Perimeter Perusing at Target (Target Clearance Deals) - 2013

[mju]

Just a heads up about the Spritz party favors on clearance for 70% off.  If you are buying any and you have Cartwheel, there is a coupon for 15% off Spritz party favors, decor, tableware, candles, and wrapping that can be used with the clearance too.

[lovetoshopCA]

almost no school supplies left in the BTS area, so not much marked down. If you have photos of your haul, please post as it might help some of us find stuff in regular aisles. SO bummed I missed them marking garden because I was eyeing some large pots that were left. They must have gotten scooped up yesterday. boo!

[txsupermom]

Nerf waterguns, pool toys all 70% off today.

[dollarstretcher]

All of our lawn and garden was gone too! I really wanted some of those easy seed bottles, I was able to get those 70% off last year. Was able to get some school supplies and the employee organizing what was left told me to come back tomorrow because they found more stuff in the back. The backpacks were only 30% off though

[flpelly]

There has been no rhyme or reason as to how the BTS was handled this year. Most of the backpacks were removed from BTS area and reset with the regular stock in luggage area. Those that remain in the BTS area are priced at 30% off except for a teal and grey plaid embark book bag/lunch box combo marked fThere rom 19.99 to 5.98(I think that was the price)...others by same company...same style just different pattern are 13.98.

 

Lunch boxes in BTS remained priced at 30%-50%, however, on end cap in sporting goods was cloth BYO(Brand name) lunch bags, reuseable sandwich/snack bags that matched were priced 50%-70%. All were the same style...just different cloth patterns...don't understand the price difference.

 

Lots of juvenile sheet sets and comforter/throws were marked down 70%...Hello Kitty, Superman/Superhero, jungle, Mario, teen zebra print,(sorry can't remember them all). Also the foot stools that look like boxes covered in material and top is removable for storage were 70%(5.98).

Edited September 19, 2013 by flpelly

[kathytheshopper]

None of our household bedding/towel stuff got marked down any further. Swim stuff 70% off.

[MarkdownQueen]

Today, I hit the 70% mother load and was able to find a ton of BTS items (compasses, paper, dry erase boards, cork boards, scissors, binders, paper clips, magnets). Found a ton of scotch tape but didn't buy any, I still had a ton left from last Christmas. Sally Hansen nail polish also found a Coleman instant canopy tent originally priced $99.99 for $29.99, also an Oral B professional care electric toothbrush (it comes with an extra electric toothbrush)$124.99 for $31.24. Men's Wrangler black shorts $4.48. I took pictures and am trying to post them, but for some reason they are not posting.

[boredbread]

I always have trouble uploading pictures, but this site she posts lots of pics of what she found.  http://www.allthingstarget.com

 

The regular stationary aisles is where i found most of the crayola "back to school" stuff that was clearanced... but it was all stickered, I didn't find any "hidden" finds.

[Sarasuzymama]

My store had maybe a few things marked 70% off in BTS...about 10-15% of it. Most of the things I see in others' photos were not marked to 70% at my store (and I scanned). It was almost like they started and then quit. (This was yesterday). I thought maybe they had gone on break or something but I saw them marking down bedding, so it didn't seem like they were going back to BTS. Trying again today. There was a TON left!

 

(This is the store at Ward Pkwy in KC).

[lotion]

Thank you to all the Gotta Deal posters!!! We were able to find backpacks 70% off! This helped us with our church's mission project....we give away more than 500 backpacks each summer. The Target sales really help our budget!

[txsupermom]

Lots of markdowns in electronics yesterday.  Found headphones (skull candy, urbanears, etc) all 70% off.  Ipod speakers (jensen, sony) 70% off.  iphone and ipad accessories (screen film, cases) all 70% off.  Jensen bluetooth wireless shower speakers 14.xx (70% off) - got these for under the tree filler.  Some Christmas shopping just got marked off my to do list.  Yahoo!

 

Backpacks still 30% off here.  All BTS gone. Some summer floating around (metal lanterns) for 70% and saw exercise accessories for 70% off.  All waterguns/pool accessories gone.

[mom2mom]

lots of stuff on clearance today.. 70%markdown in shoes , backpacks ,  saw small charcoal grill for $8.xx .. picked up shoes and backpacks for dd and ds  

[sigrist_2000]

found a saltwater water pump system by intex for the swimming pool today for 60.xx....70% off....smurfs 70%...circo full size bedding outfit for $24...70% off

[kathytheshopper]

Window air conditioners are 70% off at my store. Some of the towels went to 50%.

[savvybuys]

Anyone know what day they do markdows for BTS? Guess it would be seasonal? My store has 2 isles of backpacks left at 50%. They already have the Halloween out too. Just wondering if they are going to go 70% or salvaged. Really is hard to shop Target clearance anymore. There is no rhyme or reason as to what gets marked down or salvaged anymore.

[lovetoshopCA]

Anyone know what day they do markdows for BTS? Guess it would be seasonal? My store has 2 isles of backpacks left at 50%. They already have the Halloween out too. Just wondering if they are going to go 70% or salvaged. Really is hard to shop Target clearance anymore. There is no rhyme or reason as to what gets marked down or salvaged anymore.

I think they are marking the backpacks with sporting goods rather than BTS, so whatever day that is. Here is is Friday or Wednesday.

[jakesmommy403]

I was at my Target earlier and there were two endcaps of Pampers diapers on clearance.  The sign said 30% off.  Just thought I would throw that out there for anyone who needs diapers. 

[Brad]

http://www.gottadeal.com/images/target.gif

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Target Perimeter Perusing!

As many of you know, Target B&M stores are known for their terrific clearance deals. This thread is for GottaDeal.com forum members to share their latest clearance finds. Also, please keep non-clearance discussion to a minimum - there are other threads for discussing weekly sale ads and store policy. This first post will contain some background information on the wonderful world of Target clearance, otherwise known around here as Perimeter Perusing!

You may have noticed that although the sticker price (the red-orange clearance sticker) show one price, many times the items will actually scan for a lesser amount. You can use this to your advantage because many shoppers without the benefit of being GottaDeal members do not realize this and pass the item by, thinking the sticker price is the actual price. Also, many times an item is not marked clearance in any way but still may be on clearance, so if you have an item that you would consider buying if it was on clearance, we suggest you take it to the nearest scanner and check the price that comes up. This is especially true of items which other members have reported being on clearance at their local store.

The standard clearance pattern at Target usually begins by items being marked down 15% or 30% at the beginning. This price can last somewhere between two weeks to a month, depending on how well the item sells at this price and what department the item is from. Then the item typically drops to 50%, again for anywhere from two weeks to a month in most cases. Generally, the lowest an item will be marked down is 75% off, with a few exceptions.

Items considered 'holiday' or 'seasonal' items have been known to go as low as 90%, and you will find a few occasional display items or things found in the stockroom after inventory discounted in the 80%-90% range. In many cases, the lowest price an item will go will usually end in $x.x4 or $x.x8, but this is not always the case for 100% of items, so take that into consideration.

A typical markdown schedule for the seasonal or holiday clearance is as follows:

http://gottadeal.com/forumsold/images/icons/target.gifTraditional Post-Holiday Target Clearance Schedule

50% off - marked down on the day after the holiday, usually lasts for three days
75% off - marked down on the fourth day after the holiday, usually lasts for three days
90% off - marked down on the seventh day after the holiday, usually lasts for 1-3 days

Other than Christmas, this is usually the schedule used for post-holiday clearance, including Valentine's Day, Easter, Summerville, and Halloween, for at least the last few years.

The holiday mark-down does seem to fluctuate from store to store on occasion, but to help demonstrate how the holiday clearance has gone in 2008 and 2009, here is the Decatur, AL clearance dates for Valentine's Day and Halloween, courtesy of Timswife81404:

Valentine's 08
Feb. 15th, 2008 = 50%
Feb. 18th, 2008 = 75%
Feb. 20th, 2008 = 90%
Valentine’s 09
Feb. 15th, 2009 = 50%
Feb. 17th, 2009 = 75% (red dot dollar spot too)
Feb. 21st, 2009 = 90%

Halloween 08
Nov. 1st, 2008 = 50%
Nov. 4th, 2008 = 75%
Nov. 8th, 2008 = 90%
Halloween 09
Nov. 1st, 2009 = 50%
Nov. 3rd, 2009 = 75%
Nov. 7th, 2009 = 90%

Target initiated a controversial new return policy in November 2002 that says any seasonal clearance items returned will be refunded at the current clearance price, even with a receipt showing a higher purchase price. They updated the policy in April 2003 to specify these items as Christmas trees and decorations and Halloween costumes and decorations. Other seasonal merchandise should still be refunded at the price stated on the reciept.

Christmas clearance is an animal all to itself. The dates appear to be as follows:
50% off - always December 26,lasts four to five days
75% off - within a day or two on either side of New Year's Eve/Day (12/31-01/01)
90% off - within a day or two of Epiphany (01/06)

The Decatur, AL markdown schedule for Christmas in 2007, 2008 and 2009 was as follows:

Christmas 07
Dec. 26th, 2007 = 50%
Dec. 31st, 2007 = 75%
Jan. 4th, 2007 = 90%
Christmas 08
Dec. 26th, 2008 = 50%
Dec. 30th, 2008 = 75%
Jan. 6th, 2009 = 90%
Jan. 2nd, 2009 = 75% Dollar Spot Christmas (black dot)
Christmas 09
Dec. 26th, 2009 = 50%
Dec. 31st, 2009 = 75% (black dollar spot too)
Jan. 5th, 2010 = 90%

Twice a year, Target has a major clearance on toys. Once in January and again in the summer.

Here are the dates for the January toy clearance in Decatur, AL:

Toys 08
Jan. 10th, 2008 = 75%
Toys 09
Jan. 15th, 2009 = 75% on MOST toys some still 30-50%
Jan. 29th, 2009 = 75% on remaining toys
Toys 10
Jan. 15th, 2010 = 75% (Friday)

Other departments have an annual major clearance. Dates will be posted here as they become known.

Baby 09
Jan. 19th, 2009 = 75% on MOST already clearanced
Jan. 26th, 2009 = 75% on remaining clearance

Target is one of the few stores where many (although not all) of the cashiers have the ability to bargain when an item doesn't scan with a price. There are times when an item will scan as 'clearance + tax' - be happy in these situations instead of groaning. Sometimes the cashier can do a price override to find the most recent lowest price, but sometimes if you say "I'll take it for (whatever 75% off the marked retail price would be)" they'll just key that in. It's always worth a shot.

The same thing applies for an item that scans 'NOF' (Not On File). This means the item is so old that it is completely out of the computer inventory system. Again, a good suggestion is to try offering the 75% off the retail price, but if necessary a price can usually be looked up at the Guest Services Desk. However, if an item has gone 'salvage,' this may backfire on you. In this instance Target marks the item back up to full retail value before pulling it from the shelves and donating it to a charity such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army for a tax write off. This is one of the reasons how Target can claim to donate so much to charity.

The markdown teams in each many stores have been known to keep to a standardized schedule, but there are stores that have different ones, so your experience many vary. For those who do follow the standard schedule, the departmental markdown days are:

http://gottadeal.com/forumsold/images/icons/target.gifTraditional Department Mark Down Schedule

Monday - Electronics, Kids' Clothing, Stationery, Cards, Gift wrap
Tuesday - Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets, Market Pantry
Wednesday - Men's Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty, Lawn & Garden
Thursday - Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Sporting Goods, Movies, Music, Books, Decor, Luggage
Friday - Automotive, Cosmetics, Hardware, Jewelry

Note that while this schedule says nothing about weekend markdowns, many Perimeter Perusers on the forum have seen items change in price between a Saturday morning shopping trip and one done on a Sunday afternoon. But nobody has found any rhyme or reason to what gets marked down on those days though - another part of the fun.

Target does not have a layaway plan, but die-hard Perimeter Perusers have tried various methods of getting around this. Most are constantly debated on the forum as far as being 'ethical' or not, so we'll leave it for you to decide for yourself. Just don't be surprised to find some differing opinions if you bring it up in this thread.

When an item goes 50% off and there are several left, some posters have said they find a hiding place to put the item. They then go back to see if the item is still there several weeks later, and if so, scan it to see if it has dropped in price. Some common hiding places shared are in the middle of a round clothes rack, where all of the clothes hide the item, about a third of the way off the floor of a stack of pillows or behind similar items, perhaps with newer packaging, on the proper shelf.

Sometimes, when items are getting scarce at 50% off, posters will buy them at that price and hold on to the receipt. If they find the item later at 75% or 90% off, they will buy the item again, remove any clearance stickers that show the lower price and return the item at another time with the older, higher priced receipt, as long as it is within the 90-day return period.

While not technically a clearance topic, in this thread, you may see reference to MM Juice or MM packs. These refer to 10 packs of Minute Maid juice boxes that can generally be bought for $.69. They are found in the juice aisle mixed in with the 15 packs. This usually includes only the Grape, Apple & Fruit Punch flavors -- never Orange Juice. They look exactly like the 15 packs which are generally stocked on the shelf, but instead of having 3 rows of 5 boxes, there are only 2 rows. They are often mixed in with the others, and even hidden in the back behind the 15 packs. You may go months or longer before you find your first set, but they really do exist. They are not an urban legend. And most of us can attest that you'll do a little dance in the aisle when you find them the first time.

http://gottadeal.com/forumsold/images/icons/target.gifHelpful Target Clearance-Related Links

Target Store Locator
Target Coupon Generator
Target Clearance Locator

[fluffkin79]

Remaining back-to-school is now 70%.  There were still some backpacks and lunch bags that have been holding out until today.

[kathytheshopper]

Not here for backpacks or lunch bags-still 30%, 50% and a few 70%.

[tinkrbel]

I was in yesterday afternoon and very underwhelmed. limited variety of bags and lunchboxes at 50% and the coupon binders I was looking for marked at 70% off and ringing not in system. I didn't even try to get one. tons of beat up fan boxes sitting under a clearance sign and not a single one was discounted.

 

I had to request a manager at the service desk in order to use a manufacturer with coupon with a price match. My Target shopping days are coming to an end I fear.On the bright side, I have a new Walmart opening next year so maybe they'll take over.

[misshayley]

I was able to get 3 lunch bags at 70% off yesterday. There was a lady from the markdown team working to salvage some of the school supplies and she told me if I found a book bag or lunch bag that I was interested in that she would see if it should be lower. It really pays to be nice to people because she marked down all 3 of them for me because I asked instead of making me wait until she got to them.

[kathytheshopper]

I was able to get 3 lunch bags at 70% off yesterday. There was a lady from the markdown team working to salvage some of the school supplies and she told me if I found a book bag or lunch bag that I was interested in that she would see if it should be lower. It really pays to be nice to people because she marked down all 3 of them for me because I asked instead of making me wait until she got to them.

WOW are you lucky! When the school supplies got marked down I was there right at 8:00. There's this one clerk who does not like people close to her-at least me! lol She was marking stuff and standing in the same place. I wanted the scissors that were right in front of her. Finally after 20 minutes I said "I'm just going to reach in here and grab some scissors" and she told me that I should stay out of her (personal) space. This happened once before although it was later in the morning. I kind of know the manager and I was going to mention it to him but he was in a meeting. I still might sometime since this is at least the second time she's done this to me. And I'm very nice and patient to the clerks so I don't deserve this.

[boredbread]

Saw lots of table lamps today at 70%.  An endcap of a variety of frames in a variety of sizes 70% too.

[jessifarr]

Any idea when fans will go lower?

[tinkrbel]

I saw lots of organizer/cute fabric boxes at 30% with school stuff today. It would be nice to get them at 50-70 but I have no idea when that was clearanced and closer store doesn't have any,

[kathytheshopper]

The black desk fans were 70% off at my store but all the other styles and colors still 50%.

[atn1275]

I saw a bunch of plate sets and other stuff in the houseware department at 70% off.  I didn't need any so passed.  Does anyone know when the bikes go on clearance?  Did the bungee chair already go on clearance?  I hope I didn't miss it.

[jakesmommy403]

I found some great stuff on a clearance end cap in electronics today! Children's books at 70% off, Assassins Creed for PS3 for $5.98, a lot of covers and plugs for tablets and phones, PC games, Nikon cameras, and there was a lot more that I know I'm forgetting, mostly at 70%, some at 50. I grabbed that ps3 game for my brother and some books for the kids.

 

Back in furniture there were some small chest freezers, toaster ovens, and TV stands at 50% off. Bedding sets all marked down to 70, but pickin's were slim at my store unless you're in the market for "twin XL" size.

 

Kitchen had the same stuff on the end caps, all holding at 50 for the most part with a few things now at 70, just oddsy endsy things like cups and plates.

[lancedeb]

Yes same here for electronics and books.  I found some Easy Readers and DVDs.