2018 Lowe's deals/sales/clearance thread

[2manytools]

Thank you for the explanation. So other than a crazy low price listed, it's a crapshoot it sounds like. I saw a couple picked over clearance tables yesterday, but I Wasn't specifically looking for the mega deal clearance.

The items that a store has the ability to change the price on, are usually items that are no longer in the computers at Lowe's stores. Either their count was lower than actual, or they find a stragler somewhere, but has been removed from part of Lowe's inventory system. After so many days with no count, a clearance item is removed from their inventory. If you ever return a clearance item after this has happened, or you bring an item from one store back to another that doesn't carry it, the customer service has to "add the item back into inventory."

 

[grizzlyjmg]

So my question is will we find you on "American Pickers" anytime soon?

Not sure if my Home Depot penny deals and the Big Lowes Clearance Sale bargains fill the level needed to make American Pickers. On the other hand, the 1952 Chevy pickup hot rod I have in the garage - using the bed to hold service me of those bargains, may peak some interest......

 

[grizzlyjmg]

Last week I put 3 of the platforms in my cart online,$11.97 a pop) Clinton store (showed 11 in stock) and checked out. Few hours later get a phone call, "Sorry, we looked, don't have any. DC shows some". No thanks.

Next day, shows 8 in stock. (Hmmmm)
Put 2 in cart, checkpout.
Couple hours later, "we don't have any".

Seems they did....

Believe me when I say I’ve gotten that story before - usually when they have more than one than one item, and the item is somewhat desirable. Know that I am alerting the sales personnel of the bargains, but don’t always have enough time to run all around the DC/MD/VA area trying to get a bargain. I would say that I still get my fair share with ordering on-line but again I will never be able to beat out a determined employee.

 

[maksim]

Believe me when I say I’ve gotten that story before - usually when they have more than one than one item, and the item is somewhat desireavle. Know that I am alerting the sales personnel of the bargains, but don’t always have enough time to run alll around the DC/MD/VA area trying to get a bargain. I would say that I still get my fair share with ordering on-line but again I will never be able to beat out a determined employee.

I don't think it is employees taking deals for self, more than likely, employee charged with picking the items cannot locate the items where they are supposed to be... this is ESPECIALLY true for clearance items or items that may be in more than one place in overstock, etc.

Here is the thing, the employee has ZERO interest in whether or not your order is fulfilled and generally dependent on their own character and if they know you, whether they want to find it or not... but... if the quantity shows 1 or 2, and the item was last sold 5 months ago (which they have access to see), they are just going to toss it up to shrink. This is why if it is a harder to find item I will order it in the store (so I can use online coupons) and walk to show the employee where the items are.

Heck, once I called in before placing order, one employee found it and saw items with his own eyes, I placed order... and a manager called me back next day apologizing that they could not find the items. lol. Walked in next day and found them on an end cap, and not where they were supposed to be.

 

[grizzlyjmg]

Being a student of human nature - hell I was a CIA Senior Security Officer for 31 years and a Police Officer for 3 years prior to that - I say that you are being too nice when it comes to the work ethic and honesty of many of the Lowes employees. You are right, there are many who don’t really want to work for a living -they want the paycheck but feel entitled to get same without doing much work - and it shows when they are unable to find your product, basically because they don’t give a damn. Many times I have gone into the store and found my items in a nearby spot where they should have been, or directly above the spot on the next higher shelve where spare items are stored - the reason the item numbers are written on the boxes. The last time this happened is when I ordered two of the 3M Bluetooth headsets that were part of this clearance. Found them in my local store for $6 each and ordered the two shown in the on-line inventory. Got the call.....sorry, but it ***** to be you......went into the store three days later and walked right to the spot you would expect the headsets to be and there they were. Luckily I was still able to get them for $6 each as the employee was to lazy to remove them from inventory - but then again that is why I carry my messages from Lowes on all orders I make in the event I have to “discuss the price with the manager”.

As for the employees getting the bargains first, was at a Lowes about 45 miles from home to pick up another on-line order when the employee who was supposed to be processing my pickup was to busy trying to get all her fellow coworkers to go and get the garden tools that had been reduced to over 75% off - oh and by the way she wanted four of each item put aside for her. So if you were dumb enough to order your garden tools, chances are you were going to get the call as the tools were wiped out before any customers could get near them (what ever happened to the rule of being off the clock to shop....). Have also seen other employees hide, or move things in order to get a chance to buy it before the customer could get it.

So yes, I agree there are some good employees, who do their jobs and ensure the customer get what they ordered, but I believe that in the larger metropolitan areas they are becoming more far and few in between than in the more “home town stores”. I will continue to challenge the workers to beat me to the bargains, and I only hope that this forum continues to work together to promote the bargains amongst the members as they have recently as it gives me a head start on some of the employees.

Enough soapbox time, lets get back to bargains.....

 

[cdmd2b]

Being a student of human nature - hell I was a CIA Senior Security Officer for 31 years and a Police Officer for 3 years prior to that - I say that you are being too nice when it comes to the work ethic and honesty of many of the Lowes employees. You are right, there are many who don’t really want to work for a living -they want the paycheck but feel entitled to get same without doing much work - and it shows when they are unable to find your product, basically because they don’t give a damn. Many times I have gone into the store and found my items in a nearby spot where they should have been, or directly above the spot on the next higher shelve where spare items are stored - the reason the item numbers are written on the boxes. The last time this happened is when I ordered two of the 3M Bluetooth headsets that were part of this clearance. Found them in my local store for $6 each and ordered the two shown in the on-line inventory. Got the call.....sorry, but it ***** to be you......went into the store three days later and walked right to the spot you would expect the headsets to be and there they were. Luckily I was still able to get them for $6 each as the employee was to lazy to remove them from inventory - but then again that is why I carry my messages from Lowes on all orders I make in the event I have to “discuss the price with the manager”.

As for the employees getting the bargains first, was at a Lowes about 45 miles from home to pick up another on-line order when the employee who was supposed to be processing my pickup was to busy trying to get all her fellow coworkers to go and get the garden tools that had been reduced to over 75% off - oh and by the way she wanted four of each item put aside for her. So if you were dumb enough to order your garden tools, chances are you were going to get the call as the tools were wiped out before any customers could get near them (what ever happened to the rule of being off the clock to shop....). Have also seen other employees hide, or move things in order to get a chance to buy it before the customer could get it.

So yes, I agree there are some good employees, who do their jobs and ensure the customer get what they ordered, but I believe that in the larger metropolitan areas they are becoming more far and few in between than in the more “home town stores”. I will continue to challenge the workers to beat me to the bargains, and I only hope that this forum continues to work together to promote the bargains amongst the members as they have recently as it gives me a head start on some of the employees.

Enough soapbox time, lets get back to bargains.....

As a former employee at big box store 20 years ago I can say what you are saying is mostly true. The problem I have with it is the sense of entitlement that you or anyone else has when ordering online or in general. As an employee, you have to bust your *** for $1 over min wage so you damn right I will take anything and everything I can get my hands on. If someone doesn't like it come into the store and find it for yourselves.

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[2manytools]

Asked an assistant mgr tonight at a different store how much they were willing to deal, as their were signs saying the clearance sale ends 10/4. He said the only ixes was the price. I said well I guess I'll head back to *** store, they were ready with the sharpie to mark down. He replied saying they weren't supposed to and would get in trouble. Funny how 2 other store wanted to deal, and one is stodgy, rather spending on labor to ship it away.

Picked up some Off! click cartridges at $.10 a piece. 5 go for $35 on Amazon, which is why I never bought refills for mine. Even if they work 50%, I'll be happy. Mosquito's aren't getting any better

 

[grizzlyjmg]

As a former employee at big box store 20 years ago I can say what you are saying is mostly true. The problem I have with it is the sense of entitlement that you or anyone else has when ordering online or in general. As an employee, you have to bust your *** for $1 over min wage so you damn right I will take anything and everything I can get my hands on. If someone doesn't like it come into the store and find it for yourselves.

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The company offers the on-line purchase option to stay competitive with the open market. If the employees, or you for that matter, have a problem with me using that option, you can put the item where the sun don’t shine. I too once worked in the retail business, when in high school and while going to college (and I worked my way through school on my own with no handouts- to include working over a 100 hours a pay period as a Police Officer). If the employee doesn’t like his job, or position in life making a $1 an hour over minimum wage (most everyone on this forum most likely worked in a minimum wage once in their lives) do something to elevate your standing in life, unless you think it is OK to cheat your employer by not doing your job, or hiding things from customers so that you can make out the easy way.

Your sense of ethics and moral judgement is just one of the things that make this world the way it is. You can justify anything as long as you continue to have a sense of entitlement vice self-worth. You feel free to buy as much as you want; however, the on-line customer has a right to expect to get an item that they ordered when the inventory shows sufficient stock (not one or two).

 

[cdmd2b]

The company offers the on-line purchase option to stay competitive with the open market. If the employees, or you for that matter, have a problem with me using that option, you can put the item where the sun don’t shine. I too once worked in the retail business, when in high school and while going to college (and I worked my way through school on my own with no handouts- to include working over a 100 hours a pay period as a Police Officer). If the employee doesn’t like his job, or position in life making a $1 an hour over minimum wage (most everyone on this forum most likely worked in a minimum wage once in their lives) do something to elevate your standing in life, unless you think it is OK to cheat your employer by not doing your job, or hiding things from customers so that you can make out the easy way.

Your sense of ethics and moral judgement is just one of the things that make this world the way it is. You can justify anything as long as you continue to have a sense of entitlement vice self-worth. You feel free to buy as much as you want; however, the on-line customer has a right to expect to get an item that the order when the inventory shows sufficient stock ( not one or two).

You obviously don't get any deals from this forum correct? Don't talk about ethics when everyone in here cheats the system on a daily basis. I'm not saying they shouldn't have online ordering. All I'm saying is if you place an online order for a marked down product it has to go through a min of 3 people's hands before you get an email stating it's ready for pickup. The odds of that happening are no where close to 100%. If you don't order online and go in store there is nothing anyone can do to get that product from you. Have a great night.

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[MrSurly]

I'll throw in my experience with the Lowes workers during and before this event. I have found them ( almost 100%) to be very earnest and genuinely helpful people. True they don't have all the answers but I have watched many of them actually work really hard to help me find some item that's in the computer but "lost". Sincerely trying to help customers is what most of them are trying to do. Considering the millions of SKUs I can't believe they keep up as well as they do but certainly things get lost, moved by customers and put in the wrong department...it's got to be a daunting task to keep up with things on that magnitude. I'm actually troubled by home quick some customers are to jump on the "evil insider conspiracy" train. I DON'T assume they're all out to harm us.


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[Crazyjake8493]

I don't think it is employees taking deals for self, more than likely, employee charged with picking the items cannot locate the items where they are supposed to be... this is ESPECIALLY true for clearance items or items that may be in more than one place in overstock, etc.

This is a big truth, on top of their merchandising crews moving products or changing locations so often that the employees often honestly don't know where the items are. (Yes there are some stealing deals for themselves). It also happens often that items will be received but don't make it onto the floor for several days, whether the pallets is buried in receiving, items in the wrong department, nobody working to put away items, etc. Especially with all the staffing cuts, items get lost often.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Important to note that there are at *LEAST two* different kinds of “clearance” modes going on. Their normal everyday clearance sale stuff is marked with yellow tags claiming ‘clearance’ and the stuff is just the same old ho-hum 5%, to maybe even 20% off. The current event that is generating all this recent activity has not been given a name or special labels or any differentiation but *I* call it the “Mega clearance event” just to separate it in discussion. This is driven by the new CEO who has this history of approaching the inventory in stores likely this by taking a slash and burn approach on non-moving and slow-moving SKU#s. This Mega clearance has been going on for many weeks in stealth mode. It’s earmarked only by having significant price cuts. It doesn’t have anything to do with their ‘everyday’ clearance stuff.
The Mega clearance is winding down. The dates given by the managers are all over the place but rest assured that it will be all over this month.
Probably this week.


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The "mega clearance" is all items that are considered NPI: non productive inventory. Usually these items are phased out more slowly, but the new CEO wants them gone fast to free up money/buying power. This week at our local stores, everything that didn't sell is getting boxed up and shipped out to a third-party reseller or something like that.

 

[maksim]

Being a student of human nature - hell I was a CIA Senior Security Officer for 31 years and a Police Officer for 3 years prior to that - I say that you are being too nice when it comes to the work ethic and honesty of many of the Lowes employees. You are right, there are many who don’t really want to work for a living -they want the paycheck but feel entitled to get same without doing much work - and it shows when they are unable to find your product, basically because they don’t give a damn. Many times I have gone into the store and found my items in a nearby spot where they should have been, or directly above the spot on the next higher shelve where spare items are stored - the reason the item numbers are written on the boxes. The last time this happened is when I ordered two of the 3M Bluetooth headsets that were part of this clearance. Found them in my local store for $6 each and ordered the two shown in the on-line inventory. Got the call.....sorry, but it ***** to be you......went into the store three days later and walked right to the spot you would expect the headsets to be and there they were. Luckily I was still able to get them for $6 each as the employee was to lazy to remove them from inventory - but then again that is why I carry my messages from Lowes on all orders I make in the event I have to “discuss the price with the manager”.

As for the employees getting the bargains first, was at a Lowes about 45 miles from home to pick up another on-line order when the employee who was supposed to be processing my pickup was to busy trying to get all her fellow coworkers to go and get the garden tools that had been reduced to over 75% off - oh and by the way she wanted four of each item put aside for her. So if you were dumb enough to order your garden tools, chances are you were going to get the call as the tools were wiped out before any customers could get near them (what ever happened to the rule of being off the clock to shop....). Have also seen other employees hide, or move things in order to get a chance to buy it before the customer could get it.

So yes, I agree there are some good employees, who do their jobs and ensure the customer get what they ordered, but I believe that in the larger metropolitan areas they are becoming more far and few in between than in the more “home town stores”. I will continue to challenge the workers to beat me to the bargains, and I only hope that this forum continues to work together to promote the bargains amongst the members as they have recently as it gives me a head start on some of the employees.

Enough soapbox time, lets get back to bargains.....

without a doubt employees do take great deals for themselves, but it is not as prevalent as you may think... and I say this as a former retail employee. Maybe depends on area too? But... had no issues getting the garden tools at all, got 3 of those clearence shovels, 9 pairs of gloves, or that post hole digger.

I do however suspect that the air compressors that I ordered from a store in Brooklyn, NY were however picked up by employees. hehe.

 

[maksim]

The "mega clearance" is all items that are considered NPI: non productive inventory. Usually these items are phased out more slowly, but the new CEO wants them gone fast to free up money/buying power. This week at our local stores, everything that didn't sell is getting boxed up and shipped out to a third-party reseller or something like that.

In one of my local stores the leftover clearance items were already removed from inventory and palleted up to be picked up by the local wholesaler.

One of the key drivers for when clearance sale ends is based on when the store is having their annual inventory done. At this point most items the store sells is just going to bottom line as the inventory hit was already taken.

As far as who is buying it, at least locally here, it is a local wholesaler who came into the store and looked at what they are buying.

 

[Mattprother]

Back to the deals people!!!!!!

 

[tabs]

As a former employee at big box store 20 years ...The problem I have with it is the sense of entitlement anyone has when ordering online or in general. As an employee, you have to bust your *** for $1 over min wage so you damn right I will take anything and everything I can get my hands on.

i can't express how much BS that attitude is. i waited tables out of HS and if my attitude was "i only make $2.13/hr so get your own damn refill" then my *** would have been fired, and rightly so. as we've seen on here, many of these deals are online only and not able to be replicated in store--not to mention the use of online coupon codes or cash back offers etc that wont work in the checkout line. the benefit the employee should have is finding out about the deals first, then buying while off the clock. there is no excuse--no matter how little you think you make--to cancel orders and/or hide items. thats crossing the line and theres no way you can defend that action.

however, to keep this thread on track, heres some breakers my local has on sale. not a great price, but still 50% off. ive been putting off buying a few hoping theyd drop, but so far no luck

 

[cdmd2b]

i can't express how much BS that attitude is. i waited tables out of HS and if my attitude was "i only make $2.13/hr so get your own damn refill" then my *** would have been fired, and rightly so. as we've seen on here, many of these deals are online only and not able to be replicated in store--not to mention the use of online coupon codes or cash back offers etc that wont work in the checkout line. the benefit the employee should have is finding out about the deals first, then buying while off the clock. there is no excuse--no matter how little you think you make--to cancel orders and/or hide items. thats crossing the line and theres no way you can defend that action.

however, to keep this thread on track, heres some breakers my local has on sale. not a great price, but still 50% off. ive been putting off buying a few hoping theyd drop, but so far no luck

Proving my point on the sense of entitlement. You do realize that those coupon code generators are you legal. Thanks for publicly stating It

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[cagef15]

Talkie talkie talkie. Talkie talkie talkie. Too much talkie.

Killing me smalls. (Meaning all the word soup posts in this particular thread).

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[tabs]

Proving my point on the sense of entitlement. You do realize that those coupon code generators are you legal. Thanks for publicly stating It

who said anything about a generator? im talking about places like retail me not, etc that arent able to be printed out and used in store. most of them specifically state they are ONLINE ONLY
entitlement is thinking just because you work at a low paying job you have the right to do what you want by disregarding policies and procedures at your leisure for solely your benefit, at the detriment of other people.

anyway, i say you do you. you'll keep thinking youre right, we'll keep knowing youre wrong. but no reason to argue it further...im about out of deals to post up to try and keep us on track so here's my last one. i just wish our locals had real deals like the rest of the country

 

[dotnacker]

One of my local stores cleaned out their clearance area. I haven't checked other stores in my area but seems like they are winding down. Anybody else noticed it in their Lowe's?

I really wanted a Weber E-410 but can't find it anywhere within 300 miles (CA).

 

[Zestomite]

Yup the show is over around here. Our two local Lowes have cleaned up and looks like back to normal. I’ll miss the circus.

 

[Mr_fixit]

too many words... need more pictures.

 

[cheapsk8_flip]

Tomorrow is the last day to get anything from their first wave of clearance(They’ll be sending it back to warehouse, one manager told me). Just picked up a few vents for $5 a pop. My store still had one shark vacuum cleaner still at $249. I was able to get the manager to take it down to $125 but ended up not buying it. I’ve gotten really picky and spoiled from buying $600 dysons for $75.


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[IMCA38]

I hit the Lincoln store for one last swoop today. Employees were gathering up the crumbs to be shipped out.
I did find a solar flagpole light that was marked down to $6.99 (75% off) and a T25 socket bit marked down to $1.99 from $3.98.
Went to check out and only self check lines were open. I knew that would be an issue with clearance items, and I was right.
They opened a line to check me out and the torx socket rang up for $.99.

I swear, if I ever go there again and am forced into a self checkout, I'll put my stuff down and walk out of there for the last time!

The little clearance hunt was great while it lasted!

 

[gamp945]

I think there is still lots of clearance that is hiding in various places (unmarked on shelf, overrhead, endcaps, etc). What do you all think will happen to these items when the clearance events "ends"? Will we still be able to purchase them at last clearance price - or better?

 

[maksim]

Tomorrow is the last day to get anything from their first wave of clearance(They’ll be sending it back to warehouse, one manager told me). Just picked up a few vents for $5 a pop. My store still had one shark vacuum cleaner still at $249. I was able to get the manager to take it down to $125 but ended up not buying it. I’ve gotten really picky and spoiled from buying $600 dysons for $75.


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Speaking of the Shark, same story here... some stores full price, but I was able to pick up 2 for the $75 price or so. We are loving and using one... was undecided on the second. Tried selling on letgo but no luck, may return to store or if someone wants in the tristate area, let me know will do for cost + a bit of time/gas. (Eastern PA)

 

[drwheels]

What about rv antifreeze? Any around? What price? My store down to half the area. put up Christmas tree framework.

 

[Reit38]

Sku on the shark or dyson's? Really need a new vac

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[Poe34]

Was sad to see a $1500 log splitter with "sold" sign and a $374 price tag. Guess I should have been checking those when adding to my Lowes hoard.

 

[drwheels]

90% on most of what is left at one store I made today.rv antifreeze$.50 amaze weed 10 pound bag $2.00 YMMV

 

[cheapsk8_flip]

So apparently some stores have until the 8th to get rid of all the stuff. One manager at this particular store won’t budge on obviously fully priced sharks that I’m pretty sure are part of the stock they’re getting rid of. I’m posting pics so hopefully someone can confirm that said items are indeed part of the stock. Also if someone were to have a copy of the master list for the vacuums that’ll be great!! Thanks


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[cheapsk8_flip]

So apparently some stores have until the 8th to get rid of all the stuff. One manager at this particular store won’t budge on obviously fully priced sharks that I’m pretty sure are part of the stock they’re getting rid of. I’m posting pics so hopefully someone can confirm that said items are indeed part of the stock. Also if someone were to have a copy of the master list for the vacuums that’ll be great!! Thanks


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BISSELL Cleanview Deluxe Pet with Cord Rewind Bagless Upright Vacuum
Item # 737521 Model # 14522

Shark ION Rocket Cordless Bagless Stick Vacuum
Item # 905995 Model # IR101

Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Bagless Upright Vacuum
Item # 905994 Model # NV831



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[jad1]

Picked up a small Utilitech sump pump for $10. Regular price was $158 and clearance tag was $110. That had been marked out and $50 was written on the box. I asked the associate if they would go lower and he said $20. I offered $10 and he said okay.

Utilitech 0.25-HP Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump
Item # 240062 Model # UT25PCP

 

[Ww7573]

Picked up a Weber e-410 natural gas grill for 300
Item number 841134

Didn't show up in the computer. Had to have 3 different people help me check out. It was the display model that no one put a tag on to mark it down.

Thanks to whoever posted the Weber deal!

 

[MrSurly]

My local today had done away with the clearance pile area. Only a secondary area near plumbing has anything left and it’s literally scraps. The single useful sku left was the LED floods. trolled the whole store, nothing.
Notably, this store (Longview, TX) has been a minimal participant among clearance stores. Throughout the entire Mega-sale period they have not had ANY tags in the tool aisle or the electrical hdwe aisle or the shovel/axe/rake wall. Not one yellow tag in those areas. The few deals from this store were from the clearance pile or the appliance area.including the single tool box sku they clearanced. Most of my bargains came from another store.

 

[2manytools]

Same here. At one store though, they still have a whole pallet of 3-gallon jugs of Frying Oil up in top-stock. I must have bought the last one that was stocked a couple months ago, because the other day they said it was no longer carried as I silently stared at the 22 off in the distance. Sort of a sigh of relief, as I don't need to hurry to get them all. I was for sure that they would have noticed them for this purge and got rid of them, but luckily not. I would have alerted them to the stock discrepancy while working them down on the price, but the bah hum-big no-deal maker manager wouldn't entertain any offers the day before the 'sale' ended. They were last ~$6.24 when I bought mine, $25 regularly.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I managed to snag a bunch of stuff several weeks ago, but virtually nothing since. I went again tonight as I was grocery shopping across from Lowe's and the store had zip. None of the unmarked items I checked were marked down and the clearance section up front was replaced with seasonal items. And the Craftsman **** is everywhere now.

 

[zeekh]

I managed to snag a bunch of stuff several weeks ago, but virtually nothing since. I went again tonight as I was grocery shopping across from Lowe's and the store had zip. None of the unmarked items I checked were marked down and the clearance section up front was replaced with seasonal items. And the Craftsman **** is everywhere now.

Its sad we call craftsman tools **** now.

 

[speedpro]

Its sad we call craftsman tools **** now.

Well when our government has allowed companies to ship away nearly their entire workforce and manufacturing to overseas slave labor nations, then bring back all the profits without any repercussions or tax hits then yea, most of our products have gone to **** now.

 

[gumme]

Let me know when you guys are all done venting and I might post some great deals.