Watch as shopping expert reveals secret TKMaxx codes that help you spot genuine bargains

A FORMER TK-Maxx worker has revealed the codes shoppers need to spot on price tags that will reveal whether items are a genuine bargain.

Some of the products in the popular chain are in effect own brand items or part of batches produced specifically for the store.

The real bargains lie in items that were over-produced by designer brands and have been – or are sold – more expensively elsewhere.

From just looking at products it can be difficult to tell.

But former senior merchandiser at TKMaxx Daniel Baker has revealed the price labels hold the key to this information.

Each product always has a white label filled with codes that link it to the right department.

But there is always a single code without a zero in front of it that reveals how the product was sourced – usually in the top right-hand corner of the label.

In total there nine codes, but the most common are one, two and seven.

The number one means the items was made to order for TK Maxx and part of a line produced specifically for the chain by another brand.

The number two means that it is known as “close out” items which are existing brands’ stock the chain has got at a deal price.

And seven means it’s ‘packaway’ from another year, for example, Christmas crackers from a previous year now being sold that year.

Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary, TKMaxx How to bag a bargain, Daniel Baker said: “The number that’s really exciting as a shopper is the number two because that means it’s genuine stock that was sold at a higher price somewhere else.”

He added: “That’s normally when you’re getting the bargain.”

Sources on the documentary said about 60% of items in TKMaxx are close out and around 40% is made to order but that can vary depending on what has been sourced at any given time.

During the programme other workers revealed tricks that bolster the shopping experience in the store.

Former merchandiser at TK Maxx Jodie Evans said waxing the rails stopped the squeak and scratch noises that you might hear in other stores when rummaging through hanging clothes.

She said the chain also uses the technique of “hashing” on the rails, which is splitting up limited quantities of stock. For example, if there are three size smalls, putting one at the start of the rail, the other in the middle and the other at the end.

This simulates a feeling of finding a piece of treasure when you get an item in your size.

It come after a former worker at TKMaxx has also previously revealed the best times and days to shop at the store.

Dale O’Keeffe worked at the discount store for eight years and said that most shops have around four-to-five deliveries of stock every week.

He said: “On a Tuesday, they’ll do something called ‘subs’ – subs are further reductions on the stuff that’s already on clearance.

“The hard core Tk Maxx shoppers will come in on a Tuesday to grab the cheapest items and then again on a Thursday to see what’s been moved into clearance this week,” he said.

Dale also added that the delivery on Fridays bring in even more stock so that shelves are stocked for weekend shopping.

Plus, Dale said that most of the time the biggest branded items can be hidden deeper within the racks in stores.

He said: “They don’t tend to put the big brands, like Ralph Lauren, at the end, front-facing.

“Often you can’t put them on the end because they can’t really promote that it’s being sold for so much cheaper than at other chains.”

You can read more on his insider secrets here.