How to Read Clearance Price Codes at CVS and Walgreens

CVS and Walgreens are two of the most popular drugstore chains in the U.S., and while most shoppers stop in for prescriptions or snacks, savvy deal hunters know they can be goldmines for clearance finds. From beauty products to seasonal décor, understanding how to read clearance price codes at these stores can help you grab big savings — often before anyone else knows the deal is there.

💡 Why Clearance Codes Matter

Clearance price codes are a store’s way of marking down and tracking products as they move through the discount cycle. If you know what to look for — whether it’s a specific price ending, a colored sticker, or a date code — you can figure out whether a deal is good now or if it’s worth waiting for a bigger discount.

🏷️ CVS Clearance Price Codes

At CVS, clearance is often indicated by small yellow shelf tags or stickers on individual items. Here’s how to read them:

• Yellow Clearance Tags: Show the percentage off and current price. Discounts often start at 25% and can move to 50%, 75%, and even 90% off.
• Price Endings: Items ending in certain cents (e.g., .49 or .79) may indicate clearance or discontinued stock.
• Sticker Dates: Some clearance stickers have a printed date, which can signal when the markdown was applied and hint at when the next drop will happen.
• Unmarked Clearance: Scan items at the price checker or with the CVS app — sometimes system prices drop before tags are updated.

🏷️ Walgreens Clearance Price Codes

Walgreens clearance tags are usually orange or red, and the markdown strategy is similar but with some unique twists:

• Orange Clearance Stickers: Often indicate discontinued items or seasonal markdowns.
• Price Endings: Prices ending in .49, .39, or .19 may mean final clearance; .79 or .89 often signals an initial markdown.
• Seasonal Markdown Schedule: Holiday merchandise can drop from 50% to 70% to 90% off in a matter of days after the holiday ends.
• “Last Chance” Tags: Items marked as “last chance” are being phased out and won’t return — these can drop in price quickly.

📲 Using Apps to Scan Clearance

Both CVS and Walgreens have mobile apps that can be used to check in-store prices. This is key for finding hidden markdowns:

• CVS App: Scan the barcode to see your ExtraCare savings and current sale price. Hidden clearance prices will show here before tags change.
• Walgreens App: Use the product search or barcode scanner to check in-store availability and see if an item is on clearance at nearby locations.

🕒 Timing Your Clearance Hunts

• CVS: Clearance is often updated midweek, especially Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
• Walgreens: Clearance resets can happen anytime, but seasonal drops usually occur the day after a holiday.

Shopping early in the day gives you the best shot at grabbing high-demand clearance before it’s gone.

🎯 Best Departments for Clearance

While you can find markdowns storewide, some departments tend to have better and more frequent clearance deals:

• Beauty and cosmetics
• Haircare and personal grooming tools
• Vitamins and supplements
• Seasonal décor and holiday candy
• Toys and small electronics

📢 Join a Clearance-Sharing Community

Want to find out about CVS and Walgreens clearance drops as soon as they happen? Join the Glitchndealz Facebook Group and the Telegram Channel. Members post real-time clearance finds, UPCs to scan, and pictures of tags so you know exactly what to look for.

📊 The Value of Understanding Clearance Price Codes

For casual shoppers, clearance tags are just nice surprises. For seasoned deal hunters, they are strategic tools. When you know how to interpret clearance price codes at CVS and Walgreens, you turn shopping trips into savings missions. These codes tell you if an item is in the first stage of markdowns or if it’s at rock-bottom pricing — which means you know exactly when to buy and when to wait.

🛠️ The CVS Clearance Pricing System

At CVS, the most visible clearance markers are yellow shelf tags or bright stickers placed directly on the product. However, there are hidden signals in these tags:

• Yellow Clearance Tags: Always include the current markdown percentage and new price. These can start as low as 15–25% off and gradually increase.
• Sticker Dates: Check for a small printed date on the corner. If it’s been a week or more since that date, there’s a higher chance the price will drop further soon.
• Odd Price Endings: Items ending in .49 or .79 often indicate discontinued or final-phase clearance. These are worth grabbing if stock is low.
• Scan for Hidden Clearance: The CVS app barcode scanner can show lower prices not yet reflected on shelf tags, especially after overnight system updates.

🛠️ The Walgreens Clearance Pricing System

Walgreens uses a combination of orange clearance stickers and “Last Chance” labels. Understanding their patterns is key to maximizing savings:

• Orange Clearance Tags: The easiest to spot, these usually mean the item is either discontinued or seasonal.
• Price Ending Clues: Final markdowns often end in .19, .39, or .49. Early markdowns are more likely to end in .79 or .89.
• Last Chance Labels: These signal that the item will be removed from inventory permanently. Watch these closely, as prices may drop quickly if stock remains.
• Seasonal Markdown Patterns: Holiday goods often drop to 50% off the day after the holiday, 70% off a few days later, and 90% within a week.

📅 Timing Your Clearance Shopping

Knowing the best time to shop is as important as recognizing the tag colors and codes.

• CVS: Clearance updates tend to happen midweek, especially Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Seasonal resets after major holidays are high-value times.
• Walgreens: Seasonal markdowns are often immediate — showing up the morning after the holiday. General clearance can change anytime, but Tuesdays and Thursdays are common update days.

📲 How to Use the Apps for Clearance Finds

Both CVS and Walgreens have barcode scanners in their apps, and both can uncover markdowns before they’re marked in-store.

1. Open the app and locate the barcode scanner tool.
2. Scan the clearance tag or the product itself — sometimes an untagged item is already on clearance.
3. For CVS, log into your ExtraCare account to see if additional coupons apply to clearance items.
4. For Walgreens, compare prices across nearby stores to see if another location has a deeper markdown.

💄 Best Departments for High-Value Clearance

Some categories at both CVS and Walgreens are more clearance-heavy than others:

• Beauty & Cosmetics: Makeup brands frequently change packaging, which sends older versions to clearance.
• Personal Care Appliances: Hair dryers, shavers, and electric toothbrushes often see large markdowns.
• Health Products: Vitamins and supplements nearing “sell by” dates drop in price sharply.
• Seasonal Décor: Fast markdown cycles post-holiday make this a goldmine for savings.
• Snacks & Candy: Clearance prices spike right after holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.

🔍 Spotting Unmarked Clearance

Some of the best deals never get marked with clearance stickers. Here’s how to spot them:

• Check endcaps for random or mismatched products.
• Look for older packaging compared to similar items on the shelf.
• Scan shelf tags for unusually low prices compared to the rest of the product line.
• Use the store’s app to scan questionable items — you may be pleasantly surprised.

💡 Advanced Savings Strategies

Finding a clearance price is great — stacking savings is even better:

• Use manufacturer coupons with clearance prices if store policy allows.
• Stack ExtraBucks at CVS or Walgreens Cash rewards on top of clearance markdowns.
• Check rebate apps like Ibotta and Fetch to see if offers apply to clearance items.
• Pay with a rewards credit card to maximize cashback or points.

📢 Why Joining a Deal-Hunting Community Helps

Clearance deals at CVS and Walgreens move fast. By the time you find them yourself, they may be gone. That’s why joining active deal-sharing groups is a huge advantage.

Communities like the Glitchndealz Facebook Group and Telegram Channel post real-time updates with photos of clearance tags, UPCs, and shelf locations so you can replicate the deals in your own stores.

Once you learn to read clearance price codes at CVS and Walgreens, you’ll start seeing opportunities everywhere. You’ll recognize the color codes, understand the meaning of certain price endings, and be able to predict when the next markdown is coming. Combine that knowledge with timing, scanning tools, and stacking strategies, and you’ll transform quick pharmacy trips into serious savings adventures in 2025.

Action Step: Next time you’re at CVS or Walgreens, scan 5 random clearance items with the store app. Compare the sticker price to the scan result — and watch how often you uncover hidden discounts.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Learning to read clearance price codes at CVS and Walgreens is like learning a new language — once you understand the signals, you’ll see deals everywhere. With the right combination of tag color knowledge, price ending clues, and scanning tools, you can turn quick pharmacy runs into major savings trips in 2025.

Pro Tip: Keep a running list of UPCs for clearance items you’re interested in. That way, you can quickly check them on your next store trip to see if the price has dropped.