If you don't want to pay full price for home décor items, a trip to your nearest Tuesday Morning will be well worth it. Similar to Ross Dress for Less and T.J. Maxx, Tuesday Morning is a closeout store, meaning it buys items wholesale from other retailers and then prices them more affordably in its stores. But to make the most of your shopping experience, it's important to know the secrets that Tuesday Morning is keeping from you.
If you're never heard of the retailer, the unique name might catch you off-guard. According to the company website, it dates back to 1974 when Lloyd Ross founded the company and considered Tuesday "the first positive day of the week." Today, Tuesday Morning is nearly 50 years old and has managed to stay afloat after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2020. As a result, the retailer closed more than 200 "unprofitable" stores, but that still left over 400 locations across 40 states for shoppers to visit.
Whether it's your first visit or your 50th, you truly never know what you're going to find at Tuesday Morning—the company website goes so far as to call the shopping experience "a treasure hunt." But even if you can't go in with a firm list, there are some things you should keep in mind when you're browsing, former store associates say. Read on for five secrets Tuesday Morning doesn't want you to know.
READ THIS NEXT: 5 Warnings to Shoppers From Ex-Hobby Lobby Employees.
1 | They get stock from several other stores, and sometimes the price goes up.
ShutterstockAs a closeout store, Tuesday Morning acquires its inventory from "name-brand closeouts, factory overruns and department store cancellations," according to the company's website. Considering this, don't be too surprised if you see different price tags on merchandise.
In a series of videos posted in Nov. 2021, TikTok user @jessicahall209 showed a square serving tray that she had picked up at Tuesday Morning. The item had a tag from the store, which listed the price as $69.99, but it also had a barcode from Ross pricing it at $24.99. The TikToker said she informed employees of the discrepancy and when she went back to check the price at a later date, which she documented in a separate video, the Ross sticker had been removed.
However, this isn't out of the norm, according to former employees. In a comment on @jessicahall209's follow-up video, a former Tuesday Morning assistant manager said that stores would often get merchandise with tags from other stores. Employees would then receive "directives to tag over them with our tags or take them off," the ex-manager said. "tj maxx, ross, tuesday morning, home goods, all get a lot of their stuff from the same distributors."
One ex-employee chimed in saying that their Tuesday Morning "got stuff from everywhere," including Macy's, while another added that items are generally supposed to be "sold for cheaper" at Tuesday Morning.
"I guess not so much in this case," the former associate wrote.
2 | Keep an eye out for damaged products.
l i g h t p o e t / ShutterstockIn another TikTok video @gregisms documented their first trip to a Tuesday Morning store, pointing out different products in rapid succession. In the video, the TikToker called attention to a chipped pot, asking "you gonna sell that even though it's broken?"
Apparently, the retailer will. In the comment section, an employee claimed that Tuesday Morning will definitely sell a damaged or broken pot to a paying customer. Thankfully, they'll knock down the price.
"Fun fact as a TM employee–yeah they're gonna sell the pot if someone wants it!" the comment reads. "BUT since it's [damaged] you get 20% off." Don't pay full price for an item if you notice something amiss, and ask for a discount at the register instead.
READ THIS NEXT: 5 Warnings to Shoppers From Former Jo-Ann Fabrics Employees.
3 | Some days are better for shopping than others.
The Image Party / ShutterstockAccording to Tuesday Morning's website, shoppers should head to the store early, as you'll "get the first look" at new merchandise. The store doesn't mention when shipments come in, but according to TikTok, you might want to shop on a certain day.
Contrary to its name, one social media user asserts that Thursday mornings might be the best time to head in. In a video posting a "haul" from Tuesday Morning, TikToker @boohfun said that they are "addicted" to the closeout store. They also noted how kind the staff was during their latest visit—even sharing a secret shopping tip.
"They told me Thursdays is when they get new stuff," the TikToker wrote in response to a comment. "Here I come Thursday!!!"
It wasn't clear whether this shipment schedule applies to all Tuesday Morning stores, so it's worth asking your local associates if there's a good day to head in for fresh finds.
4 | Employees can save even more than shoppers.
Shutterstock/ChampiofotoIf you're shopping at Tuesday Morning, you can feel confident that you're getting competitive prices—at least, for the most part. But employees get to save even more. According to comments left on the job review site Glassdoor, employees get a standard 20 percent discount on merchandise.
"You have a 20% discount on items which is pretty good if you are into home decor and accessories," one former sales associate wrote. "You can also get discounts on things like [their] purses and shades."
Other commenters noted that this discount applies to clearance items as well, and "on select dates"—typically during the holiday season—the discount shoots up to 40 percent.
For more shopping advice delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
5"" | The store membership has some serious perks.
Rawpixel.com / ShutterstockAvid shoppers are familiar with different store membership programs, which have a variety of different associated perks. But at Tuesday Morning, it's definitely worth it to become an email subscriber, especially if you want first dibs on merchandise.
A Tuesday Morning sales associate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, spoke with the Deal Diva at NBC-affiliate WMBF in 2018. She noted that you get a discount just for signing up for the free program, which at the time was 20 percent off. According to the retailer's website, new subscribers get $10 off a purchase of $50 or more (which still amounts to 20 percent), and also have 60 days to return items, as opposed to the standard 30.
Moving forward, subscribers get exclusive invitations to monthly events where "special merchandise" is brought out—labeled with a distinctive green price tag, according to the associate.
"It usually starts on a Sunday; it will come out in an ad," the associate told the outlet. "The ads are sent out a week prior to the customer." If you miss the designated sale day but find an item that has a green price tag, your Tuesday Morning store should honor that price, she added.
