Tips for Shopping the Target Clearance Racks

I guess you could say that shopping the Target clearance racks is a hobby of mine. Target is my favorite store-I go there more times per week than I'd like to admit. It's been my favorite store since I was a little girl-I always preferred it to Kmart or Wal-Mart. I am an experienced Target shopper (and former employee) and I know how to work the clearance racks in my favor-and I'm going to share my knowledge with you, so you too, can get some great deals.

Tips for Shopping Target's Clearance Rack - Walk the Perimeter
Most of Target's clearance items (except for clothing) are placed on endcaps along the back perimeter of the store. Take your cart and walk in the back of the aisles along the store to find the deals. Obviously, you don't have to do this throughout the entire store-Target places clearance items in or around the same aisles of the department in which it belongs. In other words, if you're searching for clearance shampoo, look in the back endcaps of the health and beauty section.

Tips for Shopping Target's Clearance Racks: 30% off? Pass.
Even though that wee little red clearance sticker beckons you to put it in your cart because it's clearance, it's not that great of a deal. 30% off is generally what the item would be if it were regular priced and on sale-this especially applies toward clothing. A lot of other shoppers will pass up the 30% off "bargain" too...so you'll be able to wait until Target does its next markdown.

Tips for Shopping Target's Clearance Racks: Understand the Markdown Process
Target takes its markdowns in intervals, beginning with 15% off for certain products.
15% off: The first markdown for health and beauty items (including hair accessories & combs), and food.
30% off: The first markdown for almost everything else.
50%: Second markdown. The time it takes from an item to go from 30% off to 50% off depends on the store. It can be a week and a half to over a month.
75% Third markdown-and usually final markdown. Most items end their markdown journey at the 75% off price point. You're not going to find items much lower than this. If you see something you want at this price, BUY IT or another shopper will.
90% Final markdown: Items reaching the 90% off typically are seasonal (Christmas, Halloween, Easter). Other items just don't go this low. Clothing and household items are donated to local Goodwills if they are not selling at 75% off.

Tips for Shopping Target's Clearance Racks: Become a Stalker
When something hits the clearance rack that you want, stalk it. Every time you're in Target, check out the clearance rack on which you saw the item. Once it goes 50% off, you might want to pop into Target every few days to see if you're item reaches the elusive 75% off. It may never reach that point -- it's all the luck of the draw Remember--you can't buy a clearance item at 30% off and then ask for a price adjustment when it goes 75% off. Target does not do price adjustments on clearance items.

Tips for Shopping Target's Clearance Racks: Signs can be deceiving
You might think about passing up an endcap with a 30% off sign, but dig deeper. Often times items are hiding on the endcap with 75% off stickers! This is because Target might not have enough items at the 75% off price point to fill an entire endcap. Read the sign closely-it actually says 30% off OR MORE. Clothes, however, are typically on the rack with the appropriate sign.

Tips for Shopping Target's Clearance Racks: Know what items usually reach 75% off
Some items never reach the 75% off price point because they're too popular--this includes food items, video games, and personal care products. Clothing-especially women's and junior's clothing, almost always reaches 75% off. Shoes, makeup, bedding, underwear, stationary, scrapbook supplies, are also good bets to go 75% off. Books and magazines almost never go on clearance.