[US] Toys Я Us Deals

blogzilly

I was in TRU last night. What a depressing experience. I had a wad, WAD of money from some eBay sales earlier in the week. Anxious to spend it. They had so much TLBM stuff. I wanted it. I bought none. It was ALL marked up insanely. It wasn't easy to walk out but I did. I bought stuff that was only at RRP. 

GOD BLESS THIS SITE AND ITS EASILY ACCESSIBLE DATABASE!

I love it. Had my phone out, made good decisions. Brickset has saved me a lot of money with this hobby, and I thank you good sirs (and madams if there are some).

yg77

i have never had a problem price matching amazon at TRU

Ma1234

blogzilly said:

I was in TRU last night. What a depressing experience. I had a wad, WAD of money from some eBay sales earlier in the week. Anxious to spend it. They had so much TLBM stuff. I wanted it. I bought none. It was ALL marked up insanely. It wasn't easy to walk out but I did. I bought stuff that was only at RRP. 

GOD BLESS THIS SITE AND ITS EASILY ACCESSIBLE DATABASE!

I love it. Had my phone out, made good decisions. Brickset has saved me a lot of money with this hobby, and I thank you good sirs (and madams if there are some).

Just price match it. 

MrJ_NY

The only issue with price matching right now is that TRU have all the TLBM sets on the shelves whereas Amazon only has four sets currently available.

jedivalkyrie

Just picked up #30546 Krypto Saves the Day at TRU for $3.99

Legogram

@jedivalkyrie  Thanks for the tip.  I just found it at my store too.

madforLEGO

jedivalkyrie said:

Just picked up #30546 Krypto Saves the Day at TRU for $3.99

Saw those at LDC in Schaumburg, could not bring myself to pull the trigger on those though.

77ncaachamps

madforLEGO said:

jedivalkyrie said:

Just picked up #30546 Krypto Saves the Day at TRU for $3.99

Saw those at LDC in Schaumburg, could not bring myself to pull the trigger on those though.

I had the same experience too but ended up getting one. Had to complete the Super Family!

blogzilly

Ma1234 said:

blogzilly said:

I was in TRU last night. What a depressing experience. I had a wad, WAD of money from some eBay sales earlier in the week. Anxious to spend it. They had so much TLBM stuff. I wanted it. I bought none. It was ALL marked up insanely. It wasn't easy to walk out but I did. I bought stuff that was only at RRP. 

GOD BLESS THIS SITE AND ITS EASILY ACCESSIBLE DATABASE!

I love it. Had my phone out, made good decisions. Brickset has saved me a lot of money with this hobby, and I thank you good sirs (and madams if there are some).

Just price match it. 

Do what? I swear I don't know what that is and next year yes I will be fifty.

haakono

blogzilly said:

Ma1234 said:

blogzilly said:

I was in TRU last night. What a depressing experience. I had a wad, WAD of money from some eBay sales earlier in the week. Anxious to spend it. They had so much TLBM stuff. I wanted it. I bought none. It was ALL marked up insanely. It wasn't easy to walk out but I did. I bought stuff that was only at RRP. 

GOD BLESS THIS SITE AND ITS EASILY ACCESSIBLE DATABASE!

I love it. Had my phone out, made good decisions. Brickset has saved me a lot of money with this hobby, and I thank you good sirs (and madams if there are some).

Just price match it. 

Do what? I swear I don't know what that is and next year yes I will be fifty.

See Here: http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=11949070

The price match typically doesn't stack with other TRU coupons or deals.

Legogram

Tru, target and Walmart all price match.  You can show them a lower price from an approved seller list, and they will charge you that lower price.  i.e. Target store will price match target.com if you show customer service or the cashier the price.

77ncaachamps

What they said.

the cool thing to is:

if you have a Target red card, you get 5% off plus pricematch

if you are a TRU member, you still get the TRU points with the pricematch

CaptainRogers

Last I checked, Wal-Mart discontinued their price match policy over the summer. At least here in the USA.

77ncaachamps

CaptainRogers said:

Last I checked, Wal-Mart discontinued their price match policy over the summer. At least here in the USA.

Though they will price match their own website.

Legogram

@CaptainRogers  I price matched at Walmart during the Christmas season.  They accepted walmart.com and target.com at that time.  I didn't try any others, but they did accept those.

Onebricktoomany

Legogram said:

@CaptainRogers  I price matched at Walmart during the Christmas season.  They accepted walmart.com and target.com at that time.  I didn't try any others, but they did accept those.

I also did the same at Walmart with Walmart.com and target.com and vice versa.  Target also matched Amazon. My local TRU matched both Target and Walmart as well as Amazon but would only do so after I explained that Prime was not a price discount but a shipping discount already paid for by members. This was the store manager as well as csr's lacking such information.

CircleK

77ncaachamps said:

CaptainRogers said:

Last I checked, Wal-Mart discontinued their price match policy over the summer. At least here in the USA.

Though they will price match their own website.

YMMV on that one as well. My walmart will NOT match their website.  As with all things though, probably depends on who you speak to. 

CaptainRogers

Huh. Interesting. Maybe the price match was discontinued only in parts of the US. I remember seeing signs all over my Wal-Marts about how after such and such a date they no longer would price match 

CaptainRogers

Huh. Interesting. Maybe the price match was discontinued only in parts of the US. I remember seeing signs all over my Wal-Marts about how after such and such a date they no longer would price match competitors.

Yodalicious

In my area, Walmart stopped accepting certain competitor deals - like buy one get one. But I never heard anything about them stopping price matching. Of course, I've also never been willing to wait in the line to try. Much quicker at Target or TRU. 

monstblitz

Those not taking advantage of TRU price match are missing out on good opportunities.  I know not all TRU are created equal, but mine will price match just about anything.  And they let any employee do it, so no waiting in line at customer service.  See a Walmart deal that you know there is 0.0% chance of your local walmart having in stock?  TRU price match!  Some of my best Lego deals have been had this way. 

CircleK

CaptainRogers said:

Huh. Interesting. Maybe the price match was discontinued only in parts of the US. I remember seeing signs all over my Wal-Marts about how after such and such a date they no longer would price match 

Well it's always possible the policy has changed since the last time I tried - my last attempt was nearly a year ago. 

I was honestly surprised when they denied it. I just always assumed that any brick and mortar would match their own online front. They explained that their site is basically a separate entity and they did not honor those prices in store. 

My Walmart is pretty horrible. I watched two Star Wars sets shelf rot in the clearance section for over a year. Seriously - they had lost a good portion of the box printing from being moved around so much. I asked them if they would be willing to take an additional 10% off since the boxes were so bad and they basically laughed in my face as they told me no. I had never done that before and I doubt I ever do it again based on that experience alone. I ended up buying both of them a month later... After they marked them down another 30%. 

Jody

The local non-super center Walmart here has not batted an eye at matching their web site prices. One of the super centers has a notice posted at each register that they no longer price match competitors, but lowered the price on thousands of products instead (chuckle).

Yodalicious

monstblitz said:

Those not taking advantage of TRU price match are missing out on good opportunities.  I know not all TRU are created equal, but mine will price match just about anything.  And they let any employee do it, so no waiting in line at customer service.  See a Walmart deal that you know there is 0.0% chance of your local walmart having in stock?  TRU price match!  Some of my best Lego deals have been had this way. 

This. I regularly have them price match Amazon. They never argue at all. Most of the time they usually say something along the lines of "wow, you're getting a great deal."

madforLEGO

I do not put much faith into price matching. If I find it at a better price at a specific store, I buy it from that place. I do not go to another store to fight with someone making minimum wage that I should be able to get it for 'x' price because this site or store shows it for that price. Theoretically I should have no problems, but it is not worth it for me to waste gas and time going to a specific store only to find out that store will not honor the price match.

77ncaachamps

madforLEGO said:

I do not put much faith into price matching. If I find it at a better price at a specific store, I buy it from that place. I do not go to another store to fight with someone making minimum wage that I should be able to get it for 'x' price because this site or store shows it for that price. Theoretically I should have no problems, but it is not worth it for me to waste gas and time going to a specific store only to find out that store will not honor the price match.

Fair enough.

but if you know your favorite price-matching waterholes you should do it.

my WM price matches their website but it must be sold directly from wm and not a third party. I saw a few clearances Lego sets pop up online for a few dollars more than their In-Store price (and that was using their iPhone app scanner, go figure).

scotty12

My experience seems to be like most at WM.  I tried just before x-mas and was told they've discontinued price matching other stores...will only price match Walmart.com.   

  Target has a list of stores they'll price match.  So much better and easier. I've even had Target employees match a price that wasn't on their list.  They just override the system and put in their own price with manager approval.  Target employees seem to know their store rules...WM employees rarely know any rules..and if they do...they do whatever is easiest for them.

pharmjod

And here I was excited there was actually a deal at TRU...

Boomstick

I was at TRU tonight and price matched the resistance x wing regular $99.99 for  $54.99 and Rey's speeder regular  $24.99 and got it for $16.99. They priced matched it against target.com which was a lightning deal or whatever. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought them but they seem sold out everywhere.

dragon114

might be able to price match amazon on batman cmfs

nuttamastabuilda

I went to TRU and Target today. Target's shelves still haven't been restocked.  TRU's shelves are fully stocked, with the new 2017 sets out. A very healthy percentage of them were marked up. 

Interesting to see Lost World, Scooby Doo, Ideas Ecto-1, and a few other sets still there.

77ncaachamps

I wonder if Target let loose the Holiday help before the higher wages kicked in on Jan 1 and therefore there are less hands on deck to stock the shelves. A Target employee said there are boxes and boxes in the back but they just need to get out on the floor.

Boomstick

The wage increase was only approved in 7 states I believe so not sure if that is the reason. I'm in central Indiana and went to 3 different cities looking for deals but everything was wiped out everywhere except tru.

monstblitz

madforLEGO said:

I do not put much faith into price matching. If I find it at a better price at a specific store, I buy it from that place. I do not go to another store to fight with someone making minimum wage that I should be able to get it for 'x' price because this site or store shows it for that price. Theoretically I should have no problems, but it is not worth it for me to waste gas and time going to a specific store only to find out that store will not honor the price match.

I think you're missing the point of why most of us do it.  The stores that have the sales either may have no stock, or are a farther drive than our local TRU. And it's all about knowing your local store.  For me, it's never a "fight".  It's, "Sure, no problem!"  Most are genuinely happy to help me get a good deal.

I do not go to Target or Walmart to get price matches because it usually is the "fight" you describe. Not the case at TRU, and others here have reported the same, but YMMV.

Leopard

My local TRU is 5 mins away where as Target and Walmart are pretty much like a good 30-35 minutes away. I always price match with no hassle, people have to take the opportunity to price match since TRU mark up are pretty ridiculous.

Also, does anyone know when TRU will have a sale on legos or 20% coupon on everything?  

Yodalicious

madforLEGO said:

I do not put much faith into price matching. If I find it at a better price at a specific store, I buy it from that place. I do not go to another store to fight with someone making minimum wage that I should be able to get it for 'x' price because this site or store shows it for that price. Theoretically I should have no problems, but it is not worth it for me to waste gas and time going to a specific store only to find out that store will not honor the price match.

I don't go to TRU to price match something I could easily get from another store. I do it for things either on Amazon or that aren't at the other store. For instance, Target had an ad 3+ years ago for the last SW podracer set. The set was advertised for something like $35, but hadn't been on shelves at the Targets in my areas for months. Sure enough, TRU had a shelf full of them and was happy to price match. That's why I do it, for Amazon prices or sets out of stock at other places. It helps that there's a new TRU only a few miles from my house and it's practically overstocked with LEGO.

That and I've never had them not honor a price match. As long as it's from one of the approved places, they've done it every time. Rather quickly too.

monstblitz

Yodalicious said:

madforLEGO said:

I do not put much faith into price matching. If I find it at a better price at a specific store, I buy it from that place. I do not go to another store to fight with someone making minimum wage that I should be able to get it for 'x' price because this site or store shows it for that price. Theoretically I should have no problems, but it is not worth it for me to waste gas and time going to a specific store only to find out that store will not honor the price match.

I don't go to TRU to price match something I could easily get from another store. I do it for things either on Amazon or that aren't at the other store. For instance, Target had an ad 3+ years ago for the last SW podracer set. The set was advertised for something like $35, but hadn't been on shelves at the Targets in my areas for months. Sure enough, TRU had a shelf full of them and was happy to price match. That's why I do it, for Amazon prices or sets out of stock at other places. It helps that there's a new TRU only a few miles from my house and it's practically overstocked with LEGO.

That and I've never had them not honor a price match. As long as it's from one of the approved places, they've done it every time. Rather quickly too.

It's so painless at my TRU.  Not to mention the fact I don't have to compete with all the other Lego nerds who are aware of the sales and flocking to clear out inventory before I can ever get there. 

And to the point that someone wouldn't want to bother a minimum wage employee about it, I get the feeling that TRU employees enjoy being empowered to make the price matching decision without having to consult managers. 

Boomstick

I did show an employee the price match on my phone last night but she was like sir I have to check it on my computer. That was the first time I saw that happen. Still got the deal. And yes I do it because all other stores are out of stock or I would go there first.

monstblitz

The only price match incident I ever had at my TRU was one employee told me he couldn't price match Prime prices.  Rare occurrence and the regular Amazon price was still a big savings. 

And I know I told the story once before, but they once even price matched a price from the Brick Seek price.  And it wasn't like I was trying to pull one over on them or anything.  I started by asking customer service before I even grabbed the box.  I said, "I'm not sure if this is something you can price match or not, but this Walmart is apparently selling this at this price."  Showed them BrickSeek on my phone.  "Sure, go grab it and we will ring you up!" 

That one surprised me, and probably a huge YMMV.  It just goes to show, this is something they are happy to do, at least at my store.  They don't want to fight, they want to price match whatever they can.  Think of it like the dealers at a casino who are pulling for you to win, because it doesn't matter to them one way or the other. 

datsunrobbie

Leopard said:

My local TRU is 5 mins away where as Target and Walmart are pretty much like a good 30-35 minutes away. I always price match with no hassle, people have to take the opportunity to price match since TRU mark up are pretty ridiculous.

Also, does anyone know when TRU will have a sale on legos or 20% coupon on everything?  

Last LEGO price matches I did were at Target, matching the Toys R Us 2 for $5 sale on blind-bag toys to get a bunch of Series 15 minifigures. First attempt got turned away at customer service, tried again with a different person at the counter and got the price-match without any problem. A lot depends on who is working at the counter and how they are being treated - treat them nice and customer service can be your friend.

MugenPower

Reasons I choose to PM:

1. Target Red Card 5% off/TRU points (or sometimes Best Buy for Dimensions if the other 2 stores are OOS).  Every bit counts, something is better than nothing (i.e. buying from Amazon or Walmart)!
2. Amazon charges sales tax in my state, no reason to choose them over other retailers.
2a. Amazon shipping and packaging methods have been extremely poor for me for the past few years and I'd rather be able to pick a nice box in a B&M store.

That being said, I won't go out of my way to PM at the stores I mentioned but they're all in the vicinity of each other and I'm always in that area so it's not much trouble for me.

malachirobertson

My TRU has the Batman Movie CMFs, but for $4.99.  Series 16 too at $4.99.  Anybody else have this experience?

77ncaachamps

malachirobertson said:

My TRU has the Batman Movie CMFs, but for $4.99.  Series 16 too at $4.99.  Anybody else have this experience?

Same here.

Three boxes at CS, all half-empty.
Priced at $4.99 /ea.

MrJ_NY

CMF's are priced at $4.99 at TRU in my area as well,makes pre-ordering/buying a set from Minifiguresplus all the more appealing

ReesesPieces

Here too but I got it price matched to the online price (showed the series 16 price to match the batman movie minifigures).

JooTog

Same here. Not only TLBM, but Disney and S16 are also marked up at $4.99.

#70912 Arkham Asylum at $179.99!!! Oh hell NO!

Jody

If they refuse to price match, just pull up their own Web site and show them...

Jody

Follow up to the price match thing today
....I bought a #42043 Arocs 3245 today and they price matched Walmart @ $212 without batting an eye.

Ninjago and Nexo stock was top-notch.

jmeninno

Probably a stupid question, but how often does TRU do a "decent" Lego sale, like Buy 1, Get 1 40% off?  I'm sitting on some rewards and trying to wait for a sale to cash in, but it's possible the rewards, which I've already printed, could expire...so I'm just trying to plan my purchase to get the best bang for my buck.  Thanks!

JooTog

^ I don't think there were that many BOGO 40% off last year, at least not as many as 20% off on particular themes. Personally, I prefer the 20% on themes.

As a reference, last year, mid-Jan 2016 there was a 20% sale on a few themes:
http://toysnbricks.com/usa-toysrus-20-off-chima-movie-pirates-sets/