Looking for markdown clearance deals at Lowes, Home Depot and Menards? The strategy is the same, my friends!
Find quality clearance items online or in store with a few of our tips! The Lowes markdown report comes out once a week, usually on Thursdays, and the new markdown report prices will be active.
Lowes markdown Scratch and Dent Appliances
Scratch and dent items can be both new items as well as one-of-a-kind, out of box, discontinued, refurbished, scratched and dented, and used merchandise.
Some items that are not new undergo testing and, when necessary, have cosmetic parts replaced and/or are repaired.
The best part about buying a scratch and dent model or any floor model really, is your able to negotiate the price! Store management really doesn’t want these items taking up space that could be used for full price items.
If you see something you like, make an offer. You should never assume that the marked down price is your best deal. It might be depending if the reason is just a slight cosmetic damage, but don’t be afraid to ask for an extra 10% off.
The Lowes Markdown Report
The Lowes markdown report is used to help store managers locate and price clearance, discontinued and floor model merchandise.
It’s not as easy a report to get anymore. Some stores simply will not give you any report that they can print for you (confidential pricing information). While others will gladly print it out and even point out the good deals.
The report isn’t really necessary, but makes your deal finding a lot easier. Almost all clearance and markdown items are clearly labeled and usually towards the back of the store. On weekends, look for big ticket appliance and garden markdowns right in the center aisles of the store.
If you really want the report you will need to ask for it. My advice is to talk to one of the department managers or service managers. Tell them you are doing a major remodel, addition, garden or landscaping project.
Pick something that you may actually be doing helps the conversation. Let them know you are looking for clearance, discontinued, scratch and dent, special order returns and so on. Tell them you’ve heard of a “report” that lists all the markdowns or just ask if there is such a report available. Remember, you probably will not get a copy at every store, so thank the person you spoke to and let them know you will take a look through out the store.
You Can Find Deals All Through The Store
Even if you can’t get your hands on the markdown report, you can still find clearance items at your local Lowes. Menards and Home Depot. Whether its Christmas, End of Summer, End of Winter, Memorial Day, Labor Day or Fourth of July.
You will find bargains and a variety of clearance items and items
available online or in store, but you will have to put in a little leg
work.
With items varying by location, Lowe’s Clearance Center takes up to 75% off select items as part of its ongoing Clearance Sale. These items are generally end of season, one of a kind or discontinued products that you will find through out the store.
The Distressed Plants Carts and Racks
You can get a great deal on plants, trees and shrubs by checking out the distressed plant section. It’s a gamble, but if you know even the minimum about plant care, you will come out ahead. These are plants that need a little attention to get healthy again.
Most of the time it’s simply caused by not watering the plants. If the plant still has some green on it, and the price is right, go ahead and make a purchase. You can usually get these markdown plants for 50-90% off retail price.
Garden Center Markdown
In the patio and garden section, clearance racks for plants will be loaded from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days for the garden center, so don’t look for deals on the weekend.
It’s too busy and employees barely have time to help all the customers let alone set up clearance racks of plants. Best chance for clearance plants is late Sunday or early Monday morning.
As customers shop the garden center on the weekend, employees will be moving distressed, damaged and one of a kind plants to the clearance racks for quicker sale. Mark downs are usually done by Mondays at noon.
Timing will vary by store, but you can find out by simply asking and employees or the garden manager when they will be marking down any plants.
They will have up to 90% off plants and shrubs. This is one of the best discounts you will find. This is not something they advertise so you will have to visit the store for these deals.
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Clearance Secrets at Lowes, Menards and Home Depot
Every store is going to have clearance items. Finding the deals isn’t always easy. Here are a few clearance secrets you can use. Clearance items will vary. Some can be brand new, still in the box items that just didn’t sell very well. However, don’t overlook the floor models and scratch and dent sections. Lots of things get scratched, dented or otherwise damaged before they’re sold.
Most retailers do not want clearance and damaged items at the front of the store. They want to sell you the good stuff at full price!
If you do find some clearance items online, shipping usually starts at around $10 for even small items, so it’s best to go for in-store pickup.
Figure out where your store puts those items, and you could get a very deep discount. Each store places the clearance items in different parts of the store. At most stores this area is in the back of the store. At others it is near lawn and garden. Most Lowes, Menards and Home Depot stores will have some clearance items right in the department. Search it out and you will be rewarded.
Things to Look for:
- Mistinted paint. Usually marked down to $5.00 gallon
- Christmas and storage items after Christmas.
- Broken bags of mulch, gravel, sand, soil or concrete
- The distressed plant cart. Plants and shrubs that are alive, but need some care.
- Scratched or dented appliances up to 25% off
- Last one of an item.
- Ask for the Lowes markdown report.
- Floor model power equipment, tools, windows, doors, plumbing and electrical fixtures
- End of season prices. For example: Patio furniture in August or snow blowers in February.
Inside Lowes Clearance Center
…and how to get an even better deal. There are many types of discounts that you can get above and beyond the normal clearance price at Lowes. Clearance items are products that the store is no longer going to carry or are no longer available from the manufacturer. These items are usually identified by yellow price tags and can be found throughout the store and especially on clearance end caps.
How much the items have been discounted depends greatly on the store, region and how long they have been on clearance. The price is reduced over time. Initially, new clearance items may have only a 10%-15% price reduction. This is a good time to get that item that you really wanted but didn’t want to pay full price.
If you don’t buy now, it could be gone the next time you come in the store. And that’s the risk you take. Wait a little bit longer for more savings or lose out on the item because someone else buys it before you.
Never buy patio furniture until later in the season
There’s no patio furniture better than clearance patio furniture! Big sales won’t happen until mid to late summer. Don’t be tempted by the displays at the front of the store in April and May. Of course, the selection may not be as good in August as in May, but the savings will.
Remember, most patio sets will be available for 3-5 years in stores. Buy a few pieces each year at the end of the season and save hundreds on a complete set.
Another great way to get clearance pricing is on returned items. These are items the store has returned, typically a special order, and is something the store will negotiate with you very easily to get it out of the store. You can easily negotiate the price on a returned special order item and save 75%.
Be aware though that buying a returned special order comes with the risk that it may be a special size, color, style that looked good in the store, but not so great when you got it home.
Store management may also be motivated to reduce clearance inventory when there is a lot or when its the last few. The older the clearance item, the deeper the discount you can negotiate. No harm ever in asking. You should always be able to get another 10% off simply by saying something like you are ready to buy but the price isn’t quite there yet. Offer 10% less than what it is marked.
Sidewalk Sales and End of Season Clearance
A few times a year most Lowes and Home Depot stores will bring clearance items outside near the entrance and exits to the store. Just like a good old fashioned sidewalk sale to clear out all of it’s closeouts, discontinued items and returns. This will usually happen around the end of the season, especially summer clearance items in August and winter clearance in February. The selections may not be as great, but the deals are there.
Check out clearance websites for more deals. In addition to the Lowes clearance center pages, try TheKrazyCouponLady and BrickSeek.com. You won’t find local deals on those sites, but they will give you an idea of whats on markdown or clearance across the United States.
Visit your local store often and start a conversation with one of the salespeople in the department. The Lowe’s department employees are your best source of getting information. Let them know you are interested in saving some money and getting a good deal and give them your contact phone number. Tell them to call you when they find out clearance information for the item you are looking at buying.
This usually works best for big ticket items such as appliances, lawn mowers and tractors. Not too many salespeople are going to call you back if you are looking for a clearance price on a paint brush. They will definitely call you back if you are purchasing a $1000 refrigerator.
Talk To The Manager! In A Nice Way
No, don’t be that person. But if you find something you like, don’t hesitate to get an even better deal. If a $200 item is marked down to $150, make them an offer of $125. Be nice about it. The worse they can say is no and if they say yes, you just saved a little more.
I’ve worked in retail long enough to know that it pays to be a nice customer. If you are friendly and reasonable with your offer, I’m going to give you a little extra off. And remember, at Lowes and Home Depot, a store manager usually isn’t needed to make a deal on damage or clearance items. You usually can work with a department manager or assistant manager for deal making.
What you’ll find: Unbelievable markdown deals on appliances, tools, lumber, plumbing, lighting and more. And if you think the price is still just a little too high, ask to speak to a manager. These are items they don’t want to drag back into the store at night.
Clearance and markdown time means bargain time. So make a reasonable offer and you will probable get an even better deal just for asking.