Employees Tell Me the Best Day & Time at Popular Big Box Stores

As most people know, I’m all about trying to shop when you have the best chance of finding a deal…and if that happens when the store is busy… win-win. Am I right? So I walked to the store for most of the day, attacking conversations with dozens of employees with eight of the nation’s largest “box stores.” And I have to say, what I’ve learned is pretty amazing and definitely Change the way you shop Let’s move on and get into it.

Costco

The best windows for shopping: I had A few employees tell me that Tuesday morning It’s the perfect time to shop when they open or an hour before closing.

Why does it work: The weekend and Friday are confusing. Yes, I’m not kidding. But employees told me on Monday that many local businesses and restaurants would increase their inventory. Wednesday is the time when their coupon books fall and cause an influx of shoppers…this leaves on Tuesday.

What to scout: Find the price It ends with .97 = Markdown. or asterisk=I won’t come back ,

.00/.88 = Manager Special/Oddlot. Ask Costco employees:

“Did you know of a price drop of 0.97 cents today? Is there anything that will move Asterisks to your manager cart?” If you go only once:

Make it first on a Tuesday morning.

Pro Tip: Make NFL your friend

If you’re not a soccer fan, go to Costco whenever your local NFL team is playing. Or at least the “nearest” NFL team.

For me, my closest team is the 49ers, even if we’re four hours apart. If the Niners hit their local Costco while they were playing (usually on Sundays), they basically have a warehouse on themselves.

The same can be said for the large college football team near you (usually on a Saturday).

TJ Maxx The best windows for shopping:

Open on Tuesdays or Wednesdays (9am to 10am) Why does it work: I hit from three different employees, the weekend return and the early markdown of the week after processing on Monday, and it’s Tuesday or Wednesday

The store is the best time to shop. The managers deploy fresh red (markdown) and yellow (final markdown) stickers, and the store is still calm. What to scout: Save money with TJ Maxx

Always check the end of the aisle clearance rack and backwall end caps, the “beauty bin” near the register, the designer’s one-off “runway” section, and the “runway” section for small defects (snuggles, loose threads, frayed boxes).

If you discover imperfections, don’t hesitate to ask for a small “damage discount” at checkout. They usually give at least 10% off. What to ask:

“Usually, which morning do you deploy the red sticker?” Always ask at your store as they may have slightly different markdown schedules. If you go only once:

Try going on a Tuesday between 9am and 10am

Target Shopping Cart The best windows for shopping:

Thursday…early morning and evening. Why does it work:

We asked two different target employees to tell us without a doubt that Thursday is the best time to shop. I asked my assistant manager if it was wise to look for a new deal early in the morning, but surprisingly, she told me that the target mostly Not once

You’ll want to wait as you will have a new product or markdown at the opening.

Specifically, she told me that there were no new ones out, so late morning or evening evenings were the sweet spot and that was not chosen. What to scout: Make sure to check the end caps of all the corridors facing the back of the store (home, toys, beauty, baby). This is where you can find itBest clearance item

. Also, be sure to peek into the “guest service” as it is a place to find “As-IS/Open-Box” electronics. Don’t ignore small appliance deals regarding promo endcaps either. What to ask:

“Do you usually add things to your clearance? Do you have drops on small appliances today?” If you go only once:

Make it on Thursday at 3pm

Walmart Sunrise The best windows for shopping:

Wednesdays from 6am to 9am Why does it work: One night team finishes “Mod Reset” Wednesday morning (this is when the shelf is reset New Products orDiscontinued products

). I also told the staff (thank you Tim!) that I’ve been back from the weekend. What to scout: Always check the back of the storeYellow tag end cap

especially in homes, toys and hardware.

Also, like Target, I have my employees tell me to check near the customer service desk and get cheap to get the potential for trading on open box returns. Tim told me to ask the staff if they could see anything. He said it’s common in the cart behind the counter that you can win deals. What to ask:

“Are you doing a mod reset this morning? Which aisles get the yellow tag?” If you go only once:

Please Wednesday from 7:30am to 8:30am

Pro Tip: Grocery Store Later in the Day at Walmart

If you’re going to Walmart, mostly to a grocery store, you’d like to go on a weekday evening at 8:30pm or around 9pm. I told me to a few different employees that you find it by being late All markdowns of grocery the next day

It will be done. I was told something like that Meat and bagged produce

If tomorrow’s deadline expires, you will be hit with a clearance sticker around 8pm. Usually you’ll get 30-50% off on things like this. Grab it cheaply and cook it, or throw it in the freezer and it’s the perfect window.

See: 9 Smart Ways to Save Big at Walmart

Lowe’s Truck The best windows for shopping:

Opening from Wednesday until 10am Why does it work:

I was told by Lowe’s assistant manager that I tend to get a lot of new stock early in the week and would normally come out by Tuesday. Additionally, he said clearance markdowns tend to occur early in the week, and Wednesday would be the best day to find new deals. He also says that the department will make his own deals, sound the box/packaging and the promotion will be displayed first in the morning, I’ll wait a few hours

After the opening (6am when Lowes opens every week). What to scout: I had two employees tell me Always start from behind the store“Buck Isle” Clearance Section

. They said this is where the best deals are hiding.

Also, comb the “AS-IS” passageways on the appliance, looking for scratch and dent grills, incorrect paints, especially lighting and seasonal clearance end caps. What to ask:

“Are you going to have cargo issues and displays coming down today? If you can do business with me, I’d be happy to have a boxing unit.” If you go only once:

Make it at 8am on Wednesday

Pro Tip: Follow the yellow “Clearance” Brick Road The manager I spoke to told me the clearance of Lowe Follow this markdown schedule.

Start with 10% off, it becomes 30%, 35%, 50%, 60%, 75%, and the rare 90% off.

He also said they tend to mark things every week, usually early in the week. He also emphasizes that “not everything is marked down every week,” relies on the sale of items. I was also surprised he told me that each store had gotten some of what he called “Markdown Money”

It is expected that they will use it every week. These are “funds” that are to be used to get out of the store to provide transactions on clearance, intact, floor models, and slightly damaged items. Therefore, use this knowledge for your benefit Don’t be afraid to negotiate a transaction,

Especially when you buy multiple items you know, they want to get rid of them.

Best Bimetal Sign The best windows for shopping:

Tuesday or Wednesday, 10am to 11am Why does it work: Thank you to my current employee, Elena, for my local Best Buy. She told me that weekend returns would be processed on Monday and open boxes/clearance would be Richeted. Until the middle of the week,

It’s the perfect time to include Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

She also said the floor was quiet on Tuesday and Wednesday, and that peers had time to check their backs and pull a fresh markdown when they actually ask. What to scout: Open Box/Outlet Section

(filters by “good” or “satisfaction”), TV, laptop, small appliance clearance end caps, “go-back” cart near nerd teams, and Magnolia floor models with missing remote/stands (these are simple discounts). Elena told me to use it too. Best Buy App Pull up and tap the item’s product page Buying options

To see the hidden store open box for that exact SKU. Surprisingly, she told me Ask for a bundle deal (like TV + mount/soundbar = 15% off) Always price match

With the same SKU. What to ask: After taking me to Elena, I will not ask the next question. I’m about to retire

Do you guys want to remove it? ” If you go only once:

Make it at 10am on Wednesday

Loss Store Sign The best windows for shopping:

Monday afternoon. Why does it work:

This comes from Kylie, the blog leader who was in charge of the Loss Store clearance items. She told me, “I am the person in charge of Ross’ clearance and Monday is the day we only do markdown.”

So she said she always wanted to shop on Monday afternoons, so she usually ends with a new markdown and gets her first dib. What to scout: Have you noticed a rolling restocking cart parked in the corridors of Ross? They often include new or returned items, so they start peering at them The employee has not yet been updated. You’re getting because it means they’re not printing regular or clearance price tags for itFirst dib

. What to ask:

Certainly, as follows: “What morning do you usually do markdown? Are there any fresh clearance racks or return carts that I can see today?” If you go only once: I’ll make it on the Monday right after lunch. Unless you areOver 55 years old then you’ll want to shop on Tuesday and get an extra 10% off.With their senior discounts

.

Home Depot Moving Box The best windows for shopping:

Monday when lunchtime. Why does it work:

Ted from my local HD said his store was dead on Monday morning and the majority of shoppers are professionals who don’t need much help. He also said he was the morning crew. Retag clearance items And roll out Special Purchase Palette Before the store gets busy on monday

So they will all be available by lunchtime.What do you scout?

• :
• Tools, Lighting, and Appliance Clearance End Caps (Look for Yellow Tags, Check Small Print Dates, and Check When Last Marked Down). Check out the open box/design appliances near the Appliance section. However, be careful48 hour return policy
• .
• Some stores offer tool rental sales (retired rentals priced for moving) and “Pro Desk” returns. Ask them about them.
• Garden Center Markdown Cart (Seasonal Plants/Soil), ull-umber Cart, “Oops” Paint Track. Look at the end of the price And the date as thumb rule: price tag for home depot It’ll end with .06 Often, they drop again..03 will be the final markdown

; Use it for leverage when looking for an old printed date and asking for a trade. What to ask: If the store isn’t busy, please Save at Home Depot

By asking employees “whether they have a retired tool rental unit or a new open box transaction.” If you go only once:

Make it on Mondays between 11am and 1pm Ask your readers:

So let’s ask you… Where did you make a mistake, where did you put your nails on your head? I’m sure you have a lot to say about this. Haha.