Dare I say, Walmart?

ryjay

JooTog said:

So, these bargains you guys find, are they marked down in a special way (e.g. sticker, clearance section), or they look like regular price labels on the shelves?

Both.  As Sethro3 says, "always scan!"  You will be amazed from time to time  what pops up.

yg77

i feel like a fool rushing over to the price checker every 2 minutes with big clunky boxes in my hands

MrJ_NY

@yg77 More like an AFOOL

scotty12

I was able to find a #31026 Bike Shop & Café today for $64.

Yodalicious

yg77 said:

i feel like a fool rushing over to the price checker every 2 minutes with big clunky boxes in my hands

It's Walmart. I can pretty much guarantee there are bigger fools than you doing weirder things.

SweepyD

Grab a cart, put hand behind boxes on shelf, push boxes into cart, scan forever (due to scanners having a long ass reset time)

KingAlanI

Yodalicious said:

In the past, I would find them with a clearance sticker in the clearance aisle. But lately, it's been a paper sticking out from the regular shelf space in the Lego aisle indicating the lower price. Sometimes, it's even just the shelf price with a new price on it. That is rare, but you really have to be on the lookout for those because there's no indication whatsoever that it's on sale other than a lower price. In that case, you have to know the retail prices to even know they are lower. 

Similar here, but if there isn't a tag sticking out, the shelf tag looks different. Saw 8 #75109 like that for $13. Maybe the less obvious tag is why there were still 8 left.
Also got a #75108 for $9 and #71304 for $5. Those had tags sticking out. I thought the Bionicle was gone, but maybe that was returned or found elsewhere.
I already listed one, so that was easy - mainly had to update quantity, not much looking up prices.
8 is the most I've bought of a non-polybag. Larger quantity is no more work to list and customers would be more interested in more inventory.

hey...hey

Walmart about 20 minutes away says they have the Spaceport 60080 for $30...typo or crazy deal?

hey...hey

hey...hey said:

Walmart about 20 minutes away says they have the Spaceport 60080 for $30...typo or crazy deal?

And Quinjet City Chase 76032 for $19

ReesesPieces

Got ironman vs ultron battle pack is $5 at some walmarts. .

JooTog

Uhm. I am flying back home tomorrow. I'll check my local WMs this weekend.

bige1998

@hey...hey not a typo, the one near me had it at the price about 2 months ago.

Bricklover18

Saw the angry birds piggy car escape for $8. 

not12fall

Found today at a Walmart that does not usually have good sales:
#75106 Imperial Assault Carrier ...$30

#75094 Imperial Shuttle Tydirium.. $25

General Grievous $9

We already have Grievous but he is so awesome, I wanted another and at $9 I could justify it!

SprinkleOtter

^ Would you be willing to buy some for me?

77ncaachamps

Sethro3 said:

Always scan! I've found a lot of unmarked good deals that way.

As for the website inventory checker, it was 100% inaccurate also for 3 different walmarts near me, so I won't bother checking that again. Walmart isn't anywhere near my house, so it is out of the way for me to even check them for potential deals. But the only LEGO "clearance" was a few Elves sets and Star Wars constraction figures, and most of them were Rollbacks, meaning it is the new price instead of a sale price

Question: does the store scanner result in the same price as the WALMART app scanner?

datsunrobbie

I'm not familiar with the Walmart scanner app, but I know that local prices and online prices for my local store have been out of synch on multiple occasions. Sometimes the shelf tags, and even clearance tags, won't match the scanner, and Walmart usually honors the lower price.

Mismatches happen at other stores as well, not just Walmart. I picked up a couple Chima sets last Saturday at Target, the clearance tag was for $19.98, scanned price was $13.98. 

SweepyD

not12fall said:

Found today at a Walmart that does not usually have good sales:
#75106 Imperial Assault Carrier ...$30

#75094 Imperial Shuttle Tydirium.. $25

General Grievous $9

We already have Grievous but he is so awesome, I wanted another and at $9 I could justify it!

BLARGH!!!  Just bought the first 2 and a few others for a higher clearance price, I always have the luck of a price drop after I buy stuff at walmart 2 days earlier.  *facepalm*

Sethro3

I don't have a smartphone, so I know nothing of any apps or accuracy. But I do know most online things I've seen don't link up with in store prices at all. But I have noticed the variance in pricing between shelf tag and scan price. So I always scan, but a lot of times it is what it says it is, but sometimes you get lucky...

malachirobertson

SweepyD said:

BLARGH!!!  Just bought the first 2 and a few others for a higher clearance price, I always have the luck of a price drop after I buy stuff at walmart 2 days earlier.  *facepalm*

I haven't tried it myself but if it is less than a week for the price drop, I think Walmart will match the lowered price.  Of course, that assumes your Walmart dropped the price down to the 75% off level.  In my area, not all Walmarts have done that.

Another set on 75% off at Walmart is the TIE Advanced Prototype.  If you find any left, it could be selling at $9.00.

As for finding out the price and what the stock may look like, I find Brickseek very helpful and usually accurate.  That being said, I know of two items that are listed as out of stock or limited stock, but the actual inventory in the store still has one or more.  So even if it says out of stock, you may not really know unless you go to the store.

pharmjod

Wal-Mart probably won't match clearance price drops, but of course YMMV.

wagnerml2

^This is correct.  They are all over the place on alot of stuff, but pretty solid on that policy.  However, I have had luck of ordering things ship to store that are not clearance on the website (#75094 currently qualifies) and they will allow you to "return" it and rebuy it at the store's clearance price.

SweepyD

Pardon the 3 part scatterbrain reply!  :)

Yeah the TIE Advanced Proto is one I bought that just went lower...grr..


I've been trying to combine brickseek and the app, for some reason a bunch of the stores near me have sets I know I personally bought when they had 1 left and yet they still show it in the app.  Namely talking about a set that was marked down to $ 1.00 among others.


My plan was more just rebuy the dang thing and easy return the higher price one, so that I don't get any weird chatter back on it.

I went through the buy from app to store and then having to match at 3 different stores. First store the guy hit his key and price matched in 2 seconds, store 2 cancelled the order and rang it up at the register, and store 3 had to call the front and ask how to do the whole thing then when she went to total out the system auto-adjsuted for her.

BuriedinBricks

Bah, didn't check for a few days and I just noticed that all the Shuttles in my area got marked down and cleaned out.

madforLEGO

LEGO #60051 passenger train is $92.99 right now

lego16

not12fall said:

Found today at a Walmart that does not usually have good sales:
#75106 Imperial Assault Carrier ...$30

#75094 Imperial Shuttle Tydirium.. $25

General Grievous $9

We already have Grievous but he is so awesome, I wanted another and at $9 I could justify it!

I bought the Tydirium for 50 and the T rex tracker for 35 a week ago and returned today to another store to find shuttle at 25.  Was about to buy it, but it was a torn box with a bag open and some tape on the box.  Was going to buy just to salvage the pieces and perhaps replace the missing ones, but I just don't have the patience for that these days.  The one I bought for 50 had a worn out box but was still sealed.  Anyone finding some of the bigger set boxes at these clearance prices in bad shape?

CaptainRogers

Always scan. Just found a Constraction Commander Cody marked  $15 , scanned for $5.

CaptainRogers

Found a couple more deals at a Wal*Mart in Randleman, NC. Grevious was $9, Cody and obi-Wan both $5, Creature of water, earth, and fire for $2.50, and a Wraith flyer for $2.50.

lego16

Just got the 75106 Imperial Assault Carrier for 30.  Found the last one on the shelf.  Wish I got there earlier.

yg77

i would love to find an assault carrier for 70, let alone 30.  My Walmart is horrible for Lego.

Sethro3

It is crazy how YMMV in these situations. I just typed into that brickseek app and it claims all of the Shuttles were marked down to $25 and none in stock anywhere. I have never seen it on the shelf at full price, let alone at $25, so who knows. But definitely, that is a set I would have loved to get a decent sale, forget about $25!

erequena

Walmart online inventory management is really inconsistent. I dropped by a store that is showing on both Brickseek and the Walmart app as having some LEGO friends set in clearance and in stock at the store. As feared, none of them were at the shelf. 

So what I've learned after many, many failed attempts at getting clearance LEGO from Walmart:
- It's better to use a combination of Walmart App/Brickseek/Walmart website
- Best time to check is early in the morning, since the inventory isn't updated regularly (unlike Target's)
- If Brickseek shows no inventory, it's almost sure there is none available
- If Brickseek shows inventory, check the Walmart App for the desired stop
   If there is an aisle number on the list and shows in stock, there is a chance 
   If no aisle number is shown, don't even bother. There is a very slight chance you         might find it on the Clearance bins, but I wouldn't go to a Walmart that is out of your way to try it 
- A final check (which isn't even 100% sure sadly) is to add the item to your cart on Walmart.com, choose pick up at store and choose the store you are considering. If the pickup date is shown as Today, there is a good chance it's there. If not, it definitely isn't (or if it's there, no one knows where it is, it might be in a box at the back, or used to balance a shelf or something). Again, one would think this is the safest check, but it's not. Two orders I made for pick up that showed immediate pick up (with the intention of return/rebuy) were marked as ready for pickup and when going to the store to pick it up, oh surprise, they didn't have it.  

So it seems the only way to ensure you can get something is to befriend the Toys manager and ask her to text you before they put things on clearance 

Good luck and sorry for the long post, I have been visiting Walmarts like crazy for the last two weeks looking for those clearance imperial sets (and others) with a 0% success rate, 

waynlewis

I visited 3 area stores and each showed that 4 shuttles were in stock, but none on the floor or in the clearance aisles. Even had an employee check the stock room and nothing, so who knows what happened.
And I suspect that the Death Star Duel will be for clearance soon, maybe at $20..

BuriedinBricks

Anything with the Stormtrooper box art is probably nearing it's time on the shelves.

I hit two area Walmarts yesterday (Madison, WI), not expecting to find much. Came away with one of the Ninjago pull-cord things for $2.50, but that was the only LEGO clearance I spotted.

OUWxGuesser

I suspect the inventory checker is more accurate than we think, the exception being for potentially stolen goods.  Stock checker mentioned #75106 was in stock (Only a few left) a week ago when it was on clearance.  Couldn't find it anywhere (nor could I also find employees to check the back).  Walk in today to see new clearance stickers and 2 sets on the shelf. Boom! $60 total for 2 #75106 ... probably my best find ever. The inventory has now updated to out of stock.   Now if I could just find the couple of Tyridium shuttles supposedly in stock.   

Another recent example is the 580pc medium creative box.  I found the clearance tags ($7!) laying on shelf, without any sets a week ago.  Inventory checker said in stock.  Same trip today, I found a newly placed endcap with probably 20 boxes of the set clearanced out.  I honestly think most of the inaccuracy is misplaced or lost sets in the back (or on the floor).  I commonly find unmarked clearaced sets in 'storage' on the top of the shelves.  They get left behind then eventually get clearanced.  Scored a bunch of friends sets that way (i.e. Jungle Base).  It seems our local store finally cleaned house, because they dug up 20 or so jungle bases and had them on the shelf a good month after I made my find of one on the upper shelf.

SweepyD

Yes, I believe the stock is probably better than we admit and it just relates to people misplacing or being lazy in the search.

I'm still mad when I saw Black Pearl last year on the app and couldn't find a sign of it. Then this past xmas stock clear someone said they got it from that store.  Thats where usable and findable stock items would be useful.  :P

pharmjod

The aisle number in the app is definitely a good indication of whether you will find it in stock.

Bricklover18

Bought a bionicle for $4.  They had the ninjago nindroid mech dragon for $40.  They also had chima flying Phoenix Fire temple for $55. 

lego16

I've been hit and miss with the inventory checker as of late.  Sometimes I'll find that the set is available according to brickseek and the website, but when I get there the sets are no where in site.  Frustrating, but I'm figuring some has to do with stuff just getting shuffled around during the week.  Little Tommy or Tammy grabbing it and taking it over to the sports or patio section looking for mom or dad.  Then an employee putting it in a go back cart that probably sits in the back for days.

sonsofsceva

I overheard a couple of employees trying to make room for the new SW sets complaining about how often they have to reset the aisle because new sets keep coming out every month. They were just chucking boxes into a cart, banging them all up. So now I know why the boxes all get progressively thrashed over months on the WM shelves. I am also pretty sure that some of those boxes won't fit back on the shelf and will end up in a generic toy pallet box in the back until the whole toy section is revamped later in the summer to prepare for fall and Christmas or they clean that section of the storeroom.

mr.piggles

My local WM has the regular Lego aisles (general and "girls") then a weird like 1/8 aisle rise off in toy dept no man's land with misc sets that I always think might be clearanced but never seem to be. (All Star Wars, a space shuttle that now that I think of it I should've checked the price on, Marvel sets...) No clearance to speak of, but stuff everywhere. 
And lots of Disney CMFs, if you're into finding Aladdin, Buzz Lightyear, or Mickey.

lego16

sonsofsceva said:

I overheard a couple of employees trying to make room for the new SW sets complaining about how often they have to reset the aisle because new sets keep coming out every month. They were just chucking boxes into a cart, banging them all up. So now I know why the boxes all get progressively thrashed over months on the WM shelves. I am also pretty sure that some of those boxes won't fit back on the shelf and will end up in a generic toy pallet box in the back until the whole toy section is revamped later in the summer to prepare for fall and Christmas or they clean that section of the storeroom.

This.  I recall when I found the imperial shuttle 75106 for $30 it was just on a star wars lego shelf.  No label on the shelf, just kinda seemed to be thrown in there like someone found it in the back and put it on the shelf.  So hit and miss on these bargains.  I wouldn't doubt that some of the sets we see as available on stock checker, are returns with open bags sitting in some room at the store somewhere. 

datsunrobbie

Inventories are only going to be as good as the data entered into the system. I'm a programmer who has worked in inventory control systems since 1987, and we have systems that can track every case of product from receipt to sale in real time, as soon as the barcode gets scanned. When employees move product they should be scanning the barcodes when they move the sets from location to location in the store. If the local inventory is off, product has moved without getting scanned, either by staff or the public. Items will still show in stock while in a customer's shopping cart, until they check out. 

pharmjod

#60051 is $85.21 at Wal-Mart.com

Bricklover18

Do they mark sets down in store tomorrow?

richl

Times like this I regret living in NYC, with no nearby Walmart, no car and no storage space. $19 for Quinjet City chase...arg...

pharmjod

#60051 poor at that price

erequena

I've been keeping tabs daily on the sets that have been reported as on clearance here and on other places, searching on early morning to try to identify when they hit clearance. And it seems there is someone in my town who has a lot of free time. Yesterday the item shows full price, stock everywhere. Today it hits clearance, stock 0 everywhere (except for one store that seems to never update their inventory data, always show on stock, never has anything). So I think Walmart clearance is not for me :( I'll just visit every now and then and if I find something, good. No more futile hunting

pharmjod

I meant #60051 poof at that price =) whoops

Bricklover18

I was checking the stock of a Walmart that I usually don't go to and they still have some of the guardian of the galaxy sets.