Under the Median: My Top 10 Strategies for Scoring Supermarket Markdowns

Hear me explain these strategies in-depth on FB Live!

I did a 25 minute Facebook Live presentation on these 10 Strategies. Read the ten tips on the post and then, to hear me explain them in-depth, check out the video.

Tips for markdown shopping:

1. Call your store.

Ask to speak to someone in the specific department that you want to look for markdowns. Better yet, find an employee in that department the next time you are in the store. Ask them directly when they do their daily markdowns.

2. Time your shopping trip.

Most stores do markdowns either first thing in the morning or later at night. But, be sure to ask if markdowns are completed multiple times a day. One of my Kroger stores does their markdowns at noon each day. The store across town does markdowns at 8am and 4pm. Time your shopping trip to coincide with the greatest concentration of markdowns.

3. Don't assume that every department does markdowns at the same time.

The meat, dairy, general merchandise, and produce departments all often have their own schedule for doing markdowns.

4. Even if you have dietary restrictions or preferences, you want to know the markdown schedule in all of the departments.

Yes, my friends, you want the info. for every department. No matter your dietary preferences, the complete schedule of markdowns is important to you. For instance, plant-based yogurts, milks, and grain or bean based meats are found in either the dairy or meat departments. So, even if you are a vegan, you care about the produce and meat department markdown schedule.

5. Don't assume that every department does markdowns.

When in doubt, ask. I had a conversation at my local Schnuck's grocery store with an employee. I visited after several Under the Median readers told me that they were scoring fantastic markdowns at the store. They were. But, not in the produce department. The employee told me that for some unknown reason management had declared that no markdowns would be offered in produce.

6. Don't be afraid to voice your opinion.

Just be sure to do it politely. I asked the employee to pass on to management that because other local stores routinely and regularly mark down prices in the produce department that I always pop into those stores specifically when I am passing by. Therefore, I am in those stores much more often than I am at those who do not offer markdowns in produce.

7. Your loyalty matters to stores!

I wrote commercials for a living for many years. I repeated the words, "Target audience" and "Market share" to myself several times a day. Let me explain what these terms mean. When you are writing, your target audience is the kind of consumer you are attempting to influence. Target audience is often stated in terms of gender, age, income level, and other socioeconomic traits. Market share is the total percentage of the possible market that you obtain. In a simplified version, if 1 in every 10 shoppers makes a purchase at your store, then your market share is 10%. Schnuck's happens to be known for the quality of their merchandise. Their target audience wants exceptional, five-star fruits and vegetables. If I knew that there was a chance of scoring some bargains, I'd be in their doors in a New York minute. Management wants to know how to get you in their store, gain your loyalty, and get their share of your grocery dollars. So, don't be afraid to tell them. Ultimately, they want to corner a greater percentage of the market share.

8. Ask if they will mark it down for you.

If you see a stop date that is within 48 hours of when you are in the store, don't be afraid to ask an employee if they can mark it down for you. The worst they can say is, "No". If they won't do it, do be sure to ask if it is store policy to not offer a marked down price. That way you'll know not to ask in the future.

9. Ask if markdowns are located in multiple locations throughout the store and within each department.

For instance, Kroger has two produce markdown sections. Many packaged salad markdowns are simply displayed amongst their full-priced counterparts. However, they are sporting bright yellow clearance tags, to make sure that you see them. They also have an endcap display of "red bag" items. Each red bag is just $.99! The produce and meat departments also generally have markdowns displayed in more than one place. You can often find amazing deals, but you have to know to check all of the places in each department where you are liable to find markdowns.

IMPORTANT NOTE!

You cannot assume that all endcap items throughout the store are on sale! Often stores will create a display of "like" items together. For example: pasta sauce, pasta, and french bread, They are luring you into an Italian feast for supper tonight, but it may not be at a bargain price. These items are often for sale , but not on sale.

10. Find out if additional markdowns are offered as items get closer to the "sell by" date.

I once watched two, 20 pound bags of dried chickpeas for several weeks at GFS. They were on the markdown shelf. A customer had special ordered them and then decided that they didn't want them once the the items had arrived. Initially, the manager put the beans on the markdown shelf, pretty close to the originally offered price. However, as time passed, and no one bought them, management continued the downward trajectory of the price. Finally, after a month, I asked an employee when the next markdown was scheduled and how low the manager would go on the price. I knew that if it got to 50¢ a pound, I was going to pounce on them like a cat on catnip. The employee asked what I was wanting to pay. I told her, "$10 a box". She blanched and replied that she really didn't think the store would go that low, but she would ask. She returned about five minutes later with an answer. They were willing to meet my price! I was one happy camper. I bought both bags of beans and ate a whole lot of chickpea related recipes for the next few weeks. So, being a pleasant, frequent customer and asking politely sometimes does have its rewards.