Australia Day Tech Deals Worth Considering for Regional Businesses

January sales bring technology discounts. For regional businesses, the question isn’t whether deals exist—it’s whether they’re worth your money.

Here’s my guide to evaluating Australia Day sales for business technology.

Worth Considering

Monitors and Displays

January typically brings genuine discounts on monitors. If you’ve been planning to upgrade, this is a reasonable time.

What to look for:

  • 27” or larger for productivity work
  • 4K or QHD resolution
  • Adjustable stand (height, tilt, swivel)
  • Good colour accuracy if design work matters
  • USB-C connectivity if using modern laptops

Red flags: Heavily discounted monitors are often old stock. Check model release dates.

Networking Equipment

WiFi routers and mesh systems often see January discounts.

What to look for:

  • WiFi 6 or 6E capability
  • Mesh systems for larger premises
  • Ethernet ports for wired devices
  • Quality brands (TP-Link, Netgear, Asus, Google)

Worth it if: Your current network causes frustration. Good networking pays for itself in productivity.

Peripherals

Keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets—these often discount meaningfully.

What to look for:

  • Quality brands with good reviews
  • Business-appropriate features (good microphones for calls, comfortable for all-day use)
  • Wireless for clean desk setups

Worth it if: You’re replacing tired equipment or outfitting new staff.

Storage

External drives and cloud storage sometimes discount in January.

What to look for:

  • SSD for speed and reliability
  • Adequate capacity for your needs
  • Quality brands (Samsung, SanDisk, Western Digital)
  • USB-C connectivity

Worth it if: You need additional backup or portable storage.

Approach with Caution

Laptops and Computers

January laptop sales exist, but the best deals are typically on models being replaced.

Considerations:

  • Is the discounted model current generation?
  • Do specs meet your actual needs?
  • Is the discount genuine or inflated RRP?

Better approach: Buy computers when you need them, buy the right specifications, accept that timing discounts are marginal.

Software and Subscriptions

“Discounted” software subscriptions require careful evaluation.

Considerations:

  • Is this software you actually need?
  • What’s the ongoing cost after the first year?
  • Are you buying software to justify a discount rather than solving a problem?

Caution: Discounted first-year pricing often obscures expensive ongoing costs.

Printers

Printer sales are often loss leaders designed to lock you into expensive consumables.

Considerations:

  • Calculate total cost of ownership including ink/toner
  • Laser printers have lower per-page costs for volume
  • Ink tank printers reduce consumable costs

Reality: The cheap printer is never cheap when you factor in consumables.

Red Flags

”Up to X% Off”

“Up to 70% off” means some items are 70% off. Most aren’t. Expect marketing optimism.

Comparison to RRP

Discounts from inflated RRP aren’t genuine savings. Check actual street prices before sale.

Bundle Deals

Bundles often include items you don’t need to make discount look larger.

Limited Stock Pressure

“Only 3 left!” often isn’t true. Don’t let artificial scarcity drive poor decisions.

Refurbished as New

Some sales include refurbished items without clear disclosure. Verify condition before purchase.

Decision Framework

Before buying anything on sale, ask:

  1. Do I need this? Not “is it a good deal”—do you actually need it?

  2. Would I buy this at full price if I needed it? If no, the discount doesn’t change that.

  3. Is this the right specification? Don’t buy wrong specs just because they’re discounted.

  4. What’s the true comparison price? Check normal street prices, not RRP.

  5. Can I afford this now? Sale prices don’t justify spending money you don’t have.

  6. Is this the right time for this purchase? Some technology purchases are better at other times (new model releases, end of financial year).

Legitimate Opportunities

Where January sales genuinely help:

Replacing equipment you were planning to replace anyway: If your old monitor needs upgrading, a sale is good timing.

Stocking consumables: Cables, adapters, backup drives—things you’ll definitely use.

Outfitting new staff: If you’re hiring and need equipment, sales help.

Addressing known problems: Slow network? January router sales might help.

The Bottom Line

January sales offer genuine discounts on some business technology. But discounted wrong purchases still waste money.

The best approach:

  • Know what you actually need before looking at sales
  • Compare sale prices to genuine street prices
  • Evaluate specifications against your real requirements
  • Don’t let sale pressure drive unnecessary purchases

A good deal on the right product is valuable. A good deal on the wrong product is a waste.

Shop smart, and don’t let Australia Day marketing override your business judgment.