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In addition to running my regular consulting business, I also work part-time
as an Ad Set Supervisor for a national retail store. During this time I have
learned many of the ins and outs of the retail business and how to get the most
bang for my buying dollar. If you follow these same ten tips I guarantee that
you too will save more money. Following are ten of the best inside tips I’ve
learned about the retail world since becoming part of it.
1.How to Get the Best Clearance Price in Stores
In most retail stores, clearance is marked down at the beginning of the month.
And for stores that use the tiered clearance system, where items fall in price
as the month progresses, you will find that the best time to get the lowest
price for a clearance item is toward the end of the month.
2.Yellow Tag, Red Tag Clearance Method - When the Best Price Isn’t Always the
Final Clearance Price
Stores that use the yellow tag to red tag clearance method also use a tiered
system to incrementally mark down items on clearance. Generally, items are
placed on clearance at the beginning of the month and will be gradually marked
down as the month progresses. Any remaining yellow-ticketed items are then red
ticketed for final clearance at the beginning of the following month. Because
this system is percentage based, when the yellow-ticketed price drops to its
lowest percentage off (usually 50% off the yellow-ticketed clearance price)
makes this the best item to buy. This way you can save as much as 80% off the
regular price of an item. However, if you wait until the same item is
red-ticketed for final clearance, you will pay a higher price and only receive
about 50-60% off the regular price. This is a clearance strategy used by many
major retailers.
3.Too Early/Too Late For a Great Sale – Not Anymore
Most retail stores have an unpublished policy that allows customers to receive
the sale price for an item either a day before or a day after the begin and end
dates of an advertised sale. You just have to ask to receive the sale price.
4.Price Adjustment – Too Late, Not Necessarily
Most retailers have a published policy allowing customers a specific timeframe
to receive price adjustments and an unpublished policy that actually extends
this timeframe anywhere from 7 to 14 days. Even if you are outside the official
timeframe for a price change, make the request, as most stores will honor the
adjustment based on the unpublished policy and because they won’t risk losing a
customer.
5.Buy One, Get One Free and Buy One, Get One ½ Off Sales (BOGO) – Great for the
Retailer, Bad for the Customer
The national retail store I work at part-time as Ad-Set Supervisor usually has a
Buy One, Get One Free, and Buy One, Get One ½ Off Sale, also know as BOGOs,
twice every sale cycle (12 weeks). It always amazes me how many people flock to
the store for these sales because in the retail industry, these are known to be
one of the worst sales for customers. How? By breaking the numbers down one can
quickly see just what I mean. Let’s say you need a pair of jeans and find that
there is a BOGO sale at your favorite store offering you ½ off the second
purchase. If you paid $20.00 for the first pair and $10 for the second pair
(since it was ½ off) your total purchase amount on two pairs of jeans is $30.00,
with an overall savings of $10.00 or 25%. But more than likely, these same jeans
usually go on sale for 30 to 40% off during one of the store’s regular sale
events. That means if you had purchased these same jeans during a regular 30%
off sale you would have paid $14.00 per pair or $28 for two pairs a savings of
$12.00, or 30% off saving you an additional $2.00 than the BOGO Sale. At 40% off
you would have paid $12.00 per pair or $24.00 for two pairs, or 40% off saving
you an additional $6.00 than the BOGO Sale.
Buy One, Get One Free Sales are only good if you plan on purchasing two of the
same items anyway. Otherwise, they force customers to purchase more than they
had planned causing them to bring home two items they only wanted one of in the
first place. A way around this dilemma is to shop with a friend or relative who
intends to purchase the same type of item that you are going to purchase. Stores
love these sales because it is a way of getting customers to spend more money,
reduce store inventory quicker, and increase sales figures.
6.Shopping Day Savings Passes, Just Ask
Several national retail stores offer Shopping Day Savings Passes, coupons
offering the customer anywhere from 10-20% off every purchase made throughout
that day. These “savings passes” are available at customer service desks. All
you need to do is ask. One large retailer that offers these passes is Macys.
7.Those People with the Scanners – They Know More Than You Think
Ever go into a store and see some of the associates with a scanner scanning
items? Well, more than likely those are “Ad Setters” responsible for placing
sale signs for upcoming sale events. Almost every store has an Ad Set Crew. Some
stores have the Ad Set Crew set ads for upcoming sales after store closing.
Most, however, have the Crew start setting ads a few hours prior to closing.
Shop during these hours and seek these people out. Why? They are the most
knowledgeable about what store sales are the best for customers and when these
sales are going to occur since they know about upcoming sales weeks in advance.
If you are wondering if an item you are interested in purchasing is cheaper
during the current sale or cheaper during an upcoming sale, they can usually
scan it and tell you. I have helped countless customers save this way and then
proceeded to tell them about the day prior, day later rule covered in tip number
three. Most regular sales associates don’t have this inside information about
upcoming sales, nor do they have the ability to find out what upcoming sales
prices are going to be on items - that’s why you need to speak to an Ad Setter.
8.Imperfections = Discounts, Even Packaging
Everyone probably knows about getting an additional discount on imperfect
merchandise, but many don’t know that imperfect packaging gets the same
discounts. The store I work at, like most stores, has a policy that allows at
least an additional 10-20% discount on damaged items. Even if the only damage is
to an item’s packaging, we gladly give this discount when someone asks. As a
result, I have learned to purposefully seek out items that have damaged
packaging and to always ask for this extra discount. To date, I have always
received it. Being willing to purchase items with damaged packaging creates a
win-win situation for both customers and the store: the store gets rid of
slightly blemished items and customers save money.
9.Forgot Your Extra Savings Coupon – No Problem, Just Tell the Cashier
Many stores send out extra savings coupons to holders of their credit cards or
loyal customers on their mailing list. Sometimes, however, customers get to the
register only to realize that they forgot to bring their “Extra Savings Coupon”
with them. If this happens to you, no problem, since most stores have a policy
granting the discount to the customer anyway just by telling the cashier that
you forgot your savings coupon.
10.The Clearance Merry-Go-Round
Most stores have what is called “back stock.” This usually refers to clearance
items that have not sold during the previous season’s clearance sales. These
items are placed in a designated area in the stockroom and then brought back out
onto the sales floor during a store’s next seasonal clearance event. For
example, January and February are two good months to find last season’s bathing
suits on clearance in many stores. May and June are good times to find heavy
coats and leather jackets at rock-bottom prices. I know our store does this
routinely, and have found this to be true for several other major retailers as
well.
I hope you are able to save tons of money as I have by using these ten tips.
Prior to working in retail I would have considered myself a frugal and smart
shopper but have since become even better and saved more. By learning the
ins-and-outs of the retail world and by using these tips, I now pay less for
brand-new brand-name clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods than I had
previously paid at thrift stores and I hope you do too. Happy Shopping and
Saving!
About the Author
Jona is an instructional designer, web and graphic designer, and technical and
business writer. When she isn’t working on client projects, she can be found
updating her personal project, www.simpleandfrugal.com, a website dedicated to
those seeking to simplify their lives. Jona has been practicing simple
living/voluntary simplicity for over 10 years and is available for speaking
engagements. Contact her at
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Written by: Jona E. Kessans (Simple & Frugal)
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