Every holiday season, grocery store aisles fill with festive, high-end products. You will see towering displays of expensive gift sets, gourmet popcorn tins, and premium advent calendars. For weeks, most shoppers walk right past these items. The high prices make them seem like a bad value. But the day after the holiday, a switch flips. The store marks these items down by 50% or more. At that point, savvy bargain hunters descend, and the entire stock vanishes in minutes.
1. The Gourmet Popcorn Tin
The three-gallon popcorn tin is a holiday classic. It is usually divided into three flavors: butter, cheese, and caramel. At its full price of $20 or more, it is a questionable purchase. Shoppers know the quality is often mediocre. However, when that same tin is marked down to $5, it becomes an unbeatable bargain. It is a huge volume of snacks for a tiny price.
2. The “As Seen on TV” Gift Display
Before Christmas, the store will feature a prominent end-cap display. It is filled with “As Seen on TV” gadgets and other “perfect gift” items. These products, from special pan scrapers to snuggle blankets, sit for weeks. Most shoppers are skeptical of their high $19.99 price. The day after the holiday, these items are marked down to $5. Bargain hunters will then clear the shelf. They stock up on gag gifts for the next year.
3. The “Coffee and Mug” Gift Set
The seasonal aisle is full of pre-packaged gift sets. A common one is a “coffee and mug” set. It might contain a festive mug and a small bag of hot cocoa or coffee. At a full price of $15, the value is very low. When the set is marked down to $3, the price is finally right. Shoppers will buy the entire set just to get the mug.
4. The High-End Box of Chocolates
A grocery store will often stock a very expensive, $30 or $40 box of premium, assorted chocolates. These are for last-minute, desperate gift-givers. Most shoppers will opt for a cheaper bag of candy instead. The day after Valentine’s Day or Christmas, these luxury boxes are marked down by 75%. At this new, low price, they become an incredible, self-indulgent treat. They are bought and eaten by the bargain hunters themselves.
5. The Premium Wine Advent Calendar
In recent years, the “wine advent calendar” has become a popular luxury item. These large, heavy boxes can cost over $50. They are a major splurge that most shoppers will skip. After December 25th, however, the store has no use for them. They are marked down for immediate clearance. Smart shoppers will buy them at a massive discount. They will then save them to use for themselves the following year.
6. Seasonal-Flavored Coffee
The bags of “Peppermint Bark” or “Gingerbread” flavored coffee are a fun, seasonal novelty. However, they are often more expensive than the store’s regular blends. Most people are hesitant to commit to a full bag of a strange flavor. Once the holiday is over, these bags are marked down. At a 50% discount, they become a low-risk, fun item to try.
7. The Pre-Made Shrimp Cocktail Ring
This item has a much shorter timeline. It is a high-priced, refrigerated party food. It is very popular for New Year’s Eve. The store knows that this item is worthless the day after the party. On the afternoon of December 31st, a manager will often mark down the remaining stock by 50%. The last-minute party shoppers will then clear the entire shelf in a matter of minutes.
The Patient Shopper’s Reward
The full, pre-holiday price of these items is not for the product itself. It is a high price for the convenience, the packaging, and the marketing. The savvy shopper knows this. They are not buying the holiday hype. They are waiting for the inevitable clearance sale. This sale is their reward. It is a prize for those who have the patience and the discipline to wait for the real deal.
What is the best post-holiday clearance deal you have ever found? What is the one item you always wait to buy until it is on sale? Let us know!
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