El Buen Fin - Mexico's Cheapest Weekend of the Year
El Buen Fin is Mexico’s annual pre-holiday, multi-day shopping event, held the weekend before Mexico’s Revolution Day. Also known as The Cheapest Weekend of the Year (el fin de semana más barato del año), this nationwide sales event offers deals both in stores and online.
Translated “the good end” or “the good weekend,” the event was created to reduce unemployment, strengthen the domestic market, and stimulate consumer spending before the holiday season.
A Short History
- The first El Buen Fin was a collaboration between the federal government, private businesses, and the Business Coordinating Council (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, CCE), held in November 2011.
- It began with about 40,000 participating businesses.
- Over time the event has grown in scale, with thousands more stores and online sites joining each year.
What’s on Sale
During El Buen Fin almost everything is on sale. Even some banks participate. Offers include direct discounts, interest-free installments, bonuses, and free shipping. Both physical and online stores participate. Examples include:
- Supermarkets/Big Box Stores: Walmart, Chedraui, Soriana, OXXO
- Department Stores: Liverpool, Sears, Palacio de Hierro, Coppel
- Online Retailers: Amazon Mexico, Mercado Libre, Shein
- Home Goods/Electronics: Home Depot, Best Buy, Elektra
- Fashion & Footwear: Adidas, Nine West, CAT Footwear, Havaianas
- Travel: Various airlines, including Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Iberia, along with hotels, including Hyatt and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, are offering deep discounts. Travel does not have to be completed during El Buen Fin, just purchased.
- Financial Institutions: Expect promotions like installment payments, interest-free credit cards, and reward points
- Medical and Dental Tourism: For the first time, the medical and dental tourism sector will be participating.
Discounts likely will only be available on Mexican/Spanish language websites. For example, the url for Walmart might look like walmart.com.mx and be written in Spanish.
PROFECO, Mexico’s consumer protection agency, monitors hundreds of products to ensure discounts are genuine and offers tips for finding the best deals.
Tips for Travelers Driving into Mexico
- Mexico insurance: Before you go, make sure your U.S./Canadian-plated vehicle has valid Mexican auto insurance.
- Compare before you buy: Some “discounts” might be inflated original prices. PROFECO warns shoppers to watch for misleading offers.
- Verify participating stores: Look for the official El Buen Fin logo, QR code, or registration. You can confirm a store’s participation at elbuenfin.org or consult the El Buen Fin Legal Shopping Guide.
- If you plan to bring goods back into the U.S. or Canada, remember customs duty limits. U.S. residents re-entering from Mexico generally receive a personal exemption of up to $800 USD.
- Use online vs in-store wisely: Before buying, check how warranties, returns, and shipping will work once you’re back in the U.S.
- Plan your border crossings outside peak hours: El Buen Fin can bring heavier traffic to border towns.
Shop Now!
El Buen Fin is the perfect time to book your next vacation to Mexico, and you’ll have time to take it, since most travel purchases can be used through the end of next year.
Whether furnishing your home in Mexico or the States, or stocking up on everyday goods, you can save big during this nationwide shopping event.
When returning to the U.S., remember you can bring up to $800 USD per person, duty-free, on goods for personal use. And if you’re driving into Mexico, you’ll need both Mexican auto insurance and an FMM tourist permit.
Now’s the time to hit the road and load up your car or jump online and fill your shopping cart with savings. Enjoy your shopping trip!