Target clearance the most advertised nothing burger
 

I’m uncertain what happened

I remember as a kid a clearance could be up to 90% off, it was a price that would motivate you to buy unnecessary things.

The current Target clearance 10-20% off an already inflated price and even better 10-20% off expired food?

As much hype and discussion as there is about the big clearance it’s really nothing more than a minor sale

I’m told there are better deals but the actual dollar amount in those cases regardless of the percentage supposedly off still looks like no deal to me.

Not sure who is motivated by small price drops on outdated stuff anymore

Now certain “big ticket “ items have dropped somewhat in price
80”+ TVs for example but the price is still not exactly cheap and I don’t want a tv that size

I have been looking for a new Bicycle but it still appears you get exactly what you pay for, not sure why some bikes cost more than one of my cars though

I never liked the concept of a sale. Give me the lowest price you're willing to let a thing go all the time. I'll buy elsewhere if the price is better. I get the need when it's actually used to clear out inventory no longer wanted to be kept in stock, but that's just called the clearance rack.

I haven't seen a cheap thing yet. Bought my 75" TV 3 years ago for $380. Haven't been looking, but I bet you can't find 'em that cheap now.

Not sure we'll see good deals anymore.

A few weeks ago I noticed the price of a packet of biscuits was half the usual at a Zaffari in my hometown. Expiration date was closer than some packets I had at home. I don't know why stockpiling some items until it's close to their expiration date, but I'm sure it might be effective toward those people who buy things by impulse.

The problem with large sales is that it conditions customers to only buy when things are on sale so the company has to mark things up to then discount them. That kind of thing worked in the old days but today most people are going to at least look at something online even if they end up buying it at a physical store. People can see the prices of 10 stores side by side and that 80% off sale no longer looks like a sale.

JC Penny ran into this problem and a new CEO tried to fix it by just pricing things for what the store actually wanted to sell them for. It backfired and their core customers revolted because they expected to buy things 80% off - they didn't care that the final price was the same they were conditioned to expect a discount and feel like they were getting an expensive product for next to nothing.

I went into Penny's last week to buy a linen sport coat for a wedding that required "cocktail attire" and I was pretty shocked that they are still in business. It was a shell of the store I remembered from 20 years ago. Half empty, understaffed, clothes randomly strewn around instead of returned to the proper racks after being folded or hung properly.

But on the bright side I got a $200 sport coat for only $48. What a deal!

I don't buy new except food and [recycled] toilet paper, but buying used has it's pitfalls.

I bought a sweet 5" circular saw by Ball (with case) from the mid-50s, but when I went to change the blade, it uses a square hole. :confused:

So I went back and got a Craftsman in a carry case that has 2-55 stamped on the build plate. When I went to change the blade, it has a 1/2" harbor instead of 5/8" or diamond. :mad:

So I went back and got a $20 Hitachi with no case, or blade so I could see the arbor.

The good news is I'm out maybe $80 in total. While I was there I saw a Speedaire air compressor priced at $275 -- identical to the one I got for $28 around 2016.

I don't wear used underwear, unless required by penal code. Never a used toothbrush.

Goin' commando, amirite?

That was hyperbole. I find used paint is hard to work with. ....and tooth paste.

When the government sent me [']free['] money, it went to a .410 Derringer and a Ruger 10/22. Both used.

Ain't nothin ever been free.

Noted. Fixed.

The Target clearance section can have good deals. We got a wedding gift once, and my wife decided the thing wasn't worth the price paid for it, so returned it for credit. The next week, the returned item was in the clearance section for 25% of the original price, so she bought it and still had 75% of store credit to spend.