Many think the discounts at TJ Maxx are priced really low since they’re damaged, but only about five percent of stocks are “imperfect.”

We’re talking small cosmetic reasons, like a small scratch on a piece of furniture.

If you don’t mind such imperfections, you can get big discounts when you see tags marked “as is.”

If you see a piece of imperfect merchandise that’s not marked “as is”, point it out to the sales staff and try to haggle that price down.

You may get away with a 10 to 20 percent discount.

Have a member of the sales staff scan your items before you go to the register.

So if there’s an item that was to be marked down further but isn’t, they’ll know and you get the lower price you deserve.

There are store credit cards worth using, but with only $10 in rewards for every 1,000 points you earn, and just 5 points for every dollar spent, the TJX Rewards card isn’t one of them.

Use your credit and build that credit history someplace else.

It’s tempting to apply for that credit card with the offered 10% discount, but look elsewhere.

Just grab discounted gift cards on sites like Raise.com, to get savings of anywhere from 10 to 20 percent.

TJ Maxx also accepts gift cards from affiliated stores like Marshalls and Homegoods so think well and save big at all three retailers.

Stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom and other department stores are not part of the TJ Maxx family, but TJ Maxx usually has the same merchandise for a fraction of the cost, even with designer labels like Michael Kors.

They do this by forgoing the standard agreement where stores sell back unsold merchandise to designers.

Instead, the store takes a discount upfront which they pass on to you.

Prices of comparable items may be cheaper, but know that the discount might not be as steep as TJ Maxx claims.

They base the “compare at” price on the sales sticker on corporate buying staff’s “estimate”, and that estimate is high.

To know how much you’re really saving, use the Amazon app.

Scan the barcode of an item you want online, then just decide if the discount is as big as you think it is.

There are stores that will give your money back if the price drops after you buy it, but TJ Maxx , with their fast-moving inventory, won’t.

If comparison shopping shows a discount isn’t that incredible, or you’re hesitant with buying it, wait and see if the price drops further.

Markdowns happen after the store closes each day. Stocks arrive on Tuesdays through Fridays weekly, so Wednesday mornings are a goldmine for beating the rush and stealing good deals.

TJ Maxx is about everyday discounts, so they don’t do sales the way other retailers do.

But they do switch out their stocks twice a year for the transition between summer and winter clothing.When that happens, prices drop to clear out out-of-season inventory.

TJ Maxx does an inventory between seasons, but they also have new inventory all year.

This means brand new items in stores every day of the holiday season, all the way to and including Christmas Eve.

To find out when out-of-season and other stock is even more discounted, know your tags.

A yellow price tag means a price is as low as it’ll ever go, so you need to grab that item immediately.

For higher-end designer styles on a discount budget, TJ Maxx has you covered.

An item is straight from the runway when you see it with a purple price tag. Now you know it’s legit.

That coupon your colleague’s friend, who happens to be your ex’s acquaintance shared on Facebook is probably not real.

But those giveaways, freebies, and discounts on the official TJ Maxx Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages are the real thing.

As an off-price retailer, TJ Maxx gets its inventory from higher priced stores who don’t want to or can’t sell certain products.

Last year’s makeup and cosmetics lines are some of those items. You risk buying an item that’s been tampered with, or used by someone else as a sample.

Same goes for TJ Maxx’s perfumes and colognes since you run the risk of buying one that either won’t suit you, or is so old it just smells funny.

TJ Maxx and its sister company, HomeGoods, carry home items like furniture, bedding, and kitchen supplies, but most of them are either overstocks or failed factory inspection rejects so they’re usually in far-from-perfect condition.

If you don’t mind scratches, then go ahead.

Sheets and beddings come in pretty colors and designs, but sometimes, those cheap sheets are made with inferior fabrics so they won’t really last.

Walk by the appliances and kitchen supplies since their most inexpensive items tend to not last a long time. The same advice applies to kitchen appliances from unknown brands.

Yoga mats should be an easy, non-controversial buy, but think again. TJ Maxx’s yoga mats are made from a thin material that’s slippery.

They don’t hold up to extended use. Invest in a better-known brand instead of trying to save some cash on a TJ Maxx special.

Don’t spend double just because the mat you first bought on a bargain was a real dud, with a second purchase needed to replace the first one.

The racks at TJ Maxx have women searching the elusive perfect swimsuit, inevitably with one saying they’ve found the perfect swimwear.

You can find hidden gems but there are exceptions to the rule.

“You won’t find high-quality swimwear at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s, etc. It’s fast-fashion and ultimately won’t last,” strategic marketer Kelly Clinken tells Reader’s Digest.

Swimsuits have to be workhorses because of their intended purpose.

“Unlike other clothing items, swimwear is made to be worn in the water and in the sun, so the fabric needs to be premium in order to withstand chlorinated pool water, salty ocean water, and sun fading,” Clinken says.

Read up before making a purchase.

When you’re looking to grab a gift for a baby shower, don’t drop by T.J. Maxx looking for a bargain.

Gaynor Humphrey works with toy manufacturer Best Years, and says the baby toys aren’t just overstocks, but come from third-party clearance houses.

Those toys could either be counterfeit, or worse. “[Toys] may not have been made to the strict standards you would want from a baby toy,” Humphrey says.

With that said, maybe don’t go for baby linens or furniture either.

Black Friday steals sound tempting, but wait until after the holidays to get bigger and better bargains at TJ Maxx.

You could find new arrivals on Black Friday, but the deals are no better than the store’s usual discounted prices.

Former TJ Maxx employee Taylor shared that shopping at TJ Maxx after Black Friday is the best idea for saving money.

“The best time to shop at TJ Maxx is in January,” Taylor advised. “There’s markdowns in January every single day.”

Go instead for the post-holiday clearance events at TJ Maxx in January.

If you like a certain item but it doesn’t come in your size, call other TJ Maxx stores to see if they have the product or Marshall’s and Home Goods to see if they have it in stock.

A former TJ Maxx employee, Taylor, says calling and inquiring about the product is easy,

“Always know that you can call the store and ask about that product. TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods don’t all have the same departments, but they don’t track inventory. So if you just call and say, ‘Hi, there’s this shirt, it’s gray, it’s this brand, can you try to find it?’ they’ll probably be able to find it for you,” Taylor said.

There are myths that TJ Maxx stocks expired food, but the stock is not expired and is reportedly very high-quality, according to Bon Appetit.

It’s food manufactured specifically for TJ Maxx.

“They [TJ Maxx] want top quality. I don’t think people realize it’s not blowout stuff. You’re manufacturing for them,” says Andy Oliver, the president of a jam and condiment company called Braswells.

TJ Maxx offers high quality foods, plus they offer items you won’t easily find elsewhere.

“I live in a small town in the coastal plains of Georgia, and even with a nice grocery store, this is where you can find foreign products you can’t find somewhere else,” Oliver said.

You can stumble upon a very impressive deal within the first few minutes of shopping, but rummaging around before finding that 75%-off pair of designer shoes or lipstick can be more satisfying.

The best-priced items require some digging and double-checking those back shelves, so give yourself time to look around.

If you don’t mind, hit up the cosmetics and skincare section first.

According to former TJ Maxx employee Taylor, you can find “Too Faced palettes, NARS palettes,” and “a ton of high-end skincare”.

You just need to look hard enough and want it bad.

Take five minutes to enter TJ Maxx’s monthly giveaway. You never know what surprises await you.

All you have to do is complete the customer satisfaction survey, which you access online using your receipt from a TJ Maxx purchase.

Just share information about your experience at TJ Maxx then submit the survey.

If you want to enter but don’t have a receipt, use the company’s mail-in option.

You can win $500 every month just by entering the sweepstakes.

Luggage is extremely useful and necessary, but they can be ridiculously expensive and annoying to buy.

But TJ Maxx has a great selection of luggage sold for half the price as compared to other stores.

Browse their online luggage selection and you’ll find three-piece sets, carry-ons, hard-shell rolling bags, duffel bags, and every other type you can think of.

Your local TJ Maxx may have an even bigger selection too, with bags that aren’t shown online.

You really can find the best stuff in TJ Maxx, including the men’s section. Oversized jeans, flannels, and comfy sweaters are easily found over there.

Celebrity stylists also recommend going through the men’s section.

“Definitely look for the men’s jeans,” celeb stylist Mimi Cuttrell said (via Bustle). “If you’re looking for an oversized look, they have a lot of great pants there. Also, the vests and the jackets are super great,” Cutrell added. “I just love an oversized jacket with a little skirt for going out or even just over a dress. Even their hats are great.”

So there you go!