I get numerous questions regarding the Target toy clearance. The toy clearance is a separate clearance than the Christmas clearance. You can find small toys during the Christmas clearance, because they are part of the Christmas section meant for stocking stuffers. The true toy clearance has not happened yet, so you have not missed the fun!
1. The first thing you are going to want to do, is check out the toys now. Anything that has a red clearance sticker will be marked down to 75% off, provided that they all haven’t sold before the big markdown comes. I like to get an idea of what items will be available, it makes it so much easier. I also go home and check reviews on Amazon to make sure that certain items are worth the money. I don’t want to buy junk even if it is 75% off.
2. The BIG clearance day will probably happen on a Wednesday or Thursday, since those are the usual toy markdown days. The time they are marked down varies from store to store, they may all be marked down when the doors open at 8:00, or they may start marking things down around 9:00. There really isn’t anyway to predict exactly when it happens.
3. It is much easier to shop this sale WITHOUT your children, but if you have to bring them (I usually do) then you should practice saying stuff like “No, that Star Wars toy is not for you, it’s for your cousin Cason”.
4. I can usually find out if the markdown has taken place by checking the Gotta Deal shopping message board, the great thing about living on the west coast is that all the east coast shoppers have finished their shopping and are posting their deals online. So, I can usually find out if the sale is going on even before our Target opens. Now if that isn’t a reason to move out West, I don’t know what is.
5. For the best selection, get there early.
6. This is a big one. Throw stuff in your cart first, decide if you want it later. Trust me on this one! You can always go through your cart later, and take stuff out you decide you don’t want. This works better than deciding “oh, I really did want that game” then go back to the aisle to find out somebody has already snatched it up.
7. Don’t always trust the price on the red clearance sticker. Don’t pass on something just because it says 50% off. Throw it in your cart and scan it, sometimes it got marked down, but they forgot to put the new price sticker on it.
8. If they are in the process of marking things down when you get there and only 1/2 of the toy section has been marked down, don’t panic! You are probably thinking ” Who in the heck would panic”? A crazy bargain shopper like me would panic. Trust me, I have panicked before. Here is what you do. You continue to throw items in your cart like I mentioned in #6. You then scan items to see if they are in fact 75% off. If not, you politely ask one of the Target employees with one of the pricing guns if they wouldn’t mind checking to see if the price on a certain toy has gone down. You hand them the toy, they zap it with there gun, and then they tell you, that it has indeed been marked down. You secretly get all excited and you put it back in your cart. They have to scan the UPC of one of each of the items for the price changes to take effect. So, if you want to buy 2 of the exact same Lego’s you only need them to scan one of them. All of them will now ring up at the sale price. I have found that most times they don’t mind doing this for you, after all they have to scan and change the price on everything anyway. You may find a grouchy employee that will roll their eyes when you ask them. I can totally take an eye roll for a 75% off Lego set, it doesn’t bother me.
9. Get yourself a buddy! What I mean by this, is if you can’t make it to the sale find a friend to help you out. If you are planning on going to the sale, help someone else out. Better yet, if you and your buddy can both go then hit separate stores and look for things that each other wants. My sister works, so she can’t make it to the sale when it first happens. I always keep stuff in mind for her and pick that up too, it is a big help to her. Sometimes I call her on my cell phone, and ask her if she wants a certain item. I also pick things up for a couple other friends, because they have asked me if I could look for certain things. Friends don’t let friends pay full retail – be a friend!
10. If you stop at more than one or even two Target’s it doesn’t make you crazy. I like to think of it as being dedicated.
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