Do you like to take advantage of clearance sales? Now is a great time to take advantage of all of those end of the season deals that keep cropping up in retail stores everywhere. But do you know the secrets of buying things on clearance? Well those red tickets do not necessarily offer you the very best deal. It is important to understand how the retail industry works in order to take full advantage of the best deals available.
The best time to shop for clearance items is either the beginning of the month or the end of the month. This is depend on the store. Most retail stores mark their clearance at the beginning of the month, hoping it will be counted toward that month’s sales. However, there are some stores that use a tiered pricing system, where items are marked down at the beginning of the month and then continue to be reduced through that month in stages. You’ll have to visit the store a few times or ask a sales associate to find out which method the store uses.
When you first enter the store, you’ll want to head toward the very back. Yes, I know that there are lots of other “clearance” signs screaming at you from all directions. Ignore them for now. You can always check them out later, after you have scouted out the real deals. They are generally at the back of the store, closest to the “back room” storage area. These are the items that are on “death row.” They need to get sold quickly or they will exit the store through that back room.
It is amazing what you might be able to find here. There may be winter coats in the middle of July, or even the same bathing suit that is out front for three times as much (although it might be in a less popular color or design). Many times these items are marked way down and then also subject to the general “store-wide” clearance percentage. Last season, I stocked up on children’s pajamas this way, paying a mere 12 cents (yes 12 cents!) a piece. The Pjs were in the very back of the children’s section of the store, crammed in a rack with a very unassuming clearance sign and must have gotten missed by many other shoppers.
Look for more retail shopping secrets, coming soon to the Frugal Living Blog.
Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.
Related Articles: