What to Expect from 2012 Memorial Day Sales

Published May 24, 2012

By Lindsay Sakraida, dealnews Features Director

At dealnews, we're sometimes jaded about holiday weekend sales. They always receive increased marketing pushes that aim to convince shoppers that this is a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity. But many times, when we compare the discounts to everyday dealnews bargains, these holiday sales are actually just average.

Memorial Day is a bit different though, for a few product categories. For the past two years, we've seen numerous retailers offer respectable sales that feature sizable stacking coupons. In many cases, these extra discounts were the best we'd seen so far that year. In fact, 50% of Memorial Day branded discounts from 2010 and 2011 were the best we'd seen since that February, if not earlier.

What makes up the bulk of those "best of the year" offers? Sales from apparel retailers and a few home goods stores top the list. The hottest sales from last year, for example, included discounts from Perry Ellis, Last Call Neiman Marcus, ShopEcko, Designer Living, Pottery Barn, and West Elm. Memorial Day weekend sales are timed particularly well if you're looking for clothes, as spring apparel is already starting to see late-season discounts; a large stacking coupon will make for some pretty choice price-lows. Expect to see promotion codes that take up to an extra 50% off, but more regularly an additional 30% to 40% off.

However, despite the good news within the apparel category, that doesn't mean all Memorial Day weekend sales are great. It's always an awkward period for electronics, and summer-specific goods like patio furniture and grills will naturally see better discounts the longer you wait in the season.

So, as you prepare to shop at one of the many Memorial Day weekend sales, first consider what you're looking to buy. Apparel is more likely to see the best discounts. But, in order to know whether that sale or coupon is something special or about average, be sure to pay attention to the comparison information that dealnews provides.

Front page photo credit: 123 RF

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Please note that, although prices sometimes fluctuate or expire unexpectedly, all products and deals mentioned in this feature were available at the lowest total price we could find at the time of publication (unless otherwise specified).

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