I personally only visit the store at these times for the best deals
There’s nothing quite like having a few quid to splash on your go-to treats, but Marks and Spencer can seriously dent your wallet unless you’re savvy enough to hunt down a yellow sticker bargain. These reduced price tags are slapped on products nearing their use-by date, helping supermarkets slash food waste.
I used to steer clear of M&S Food Halls in a bid to watch my pennies, but I’m obsessed with their dark chocolate jaffa cake biscuits and have lately cracked the code to satisfy my cravings. Having worked in the bakery department of a M&S during one university summer break, I’ve now mastered the art of timing my visits to coincide with when those coveted yellow stickers appear.
When is the best time to visit M&S for yellow stickers?
Loads of shoppers make the mistake of rocking up at closing time hoping for bargains — I reckon you’ll be disappointed.
From my experience, the absolute prime time to bag yellow stickers would be bright and early when the doors first open, as the overnight crew typically handled the discounting.
I’d also suggest popping in between 3pm and 5pm, as I’d normally kick off my shift applying yellow stickers whenever I clocked on during the late afternoon. If you’re hunting for bargain treats, popping into M&S around 4pm tends to be your best bet, as that’s typically when bakery items and lunchtime fare get slapped with yellow stickers.
I actually enjoyed my evening shifts at M&S as time flew by with all the crucial tasks needing completion before locking up for the night. That said, it’s worth knowing that staff would sometimes hold off on applying discounts if a mob was forming in anticipation of reductions.
My manager would frequently instruct me to stash the yellow stickers away if too many shoppers were hovering for bargains, as it would clog up aisles and rapidly descend into mayhem.
Nobody appreciates being gawped at or tailed whilst working, so if you spot a team member marking down items, either pop back in a few minutes or maintain a respectful distance whilst waiting.
Yellow sticker timings can vary between different Marks and Spencer branches, so it’s worthwhile asking a member of staff when things are typically quieter for optimal results.
Team members will usually reveal when they normally slash prices provided you’re courteous and they’re not rushed off their feet, which can help you snap up your favourite nibbles without wincing at the cost.
