Okay, I’m a sucker for Express clothes! They have everything and such reasonable prices! Jeans, work clothes, party clothes, workout clothes, outerwear, shoes, jewelry, purses, belts, basics. . . Plus they have options for both men and women!
That’s why I tracked down these seriously savvy Express shopping tips from a seasoned employee. Here’s how to get the most bang for your buck at one of my favorite clothing stores:
1. Get a 15% off coupon when you download and sign in to the Express app.
This offer is for anyone new to the Express app. You should receive a coupon within one hour after signing up.
2. Get a 15% off coupon when you sign up for text alerts.
Text ROCKS to 397737 to sign up for text alerts. New subscribers will get a 15% off coupon just for requesting mobile alerts.
3. Buy clothes only when they’ve hit at least 50% off.
Everything at Express is priced high and will go on sale for at least 50% off when stock is not exhausted. That rarely happens because Express also has factory outlet stores, therefore plenty of overstock.
4. Express gets new clothes every month and marks them down within 2-3 months after items arrive.
Express constantly gets new shipments of clothes, and items that don’t sell within 2-3 months get marked down for clearance.
After 4-8 months, surplus clothes transfer to Express Factory Outlets.
5. Red stickers on price tags indicate clearance items.
Denim, workout clothes, office clothes, and basic staples like solid tees and tanks are usually included in storewide sales and frequent BOGO ½ off promotions.
However, merchandise does not get marked down unless it is on clearance. So there is a good chance that much of what you see in-store is on sale despite the tag showing full price.
Clearance items usually have a red sticker from a price gun on the original tag.
If you aren’t sure, ask the associate to scan the price tag to see the current price.
6. Shop the Express End-of-Season sales for up to 75% off merchandise.
Almost everything in the entire store will be at least 40% off leading up to Black Friday. Then, they increase the store-wide sale to 50% off, then 60-75% off through the end of the year.
Some of these heavily discounted items remain available in January and February, but sizing gets more limited in the hottest styles.
The same sale structure applies in the summer — usually 70% off by the end of June.
RELATED: Your Ultimate Retailer Clearance-Markdown Cheat Sheet
7. The best things to buy at Express are jeans.
Express has an amazing range of washes and cuts for men’s and women’s jeans.
They also carry great basics for work like undershirts, tees, slacks, skirts, and button-ups in every color and print you could ever desire.
8. Get a free garment bag with any dress, jacket, or suit.
Dressier items at Express come with a nice, durable garment bag that’s great for travel. Want a garment bag even though you’re not getting something super dressy? Just ask! Their employees are told to give them to you without any hassle.
9. Earn a $10 reward for every $250 you spend with Express Next points.
Express Next is a free store loyalty program that gives you 10 points per dollar spent. Once you reach 2,500 points, you’ll receive a $10 reward good for the next 60 days.
Points expire after one year if they’re not redeemed for a reward.
If you earn more than 7,500 points in a year, you’ll be upgraded to A-List status which lets you earn $15 for every 2,500 points, and gets you a birthday coupon.
10. Earn bonus loyalty points for reviewing items in the app.
Express sometimes offers ways to earn extra points like reviewing items in the app, engaging on social media, and checking in at the store.
11. Redeem up to five rewards at once.
You can stack up to five rewards from your Express Next points on a single transaction. Just remember, they won’t pay you the difference if the coupons exceed the value of your purchase, so no moneymakers.
12. You can’t use coupons on clearance items, only rewards.
Sounds confusing right? Let me break it down in simple terms.
You’ll often get coupons for Express online or during store promotions for a certain amount off your next purchase. You cannot use these coupons on clearance items.
However, rewards from your Express Next loyalty account can be used for clearance merchandise. So if your coupon isn’t a points reward, it can’t be stacked with clearance.
13. You must ask employees to apply your rewards at checkout.
Express employees are actually not supposed to tell you when you have rewards available at checkout. You must mention it and ask them to apply the discount!
RELATED: 17 Best (FREE!) Store Loyalty Programs to Join
14. Use your rewards at Express Factory Outlets for even more value.
You can apply your rewards at Express Factory Outlets. Since the merchandise is already discounted, that coupon goes even further.
15. Only get the Express Next credit card if you’re spending $375+ per year at Express.
If you shop at Express a lot, the perks of having their store credit card are undeniable.
You’ll get double points on your loyalty account, so $10 back for every $125 you spend. You’ll also get free standard shipping for online orders and 20% off the first time you use it!
It’s especially worth it if you spend more than $375/year at Express, because when you earn double points, spending $375 will make you an A-List member, meaning your rewards for the rest of the year will be for $15 instead of $10.
Without the store credit card, you’d have to spend $750 to earn the A-List rewards!
Other perks include exclusive offers and even a birthday gift. (My birthday gift was a coupon for $40 off!)
TIP: If you’d like to pay cash for your credit card bill or you’re having some technical difficulties making a payment, you can pay all or part of your bill in-store at the cash register.
16. Shop free shipping promotions to avoid paying extra.
If you don’t have an Express credit card, you can still avoid shipping fees. They usually have promotions for free shipping if you spend over a certain amount (usually around $50), so save your shopping for when you can hit that minimum.
17. Skip Facebook! Follow Express on Snapchat for sweepstakes opportunities.
The best exclusive social media offers from Express are on Snapchat.
18. Shop online for even more options, plus 30-70% off discounts.
Express has tons of options in-store, but they also carry a lot of pieces in Online Exclusive collections, which they never ship to stores. There are plenty of sales for these items too! Track down online exclusives for 30-70% off.
19. Students and military members get 15% off.
Military members can get 15% off in-store or by using promo code 4674 online.
Students must register with Unidays to verify their status and get 15% off purchases.
Neither discount can be combined with other coupons or used on clearance items. They also caution that select brands or items may be excluded.
20. Express’ 40% employee discount isn’t totally worth it.
Okay, 40% off isn’t bad for an employee discount. Sometimes they even boost the discount to 55% off for a couple days.
However, you can’t stack your employee discount on sale prices or use it on clearance items. And since the best deals on sale and clearance items reach well over 40% off, it’s not worth it.
21. Take 16% off every purchase by paying with discounted gift cards from Gift Card Granny.
Gift Card Granny resells Express gift cards at 16% off. The average discount when you buy a gift card from Raise is 12% off. Here’s one discount you can totally stack with coupons and sales!
RELATED: Here’s How Much I Save with Discounted Gift Cards at These 48 Top Retailers
22. Gift cards can be used across the Express family of stores.
Express gift cards can be used online or in any U.S. Express, Express Men, Express Factory Outlet, or Express Last Hurrah.
23. Express will give you a price adjustment within 14 days of purchase.
If an item goes on sale within two weeks of your in-store purchase, bring your receipt to the store and request a price adjustment. If you don’t have a receipt, employees can attempt to find your transaction with your debit/credit card information or rewards account number.
Express’ price adjustment policy excludes events like storewide sales.
24. You can’t get an additional discount for damaged clothing.
Express does not sell any damaged merchandise; they send it all back to the distributor.
25. Employees will steam your outfit for tonight for free — just ask!
Express stores are equipped with steamers, so they can make their wrinkled merchandise ready-to-wear for customers. Employees are not supposed to offer to steam anything, but they will say yes if you ask! Need to buy a new dress for tonight, but the one you picked is all wrinkled? Bingo.
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