Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday grab the headlines, those who wait until the first week of December to buy electronics may score the best deals. According to research by a University of Washington computer science professor, gadgets hit their lowest price levels after the deal-hunting crowds have thinned out a bit.

The prof tells The New York Times that retailers wait until the post-Thanksgiving mayhem has subsided to subtly cut electronics prices and clear out inventory they were hoping would sell during the most intense shopping day.

He says retailers take the opposite tack with toys as Christmas approaches, raising their prices as customers become more desperate to complete their efforts not to ruin their 4-year-olds’ lives by not getting them Leapsters.

At least the revelation about electronics provides some smug satisfaction for procrastinators and Black Friday fear-ers.

Friday’s Deals May Not Be the Best [The New York Times]

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