beat post-Christmas prices on popular items, especially when retailers compete for attention. Late sales, however, often include clearance pricing as stores make room for new stock. If a product is a stable, widely stocked model, you may find little difference. If it is a seasonal or older model, waiting can sometimes produce a deeper discount.
Round two: stock and choice
Buying early gives you the best selection of sizes, colors and models. Popular items can sell out before Boxing Day, leaving fewer choices. If you are flexible about brand or color, waiting can work. If you need a specific model, early is safer.
Round three: convenience and delivery
Shopping early spreads your spending and avoids last-minute delivery problems. Large items like fridges and TVs can take time to schedule, and holiday periods slow everything down. A late purchase might leave you waiting weeks for delivery, which is a problem if your old appliance has failed.
Round four: risk and scams
Sales periods attract scammers, and rushed buyers are easy targets. Scamwatch lists the warning signs on its page about buying and selling scams: unbelievably low prices, missing terms and conditions, and requests to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or to several different PayIDs. It also advises checking that an ABN is real and that the account name matches the payee before you pay by bank transfer. These checks apply whether you shop early or late, but the pressure of a one-day event makes them easier to skip.
Round five: peace of mind
Early shopping leaves time to compare, test the item and return it if something is wrong. Late shopping can feel more exciting, but it leaves less room for reconsideration. If you have a long list, splitting it across both periods lowers the risk.
When to shop early
Buy early if you need delivery before a deadline, want a limited model or have a firm budget and a clear need. Early is also better for gifts, since you can be sure they will arrive before Christmas.
When to wait for Boxing Day
Wait if you are flexible about the model, want to see how prices move or are happy to postpone the purchase. Waiting also suits items you do not need immediately, such as an upgrade that is nice to have rather than essential.
A hybrid strategy
Many savvy shoppers split their list. They buy time-sensitive items early and keep a shortlist of upgrades for the late sales. They also set price alerts, write down current prices and compare them against the final offers. That approach captures the best of both worlds without relying on luck.
Tracking prices before the sale
The easiest way to know whether a deal is real is to track the price ahead of time. Note the cost of your target item a few weeks before the sales begin, then compare it with the offer. Take a screenshot or write down the date, since prices can change without notice. If the sale price is only slightly lower than the normal price, you may be better off waiting or choosing another model.
What about gift purchases?
Gifts follow different rules, because delivery deadlines matter more than a few extra dollars of savings. If something needs to arrive before Christmas, early buying is the safe option. For gifts you can give after the holidays, such as a belated present or something for your own household, late sales can work well.
Questions to ask yourself
Do I need this item soon? Is the model likely to sell out? Can I afford it without a sale? If the answer to the first two is yes and the third is no, an early purchase is probably wise. If you answered no, no and yes, waiting is low risk. Honest answers save more money than any sale ever will. Write them down before you open a single sale page, and you will find it much easier to walk away from a deal that does not fit your plan.
The verdict
Neither approach wins every time. Early shopping offers choice, convenience and safety, while late shopping can bring bigger markdowns on selected products. Decide what you need, set a limit, check every offer carefully and buy when the price and the timing both suit you.
