Target does have different clearance times per store . It depends on many different things to when they mark them further down . 1 word of advice when chasing Target deals ...... DONT CALL THEM . Ok that was 3 words but you get the idea .
As with all things , Target employee looks up a price for you and it is very low , do you think the item will be instock ? You have to GO TO TARGET and find the item in question . Once you find it , don't have a store employee check the price for you as if they hand scan it they can tell you whatever they want . The stores almost ALL have scanners in different locations of the stores to check prices . Find a scanner and look it up YOURSELF . If it is a low price , you know and the employees won't (atleast till you check-out and then some dont even look at the price it rings at) . If the item has a "Clearance" red-tag on it , there will be a price on the clearance tag . Not always do clearanced items have a tag either . IGNORE the tag on the item . MANY times Target clearance items will scan lower than the tag . Sometimes you find a old item that was clearanced long ago , and was supposed to be destroyed . It will scan "Not on File" or just plain "Clearance" . If this happens , take the item to the register with you . Have them scan it throgh and when it pops up the "Key Price" good employees (or ones that have been there a while) know the key punch sequence to check the last price the item was sold at before destroyed . If they can't locate a price or come up with the original price (this happens when they don't know how to check for the correct price) , calmly say "Ill take the item to Customer Service" and proceed to the CS desk / counter . Once there Im sure someone behind the counter can find the price (Ive had to do this about 10 different times) and if they can't ask for a manager so they can check the price . Be nice as most Target employees have been down this road before . Also don't get mad and want to say forget it as Im sure one of the employees giving you a hard time will be more than happy to purchase the item at the low clearance price after you walk out of the store .
Target clearance can be awesome , you just got to do it smart . Calling them and asking for price / stock status for clearance items is plain stupid .
In August I bought a patio table (130.00) 4 chairs ($39.00 each ) and a umbrella ( $100.00 ) for $80.00 plus tax from Target clearance .
Best thing is to find the item you want when it's clearanced and keep a eye on it . To get our patio table setup we had to check every couple night after the original 25% off . Took about a week and a half and they dropped to 50% . 2 or 3 days later they were 75% . The chairs and umbrella did not go down for 3 or 4 weeks later to 75 to 90% off . We just checked every 2 nights till one night we walked in and "Surprise" almost every umbrella was gone . The employees WIPED THEM OUT . I was lucky that the exact umbrella my wife wanted was still there . The chairs were still there also that we wanted .
If they know the stuff is going down they snatch it up . I dont blame them cause Id do the same thing . Since most of us arent Target employees , it's best to try keeping the clearance sercet a secret as long as possible