Both parties need to look equally confused

As a customer, just play around, don't ask too many questions, let the process unravel, and when its time to insert card / chip, do it fast, sign the signature pad, and leave at once.
It takes me a while to locate clearance items, I can't always go to self-checkout. I sometimes have to resort to Customer Service, but they know if its clearance they still have to honor all other promotions associated with it, regardless
Last year I missed out on a $70 fuel nailer (bare-tool), which it came to my intuition was the lowest price it ever was going to be. Even it was open-box, still worth it.
It's probably wise to just open up a HD Credit Card in situations like this, lol
Its called:
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with Bullchit.
It's like Walmart for people who can read a tape measure.