Retail workers have a front-row seat to the inner workings of a store’s pricing and inventory strategies. They see which products have the highest markups and know exactly when major sales are scheduled to happen. While the average shopper might feel pressured to buy an item at its full list price, an employee knows that patience is often the key to getting a massive discount. Based on their insider knowledge, here are seven items that retail workers know you should almost never buy at full price.
1. Furniture
Furniture has one of the highest markups in the entire retail industry, often ranging from 200% to 400%. Retail workers know that the full price is largely a suggestion and that the store has a huge amount of room to offer discounts. Major holiday weekends like Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day always bring huge sales events. If you simply wait for one of these promotions, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
2. Mattresses
Much like furniture, mattresses have enormous markups that allow for steep, frequent discounts. The mattress industry is famous for creating slightly different model names for each retail chain, which makes direct price comparisons difficult. However, employees know that the same major sales cycles apply. Never buy a mattress that is not on sale, because a promotion is always just around the corner.
3. Designer Clothing
The full price of a piece of designer clothing is temporary. Retail workers who handle seasonal inventory know that as soon as a new season’s collection arrives, the previous season’s items are immediately marked down. By waiting just a few weeks, you can often get that same designer item for 30-50% off during end-of-season clearance events. Patience is the ultimate key to affording high fashion.
4. High-End Cosmetics and Perfumes
You will rarely see a direct discount on high-end makeup or perfume. Instead, retail workers know to wait for “Gift with Purchase” or “Friends & Family” events. During these promotions, brands will offer a free bag filled with valuable deluxe samples, or department stores will offer a blanket 15-20% discount. Buying during these events dramatically increases the value of your purchase.
5. Jewelry
The markup on jewelry, especially at mall-based chain stores, is incredibly high. The listed price has a massive profit margin built into it. Jewelry stores run constant sales, especially around Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the winter holidays. An employee knows that no savvy customer ever pays the original ticket price for a piece of jewelry.
6. HDMI Cables and Other Electronics Accessories
The accessories aisle at a big-box electronics store is a major profit center. An employee knows that the store makes far more money on a $50 HDMI cable than it does on the $1,000 TV it connects to. These cables have a massive markup, and you can almost always find a much cheaper, equally effective version online or from a different brand.
7. Holiday Decor
This is the most obvious category, but it is still a mistake many people make. Retail workers watch shoppers pay full price for decorations, wrapping paper, and candy in the weeks leading up to a holiday. They know that on the day after the holiday, the entire stock will be marked down by 50-75%. By planning and buying your decor for next year, you can save a huge amount of money.
The Value of Patience
The biggest secret that retail workers know is that the full price is often just a starting point. Almost every major product category operates on a predictable sales cycle. By understanding these cycles and exercising a bit of patience, you can avoid paying the high-margin sticker price and make your purchases like an insider.
What’s the best deal you’ve ever gotten by waiting for a sale? Are there any other items you would add to this list? Let us know your shopping secrets!
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