Take advantage of July 4th sales

This holiday weekend is the perfect for bargain shoppers who don't want to battle crowds. Just 19 percent of people plan to shop on Independence Day this year; that's up from 14 percent last year, but still light compared with other major holidays, when as many as 45 percent of shoppers cram into stores, according to RetailMeNot, a website that helps consumers find deals on the Web. Consumer Reports market analysts say you'll find some of the biggest markdowns on swimsuits and other summer outdoor gear, as well as indoor and outdoor furniture and camcorders.

When I called several of the nation's largest retailers to ask about their 4th of July sales, they all sent me to their websites to check out their flyers. We've compiled a few examples from their sites below, but the list is likely tailored to our region in the New York City metro area. And the list is by no means exhaustive, so check retailers' websites for more.

Remember that some of the advertised deals you'll see are not necessarily the lowest prices you can find, as we often found from the random selection of items we checked, so do a little comparison shopping at competitors sites before you head out to the store. Inventories in stores can of course vary from online offerings, so check availability on the stores' websites; to snag the best deals, you may need to order some items online. Most of the sales extend beyond this weekend.

When you spot the best deal, don't neglect to negotiate an even lower price if you can. Consumer Reports surveyed shoppers about their bargaining experiences, and found 89 percent of those who tried to get a better deal on everything from jewelry to home electronics were rewarded at least once in the last few years. And the savings were often substantial: Furniture buyers, for instance, saved $250 on average.

Plan to do some car shopping this weekend? We've got the best deals on American made cars.

Best Buy

Appliances The site says microwaves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, ranges and ovens, and dishwashers are up to 30 or 40 percent off. We spotted a Whirlpool over-the-range microwave (WMH53520CS) that did well in our lab tests for $299.99, about a 25 percent savings (it was also selling at Home Depot, Lowe's, and Sears for about the same price).

Electronics An Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch laptop (MGXA2LL/A) that we found usually runs around $2,000 is selling for $1,800, about the same deal we found on Amazon and Microcenter.com. A Canon VIXIA (HF R62) camcorder is listed at $50 off for $399.99, but we found it on Amazon for $390 with free shipping for Prime members.

Home Depot

Appliances The home goods giant says several large and small appliances, from refrigerators to vacuums, are discounted anywhere from 10 to 40 percent off. A Whirlpool three-door French-door bottom-freezer (WRF535SMBM) that did very well in our tests and retails for around $1,300 is on sale for $998.

Gas grills Most grills are only about 10 percent off. For example, a 6-burner Blue Rhino model (GBC1273SP) that did well in our tests is $494, down from around $530. However, a Dyna-Glo Premier grill (DGA550SSP) that did very will in our tests and usually runs around $484 is discounted to $199.

Lowe's

Appliances Like Home Depot and Best Buy, Lowe's has many models marked down–an ideal opportunity, when possible, to pit the competitors' deals against one another and negotiate a better price. A Whirlpool washing machine that did well in our lab tests (WFW95HEDW) is $799, about $300 off–but Home Depot and AJ Madison.com also were selling it for $799. One of our recommended Samsung electric ranges (NE58F9500SS) is listed for $1,399; we found it on Amazon for about $1,292 before tax with free shipping.

Gas grills Several Char-Broil models are in this home goods giant's circular. For example, a Char-Broil TRU-infrared 4-burner model (463242715) that earned very good marks in our tests is $449, down from around $500.

Target

Outdoor furniture Save up to 30 percent on tables, chairs, and setting sets. If you end up buying online, save another 10 percent with the code "HOMEOWNERS."

Summer clothing and sports gear The site says duds for the whole family, plus some shoes and accessories like handbags, sunglasses, and hats, are 20 percent off. Some bikes, balls, bats, golf clubs, and pool accessories are up to 20 percent off.

Walmart

Grills A Better Homes and Gardens grill (BH1510109903) that had a good overall performance in our tests is about 25 percent off, down to $124. A Char-Broil Tru-Infrared model (463234815) that scored a very good in our lab tests is about 15 percent off ($258).

TVs There are several secondary-brand Sceptre TVs in Walmart's Fourth of July sale, including a 50-inch 60Hz 1080p set (X505BV-FMQR) for $349. Smaller models include a 32-inch 720p set (X322BV-HDR) for $159 (down $10 from its 2014 Black Friday price at Walmart). These TVs don't seem to be available elsewhere, except via the Amazon.com marketplace, or sometimes on NewEgg.com, where prices are a bit higher. There's also a Vizio 60-inch 120Hz 1080p set (E600i-B3) for $750; we found it at Sam's Club and on Amazon for a bit more, and Walmart sold it for $798 last Black Friday.

––Mandy Walker (@MandyWalker on Twitter)



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