JCPenney Clearance: What to Know
If you’re not already stalking the JCPenney clearance section, you might be leaving serious money on the table. From $5 jeans to 80%-off home décor, JCPenney’s clearance game is quietly legendary—and savvy shoppers are turning it into an art form.
Here’s exactly what you need to know to maximize every trip, both in-store and online, plus five wild stories and facts that prove JCPenney clearance is way more intense than you think.
How JCPenney Clearance Really Works
JCPenney doesn’t just slap random red tags on stuff. There’s a system behind those markdowns:
- Full price → Sale → Clearance: Items start at full price, move to a temporary sale, then drop to clearance when they need to make room for new inventory.
- Multiple markdown waves: Clearance prices often fall in stages. That $29.99 item might slide to $19.99, then $12.99, then $8.99 before it finally disappears.
- Color tags & signage: Look for yellow or red tags and racks labeled “Final Sale” or “Clearance.” These are usually the deepest discounts.
The Best Days to Score Deals
Markdown timing can vary by store, but many shoppers and former employees report a pattern:
- Early in the week (Sunday–Tuesday): Stores often get new shipments and re-set departments. This is when clearance racks get fresh markdowns.
- End of a season: Watch for big drops in January, March/April, July, and October when seasonal rotations peak.
- Holiday hangovers: The weeks right after major holidays (Christmas, Easter, back-to-school) are gold mines for clearance.
If you’re serious about it, ask a friendly associate: “What day do you usually do your markdowns?” Store teams often follow a routine.
Stack the Savings: Coupons + Clearance
One of the biggest reasons JCPenney clearance has a cult following: you can often stack coupons on top of clearance prices.
Here’s how to do it smartly:
- Download the JCPenney app and sign up for rewards. You’ll get periodic coupons like “Extra 20–25% off” or “$10 off $25+.”
- Watch the fine print: Some coupons exclude “doorbusters” or certain brands, but many still apply to regular clearance.
- Stack with rewards cash: You can sometimes use Rewards points + coupon + clearance in a single transaction.
When everything lines up—coupon, clearance, and reward cash—you can walk out with borderline ridiculous deals.
Amazing Fact #1: The $1.97 Jackpot Rack
Viral posts on social media have shown JCPenney shoppers finding entire racks of clothes marked as low as $1.97–$4.97, especially at the end of a season.
What’s wild:
- Many of these items were originally $30–$60.
- In some cases, shoppers stacked an extra percentage-off coupon and got multiple items for under $10 total.
If you spot price tags ending in .97, pay attention—those are often final markdowns and can be the cheapest items in the store.
Amazing Fact #2: “Hidden” Clearance Online
JCPenney’s website has a clearance section—but the real magic is in how items are buried inside categories.
Try this:
- Go to a department like Women’s Clothing or Home.
- Use filters and sort by “Price: Low to High”.
- Then filter by “Clearance” or look for the word “Clearance” or “Closeout” in the product listing.
Shoppers have reported finding items:
- Cheaper online than in-store (sometimes by 50% or more).
- Marked down online before the price updates in-store.
Many stores will price-match their own website if you show the product page at checkout, so always check your phone before paying.
Amazing Fact #3: The $300 Outfit for Under $30 Story
One viral shopper shared how they pulled off a full head-to-toe look for less than the cost of fast food:
- Original prices: blazer, $120; dress pants, $70; blouse, $40; belt, $25; shoes, $60.
- All items were on final clearance, then stacked with an extra 20% off coupon.
Total at the register? Just under $30.
That’s a $300+ professional outfit for the price of a delivery order—proving clearance isn’t just leftover basics. You can build entire work wardrobes from markdown racks if you’re patient.
Amazing Fact #4: Clearance Home Décor Is a Secret Weapon
Most people sprint to clothing, but the home section at JCPenney is where some of the most shocking clearance deals live.
Shoppers regularly report:
- 70–80% off bedding sets and comforters.
- Luxury towels for the price of dollar-store basics.
- Curtains, throw pillows, frames, and rugs at “is this a typo?” prices.
One viral story featured a shopper who re-did an entire guest room—comforter, sheets, pillows, shower curtain, bath towels, and wall art—for under $100, all from JCPenney clearance plus a coupon.
If you’re moving, redecorating, or outfitting a dorm or first apartment, this section can save you hundreds.
Amazing Fact #5: The “End of Rack” Gold Zone
If you only scan the front of clearance racks, you’re missing the real treasure. Multiple deal hunters swear by the “end of rack” rule:
- The most extreme markdowns often migrate to the back or end of the rack.
- Odd sizes, returns, and last-one-left items get pushed aside—and that’s where the cheapest prices hide.
Some shoppers even report finding items priced lower than the tag suggests, simply because the system updated the price but the tag didn’t. Always do a price check at the scanner or ask an associate if something feels like it should be cheaper.
How to Spot a Future Price Drop
Want to know if that item might go cheaper if you wait? Look for:
- Lots of duplicates: If there are 10+ of the same style on clearance, odds are it may get another markdown.
- Full range of sizes: That usually means it’s newly added to clearance.
- Seasonal items out of season: Coats in March, swimsuits in September—hold out if you can, the next big drop could be around the corner.
The risk: waiting too long means losing your size. Calculate whether saving a few more dollars is worth the gamble.
Insider Tips to Supercharge Your Clearance Haul
Use these strategies every time you shop JCPenney clearance:
- Always check the app before you pay for fresh coupons.
- Scan questionable items at a price checker—you might uncover a lower, unmarked price.
- Shop end-of-season for next year: coats at the end of winter, swimsuits at the end of summer, etc.
- Join rewards so every clearance haul earns points toward future discounts.
- Compare online vs. in-store and ask if they’ll match the lower price.
The Bottom Line
JCPenney clearance isn’t just a random sale rack—it’s a playground for strategic shoppers.
With stacked coupons, unmarked price drops, end-of-rack gems, and clearance sections hiding online and in home décor, you can walk away with high-quality clothes, accessories, and home goods for thrift-store prices—without ever stepping foot in a thrift store.
Next time you pass that bright yellow “Clearance” sign at JCPenney, don’t just glance at it. Dive in, dig deep, scan prices, stack coupons—and you might walk out with your own viral-level haul story.
