Whether you’re doing a large home improvement project, buying sports uniforms, or maybe stocking an office with technology and furniture, there’s bound to be a time when you can take advantage of a retailer’s “quantity discount” program. But often these bulk buying programs are a bit of a mystery and not openly advertised. Because of this, I’ve gone ahead and done the research and found a bunch of quantity discount programs that you can hopefully take advantage of.

The Retailers that Offer Quantity Discounts:

Best Buy

A Best Buy Advantage Account can be a great way to get quantity discounts for your business.

An account will get you access to your own account manager who can assist you with “sourcing difficult-to-find items or technology to high-volume pricing and ordering, we provide the products and services you need to succeed.”

Cabela’s

The Volume Discounts available at Cabela’s are fairly generous and are good for those with a Business account.

The discount amount is on a sliding schedule depending on how much you spend annually and starts at no more than 10% off your retail purchase.

PRO TIP: CONSIDER AN AMAZON BUSINESS ACCOUNT

If you get a free Amazon Business account, you’ll gain access to a bunch of quantity discounts for your business. They break the discounts down by category which is convenient. Top categories include: Breakroom, Office, IT Peripherals, Janitorial, Apparel & Shoes, and Maintenance/Repairs.

Costco

Available to all Costco members, their Volume Sales Department can easily save you 10% or more if you’re making a minimum order of at least $10,000.

Find all the details here including how to make a volume sales request.

See Also: Buying From Amazon? Always Check Quantity Pricing First

Dick’s Sporting Goods

When buying over $10,000 of the same item, Dick’s offers a volume discount up to 10% –  Excludes PING or YETI products.

Previously, when buying uniforms and equipment for teams, schools, and community events, they offered a quantity discount but now they restrict it to one individual item.

I had to call Dick’s directly to get this information and was told this discount is NOT found anywhere on their website.

If you want more info, you’ll need to call them directly at 1-877-846-9997 for further details.

PRO TIP: BULK DISCOUNT AT TRADER JOE’S?

Maybe you’re planning an event or wedding and looking to buy wine, flowers, or snacks in bulk from Trader Joe’s. I recently asked a TJ’s employee if they offered a quantity discount and they unfortunately said, “No”.

But…they did tell me that they absolutely work with shoppers on buying in bulk. Just talk to an employee and they’ll be happy to get your specific order put together, especially if you require several cases or boxes of a particular item. They much prefer you talk them ahead of time rather than coming in and wiping their shelves clean of certain items.

Home Depot

The Home Depot has a quantity discount program they coin Bulk Pricing Discounts and it’s worth a look if you’re doing a DIY project and buying a lot of stuff.

Basically, you assemble your project list and if your total adds up to at least $2500, you’ll probably qualify for a volume discount.

Talk to a Home Depot Pro associate at the Pro Desk and request a quote to see how much you can save.

See Also: Highly Clever Ways to Save at The Home Depot

Lands’ End

Via the Business Outfitters department at Lands’ End, you can get a quantity discount up to 12% off your total order.

They also frequently offer free logo embroidery and free shipping on corporate orders so keep an eye out for those too.

L.L.Bean

The L.L.Bean direct to business program offers some of the best quantity discounts in the industry.

If you order over $750, you get a 10% discount. Order over $1,500 and get 15% off. And if you order over $3,000, you get a fantastic 20% discount.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s offers 2 ways to get a quantity discount: Lowe’s Contractor Packs and Volume Discount Pricing.

Contractor Packs get you discounts on items you might need in bulk. Things like nails, caulk, screws, and coaxial cable.

To learn more about Contractor Packs, contact a ProServices Specialist at your local Lowe’s, or look for the yellow-and-black Contractor Packs label on in-stock products and materials.

Unlike their Contractor Pack bundles, their Volume Discount Pricing is good on any item they have in stock in-store, as long as you meet the minimum purchase requirement of $1,500, you’ll save anywhere between 10-50%. Just stop by the Lowe’s ProServices desk before you check out and request a customized quote.

Sam’s Club

They offer what they term, Pallet Quantity Items, which can save you substantial money on items like stacking chairs, dining chairs, office copy paper, office tables, bottled water, folding tables, sports drinks, gift baskets and office chairs.

Great program if you’re stocking a new small business.

See’s Candies

See’s has specific brick & mortar retail locations which offer quantity discounts. To see a full list of such stores Click Here.

Staples

While not advertised openly, Staples does indeed offer quantity discounts.

From their website, “Buy in large quantities and you can save even more. Simply call 1–800–315–2724 to see if you qualify for a volume discount.”

You can also fax your bid proposal to 1–877–638–6779, or mail your proposal to: Staples Business Delivery, Attention: Large Quantity Group, P.O Box 9253, Framingham, MA 01701.

Tractor Supply Company

From their website, “Tractor Supply Co. offers volume discounts on agricultural, pet and livestock supplies, maintenance, clothing, fencing and more. Individuals, municipalities, organizations, farmers, fleet operators, pet agencies all can benefit.”

It appears the average discount is in the 5-10% off range, making it a no-brainer if you need to buy products in bulk.

Walmart

They have a little-known online “Bulk Buys” section of their website that offers some pretty substantial quantity discounts.

A few of their popular categories include kitchen items, travel accessories, dining items, and fan shop.

Ask the Reader: Any national retailers that offer quantity discounts that I might have missed? Let me know in the comments and I’ll look into it. Thanks.

By Kyle James

Photo by Martin Pettitt.

I recently stumbled upon a Reddit forum with some great advice for Costco shoppers looking to maximize their membership. Smart Costco shoppers have definitely figured out the best times to shop and how to smartly navigate the warehouse in order to save time and money. And guess what? They’re happily sharing the info with all of us so we can save money too. Here are the key insider tips when it comes to saving money shopping at Costco.

8 Ways to Save Money & Time at Costco:

1. Shop on the Right Day and Time

Avoid weekends as they’re typically a madhouse.

The best time to shop, and avoid the crowd, is during the week, preferably on a Tuesday, about an hour or two after they open.

According to Cormath, a Costco employee, “In my experience it slows down a bit about an hour to an hour and half after open at my warehouse. Big rush at first then it dies down until people start getting off work.”

PRO TIP: STAY IN THE COSTCO BORDERLANDS

The best values at Costco all exist on the outside walls of the store. Dairy, produce, pet food, paper products, and of course the $4.99 rotisserie chicken deal.

Once you start walking toward the center aisles, you’ll find the products with the biggest markups and the impulse purchases that Costco hopes you make. DON’T DO IT.

2. Short on Time? Try This

A Reddit user by the name of Stakesandwich had great advice for those who are in a hurry when shopping at Costco. “I look mad, walk fast, and don’t go near the popular sample stations with the cart.

I know where everything is, I stick to the outside when possible, and if I need to squeeze between two sample stations to get something like cheese I leave the cart a row over and just walk through people.”

Great tips.

PRO TIP: LEARN TO READ COSTCO PRICE TAGS

Start paying attention to Costco price tags and you can quickly figure out what kind of a deal you’re getting.

Specifically, I had a friendly Costco employee explain to me how it all works:

Prices ending with .99, .79, .69, .49 – This is a regular price.

Prices ending with .00 or .88, – This is a store-specific markdown price.

Price ending with .97 – This is a clearance price and typically 25% below the regular price.

* in the upper right hand corner – The item won’t get restocked and all they have left is what’s on the sales floor.

Takeaway:  Look for prices ending in .97 with an * on it and you’re getting a SCREAMING deal.

See Also: Here’s How Costco Catering Works…With Hacks to Save

3. Check out Google Maps for Specific Info

From another Reddit user, “While all the anecdotal times posted are helpful to grasp the gist of when to possibly go. I suggest you head to Google Maps on your phone, search your specific Costco and scroll down in the details area.

There will be a graph of the busiest times right there set to whatever the day is. Use that to adjust your times for when you find slow times to that specific store.”

PRO TIP: BUY DIRECTLY FROM BRANDS AT THE COSTCO PRICE

What if I told you that you could buy brands like Viking, Tolani, Bench, Gorilla Sheds, OtterBox, and NordicTrack directly from the manufacturer and basically pay the Costco price?

Enter the online shopping portal, Costco Next, a program that allows Costco members to buy products from third-party suppliers at a discount, often up to 40% off the MSRP.

Some of the top product lines with Costco Next include the following:

• Kitchen tools and appliances – Brands include BareBones, Viking, Rabbit, and NordicWare.
• Luggage sets – Includes Briggs & Riley, Travelpro, Nomatic, and Baggallini.
• Beauty products – Includes PMD Beauty, Butter LONDON, by Sophie, and SkinSquared.
• Electronics – Anker, EcoFlex, Case Mate, Loex, and CLX.
• Camping gear – Klymit, TrailerValet, WhiteDuck, and Vaultek.
• Portable sheds – Gorilla sheds and StudioShed.
• Caskets – Titan brand caskets to be exact.

Get in the healthy habit of always checking Costco Next before making a big purchase from Costco, I think you’ll really save some money doing so.

4. Never Shop Alone

From Sadsauces, “I shop with two people at Costco, no exceptions. One person mans and drives the cart, maneuvering it into a good “dock” position in whatever section of the store.

The second person is a runner, fulfilling the needs of the almighty list. Get a friend and go.”

PRO TIP: THE REAL COSTCO PARKING LOT “TIME SAVER”

Don’t keep circling around the parking lot hoping to get a spot right next to the Costco entrance…it’s a total waste of time.

Instead, quickly find a spot close to a cart return. The time saved at the end of your Costco journey will more than make up for the short walk to your car.

5. Looking for Free Samples?

The only reason to go on weekends is for the free samples as that’s when they’re in full-force. Just do it early in the morning if you can as the warehouse will be much less crowded.

Even better, try shopping on a Sunday morning. According to user 4077, “On Sunday mornings before Church lets out. Lots of samples and by the time I’m leaving, it’s starting to fill.”

6. Never Wait for Free Samples

According to Reddit user Thrashertm, “Protip #1 – don’t wait in line for a sample; it’s very gauche. Better to do your shopping and potentially circle back if you REALLY need a taste of that jalapeño popper.

Your time is worth more than 10 minutes standing in line. Protip #2 – you can hit up the samples more than once if you are nice to the samplers. The servers don’t care.”

PRO TIP: USE THE BIG IKEA BAGS AT COSTCO

A friend of my wife’s turned me onto this Costco hack and it’s brilliant. Buy a few of the big blue IKEA bags ($0.99 each) and leave them in your truck when you go to Costco.

Then when your done shopping, and return to your car, load from cart to IKEA bag. Load each bag by where it goes in your house like pantry, freezer, basement, etc. Then when you get home, your unloading process is a PIECE OF CAKE.

7. Membership Not Required to Shop

From the same Reddit user quoted above, “You don’t need a membership actually.”

They sell gift cards, which can grant you access to the store. A friend can buy them for you and even reload it for you online – http://www.costco.com/cash-cards-gift-certificates.html”

Be aware that when using a Costco cash card you’ll be hit with a 5% surcharge on purchases from Costco.com.

This applies to non-members only.

PRO TIP: GET 50% MORE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN FOR ONLY $1

The next time you’re at Costco, go to where they sell the premade salads, pasta, and other meals. You’ll notice a plastic container filled with rotisserie chicken meat that’s been pulled from the bone.

This is the chicken from the day before that they were not able to sell. For only $5.99, you’ll get the chicken meat from 1.5 rotisserie chickens. Great for meal prep, fajitas, wraps, and sandwiches. Plus you can freeze it for later as it freezes really well.

8. Eat The $1.50 Hot Dog Meal Before You Shop

The old adage of never shopping hungry absolutely holds true at Costco.

Because of this, several Reddit users chimed in with the tip of stopping by the food court before you do your shopping and get your grub on.

By doing so, you’ll probably end up with less items in your cart if you have a hard time ignoring the growling coming from your stomach.

Ask the Reader: How do you save money at Costco and maximize your annual membership in the process?

By Kyle James

Photo by Mike Mozart.

While Best Buy sales continues to struggle in recent months, there’s no doubt they’re a much need retailer in the consumer electronics space. Not only do they keep online players like Amazon honest in terms of pricing, but shoppers need a place to go to check out new electronics. “Show-rooming” if you will. The good news for consumers is that Best Buy has many ways to save money, many of which not even the loyalists of shoppers are aware of.

Here are 7 insider tips to save money at Best Buy that just might blow your mind and help you score a great deal the next time you’re in the market for a new HDTV, computer, home theater system, and hundreds of other cool gadgets.

1. Crack the Best Buy Price Tag Code

Learn how to read Best Buy price tags to determine what kind of deal you’re getting

In particular, the cents column tells you some pretty cool things.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Prices ending in a .99 – Could be a full price or a sale price. Sale items ending in .99 are typically not that big of a savings. Try to avoid the .99 if you can.
• Prices ending in a .92 – This is a 1-time price drop at or below Best Buy’s cost. Typically a screaming deal.
• Prices ending in a .96 – Anything ending in a .96 is an adjusted price designed to beat the price of a competitor.
• Look for Code “C” – If you see a price tag with a small “C” in the lower right-hand corner, it means the item is clearance and no longer stocked.

I have it on good authority that managers are able to give discounts on these products, so be sure to negotiate an even better price.

PRO TIP: HIT UP “EXPERT” CHAT AND ASK FOR 10% COUPON

Following up on a tip, I recently started a l live chat with a Best Buy Expert and inquired about the best laptop for a college student studying graphic design.

After I was given a nice list of options, I politely asked for a 10% coupon to help with my purchase and I made sure to tell them that I was on a very tight budget but needed this laptop for college.

After some initial hesitation, and them wanting me to get a 10% discount by applying for a Best Buy credit card, I was finally offered a 10% coupon to help buy the laptop…IT WORKED.

It took maybe 8-10 minutes of my time and your mileage may vary, but it’s worth a shot, especially if you’re making an expensive purchase.

2. Products You Can Negotiate a Lower Price On

When it comes to knowing how to negotiate a lower price at Best Buy, you need to keep the following in mind.

Bundle items and negotiate.

When buying more than one complementary item, think HDTV and Blu-ray player, politely ask for a bundle discount if you buy both items today.

I’ve personally done this several times and it works. Start by asking for 15-20% off and be prepared to settle for around 10%.

Listen to the salesperson.

When trying to negotiate, they’ll often steer you towards the brands that they can lower the price on.

Whether it be a higher margin, excess inventory, or clearance items they want to clear out, listen to them and they’ll often give you hints about the HDTV’s or computers where they can help you on price.

PRO TIP: UTILIZE BEST BUY’S EBAY OUTLET

Very few shoppers are aware that Best Buy has an outlet store on eBay. It’s a VERY underutilized resource for savvy shoppers looking for a great deal.

Here’s what you’ll find in their eBay store:

Open Box Deals: Many items in their eBay store are open-box or clearance items. These include laptops, TVs, home appliances, and more.

Refurbished Electronics: Certified refurbished products often come with warranties and are tested to ensure quality.

Limited Stock: They often list items that are no longer widely available on their main website.

Auction and Buy-It-Now Options: While you might see an occasional auction, it’s almost all “buy-it-now” listings. Best Buy currently has close to 9,000 items for sale and they are ALL in the buy-it-now format.

Free Shipping: All of the listings currently in their eBay store offer free standard shipping.

Returns: Since it’s Best Buy’s official store, you get the same crappy 14 day return policy. Also, you’re on the hook for return shipping charges.

Extra Savings Tip: Use eBay coupons and discounts, often provided by eBay during promotions for an even better deal on Best Buy products.

See Also: Best Buy Return Policy: 8 Must Knows Before You Make a Return

The more expensive the item, the better.

This one is fairly obvious. It’s all about profit margins.

Best Buy is more willing to lower the price on a $3,000 75″ HDTV than they are on a 32″ HDTV priced below $250.

Look for damaged packaging.

I recently needed a new DSL router and headed to my local Best Buy.

The NetGear router that I wanted was indeed in-stock, but they only had one left on the shelf.

I picked up the box with the router in it and one corner was completely smashed in. I immediately knew I had some great price negotiating ammunition.

I walked up to a nearby sales associate and explained the situation.

I told him, “I realize the router inside is probably OK, but I am taking a bit of a risk taking this thing home. Any chance you can knock off 25% and I’ll take this trashed box off your hands?”

He says he has to get a manager’s approval and within minutes he comes back and says “Deal”.

Memorize this list and use it often…it works!

3. Open Box Products Offer Great Chance to Negotiate

Every time I walk into a Best Buy I find several floor model HDTV’s that are marked down for a quick sale. But they don’t always sell quickly.

So whenever you see a floor model for sale, consider it an opportunity to negotiate an even lower price. As a general rule of thumb start at 25% and be prepared to meet in the middle.

PRO TIP: ASK FOR “IN-STORE SERVICE” DISCOUNTS

If you’re buying a pricey item (like a TV or computer) and planning to use Best Buy’s Geek Squad installation or setup services, negotiate for a discount on the service.

Specifically, ask if they can bundle Geek Squad services (installation, setup, calibration) with your purchase for a reduced rate or as part of the package. Often, they’ll cut 20-50% off the service cost to close the deal.

Also, if you notice that other retailers (like Amazon, Costco, or Walmart) offer free or discounted installation services, mention it. Best Buy often matches competitors’ promotions to keep the sale.

The Bottom Line: Sales associates often bundle service discounts with purchases to close a sale—but only if you ask.

4. Oft-Forgotten Student Discounts

Many college students are still not aware of Best Buy’s Student Discount program, but it’s pretty dang awesome.

Sign-up if free and only requires you to be a college student actively enrolled in at least one course at a post-secondary educational institution, and be verified by Best Buy as a currently enrolled college student and be able to provide proof of enrollment upon request.

Some of the current deals include $50 off a MacBook or iMac, 10% off select Surface Books, $50 off select Blue Label Laptops, and 20% off Rocketfish Home Theater accessories.

See Also: 50+ Places Where Students Get a Sweet Student Discount

5. Their Online Outlet is AWESOME (and Hidden)

The Best Buy Online Outlet is not easy to find when you’re on their homepage. Because of this, many shoppers have no clue it exists but it’s a great way to save BIG on open-box, refurbished, clearance and pre-owned electronics.

You can regularly find savings in the 50-60% off range and the best part is that these items are all backed by their Return & Exchange Promise, covered under warranty, and are all verified to work properly.

By the way, to find it on their website you click on “Deals” which gives you a drop-down menu, then click on “Best Buy Outlet”.

PRO TIP: ASK ABOUT “RETURN TO SENDER” DEALS

Best Buy occasionally offloads items that were shipped but returned due to customer refusal or delivery issues.

These products are still in brand-new condition and heavily discounted because they’ve left their warehouses.

Visit your local Best Buy and talk to an employee at the customer service desk or sales floor.

Same something like:

“Do you have any items that were returned but are still brand new? I’m looking for unadvertised deals.”

These items are often stored in the backroom or displayed in the clearance section. Who knows…you just might find a hidden treasure and all you had to do was ask.

6. Negotiate at the End of the Month

Sales floor managers are trying to hit sales goals at the end of the month and are much more willing to wheel and deal with you.

I’m talking about the last 2 days of the month, like the 30th or 31st.

See Also: Here Are the Best Days of the Week to Make Purchases to Save BIG

7. Special Discounts for Gamers

If you fancy yourself a gamer, and you’re not a member of Best Buy’s Gamers Club, you’re clearly doing it all wrong.

A membership will get you a bunch of free rewards that you can exchange for discounts on new and used games, along with gaming accessories.

At the very least, get the Gamers Club free option which is a no-brainer.

The $30 for a 2-year membership will get you the Gamers Club Unlocked membership which can really save you some money by getting you 20% off all new video game software plus 10% off all pre-owned games.

Ask the Reader: How do you save money at Best Buy? Have you ever taken advantage of any of my tips?

By Kyle James

Photo by Mike Mozart.