---

name: big-purchase-timing description: "Decide when to buy a big-ticket item to get the best price — the sales cycles, model-refresh timing, and 'buy now vs wait' math for the specific thing you want. Use when asked when's the best time to buy [item], should I wait for a sale, is now a good time to buy, or when do [products] go on sale. Produces the typical discount calendar for that category, whether a new model/version is due (and if the current one will drop), a buy-now-vs-wait recommendation for your timeline, and price-tracking tactics — flagging that timing is a guide, not a guarantee."

Big-Purchase Timing

The same TV, mattress, laptop, or appliance can swing hundreds in price depending on when you buy — around holiday sales, end-of-model-year clear-outs, or a new version's launch. This lays out the typical discount calendar for what you want, whether a refresh is coming, and gives a clear buy-now-or-wait call for your actual timeline — honest that these are patterns, not promises.

What This Skill Produces

• The discount calendar — when this category typically goes on sale (seasonal events, holidays, end-of-quarter/model-year)
• The refresh read — whether a new model/version is likely due, and whether the current one will get discounted or discontinued
• A buy-now-vs-wait call — for your timeline and how much the saving is worth waiting for
• Price-tracking tactics — how to watch the price, set alerts, and recognize a genuine deal vs. a fake "sale"
• A honest caveat — timing is probabilistic; if you need it now or the saving is small, waiting may not be worth it

Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:

• The item — category and, ideally, the specific model
• Your timeline — need it now, flexible, or purely opportunistic
• Budget sensitivity — how much a potential saving matters vs. convenience
• New vs. any — must-have latest model, or happy with last year's
• Where you'd buy — region/retailers (affects the sales calendar)

Framework: Cycles, Refreshes, And Your Timeline

1. Know the category's calendar. Each product type has predictable sale windows (major shopping holidays, seasonal clear-outs, back-to-school, end-of-model-year) — map the item to its cycle.
2. Check for a refresh. If a new version is imminent, the current model often drops in price (great if you don't need the newest) or sells out — factor the release cadence in.
3. Weigh the wait. Compare the likely saving against how long you'd wait and how much you need it — a big saving in three weeks may beat buying today; a small one may not.
4. Track the price. Use price-history/alert tools to spot real drops and avoid inflated "was/now" fake sales.
5. Be honest about uncertainty. These are patterns, not guarantees — say so, and don't advise waiting months to save a little on something needed now.

Output Format

Buy timing: [item] · timeline: [now/flexible] · [region]

Discount calendar: best windows are [events/seasons] — typical saving ~[range]. Refresh watch: new model [likely when] → current one [drops/discontinues]. Recommendation: [buy now / wait until X] — because [saving vs. your timeline]. Track the price: [alerts/history tools] · spot fake "sales" by [checking price history].

Timing is a guide, not a guarantee — prices vary. If you need it now or the saving is small, don't over-wait.

Quality Checks

• [ ] Gives the category's actual typical sale windows
• [ ] Checks whether a model refresh affects timing/price
• [ ] Weighs the saving against the person's timeline
• [ ] Includes price-tracking and fake-sale detection
• [ ] Honestly caveats that timing isn't guaranteed

Anti-Patterns

• "Just wait for a sale" with no calendar or timeframe.
• Ignoring the person's actual timeline/need.
• Missing an imminent model refresh that changes everything.
• Trusting "was/now" pricing without price history.
• Advising a long wait to save a trivial amount on something needed now.

Example Trigger Phrases

• "When's the best time to buy a new TV?"
• "Should I buy this laptop now or wait for a sale?"
• "Is now a good time to buy a mattress, or is a sale coming?"
• "When do appliances usually go on sale?"
• "New phone's rumored soon — should I wait or buy the current one cheap?"