Two things to considder on sales items.
If a company operates on a fiscal year end other than december, or is operating at calender year end for taxes, they are going to want to move stock on hand before that deadline to avoid paying tangable taxes on the asets they have. You may get good deals then.
Seasonal items also. When it goes outa season.. many companies get rid of it to keep it from taking up floor space.
I bought my riding lawnmower, and a 4' finish mower during the dead of winter a few years ago. In fact.. I had a hard time finding a store anywhere that had either item. When i did, and casually walked out to look at the 'last on the shelf' items.. the salesmen fell all over me offering me discounts to buy 'x'.
I got my finish mower something like 300 bucks cheaper than if I had bought 3 months earlier.. and the lawn mower about 150 cheaper. Both new.. no returns.. just last of a kinds for the season ....
I was happy.. but had to convice the wife.
Soundguy