T.J. Maxx is exploding in popularity this year thanks to its brand-name steals, ever-changing inventory, and ability to tariff-proof its operations to keep prices low for shoppers. So, if you’re looking to score even better deals at T.J. Maxx, know that you’re not alone.
Behind the bargain price tags on designer clothing, shoes, accessories, and more everyday essentials lies a few secrets most shoppers never hear about. From when the freshest inventory is scheduled to come in to hush-hush discounts and ways to ask for steeper deals, there are several money-saving hacks that only retail experts and former employees know—and T.J. Maxx would rather have you not know. So, pay attention, because whether you’re a Maxxinista or just love a good deal, these little-known facts can help you shop smarter, save more, and uncover hidden gems before anyone else.
RELATED: 11 Best Items You Should Always Buy at T.J. Maxx
1 | Weekday mornings are the best time to shop
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If you have some time to kill before work, head to T.J. Maxx on a weekday right as it opens.
In fact, experts say that Monday, in particular, is the best day to shop at the discount retailer. That’s because store locations typically receive new shipments and perform markdowns at the start of the week, which means you may be able to find the freshest designer inventory and the best deals before anyone else.
2 | Find designer deals in “The Runway” section
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Some T.J. Maxx locations feature ‘The Runway’ section, which is a rack (or several racks) featuring high-end designer brands at discounted prices.
These items are marked with purple tags and can provide significant savings on luxury goods. Expect to find designers like Gucci, Chloe, Valentino, Theory, Rag and Bone, Elie Tahari, and more.
RELATED: T.J. Maxx Is Selling the Same Exact Candles as Anthropologie for Less
3 | The stickers on price tags mean something
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T.J. Maxx’s price tags have a complicated sticker system, and each color—white, blue, purple, red, and yellow—has a different meaning. Recognizing these tags can help you identify the best deals currently available at your nearest location.
As former T.J.Maxx employee Darcy Gerhart explains in a TikTok video, a red tag means an item is marked down, and an item can receive multiple red tags if it is marked down repeatedly. Meanwhile, a yellow tag means it’s been marked down for the final time and is at its lowest price.
“When I see something with one red tag, I go, ‘OK, do I really want to buy this right now or should I wait to see if they keep marking it down,?” says Gerhart. “If I see something with a yellow tag, I make the decision then and there whether to buy or not because that’s it.”
4 | The return policy offers some hidden benefits
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T.J.Maxx has a generous return policy—and if you don’t know about it, you’re simply losing money.
“If you have a return but you don’t have a receipt, you can return it for in-store credit—as long as you have the tag and a valid ID,” says former T.J.Maxx employeeDarcy Gerhart on TikTok. “The reason you need a valid ID is that they keep up with how many returns you do without a receipt.”
Gerhart adds that you can bring an item to any T.J. Maxx to return it within any time frame. So, if you have an unused T.J. Maxx buy just sitting in your closet, you might want to return it for store credit. You will only be banned from this practice if you do it frequently (hence, why they check your ID), Gerhart says.
5 | Asking for a steeper discount can work
Here’s What Those T.J. Maxx Price Tags Actually MeanEric Glenn / Shutterstock
Want a discount? Former T.J. Maxx employees say the secret is to simply ask for one.
“If you find an item that’s damaged—it could have a string out of the piece of clothing, it’s cracked, or there’s a stain—take it to the cashier and show them what’s going on and say, ‘Hey can you take anything off?'” says Gerhart in yet another TikTok video. “Nine times out of 10, they’ll take something off.”
The one exception is if the item in question is already marked down. “It could have been marked down because it was damaged,” Gerhart explains. “But it’s worth asking.”
Another way to successfully ask for a discount is to find the same item that has two different prices within the same store location. Identical items may have different prices due to varying arrival times or markdown schedules.If you bring this up at the register, they may award you the cheaper price.
As always, ask politely.
6 | Luxury beauty products may be hidden
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T.J. Maxx stocks luxury beauty items—but you may have to hunt for them.
In a YouTube video, former employee SimplyTaylorB notes that when she worked on the team that unloaded products and put them on the floor, she would sometimes receive a singular makeup palette from a top-tier brand or a singular high-ticket skincare item. “A lot of the time, I would find Too Faced palettes, NARS palettes, high-end skincare,” she says.
Unfortunately, they may be few and far between—so you’ll want to stay diligent when scanning the shelves.
7 | Don’t rely on online inventory
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The great thing about T.J. Maxx is that every location is different—you never know what kind of goodies you’ll find in a store in, say, New York compared to Los Angeles or Chicago. And the same goes for the discount retailer’s online shop.
While there are thousands of great deals to be found on T.J. Maxx’s website, the retailer’s online inventory doesn’t always reflect what’s in stores at any given time. That’s why, if you’re looking for unique or clearance items, you should visit your nearest location instead to see what’s available.
Content shared from bestlifeonline.com.