Macy’s promised major liquidation sales as it shuts 66 stores in the coming weeks, but bargain hunters say the discounts aren’t steep enough – warning others to ‘not to bother’ until prices drop further.
Closures were announced at the start of January and sales are set to run eight to 12 weeks, depending on the rate of sell-through.
But shoppers on Reddit are already strategizing, with many planning to wait until the last minute to lock in deeper discounts.
‘There will NOT be any deals at closing stores,’ one Redditor claimed. ‘The usual SALE prices at Macy are better than liquidators prices. Also some of the premium items will be removed before the sale starts.’
Macy’s has not yet responded to Daily Mail’s request for comment.
Others said they might browse liquidation sales but won’t commit to buying unless the markdowns are steep enough.
‘Don’t even bother buying unless it’s 40 percent or more, I promise you,’ another Redditor added.
Macy’s said the closures of underperforming stores are key to its future.
Executives have laid out ‘A Bold New Chapter’ for the company, a strategy that also includes revamping merchandising, and doubling down on its sister brands, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury.
Macy’s announced a slate of store closures in 2025
But store closures aren’t new for the retailer. At its peak, Macy’s operated more than 1,100 locations.
Since 2008, that number has been shrinking. By the time the latest closures wraps in 2026, only 350 stores will remain.
The company is still turning a profit but reported a 2.4 percent sales decline in the quarter ending November 2024.
‘Macy’s outlook is very mixed,’ retail expert Neil Saunders from GlobalData previously told Daily Mail. ‘There is still a big dose of decline in the numbers, but the chain isn’t at the bottom of the department store league table – which is positive.’
Saunders doesn’t expect Macy’s to reverse its sales slump in 2025. Tariff-driven price hikes and lingering inflation continue to squeeze consumer spending.
‘Macy’s might be struggling to generate growth, but the group is still generating profit and is in the black,’ he added. ‘As such, bankruptcy is not on the cards.’
Brick-and-mortar retailers have been shuttering stores in droves, as customers flock to online shopping and delivery models.
Shops across the U.S. reported thousands of closures by mid-2024. Economists expect the number of store closures will continue to rise this year.
The iconic retailer still remains profitable
Shoppers are still negotiating how to get the best liquidation deals
Department stores have been particularly hard-hit by closure announcements.
Several Macy’s competitors — including Neiman Marcus, J.C. Penney, and Century 21 — have all declared bankruptcy in the past five years.
Still, Macy’s has faced unique issues since it has attempted to build momentum into the future.
The company reported that one of its accountants attempted to hide $150 million after making an error on a spreadsheet.
The since-fired employee wasn’t motivated by personal or financial gain, the company said. However, the investigation into the erroneous financial statements forced the company to postpone its last quarterly earnings call.
