Black Friday isn't automatically the cheapest time to buy everything By Kyle James of ConsumerAffairs September 28, 2026 End-of-season deals are happening now: Retailers are clearing grills, patio furniture, lawn equipment, and other summer merchandise.Waiting has a downside: Prices could fall further, but the model, size, or color you want may disappear first.Some things are worth waiting for Black Friday: Adobe's 2025 holiday data shows shoppers got some of the deepest discounts on electronics, toys, apparel, TVs, and computers.If you're eyeing a new TV, waiting for Black Friday probably makes sense. But if it's a grill, lawn mower, or patio set, waiting could be a mistake.That's because retailers are already clearing out some of the very products that aren't likely to be the stars of Black Friday. And while prices could fall further, the tradeoff is that the size, model, or color you want may disappear first.Consumer Reports' September price tracking shows discounts across a number of outdoor and seasonal categories, including grills, lawn mowers, and outdoor power equipment.Here are six purchases worth considering right now.1. GrillsIf your grill barely survived the summer, don't assume Black Friday is the best time to replace it.Consumer Reports says prices are dropping on grills and other outdoor products as summer winds down. September is a transition month for retailers, when seasonal inventory starts getting cleared to make room for what's coming next.And there's a second reason to shop now: better selection.The longer you wait, the greater the chance the grill you actually want is gone. That means the lowest clearance price in November won't do you much good if all that's left is a model you don't want.Current deals:Nexgrill 4-Burner Gas Grill with Side Burner: $199 at Home Depot, down from $279 $80 off (29%).Blackstone Bronco griddle/smoker combo: $898 at Walmart, down from $998 $100 off (10%). That price was reconfirmed in a Sept. 21 update.Pit Boss Austin XL 1000 pellet grill: $536 at Walmart, down from $596 $60 off (about 10%). A grill-price tracker checked the price Sept. 25 and identified it as the current Pit Boss deal.2. Patio furnitureThis might be the strongest "buy now" category on the list.Retailers have a powerful incentive to get bulky patio furniture out of stores and warehouses once summer ends.And the markdowns are already showing up.Amazon patio furniture was recently being advertised at discounts of as much as 80%, including an outdoor umbrella base marked… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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