TK Maxx shoppers have been urged to look for specific numbers on product labels the next time they visit the retailer, as some ‘secret codes’ could bag you bigger bargains
You could score yourself even bigger bargains at TK Maxx by looking closely at the labels before you buy. The discount clothing and homeware retailer is a go-to shopping destination for those looking for a bargain, as it sells clothes, bags, shoes, toys, and home items from popular brands at a discounted price.
Shoppers can find a variety of deals at TK Maxx depending on what the shop has in stock. But did you know there’s a way to work out whether the bargain you’re getting is as good as it sounds? According to a discounts expert on social media, some of the items in TK Maxx aren’t as much of a steal as they might seem, and there’s an easy way to find out.
Jordan Cox, known on Instagram as Britain’s Coupon King, shared a video in which he claimed there’s a “secret code” on the labels of all TK Maxx products, and learning how to read the code can tell you a lot about the item you’re buying.
He said when looking at a product label, you should hunt for the numbers that are usually in one of the top corners. There will be a string of numbers and then one digit on its own – and this is the number that’s important to you.
The expert claimed: “If you see a 1 on its own here, then that product was made specifically for TK Maxx and never sold by that brand. The magic number is 2. Those items are genuine products that were stocked in branded retailers and are now being sold for a bit cheaper here.”
Items branded with a number one will still be genuine products made by the brand on the label, but they may not be as high quality as those with a number two, as they were made with the intention of being sold for a discount at TK Maxx. In contrast, number two branded items will be made to the brand’s usual standards, as they were once sold at full value.
This means that you’ll be bagging yourself bigger bargains if you shop for the products with a number two on the label, as you’ll be avoiding the products made specifically for the discount retailer.
Jordan added in his caption that some products may have a number seven on the label. This means the product is last year’s stock, but is still a branded item and a genuine product that would have been sold by the brand last year. The only difference is that it’s now “out of season” if you’re particularly worried about that.
He concluded: “Please do have a check before you buy something. It may seem like a bargain looking at the price, but it may wear out sooner than you think if it’s not the real deal.”
Commenters on Jordan’s video thanked him for his advice. Many said they would be using this to help them with their Christmas shopping, as they’d now be able to find genuine products that their family and friends will love.
One person wrote: “I didn’t know this!”
Another asked Jordan: “Can you come Christmas shopping with me please?”
Former senior merchandiser for TK Maxx, Daniel Barker, confirmed this information during an appearance on Channel 5’s How To Bag A Bargain documentary.
He 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. That’s normally when you’re getting the bargain.”
At the time, the documentary claimed that around 60% of the items in TK Maxx are labelled with a number two, meaning you’ve got a decent chance of being able to bag a solid bargain when shopping at the retailer. Only 40% of the shop’s stock is produced specifically for the store, but this number could vary based on stock levels.
TK Maxx has been approached for comment.
