A former Marks and Spencer employee has shared insider tips on the best times to visit the supermarket for yellow sticker discounts. Katherine McPhillips, who worked in the M&S bakery as a university student, says staff tend to follow a set schedule for putting out reductions.
Best times to shop for reductions
Many people assume the best time to shop for discounts is just before closing time, but in her experience, this is usually the worst time to look for reductions. Staff on closing shifts have a lot to get through to prepare the store for the next day, and when she worked at M&S, yellow stickers were only applied during quieter periods. In many cases, the overnight team would apply them after the store had closed.
This means the best time to find yellow-sticker bargains is first thing in the morning. Getting to M&S as soon as the doors open at around 9am gives shoppers the best chance of finding the most deals.
Afternoon window and staff advice
Another good time to visit is during the late afternoon, between 3pm and 5pm, as shift changeovers often prompt incoming staff to start marking down prices. Aiming for around 4pm tends to work well, as this is typically when many lunchtime items get reduced. It is one of the most consistent times to find sandwiches and salads at lower prices.
It is worth noting that managers would often tell staff to stop applying yellow stickers if customers started gathering in anticipation. Large groups can block the aisles, and markdowns can sometimes lead shoppers to grab items directly from staff or behave rudely.
Every M&S store operates slightly differently, so reduction times can vary. If shoppers visit during a quiet spell and politely ask a member of staff, they may be happy to let them know when yellow-sticker products are usually put out. Being polite costs nothing, and it can make a real difference — both for the staff doing the job and for the chances of securing a bargain.
