A former Marks and Spencer employee has revealed the optimal times to hunt for yellow sticker bargains, drawing on insider experience from working in the bakery department during a university summer break. These reduced price tags are applied to products approaching their use-by dates, helping supermarkets minimize food waste while offering shoppers significant savings.
Timing Is Everything for Yellow Sticker Success
Many shoppers mistakenly believe that visiting M&S at closing time will yield the best discounts, but according to the ex-staff member, this approach often leads to disappointment. Instead, the absolute prime time to secure yellow sticker bargains is first thing in the morning when stores open, as overnight teams typically handle initial discounting procedures.
Afternoon Opportunities for Bargain Hunters
The former employee recommends visiting between 3pm and 5pm for optimal results, as this coincides with when late afternoon shifts typically begin applying yellow stickers. Specifically, around 4pm tends to be particularly fruitful for bakery items and lunchtime fare that require price reductions before the end of the day.
"I'd normally kick off my shift applying yellow stickers whenever I clocked on during the late afternoon," the ex-worker explained. "If you're hunting for bargain treats, popping into M&S around 4pm tends to be your best bet."
Staff Discretion and Shopping Etiquette
During evening shifts, staff would sometimes delay applying discounts if too many shoppers gathered in anticipation of reductions. Managers frequently instructed employees to temporarily stash yellow stickers away when crowds formed to prevent aisle congestion and potential chaos.
"My manager would frequently instruct me to stash the yellow stickers away if too many shoppers were hovering for bargains," the former employee recalled. "It would clog up aisles and rapidly descend into mayhem."
Respectful Approaches Yield Better Results
The insider advises maintaining respectful distance when observing staff marking down items, suggesting either returning a few minutes later or waiting discreetly. Courteous inquiries about typical discounting times can also prove fruitful, as team members will often share this information when not overwhelmed with tasks.
"Team members will usually reveal when they normally slash prices provided you're courteous and they're not rushed off their feet," the ex-worker noted. This approach can help shoppers secure favorite items like dark chocolate jaffa cake biscuits without straining their budgets.
Store Variations and Personal Strategies
Yellow sticker timings can vary between different Marks and Spencer branches, making it worthwhile to ask staff about quieter periods for optimal bargain hunting. The former employee, who once avoided M&S Food Halls to save money, has now mastered timing visits to satisfy cravings for premium treats at reduced prices.
By understanding staff routines and store-specific patterns, savvy shoppers can significantly reduce their grocery bills while enjoying M&S quality. The key lies in strategic timing, respectful interactions with staff, and flexibility based on individual store practices.
