5 Products on Deep Discount in March
Expect larger-than-average discounts on string trimmers, vacuums, air purifiers, and more
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March is the first month of the year without a major shopping holiday, but there are still opportunities to find savings on something you may need right now. Retailers often use this month to off-load the previous year’s inventory to make room for new products, which translates into savings for shoppers. And March 9 to 15 is the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week, which often brings deals and discounts on mattresses, sheets, pillows, mattress toppers, duvets, and other sleep-related products.
Plus, this month, Consumer Reports is holding our first Member Appreciate Week from March 11 -18. For this special event, we’ve partnered with 14 brands whose products have excelled in our tests to bring our Digital and All-Access members exclusive offers not available to the general public. Some of these offers include products listed below, and the full list can be found here.
CR’s experts track pricing for every product we test to determine how often items go on sale and when they’re at their best price. In particular, our research has shown that air purifiers and vacuums
(including robotic vacuums) tend to be especially wallet-friendly this month. Seasonal items, such as space heaters and string trimmers, are often discounted as well, as retailers jump-start sales on spring items.
Air Purifiers
You may be able to find air purifiers on sale in March—perfect timing for the spring cleaning season. They’re great if you or someone in your household has asthma or is allergic to airborne allergens like dust or pet dander.
In addition to looking at the purchase price of a room air purifier, you’ll want to factor in its operating costs. You could spend $50 to $200 per year on filter replacements and electricity.
To reduce those costs, seek out energy-efficient models (check for Energy Star certification) and washable filters. Choosing a large unit and running it at a lower speed will keep the noise down. Use a higher speed to clean a large room quickly.
To understand more about what to look for and how much to pay, check our air purifier buying guide and ratings.
The portable Blue Pure 211i Max features an indicator light to alert you when you need to change or clean the filter. It also has a dirt sensor and four speeds. On its higher setting, it’s terrific at removing dust, pollen, and smoke, but expect a bit of noise. Try it on low and you’ll have more quiet while still experiencing top-notch results. This model is designed for use in a large space of 350 to 650 square feet and costs about $109 a year to maintain—just more than half that of the Pure 211+. It also weighs just 17 pounds, making it easy to move around. CR members found Blueair air purifiers highly reliable and were quite satisfied with their purchase.
CR members shopping at Blueair can save 35 percent on this and any other top-rated models through March 18. Just use the code BLUEAIRCR35 at checkout instead of the one listed above. This brings the price down to $227.49, a large difference compared to the public sale. The discount is good for up to four models and cannot be combined with any other offers.
The Woozoo does a solid job of removing dust, pollen, and smoke at both high and low speeds. What’s more, it’s one of the more cost-efficient large room air purifiers to operate and maintain. Just expect a bit of noise while it’s running. It’s $100 more than the lowest price, but that deal is rare.
The Levoit PlasmaPro 600S is a solid performer all around, clearing the air of dust, pollen, and smoke at both higher and lower settings with great results. It’s noisy while running at a high speed, but it’s relatively quiet at low speeds. That makes it an ideal choice for an office or a bedroom. And you don’t have to worry about keeping track of filter changes; an indicator light alerts you when it’s time. This machine also has a dust sensor and a programmable timer.
Vacuum Cleaners
March tends to see an uptick in sales on vacuum cleaners as allergy season gets underway and people start to think about spring cleaning. Vacuums are among a handful of products that are always going on sale, but this month you can expect to see even deeper discounts than usual, making it an ideal time to finally replace your old one with an upgrade to something better.
There are so many different kinds of vacuums to choose from that it can be daunting to find the best option for your home. For heavy-duty jobs, upright and canister vacuums might be what you need, but when it comes to versatility, a lightweight stick vacuum (corded or cordless) could fit the bill. There are even combo vacuum-mops that do both jobs, and well. And if you want a totally hands-free model, there are robotic vacuums as well as robotic mops. To help you decide, review our vacuum cleaner buying guide and ratings to select the best brand and model for your budget.
The Shark Stratos AZ3002 is almost always available at this price, but CR members can get an extra discount during Member Appreciation Week (see below for details). This upright vacuum is good for any home that has a mixture of surfaces, especially if you have a pet (it has a top score in picking up fur). It does a solid job cleaning carpets and an excellent job on bare floors. The lift-away feature that allows it to be used like a canister is another bonus.
Right now, CR members can save $30 on this or any single item over $150 from Shark with the code CR30. Just click the Get Offer button above, head over to the Shark website, and enter the code at checkout.
The Bissell CrossWave Cordless Max Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac Mop (try saying that three times fast) is one of three combo-vacuum mops in our ratings that can run without dispensing liquid. The Bissell is best at dry pickup and stain removal, scoring only middling scores for wet pickup, ease of cleaning, and run time.
It’s already one of the less expensive models in our ratings, so this price makes it an even more attractive option.
For more discounts: Best Deals on Vacuums
String Trimmers
Though we usually see seasonal items go on sale toward the end of their respective season, there are often preseason sales for those who start shopping early. And if you’re a lawn-care enthusiast, you’ll be happy to know you can often find big discounts on string trimmers in March.
The ideal string trimmer will be able to trim, edge, and cut tall grass with ease, and you can find many top-rated gas, electric, and battery-powered models that handle those tasks. Gas-powered trimmers can handle bigger jobs, while electric models tend to be better for smaller properties (and they’re quieter). Corded trimmers are the most budget-friendly of the bunch but may require extension cords. Battery-powered models tend to give you about 30 minutes on a single charge, which should be good if you have a small property of a half-acre or less. Otherwise, you may need additional batteries.
Not sure what’s right for you? Read our string trimmer buying guide for lots of different options for different needs.
The Makita XRU23SM1 is right up there with the brand’s top battery-powered string trimmer. It performs impressively in every single performance test, including edging, trimming, and ability to cut through tall grass and weeds. It also has top-notch handling and a score near the top for ease of use. It uses just a single 18-volt battery and thus may not last as long as similar models. However, it’s also one of the lightest battery string trimmers in CR’s ratings at just 7.3 pounds.
The Ego ST1502SA is one of the best battery-powered string trimmers. It edges and trims as well as the best gas models, earning a top score in our trimming test, and even clears through tall grass and weeds. At 9 pounds, it’s extremely light. And because this Ego is battery-powered, it’s easy to start and operate. It will go anywhere a gas model can, but run time is limited by battery life. However, if you have other battery-powered Ego equipment, you can use the batteries interchangeably.
Space Heaters
As temperatures go up outside, the price of space heaters goes down, making March a great time to grab a good deal. Models that oscillate and have a fan will help distribute heat more quickly. It’s also important to buy a space heater that has safety features that prevent the risk of a fire, such as a sensor that will turn it off if it overheats or falls over.
One of the nicest things about space heaters is that the models with the strongest performance in temperature control, safety, and noise typically cost less than $100, so a sale will make them a great investment for any budget.
It might be good to check out the options with our space heater buying guide to find which is best for you. That way you’ll be prepared to buy when the model you want goes on sale.
This space heater is great for larger spaces. It can heat a standard-sized room fairly quickly and does very well when it comes to spot heating. It’s a CR Recommended model with top marks for noise and, more important, fire safety.
Replacement Windows
March is often a good time to invest in replacement windows. This project can help insulate your home, making it easier to keep things cool indoors during the summer months and warm in the winter.
Upgrading your windows isn’t going to be a cheap undertaking, so you may as well take advantage of any opportunity to save on materials. Opting for just replacement windows, as long as your sills and frames are in good condition, is a good start. But if you have to replace everything, the cost will go up. Getting Energy Star certified windows offers another way to save on your energy bills. And there may even be local or state rebates or incentives you can take advantage of as well.
But before you can buy new windows, you’ll want to do your research. Consult our replacement window buying guide, which goes over everything from choosing the right windows and materials to finding the right installer. CR has rated 11 double-hung replacement windows for wind and rain resistance.
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