Best time to buy a game console and when bundles help

Verdict: Wait for a bundle in the fall sale season. The console itself seldom drops far. The saving is in the games and accessories.

Game consoles are different from TVs or laptops. Makers keep the console price steady for long stretches. Stores often add value with bundles instead of cutting the price. That changes how you time the purchase.

Dates change each year, so use this as a pattern and check the retailer for the current offer.

When are consoles usually cheaper?

In general:

• Fall sale season. Bundles with a game or an extra controller are common.
• After the holiday. Some bundles are cleared in January.
• New model launches. An older model may be discounted when a new one arrives, though not always.
• Spring and summer. Usually quiet, with fewer deals.

Ruling: If you want games anyway, wait for a bundle.

Is a bundle really a deal?

Only if you would buy what is in it. A bundle with two games you wanted is a real saving. A bundle with a game you would never play is not. Add up the items you would have bought, and compare the total with the console plus those items separately.

A worked example

These numbers are round and made up. A console is $450. The bundle with a game and a second controller is $500. You would have bought the game for $60 and the controller for $60. Separately that is $570, so the bundle saves $70. If you did not want the controller, the saving is $10.

Ruling: Count only what you would buy.

Should you buy last year's model?

Sometimes. If the maker has released a new model, the older one may be discounted. Check what is different. For some people the difference is storage or speed. For others, it does not matter. See last year's model vs the new model.

Check which games and services you want to use. A console that does not run them is not a deal.

What about used consoles?

A used console can save money. Check the return window and what comes with it. Ask if the seller reset the console, and test the controller and the disc drive if there is one. Buy from a seller with a clear return policy.

What is the extra cost?

Plan for:

• A second controller.
• Storage if the console is short on space.
• An online subscription, if you want online play. Check the current terms with the service.
• Games.

Ruling: Set a total cap, not just a console price.

When should you not wait?

If the console is a gift for a set date, buy early. Stock for popular models can run short in December. Also check the shipping date. See holiday shipping cutoffs: when to order so gifts arrive.

What are common mistakes?

• Buying a console without checking the games you want.
• Skipping the return window.
• Ignoring the extra costs.
• Buying from an unknown seller on a marketplace.

What about the controller and the games?

Extra controllers go on sale more often than consoles. Games drop quickly after launch, and digital sales run through the year. If you are buying a console as a gift, buy the console when the bundle is right, and add games later when prices dip. Check if a game is tied to a certain console or account.

Ruling: Buy the console on a bundle, and the games on their own sales.

How do you buy safely as a gift?

Keep the receipt and the box. Check the return window, since the holiday window may run into January. Open the console after the day only if the store allows. Check that the console is the version you meant, with the storage size you want.