How to Read Clearance Tags in Canadian Stores
Clearance tags carry clues about how final a markdown is. Here is what to look for and what not to assume.
What tags tell you
- The current price and often the original price
- A markdown date at some chains
- A department or item code you can use to check stock at other locations
Do not assume
- That the shelf tag is current; scan the item
- That an ending digit means the same thing at every chain
- That the "was" price is what the product sells for online
Useful habits
- Scan anything on a clearance shelf, even without a tag
- Ask staff whether another markdown is scheduled
- Check the same item at a second location; markdowns vary by store
Costco note
Shoppers widely report that Costco prices ending in .97 mark a clearance. Treat it as a hint, not a rule.