How to get the best deals in France’s summer sales
A new study has determined the best week to shop for bargains, depending on the items you are hunting for
It may makes sense to wait until the final markdowns
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According to a new study released as this year’s summer Soldes d’Été begin in France, the best deals are usually found later in the sales period.
The study by price comparison tool Idealo, based on figures from the 2023 soldes (June 28-July 25, 2023), aims to pinpoint the best time for shoppers to get the best bargains.
The Soldes d’Été denote the official summer sales period in France, which is set to last for four weeks until July 23 (except in Corsica, where the sales begin on July 10).
Each year, France hosts summer and winter sales periods during which shops can sell items at a loss – the only time they are allowed to do so – helping them destock before new articles arrive for the next season.
Read also: Dates and rules for the 2024 summer sales in France
Read also: Explainer: Les soldes d’été, France’s regulated summer sales
The Idealo study found that rather than storming the shops on day one, the best time to bargain hunt is in the sales’ fourth week, to take advantage of the second markdown.
‘First week least favourable for bargains’
“Looking at price trends week by week, the first week of the sales is the least favourable for bargains,” said Idealo. "Out of 50 products monitored, 20 products (including 12 high-tech products) have the lowest prices.”
However, it may depend on the types of products you are searching for.
The study also found that certain products in the high-tech and 'home and garden' categories tend to see the best discounts from the second week of the sales onwards.
This includes goods such as speakers, sound bars, fridges, and microwaves. Other product categories may also offer especially good bargains, the study found.
For example:
Sports trainers: Prices have fallen by 3.3% during the sales period
Touch-screen tablets: Price drop of 2.8%
SSD computer storage disks: 2.3%.
These small markdowns can make a difference, the study stated.
"Even if the price difference observed during the sales can sometimes be minimal between weeks, it can lead to savings of around €100 when several items are combined,” said Anna Perret-Silberberg, editor of the study at Idealo.
Advice for the best deals
Based on its findings, Idealo advised:
Make a list of the products you really need in advance, to avoid being tempted by other deals
Compare and track price trends online throughout the sales
Avoid jumping on the first discounts; it usually pays off to wait at least two weeks or more for the best bargains
