Finding hidden clearance items at Home Depot can help you save big on home improvement projects. Home Depot doesn’t always advertise when items are reduced in price, so you have to do a bit of hunting to find the hidden deals. Here are some tips to help you uncover Home Depot’s secret clearance items.
Page Contents
- 1 Look for Yellow or Red Tags
- 2 Check End Caps
- 3 Scan Shelves
- 4 Ask Associates
- 5 Check Storage Areas
- 6 Be Thorough
- 7 Use Barcode Scanners
- 8 Check Daily
- 9 Be Flexible
- 10 Grab Display Models
- 11 Match Price + Item
- 12 Check Online
- 13 Third Party Sites
- 14 Price Match Guarantee
- 15 Stack Discounts
- 16 Open Box Deals
- 17 Price Adjustments
- 18 Use Multiple Locations
- 19 Seasonal Sales
- 20 Rain Checks
- 21 Off-Season Buying
- 22 Thursday Launch Days
- 23 Wednesday Markdowns
- 24 Big Ticket Items
- 25 Ask for Additional Discounts
- 26 Price Tracking
- 27 Don’t Overbuy
- 28 Inspect Carefully
- 29 Return Policy
- 30 Use Your Phone
- 31 Conclusion
Look for Yellow or Red Tags
The first thing to look for is colored tags on item pricing. Yellow tags indicate an item is on clearance, while red tags mean it’s been marked down significantly. Scan shelving areas carefully to spot these colored tags, which will clue you in to hidden clearance items. Areas to check thoroughly include gardening, tools, cabinets, flooring, lighting, paint, and hardware.
Check End Caps
Often, clearance merchandise will be placed on the end caps of aisles. So be sure to check the ends of aisles as you shop to find hidden deals. The clearance items are sometimes mixed in with regular-priced merchandise, so look carefully.
Scan Shelves
Look on the very top and bottom shelves for hidden clearance finds. Oftentimes, items placed on the highest and lowest shelves tend to get overlooked by customers. Be methodical and scan shelves from top to bottom. You may find some excellent deals other shoppers missed.
Ask Associates
Don’t be shy about asking Home Depot associates if they know of any other markdowns. Explain you are looking for hidden clearance items. Associates often know what has been newly marked down, even if it’s not obvious to customers.
Check Storage Areas
Storage areas and aisles sometimes contain hidden clearance items. Make sure to browse through aisles with extra stock and storage bays. For example, you may find a power tool originally on display marked down significantly just sitting in a storage area.
Be Thorough
Finding the best hidden clearance deals requires a thorough approach. Take your time perusing all areas of the store one by one. Don’t just glance quickly at aisles. Dig through displays and storage areas, inspect all shelves, and don’t miss a single end cap. The more meticulous your searching, the better your results.
Use Barcode Scanners
To really step up your clearance hunting, consider using barcode scanner apps. With these apps, you can scan barcodes on items to instantly see if the hidden clearance price is lower than the listed price. This eliminates all the guesswork and ensures you never miss markdowns.
Check Daily
To score the very best finds, check back often for new markdowns. Clearance priced merchandise will change from day to day. Make a habit of checking at least once a week, if not more. Persistence and frequency will pay off with hidden clearance jackpots.
Be Flexible
Keep an open mind when hunting for markdowns. Don’t go in looking for something ultra-specific. Instead, see what great deals you can find on a variety of products throughout the store. Flexibility leads to much better clearance grabs.
Grab Display Models
Display models are often marked down significantly. Look for floor models, damaged box items, returns, and more labeled clearance. For example, display fridges, stoves and patio sets are types of items you can often find as hidden clearance models.
Match Price + Item
When you find a clearance priced item, be 100% sure the tag matches that product. Sometimes tags get switched inadvertently. Double check the name, SKU, and description to confirm the price is for the item.
Check Online
Home Depot’s online clearance section is another great source for deals. You can sort by discount percentage to see the best price cuts. Choose in-store pickup for free shipping to your local store. Online ordering lets you easily pre-shop the clearance selection.
Third Party Sites
Check third party sites like eBay to look for Home Depot clearance items. Some people buy up clearance stock to resell online. You can get items heavily discounted, just be aware of potential shipping charges.
Price Match Guarantee
Bring ads from competitors for price matching on clearance items. Home Depot will meet or beat a verified competitor’s price even if it’s for an item already marked down. This guarantees you the best possible clearance price.
Stack Discounts
If you have any applicable Home Depot coupons or credit card discounts, try stacking on clearance. Sometimes you can combine percent-off promos with marked down prices for huge savings. Just make sure your discounts don’t exclude clearance.
Open Box Deals
Look for open box markdowns when clearance hunting. Often open box items are originals returned to the store and are marked down. Shop carefully though, since open box means the item has been opened and possibly used.
Price Adjustments
If an item you bought goes on clearance shortly after your purchase, you can ask for a price adjustment. Bring in your receipt within 14 days and ask customer service to adjust the price to the new clearance cost.
Use Multiple Locations
Compare nearby Home Depot stores to find the best clearance deals. Prices and sales can vary by location. One store may have an item on clearance that nearby stores don’t. Check online stock by zip code to save driving time.
Seasonal Sales
Hit big clearance events like holiday, inventory closeouts, and seasonal sales. The very best markdowns happen during these major sale events. For example, you’ll see the lowest prices during Christmas clearance sales.
Rain Checks
If an advertised clearance item is out of stock, ask for a rain check. This allows you to get the item later at the promised discounted price after the store restocks it. Don’t leave empty-handed – grab a rain check instead.
Off-Season Buying
Shop off-season for future needs at rock bottom clearance prices. For example, buy snowblowers in the summer and gardening tools in winter. This allows you to get seasonal items for up to 90% off.
Thursday Launch Days
Clearance prices traditionally get marked down on Thursdays as new sales launch. Make Thursday your key clearance hunting day to catch the latest and lowest markdowns as new sales start.
Wednesday Markdowns
While Thursday is the big day for additional mark-downs, pay attention to Wednesdays too. New clearance stickers often start appearing late in the day on Wednesdays in preparation for Thursday’s big markdowns.
Big Ticket Items
Focus your efforts on big ticket items like appliances, grills, and power tools. The dollar amount discounts will be greater on larger items. A $500 oven reduced 50% is a $250 savings.
Ask for Additional Discounts
If an item has been sitting on clearance for weeks with no buyers, ask for an additional discount. Stores would often rather make an even bigger price reduction than let it continue sitting unsold.
Price Tracking
Use price tracking sites and apps to monitor items and see when the clearance price drops. This eliminates the guesswork and shows you the true lowest price over time.
Don’t Overbuy
It’s easy to overspend just because something is cheap. Make sure your clearance finds are things you’ll actually use and not impulse buys. Set a clearance budget and stick to your list to avoid going overboard.
Inspect Carefully
Since clearance items may have been opened, damaged, returned or have missing pieces, inspect each find carefully before purchasing. Know what to look for so you don’t get home and realize something is defective or incomplete.
Return Policy
Know Home Depot’s clearance item return policy. Some categories like appliances have shorter return windows. Understand any restrictions before buying clearance products.
Use Your Phone
Use your smartphone to scan barcodes, check nearby store inventory, look up price histories, and more. Your phone provides instant access to all kinds of clearance-hunting info at your fingertips.
Conclusion
Finding hidden clearance at Home Depot takes some work, but pays off nicely in savings. Use these tips to uncover secret mark-downs other shoppers overlook. Check back frequently, search thoroughly, price match competitors, and leverage online resources. With persistence, you can find amazing deals on home improvement items for huge discounts off original pricing. Happy clearance hunting at Home Depot!
