One of the longest-standing department stores in the country, JCPenney is well known for its heavy markdowns and sales that happen often — maybe too often that it makes us question if the deals are really worth it.
Our team of deals experts dug into JCPenney's current discounts and price history and spoke with brand representatives directly to find out.
First off, are JCPenney deals worth shopping?
Maybe. JCPenney's Summer Deal Jam is packed with major discounts — but are they the best deals to date? We asked the retailer when customers can find the steepest discounts throughout the year, and the brand gave us a vague response, saying, "alongside this event, JCPenney shoppers will be able to find competitive prices during holiday promotions, clearance events and key seasonal moments."
We did our own digging and compared prices across other retailers and saw that some favorite items are indeed cheaper at the JCPenney Summer Deal Jam compared to other retailers. For example, the Murad Clarifying Cleanser is marked down during the sale at $27 for a 6.7-ounce tube, and you'll find the same bottle at Ulta, Target or Sephora anywhere between $29 and $36.
One big caveat: While we cross-checked that these discounts are legit, we noticed that some of the original pricing may be inflated. The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL, for example, is usually listed at $180 based on our deals team's constant monitoring of price history and discounts. So while, yes, it's still on sale, the discount might not be as deep as it seems.
So what is JCPenney's Summer Deal Jam?
For the first time in the retailer's history, JCPenney is hosting its Summer Deal Jam sale running from Monday, July 14, through Sunday, July 20 — both online and in stores and will feature discounts up to 65% off. "JCPenney tends to hold deals on clothing, home and bedding from some top-performing brands," says Director of Editorial Commerce & Product Reviews Jessica Teich.
SHOP JCPENNEY'S SUMMER DEAL JAM SALE 2025
"It’s common for retailers to host end-of-summer sales to clear out seasonal inventory ahead of the next season’s drops," says Teich. And in this case, JCPenney is offering deals reaching 65% off, including discounts on top-tested products from the Good Housekeeping Institute. Here's a breakdown of how the sale works:
- Any items marked as "On Sale" are included in the event, and deals greater than 30% off are categorized as "Main Stage Doorbusters."
- To exclusively shop doorbuster deals, click "Shop Now" under "Main Stage Doorbusters" on the retailer's homepage. These doorbuster deals will be live throughout the duration of the sale.
- If you shopped earlier this week, you might've seen 24-hour-long "Headliner Deals" and "Main Stage Deals." JCPenney tells us those particular discounts were only live the first three days of the event.
Note: While Summer Deal Jam does not require shoppers to have a membership, JCPenney reward members can use their reward dollars towards a purchase during the sales event.
What are the best Summer Deal Jam sales?
I observed impressive sales on small appliances, including our best overall air fryer, as well as great discounts on expert-loved beauty and apparel brands such as Murad and Bali.
Our Favorite Home Deals
Our Favorite Beauty Deals
Our Favorite Apparel Deals
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
Amanda (she/her) is a writer and editor covering deals, trends and sales. She has almost a decade of experience in digital journalism, including more than five years in e-commerce at brands like Bustle Digital Group and TODAY. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in journalism from Ramapo College of New Jersey. When she’s not working, you can find her writing songs.
