A former Morrisons employee who worked at the supermarket for three years has shared tips and tricks on the best times to find yellow sticker deals, revealing that early mornings and evenings offer the biggest savings, with reductions of up to 75% or more possible close to closing time.
Best Times for Yellow Sticker Bargains
The former worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that shopping early in the morning or close to closing time is generally the best strategy. Early-morning visits often turn up items that were reduced overnight due to expiring the same day. For example, if a product was set to expire on June 25, staff would remove it from the shelf on June 24 and mark it down, ready for customers the following morning. This means around this time, shoppers will see lots of reduced items and have a wider variety to choose from. However, these products may only receive a 25% reduction. If an item was damaged but still safe to sell, it would also make its way onto the yellow sticker shelf, even if it wasn't due to expire the following day.
Lunchtime and Evening Strategies
Lunchtime is when shoppers are least likely to find the best bargains, as either earlier shoppers have snapped them up or the remaining items haven't been reduced enough to attract buyers. The former worker noted that it's not necessarily a bad thing; for instance, a shopper might see a pack of chicken that expires that day but doesn't plan to use it until tomorrow, so it makes sense not to buy it. In the evening, however, reductions of 75% or more are most likely, meaning products could be knocked down to just a few pence. The key is not to wait until five minutes before closing time, as by then many reduced items may have already been removed from the shelves. If a product reaches its use-by date that day, staff often take it off sale before the store closes so it can be processed as waste. A reliable approach is to visit one or two hours before closing time, by which time employees will typically have marked down stock and cleared any products requiring removal.
Factors Influencing Reduction Timing
The former worker emphasised that there is no straightforward answer, as timing differs from shop to shop. Factors include staff numbers, how many products need to be marked down, the quantity of stock available, and the time of year. Peak periods such as Easter and Christmas can also influence when reductions are made. Because many supermarkets shut for a day or two at Christmas, shops will attempt to sell any products set to expire on those dates well beforehand. Around this time, shoppers will frequently spot reductions on items such as beef, double cream, Christmas cards, turkey and pigs in blankets, sometimes by 50% or more, as retailers attempt to shift stock before the festive closures. The same principle applies around New Year.
Additional Tips for Saving Money
The former worker also suggested always browsing the yellow-sticker section regardless of what's on a shopping list, as regularly appearing items include cooked meats, southern-fried chicken bites, and chicken thighs. Shoppers should look for an icon on the packaging indicating the product is suitable for freezing, and if they can think of a way to use it, they can save a tidy sum. Additionally, opting for supermarket own-brand products can help reduce spending, as in numerous instances own brands taste every bit as good as pricier alternatives. The former worker noted that it often boils down to personal preference and encouraged shoppers to try them and discover what suits them.
