4 tips for saving on electronics and other gifts for Father’s Day

Smart Spending: Honor Dad within your budget

NEW YORK — Father’s Day may not make as big a splash as Mother’s Day — people spend much more on Mother’s Day and even Easter, according to the National Retail Federation.

That’s no reason not to try to make your own splash. But it’s easy to overspend when you’re getting gadgets, the most popular Father’s Day gifts, according to market research firm IBISWorld. The firm expects spending to rise 3 percent this year for the holiday, to $9.85 billion.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of time before June 20 to find deals on special gifts for the dads in your life.

Here are a few ideas.

LIMITED-TIME DEALS: Check the Web for short-term deals. Amazon.com, for example, has a page for Father’s Day-appropriate “Lightning Deals.” Borrowing the concept behind group coupons — but eschewing the middle man — Amazon offers short-term price cuts on a limited amount of a particular item. The site tracks how many items have been claimed and how much time is left on the deals.

— Recent offerings: 50 percent off a pair of Klipsch Synergy Bookshelf Loudspeakers that Amazon normally sells for $250, and 44 percent off a four-person tent that normally sells for $179.95.

REFURBISHED GOODS: Refurbished items can be a way to get a great discount on a pricey gift. Just make sure you go to reputable dealers. For electronics, B&H Photo Video offers used equipment from cameras to computers at www.bhphotovideo.com; local electronics stores also often offer deals, while cell phone carriers and electronics makers also offer discounts on used equipment.

— Recent offerings: At B&H, a fourth-generation iPod nano with 16 GB of memory was selling for $99.95 ($134.95 new) and Nikon 8×40 Action VII binoculars for $49.95 ($61.89 new).

Many sporting goods stores also offer preowned equipment online and in stores. For example, golf clothing and equipment seller Golfsmith offers a wide selection of preowned clubs. Many are nearly new, because the company allows anyone who buys a new club 90 days to return it for 90 percent of what they paid.

“A lot of them are very gently used, some have only been played once,” said Matt Corey, Golfsmith’s senior vice president for marketing. “They’re a great deal for a dad.”

— Recent offering: At the top of the list this week was a used Ping G10 Fairway Wood with a graphite shaft for $79.93 (originally $219.99, it can be found for $129 elsewhere online new).

FAMILY DEALS: Fishing and camping trips can be a great gift for dad, but pricey. As an alternative check out Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp. Beginning last weekend and running through July 11 — perfect timing for Father’s Day — the outdoor retailer is offering a bevy of outdoor activities to families for free, such as hiking, practicing at a shooting range and a fly fishing casting pond at most of its 56 stores.

“It’s an inexpensive way for the whole family to get out and learn how to do things like pitch a tent together,” said Katie Mitchell, Bass Pro Shops spokeswoman.

GOOD OLD KICKBACKS: Even when you can’t find the perfect gift on sale, you still may be able to ease the pain of the price with deals on shipping (it’s free for Father’s Day gifts at The Conran Shop and lots of sites have cut their rates). Some retailers are also offering substantial gift cards — free — with Father’s Day purchases.

— Recent offering: Barnes & Noble is promoting its Nook electronic reader by offering a $50 gift card with each one.

Online:

www.amazon.com

www.bhphotovideo.com

www.golfsmith.com/po

www.basspro.com/

www.conranusa.com

www.barnesandnoble.com/nook