Stephanie Nelson | 

15 Shoe Carnival Hacks and Coupons for Cheap Shoes

The Krazy Coupon Lady is an ad-supported service. Many offers on our site contain affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using them. Some posts are sponsored by the maker of the product, and we receive a fee for the post. Learn More.

Shoe Carnival might be the best kept secret for feeding your shoe addiction. Shoes and boots are affordable, plus you can use Shoe Carnival coupons.

In fact, I found scenarios where Shoe Carnival even beat out Kohl’s on price, which is pretty substantial, since our team of deal hunters frequently finds great Kohl’s shoe deals!

Download the KCL app to find out about all the best shoe deals and then jump on these Shoe Carnival savings tips.

 

1. Sign up for emails and get a $10 off $59.98 Shoe Carnival coupon.

A person entering their email into the shoe carnival email signup.

When you sign up for Shoe Carnival emails, you’re also signing up for their Shoe Perks program. So, in addition to a coupon welcome offer, you’ll get these benefits:

  • Get 5% cash back on everything you buy (you’ll earn one point for every dollar you spend and receive a $10 certificate to spend when you reach 200 points).
  • Get a $5 certificate on your birthday.
  • Get free shipping.
  • Go ahead and lose your receipts — as a Perks member, you’ll get receiptless returns.

Shoe Perks points don’t expire, but rewards certificates do. Use your free money within 90 days or it disappears.

 

2. And then text JOIN to 727375 to get another $10 off $59.98 Shoe Carnival coupon code!

a cell phone held in a persons hands with a text message sign up message from Shoe Carnival open on the screen

This is a separate coupon from the one you’ll get when you enter your email. How do I know? The coupon you’ll receive when you sign up for emails has an online promo code: HELLOSHOES. The text coupon’s online promo code is SMS4U.

When you’re shopping in store, you can use these coupons as well. The two coupons have separate barcodes from each other — just ask the associate to scan your barcode.

 

3. Stack your coupon with a sale price.

A Shoe Carnival coupon on a cell phone next to clearance items inside Shoe Carnival

Unfortunately, you can’t use more than one coupon or promo code per purchase, but you can use coupons on sale items. This will score you the lowest prices possible.

 

4. Download the Shoe Carnival app to find more coupons.

Screenshots of Shoe Carnival app

The Shoe Carnival app is a goldmine of coupons. Look for these in addition to your $10 off $59.98 sign-up coupons:

  • $25 off $149.98
  • $15 off $99.98
  • $10 off $74.98

 

 

5. Can’t afford those Nikes today? Put them on layaway — interest-free.

A woman pulling nike shoes off a shelf on an Shoe Carnival aisle full of Nike shoes

Shoe Carnival doesn’t call it “layaway,” but that’s basically what it is. When you go to checkout at ShoeCarnival.com, you can select “Klarna” for your payment type.

You’ll then enter your credit or debit card information, and you’ll make your first of four payments immediately as you check out. The last three payments will come out of your bank account automatically once every two weeks.

Don’t worry about interest — Klarna doesn’t charge it.

See Nike deals.

 

RELATED: Insanely Smart Nike Factory Store Hacks

 

6. Shoe Carnival Vans are a made-for-discount version of Vans.com shoes (and they’re not cheaper!).

Vans shoes at Shoe Carnival

It’s true, those Vans at Shoe Carnival aren’t identical to what’s sold at Vans.com. And at full price, it’s not cheaper to buy Vans at Shoe Carnival.

But even worse? Vans are listed as a coupon exclusion, so you can’t even use coupons to make them cheaper!

Anytime you see that a style is listed as Vans “Asher” Slip On, that’s a made-for-discount shoe. These are sold at Shoe Carnival, Kohl’s, Famous Footwear, and other shoe stores.

Original Vans Slip Ons are called “Classic” on the Vans.com site. Here’s a cost comparison:

Shoe Carnival: Vans “Asher” Slip Ons (reg. $49.99)
Vans.com: Vans Classic Slip Ons (reg. $50)

See Vans deals.

 

 

7. Many brands, like Skechers, are cheapest at Shoe Carnival.

A person holding open a pair of mens Skechers shoes.

When I compared a popular Skechers men shoe across Shoe Carnival, Famous Footwear, and Kohl’s, Shoe Carnival won out.

This logic applies in situations where you can use a Shoe Carnival coupon. The only exception will be if Kohl’s offers a sale with multiple coupons you can stack, and Kohl’s Cash to spend. But just straight sale prices plus one coupon? Shoe Carnival wins.

Famous Footwear

Buy 1 Milford Men’s Skechers (reg. $69.99) $59.99, sale price
Use one 10% off Skechers when you buy through the Famous Footwear app
Final Price: $53.99

Kohl’s

Buy 1 Milford Men’s Skechers (reg. $70) $64.99, sale price
Use SHOPNOW for 15% off
Final Price: $55.24

Shoe Carnival

Buy 1 Milford Men’s Skechers (reg. $69.99) $59.99, sale price
Use one $10 off $59.98 or more
Final Price: $49.99

 

8. Shop ShoeCarnival.com and get your shoes within four hours with free in-store pickup.

A customer purchasing items at the Shoe Carnival checkout

Can’t wait for your new boots to ship to you? Choose the “pick up in store” option!

Find a Shoe Carnival near me.

 

9. Don’t walk past the sidewalk clearance shoes without looking for a deal.
Sidewalk clearance outside a Shoe Carnival store

Shoe Carnival always has shoes on the sidewalk (assuming decent weather), and they’re usually marked way down.

On my last visit, all shoes were just $10 a pair.

 

10. In 2019, Shoe Carnival Black Friday boasted deals on Crocs and boots.

Crocks on display, for sale at Shoe Carnival.

It can be a struggle to find a sale on Crocs (and who doesn’t love a pair of super-discounted boots?!). Jury is still out on what Black Friday will look like in 2021 at Shoe Carnival, but I’ve got fingers crossed for sweet online deals.

Here are Crocs and Boots deals I saw during Black Friday 2020, which you could combine with an extra 15% off online promo code:

Women’s and Men’s Classic Clog Crocs (reg. $44.99) $34.98, sale price
Use code THANKS2U for an extra 15% off online
Free Shipping
Final Price: $29.73
Women’s and Kids’ boots (reg. up to $44.98) $19.98, sale price
Use code THANKS2U for an extra 15% off online
Free Shipping
Final Price: $16.98
Men’s Boots (reg. $49.99 – $79.99) $29.98, sale price
Use code THANKS2U for an extra 15% off online
Free Shipping
Final Price: $25.48

See Crocs deals.

 

 

11. Sale prices always end in “.98.”

Roxy shoes with a price tag reading "sale $39.98

These are temporary sale prices. No matter what number a full-price shoe ends with, if it’s on sale, it is marked down to a “.98” ending.

 

12. Pink clearance tags end in “.00.”

A person pointing out the price pink price tag on a box of shoes.

If you see a pink clearance tag, it’ll end in “.00” and it’ll keep receiving clearance markdowns until it’s sold. You can use coupons to buy pink clearance sticker items.

 

13. But, if you see other tags ending in “.00,” it’s Converse, Nike, and Under Armour full prices.

Nikes shoes with large red and white price tags reading $30.

If the tag isn’t pink, but it ends in “.00,” this means it’s a full price Converse, Nike, or Under Armour shoe. (Remember if it’s pink, it’s any-brand clearance pricing.)

See Converse deals.

See Nike deals.

See Under Armour deals.

 

14. Everything else that ends in “.99” is full price.

A pair of Puma running shoes on a shelf with shoe boxes and a price tag reading, "$64.99".

 

15. Yellow stickers mean you can’t use a coupon to buy the item.

A white and yellow tag indicating coupon exclusions.

It’s so mean, right?!

Items with yellow stickers are brands on sale which you can’t use a coupon to buy.

 

UP NEXT: Get all of KCL’s very best shopping tips!

Customers in a busy shopping aisle inside Trader Joe's.

Get our best deals on the go

By entering my phone number, I want to receive promotional messages from The Krazy Coupon Lady. Message frequency varies. Text STOP to 57299 to end or text HELP for help. Msg & data rates may apply. View Terms & Privacy.