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Looking for the best summer deals? A recent GOBankingRates survey of 999 women revealed that most of them are shopping at three big retailers for their summertime needs: Walmart (37%), Costco (13%) and Amazon (12%). The respondents also weighed in on what stores they thought had the worst summertime deals: local grocery stores (27%), Target (14%) and Trader Joe’s (11%).
Read on to see what consumer experts had to say about the results and why they think shoppers responded the way they did.
Best Retailers for Summer Deals
Here are some of the best retailers to shop at for summer deals, according to survey respondents.
Walmart
The majority of women surveyed said that they were shopping at Walmart for the best summertime deals. Melanie Musson, a finance expert with Clearsurance, said shoppers may have responded this way because of the store’s tendency to host a great deal of sales, with many being focused on the time of year. “Walmart consistently offers low prices on seasonal items, and its rollbacks help you save even more,” she said.
Melissa Cid, a consumer savings expert at MySavings.com, agreed with Musson, saying that Walmart is known all year long for having good prices, so obviously shoppers would continue to go there during the summer. “Walmart has everyday low prices that attract customers, especially ones that may not have the time to shop around and compare prices. Knowing that they are most likely getting a good deal at Walmart is one of the most attractive parts of shopping there,” she said.
In terms of what items to buy, Musson added that those with a green thumb looking to work in the yard during the summer will also like what Walmart has to offer. “Their gardening centers have excellent prices on plants and supplies,” Musson said.
Those looking to entertain this summer should also hit up Walmart, according to Cid. “Their food is always priced well, so it’s a great place to pick up your barbecue essentials like meats, chips and buns,” she said.
Amazon
Musson said shoppers like Amazon because it’s effortless to see that they’re getting the best deal. “With Amazon, it’s easy to see how much you’re saving. When you do a quick product comparison, you can see that often, you’ll save 10% or more when you buy something from them,” Musson explained.
Musson also pointed out that Prime Day happening during the summer makes Amazon a particularly hot spot to shop in the summer. “Prime Day will happen sometime in July, and when those deals drop, they’re some of the best of the year. They usually feature extra savings on many small home appliances and electronics,” she said.
Cid said she likes Amazon because of the variety of products the site offers and offered a tip to those looking to score a deal. “I highly recommend browsing not just the first page or two of an Amazon search result, but dig further to find some serious hidden gems,” Cid explained. “I bought my daughter a splash pad that I found on page four of the search results that was a fraction of the price as what Amazon was showing me on the first page.”
Costco
Those who like shopping at Costco in the summer are looking for something a little bit rarer than what they might find at other stores, according to Musson. “You can also count on their price for these specialty items to be significantly lower than where you can get it elsewhere,” she explained.
If you spot something you want at Costco, though, it’s best to buy it as soon as possible, according to Musson. “Costco’s inventory is always changing, so when they offer something, you know you’ll likely have a short window to buy it,” she said.
Worst Retailers for Summer Deals
While there are a lot of retailers offering great summer deals, there are also some that consumers are avoiding this summer.
Local Grocery Stores
Finding that prices actually go up during the summer at grocery stores? Musson said you’re not seeing things — that could very well be the case.
“These stores bring products in for the summer, but they often treat those products as something extra special and therefore more expensive. Instead of offering seasonal deals, they offer seasonal items at higher prices,” she said. This might be why you’re spending more at these stores during the hotter months.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is known for having specialty treats and food that you can find only at its stores, but those items are not always cheap or easy to find. “Trader Joe’s products change so frequently that it can turn your grocery run into a disappointing experience, especially if you found a product you love only to return a few weeks later and see they no longer carry it,” Cid said.
This makes it a bit of an unreliable source for shopping during the summer.
Target
Shopping at Target can be hard, as it can feel like all the best deals have already been snatched up. “Target runs some great summer promotions on apparel, but the early bird gets the worm because they seem to run out of stock in-store and online fast, which causes shopper frustration,” Cid said. “I have been trying to purchase a pair of sandals for over a month with no luck of my size ever getting restocked.”
Cid said your saving grace with Target is to take advantage of its Target Circle coupon offers and try to snag promotions as soon as they roll out.
Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 999 American women aged 18 and older from across the country on between May 3 and May 7, 2024, asking twenty-two different questions: (1) What will you spend the most on this summer?; (2) Has inflation impacted your summer vacation or travel plans this year?; (3) If you’re going on a vacation, how do you plan to travel? (select all that apply); (4) If you’re going on a vacation, where do you plan to stay? (select all that apply); (5)How much do you expect to spend on vacation this summer?; (6) What’s the best way to save money on vacation costs?; (7) If you are a parent, how much will you spend on summer activities/camps for your child(ren)?; (8) If you are a parent, how much will you spend on weekly child care costs this summer?; (9) Which retailer do you shop at most for your summertime needs?; (10) Which retailer do you think has the worst deals on summertime essentials?; (11) If you shop at Dollar Tree, what’s your summertime must-buy? (select all that apply); (12) If you shop at Costco, what’s your summertime must-buy? (select all that apply); (13) If you celebrate Memorial Day, how much money do you plan to spend?; (14) If you celebrate the Fourth of July, how much money do you plan to spend?; (15) If you celebrate Labor Day, how much money do you plan to spend?; (16) If you’re shopping during Memorial Day weekend, what are you planning to buy? (select all that apply); (17) If you’re shopping during the Fourth of July, what are you planning to buy? (select all that apply); (18) If you’re shopping during Labor Day weekend, what are you planning to buy? (select all that apply); (19) Do you plan on working a side hustle this summer to cover expenses?; (20) What are some ways you plan to save extra money this summer? (select all that apply); (21) How do you plan to build your wealth this summer? (select all that apply); and (22) Which summer purchase is worth every penny, in your opinion? (select all that apply). GOBankingRates used PureSpectrum’s survey platform to conduct the poll.
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