Maybe our Target is different from most in the US (ha ha) but I can't ever seem to find the deals that others do. Maybe I don't know where to look but I always check the 'Clearance' end caps and fine one or two things and that's it!

I think this belongs on this board since I'm not asking about coupons (Tips of the Trade)? I never read Target threads on LWIF because I don't get the deals... So hopefully, The Cafe will provide some answers!

Hopefully some of you can offer some Target advice!

I've noticed in the Targets that I go to, the markdowns are not on the same schedule as posted here. If someone posts a 75% off find, our markdown may only be 30 or 50% but eventually it gets there. And many times the clearance that I find is on the regular shelf rather than on a clearance endcap.
I don't find all the deals that I read about but I find many and I find some that aren't posted.

Target, no cuz the closest Target is 2 hours away. My answer is based on Wal-Mart. I think that it does vary somewhat by location. When we moved here from Fayetteville, I was shocked at the price of the clearance items. People snatched up stuff when it went down just a little. If you waited for it to get down to where it would get at FAyetteville then it was all gone. So it might have to do with how much people are willing to pay in your area. If they are willing to pay more, then why should the store reduce it to 75% off if it is bought out at 5% off. Bigger profits or less loss for the store. It is a matter of economics.

I have! Sometimes it is just luck. I needed a bday present for my friend's son. I happened to find the FP trike for $6.24 on clearance. Got one for him, and put one away for dd (who was only 4 mo old at the time). When it is the after Xmas clearance I always read the threads for hidden deals. Make a list, then shop while dd is at school.

__________________
I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

Target clearances gave me the chance to furnish our home when we first purchased it. I've found fantastic deals over the years. I love Target.

It used to be that most of the clearance was on end caps, however I've noticed some goods have stayed in their respective aisles. I think that depends on how much room they have or need in order to place new items.

Seasonal items (i.e back to school, christmas, halloween etc.) can all be found at low prices if you wait. You just have to be alert and get there on markdown day to get the best picks.

The advent of the internet and message boards have, I think, changed the availability of clearance items. People post what they find and it's more competitive to find the item. I believe stores clear some items faster than they have in years past because of this.

I do believe some Targets are better than others. Maybe some items don't sit on the shelves as long as others. I also think you have to get a 'feel' of the store - like layout and how/when the store marks down. This gets you more familiar with clearance deals and gives you the opportunity to grab good buys.

Newer stores don't seem to have much clearance. I guess you'd have to wait awhile.

*I think this would go on CS board.

__________________
@@@
l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

Cuthie,

Emailed you!

Thank you!

Why don't you share with everyone??

__________________

I have found some fantastic deals at Target. Some of those deals were things posted online and I was lucky to find the same in my store, some I just lucked in to. I think those that find the best deals go to Target daily or maybe they get to know folks at Target that they can make phone calls to.

__________________
TLJ ~ Women United in Spirit

It is a good 30 minute drive for me so if I make it once a week while the kids are in school, I'm doing good. No point in wasting that much gas unless I can be sure that the deals are there.

my best 2 target deals:

I got a game table w/ about 20+ games included. It was marked down from $119 to... $30!!!!

I got 6 pair of winter flannel pj's for $2 each.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

Target clearance is hit and miss with me. I have found great deals but none of what is posted here LOL I just cruise the store some times with I am without my kids....best deals are usually found in the aisles...not endcaps, at least for me

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

You have to scan everything that is marked down.
Lots of times items will scan at a lower price than they are marked.

__________________
Square dancing is friendship set to music!

I find so many Target deals that I have to constrain myself from going....LOL......Occasionally, I have to round up all my Target deals and return them, because who the heck could find a use for all of it? LOL.... (do you get the picture for how I got into the care package biz, Cuthie? You're welcome to come visit! )

cj/

That's great! I'll come on over... Hopefully, the great deals will offset the price of the airline ticket! LOL.

I have tried scanning things that are listed in the Target threads and they always scan at NO discount. I think CScout might have hit the nail on the head. We live in a semi-retirement area with some pretty wealthy folks and maybe there is not a need to mark things down here!

Well give me plenty of heads up.....I have to clear the spare bedroom of Target bargains first...I'm not sure where the bed is. LOL

ETA: there is definitely differences in markdowns across regions, even within my area. On the "richer" side of town, food markdowns are great....while on the "poorer" side of town, food items rarely make it past 15%....I believe this is a demand thing.

There can be and are differences in markdowns between stores that are 5-10 miles from each other. I live in a suburb of Atlanta with many Targets close by. One is in a little less affluant area, but from what I can tell is a high volume store. This store always has a lot of clearance to markdown, but once they do it goes very quickly. Another store about 5 miiles closer to me doesn't have as much clearance, but it doesn't fly off the shelves like at the other store. Sometimes something that is 75% off at one store is ontly 50% off at another store, so you really have to watch. The Super Target that is near me is very busy and I don't find a lot of good clearance deals. There usually isn't much left once it gets to 75% off and it goes very quickly. I sometimes find good 'hidden deals' at this store, however, just by scanning items listed on this board or items that look out of place.

Another thing to note, be sure to compare prices within the store. Sometimes items in the seasonal area aren't a good deal. Depending on the item, check the regular aisles too for similar items. I've found that sometimes the similar item has a lower price to begin with -- sometimes a good bit less. I'm sure they do this so they can mark down the 'seasonal' item and still make a good margin. This was particularly true for Global Marketplace. They had a large clock that was $39.99 in the Marketplace line and a similar clock for $29.99 in the regular aisle (Home brand). Some of the summer stuff was like this too.

Also, a lot of times prices vary by store. A good example right now is Gerber baby food. At one store by me it's $.57 for the least expensive jar, at another store it's $.52. I've found price differences for HBA items, diapers (thses vary a lot), even toys. The best prices seem to be at the Super Target that is right down the street from Super WalMart.

I did much better on clearance finds when seasonal was marked down the same time at every store and you could find out the dates in advance (f.rom this board and others). I find I'm not spending so much time shopping anymore and when I do, I'm not buying everything just because it's a 'good deal'. I only buy things I know what I'm going to do with (i.e. a gift for a specific person, or something to go in a specific spot in my house). In the last year or two I've given away so much 'good stuff' that I just didn't need.

Sarah.........mom to Jason & Devin

My target is so sucky! I have to drive to Nashville to find a deal usually.

When we are in Texas, I usually find awesome deals because there are so many (at least 10-12 Targets in a 30 min radius).