So if you came across this you probably know a little about penny shopping. The more common store to do this at is Dollar General but penny shopping at Home Depot is totally different. Unlike Dollar General, Home Depot does NOT have a penny policy. This means that if they notice that it is ringing up a penny they have every right to take it away from you and refuse sale of the item.
How To Find Penny Items
- Look for the yellow clearance stickers. Some will have a date printed on the sticker. This is called the B.O.D (Born on Date) You are looking for a date older than 8 months old. For example right now I’m looking for dates around 11/8/2013 and older!
- Look for Items ending in .06 and .03! This usually tells you how many weeks until the item pennies. If you find something that ends in a .03 check it! It might have been just moved to the 3 week mark or it might penny any day.
- Look for BIG price drops. I found an awesome light the other day that was dated 12/23/2013. Not a date that I’m really looking for yet but it was marked down to $40 from $200! I checked it and it was a penny.
- Look in clearance sections.
- Look on the shelves
- Check every isle.
- Look in the Garden Center
What To Do When You Find Something
So you found something that MIGHT be a penny. One of the most annoying thing about penny shoppers is ones that think that it is guaranteed to be a penny. It is not a guarantee. Just because it rang up for a penny in a different state or even a different store across town does not mean that it is going to ring up a penny at your store! Just because it in the right time frame that you are looking for it doesn’t mean that it is going to be a penny.
- Price check the item at the self checkout! Home Depot has a price check option on their self checkout.
- Wait until the cashier is busy with another guest or walks off. You don’t want them to notice if it rings a penny before you pay.
- Mute the Self checkout if it rings a penny click add to transaction and pay.
- My hubby and I take turns going up to the self checkout and checking/paying.
- Don’t do more than three items at a time! If you do more it MAY call a cashier over.
- Remember they can take the item away from you if you didn’t already pay!
- If you paid for your item(s) take your receipt and go. If they try to take your items after you pay you DO NOT have to give it back to them! You paid. It Is Yours. If they won’t let you go for some reason call the cops and corporate.
Do Not
- Call corporate if they refuse to sell you the item and you haven’t already paid. So What you got busted. You win some you lose some. You don’t want them to remember you and not let you get any items in the future.
- Hide items that you think might penny soon.
- Try to take a basket full of things to the self checkout. I’ve seen people do it. ARE YOU STUPID!?! Of course they are going to notice and not sell you any of it!
- Don’t get rude
We have never been rude, had to call corporate, or had to call the cops. We have only had them notice and refuse to sell the item a few times. So what it happens. They were nice about it and we were nice about it. If it was something you want and they offer you a lower price negotiate with them. but be polite. And you can always nicely talk to a manager. who knows they might just give it to you.
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