If you are buying online, look for free shipping promotions. Because dishes are heavy and fragile, shipping costs can often cancel out a 20% discount.
Because June is a peak month for weddings and college graduations, retailers run aggressive sales on both everyday sets and fine china to attract gift-buyers.
June is often cited as the best month specifically for dinnerware and fine china.
January is a prime month for "white sales" and clearing out seasonal inventory.