What Most Shoppers Don’t Know About Clearance Cycles

Written By Ora Barlow

Timing is everything especially when you’re trying to save real money.

Most people assume clearance means “last chance,” but that’s not always true.
In reality, big-box retailers use predictable markdown cycles to clear space for the next season — and if you know when to watch, you can grab the deepest discounts without scrambling.
That’s part of why I built DealioCart: to give everyday shoppers the inside edge without needing to study store schedules or price drops every week.

🗓️ The Real Schedule Behind Clearance Racks

Most stores plan markdowns months in advance. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

  • Target

    • Clothing: 30% off after two weeks, 50% off after a month, 70% off after six weeks

    • Home Decor: Major markdowns usually hit mid-January, mid-July, and October

  • Walmart

    • Most clearance begins quietly in-store before it’s shown online.

    • Mondays = electronics

    • Wednesdays = clothing

    • Fridays = auto/home goods

  • Amazon

    • Amazon doesn’t follow a fixed cycle , but 3rd party sellers often drop prices aggressively during the first 5 days of each month to hit sales targets.

    • “Today’s Deal” is often based on performance bonuses, not real savings.

  • TJ Maxx & Marshalls

    • Most items are marked down 3 times max

    • Final clearance stickers usually drop Wednesday mornings

⏰ Why This Matters

If you shop too early, you're paying more than you should.
If you shop too late, you're left with scraps.
The sweet spot is predictable, but only if you're watching.

Use this rule when browsing clearance:
Watch the price drop. Wait for round two. Then decide.

You’ll usually see:

  • Round 1 = 20–30% off

  • Round 2 = 50% off

  • Final = 70–90% off (if stock survives)

Unless it's an item you know will vanish, waiting one cycle often saves you 30–50% more.

If tracking all of that sounds like too much, that’s what we handle.

DealioCart surfaces the real markdowns across Amazon and soon other major stores, skipping the fake urgency and surfacing what’s actually worth buying today.
No guesswork. Just one click into verified deals that meet our quality check.

Last fall, one of our members messaged me about a jacket she was watching on Amazon. It was marked 30% off, and she almost bought it. We flagged it as a “cycle 1” markdown, and within two weeks, it dropped to 65%. Same size, same listing. She saved $42 just by waiting.

Want today’s verified markdowns without chasing sales?
Our private dashboard updates daily — and the best deals never last long.
Join DealioCart and make your next checkout smarter.

Ora Barlow