‘Just like that, a $300 vacuum for one penny’: Shopper finds Shark cordless vacuum for 1 penny at Home Depot. Then a worker shows up

A TikTok user known for uncovering hidden clearance deals has stunned viewers with a find that sounds almost unbelievable—a $300 vacuum from Home Depot for just one penny.

User @pennypinchin97 documented the entire trip, showing herself walking through the aisles. She eventually gets stopped by what she jokingly called the “penny police.” Despite the tense moment, she still manages to make the purchase and walk away victorious—with a $300 Shark cordless vacuum that cost her literally a penny.

As of Tuesday, her video showing off the deal had racked up more than 9.7 million views. Her video sparked equal parts disbelief and envy from bargain hunters across TikTok.

What happened at Home Depot?

Inside the video, @pennypinchin97 explains how the deal came together. While browsing the store, she spots a vacuum high up on an upper shelf and says it was “pennied out.” That means the item was marked for clearance and should technically ring up for a cent.

“We’re going to see if someone can get it down for us,” she tells viewers before an employee helps her retrieve the box. Once the vacuum is in her cart, she uses an “HD app” to scan the barcode. And sure enough, the price reads $0.01.

“This should ring up for a penny,” she says confidently. And it does.

She flashes the receipt on camera as proof. Though not everyone in the store seems thrilled about the deal. On her way out, @pennypinchin97 films a brief exchange with a worker who asked her to show the receipt to another employee before she could leave. Once cleared, she is out the door—vacuum in hand.

“Mission accomplished,” she declares. “Just like that, a $300 vacuum for one penny.”

How to get Home Depot’s 1-penny items

A “pennied-out” item at Home Depot is a product that’s been officially discontinued and marked down to 1 cent. Once an item hits that stage, employees are supposed to pull it from the shelves. But sometimes, a few slip through. And that’s when bargain hunters like @pennypinchin97 get lucky.

Last 2 digits

Shoppers who hunt for penny deals say the trick starts with reading the yellow clearance tags. Groupon notes that the last two digits of a clearance price indicate where the product is in its markdown cycle. A price ending in 00 signals the first round of clearance. Meanwhile, 06 means it’s been discounted about 25% and will drop again soon. Tags ending in 03 are usually the final markdown—typically 75% off—before the item disappears altogether. And if you find something marked with 01, you’ve hit the jackpot. That means it’s been pennied out and should technically no longer be for sale.

What do the price tags look like?

Deal hunters also say it helps to keep an eye out for items without price tags or with yellow clearance stickers that look dated. Using the Home Depot app to scan the barcode can reveal the real price. Clearance sections, end caps, and tucked-away corners of the store—especially in garden or seasonal departments—are where these forgotten items often hide.

Timing is everything

Timing matters, too. Prices usually update on Mondays, giving employees until Friday to pull outdated stock. That means midweek mornings are the sweet spot for catching missed penny items. And if you find one, self-checkout can be your friend. This is because some employees are told to remove penny items when they see them. Just scan, pay, and quietly celebrate your 1-cent win.

The ‘penny police’?

After watching @pennypinchin97’s viral clip, many commenters took issue with how she handled the Home Depot worker who stopped her before she left the store.

“That employee did not deserve the false image painting of her just for rage bait,” one viewer said. They added that the worker “is so kind and sweet,” and they are hoping “she is okay if she’s seen this video.”

Another person pointed out that the worker appeared calm and professional. They questioned, “Penny police?? When did she show any signs of being upset? She politely told her to go to register 3 so they can remove the security tag????”

A third chimed in, “How is she the penny police?”

Another added, “Penny police? She was helping you.”

Some users guessed that store employees have their own motivations for flagging penny items.

“Not Penny Police… People who want to buy it for themselves after work,” one commenter suggested.

What other retail works say

Another admitted they’d take advantage of the system, too. They said, “Boy, if I worked at Home Depot, I would buy all the penny items if I knew about it.”

A fellow retail worker added, “As someone in retail, we get excited when we find items that are getting closed out.”

Others took the opportunity to explain how pennyed-out items actually end up on the sales floor.

“It’s because they’re not supposed to be sold—they’re supposed to be sent back to the manufacturer, and the store could get into trouble for selling those items,” one former Lowe’s employee explained.

Another self-identified Home Depot worker said, “We are supposed to get the pennies taken care of before this happens… TO TAKE CARE OF THE PENNIES WE LITERALLY THROW THEM AWAY, PLEASE DO THIS IT ACTUALLY HURTS THROWING AWAY GOOD ITEMS.”

“It’s basically a race to find the item before they get pulled,” a different commenter added. “I worked a side job going around to stores pulling products and bringing them to the back. Happens all the time for recalls.”

@pennypinchin97 THESE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN CRAZY WITH ALL THE PENNY VACUUMS. THOUGHT WE WERE COOKED ON THIS ONE CHAT #fyp #savingmoney #homedepot #shark #clearance ♬ original sound – pennypinchin97

Gee Thanks, Just Bought It! has reached out to @pennypinchin97 via a TikTok direct message and to Home Depot via email.