Question Author
Yes, TC44. Most 'sales' are usually 'special buy' stuff these days, rather than 'end of season clearances', etc. That's possibly because it's simpler for big chain stores to create space in their storerooms, and to get money in their bank accounts, by simply selling all of their old stock to firms like T K Maxx, rather than offering it at a discount to their customers.
Good markets are hard to find but I still enjoy looking around them when I can. A problem for me though is that these days they're no longer selling cheap stuff, simply because they can't compete with supermarkets. So they're now all selling things like bread from 'artisan bakeries', at three or four pounds for a small loaf. As I'm a mean, stingy, impecunious so-and-so, I'm not always keen on paying such prices!