Why it happens
A price can change in a store’s system before anyone gets to the shelf. The tag stays the same for a while, so the markdown is only visible to someone who checks the price. It comes up most at big stores with a lot of shelves to re-tag, which is why you hear it about Walmart and Home Depot.
How shoppers find it
Check the price before you trust the tag. In the store, that means looking the item up in the retailer’s app with your store selected, or asking for a price check. Before you go, compare the item’s recent prices at the stores near you: a store that marked it down is the one worth the trip.
What to expect at the register
You pay the price the register charges at that store. A price at one store does not carry over to another, and a markdown can sell through quickly. If the register price is not what you expected, it is fine to ask, and it is the store’s call. More in why clearance prices differ between stores.
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