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Toys R Us...R U For Real?
vortexdragon
Member Posts: 24
So of course Bricktober is happening this month. Toys R Us Canada doesn't have nearly as many sales as in the US, but this week was Kingdoms and City 15-20-25% off so I decided to purchase a few big sets to get the full 25% off. I ordered on Friday to make sure everything was in stock, which it was. I got an email yesterday saying my order was shipped, and another one saying that my Medieval Market Village was removed from the order as it wasn't in stock. Funny because when I ordered it it was in stock. Most online stores I've shopped at normally honour the purchase and ship it later. It sucks because this set isn't available in stores either.
I'm pretty disappointed about it, considering that there are so few good sales in Canada, making it not really worth it to shop there. Has anybody else had a similar issue?
I'm pretty disappointed about it, considering that there are so few good sales in Canada, making it not really worth it to shop there. Has anybody else had a similar issue?
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Comments
I noticed the free snowman and Christmas tree wouldn't stack as well. My friend got the CS fixed that but I wasn't that lucky.
Anyone experienced the same? I wonder if I should call at certain hours to avoid those agents... (I called twice at the evening time. I wonder if I got the same person!)
It came back in stock tonight, so I called. The lady I spoke with tonight was very annoyed with the whole deal. She said they couldn't do the 50% discount straight up - it was too big of a discount. So what they would have to do is charge my card for the full price and then credit some back on my card. The way she calculated it initially though was charging me 2x + tax, and then only giving me back 50% of one item. But not giving me the tax back. I had to walk her through how I was getting ripped off. After all that I didn't want to press on the free tree deal.
I suspect that part of the problem is that occasionally, you reach an unhappy person - and they're less likely to try to help you out.
Other than that - I think there's probably a limit to the authority these people have, and very poor communication about what can or can't be done regarding stacking multiple promotions.
In the end, it would be really lovely if TRU would just fix their web site so we didn't have to go through this every time.
Apparently, for any LEGO sets > $99, you are limited to purchasing one (1!!!) or a given set per order.
So much for the B1G1/B1G2 sales...
I wonder if it's online only or apply to in-store purchase as well. Anyone knows?
My guess is that orders from resellers might result in a lower profit margin on the overall purchase because they're just buying Lego sets and always maximizing the BOGO discount, whereas a builder/parent might be more likely to buy slightly different priced sets for variety and perhaps purchase other items into the same order that aren't on a discount because of the free shipping, etc.
The max purchase limit on Lego sets seems to show that TRU is interested in making low volume orders to many people rather than high volume orders to a few people, which would support the assumption that they are not as interested in the profit margin from selling Lego to resellers. I guess the fact that they only allow one BOGO discount per order is another indication that they want to spread the purchases out to as many people as possible.
Of course, I agree that the same revenue is made if each person is able to maximize the discount by buying same priced sets and doesn't purchase anything else.
Also, this limit is only on sets that are $99 and higher, so if this was strictly an exercise in inventory and purchasing efficiency, why would it not translate to all sets?
My best guess is that the limited quantity policy is for the usual reason: it's better to at least partially satisfy 10 consumers so they can purchase one copy than to allow one consumer to purchase 10 and turn away 9 unhappy potential customers. TRU stocks less of the $99 and higher sets so there is more of a real threat to running out of stock than with smaller sets.
At the end of the day, we both may be giving TRU too much credit in thinking there is method to the madness :p
But you are right - they should honor the price if you were able to checkout.
I've been told by a TRU employee that the reason they mark up Lego is cause "they gotta make SOME money..." is the company really creating customer loyalty with their sales, such that people will continue to shop when there aren't sales? Good luck to them on that.
it's a free market. TRU has every right in the world to set whatever price they want, regardless of reason (and if it is in advance of a sale - look at furniture stores!). And of course I have every right in the world never to pay full price at TRU.
in this day and age it is exceedingly simple for people to do a bit of price shopping from their couch, sale watch, etc. i dont' hold much sympathy for someone who pays a bloated retail price because they didn't do any homework.
Not saying I like TRU policies - I find them distasteful. but I fully support their right to treat their customers like garbage if they think that's a good business model.
However, the practice of marking up prices, and then promptly having a "sale" on the new marked up process does violate consumer protection laws. KB Toys was the subject of a huge class action lawsuit because of this, and lost.
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giraffefreckles 12:11PM
How many of you are in the same mindset? (Bricktober No)
Haven't indulged in any bricktober sales at all. I think I got turned off TRU when I bought a POTC set with a discount, then got home and discovered the original price was above msrp. Makes the Harry Potter trolley gift with purchase not "free". Hmmmph. In addition, the magnet minifigs are cute and would be a welcome addition to my fridge, but theirf crossover appeal decreases due the permanent gluing.
Overall, I can get better deals at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, with better customer service. (Anybody else receive a delivery box full of loose merchandise, such that the soap bottle dispenser dispensed all over a third of your TRU purchases? [but luckily not the LEGOs.])
As to the original post, I visited my TRU in Northern Virginia and both the City of Atlantis and Mill Village Raid were each still $69.99.
I should also note that Wal-Mart does sneaky things like this a well - they've been known to label things as "clearance" at the original price.
Yes, it's wrong, but no, it's not going to stop me from shopping there. I always compare the sale price at TRU (or Wal-Mart, or Target) with the MSRP listed on Brickset, so I know when I'm getting ripped off. I get a lot of cheap LEGO like that. Typically between 20-30% off MSRP. After you throw in the rewards bucks and TRU credit card, that'll give you another 1-5% off of everything.
Also, for the record, I'm perfectly happy to have someone else with deeper pockets and less information subsidize my LEGO purchases by paying 10-20% over MSRP.
That being said I am sure that TRU has a group of lawyers that have manuvered legally around this ...
Again like others have said vote with your wallet. If you do not like the prices, go to Walmart, Target, or Lego themselves.... Local toy outlets, etc.
Walmart seems to have better un-announced price drops on certain sets (like 104 for QAR) anyway... Hoping they do this with the Pet shop and Diagon Alley to be honest.
It still is a shame that TRU is doing this.. stupid moves like this only will cost them business and drive them into financial issues.. especially now with the economy the way it is I have a feeling people will be more cautious with their money and not fall for these artificial price increases to prep for a sale.... either that or someone needs to go to the BBB and raise and inquiry...
In general TRU does tend to mark-up prices whenever and where ever they can get away with it. I was unable to get to TRU this week and thus wasn't able to if they've been messing with their prices recently.
I've also noticed Wal Mart sticking sets in the clearance section that are still full price. Our local store had 3 Temple of Dooms that just sat there for months. We even tried talking to the store manager but it did no good.
Finally, I found some Friends sets and brought them to the register only to be told by the cashier that she couldn't sell them to me because they shouldn't have been on the shelves yet.
TRU's prices are so out of hand it is not worth shopping there anymore. I am a knowledgeable AFOL and I know that gripes about TRU's prices are nothing new but they seem exceedingly expensive right now, more than usual.
Anyone else seeing constant upticks in LEGO pricing at TRU?
Not that they still don't charge a premium markup - especially on the licensed themes. but non-licensed themes are quite often sold at RRP at TRU - just not right now.
The stores nearest my house are so wiped out. There is literally almost nothing on the shelves. As a result, the Walmarts and Targets are nearly as bad.
I think that they raise the prices to compensate for the 10% "rewards." I don't think prices will be going down until after those reward certs expire.
The funniest thing I noticed today... the Star Wars advent calendars that were $29.99 on "Clearance" are now back up to $39.99. Never in my life have I seen "clearance" prices increased, except at TRU.
Brent
Also be on the lookout for mislabeled shelf prices. They change prices around so much that employees often forget to remove the old, lower prices from the shelves. Despite probably having the worst customer service of any large retailer in the nation, they do honor the the old price if it's marked as such on the shelf.
Yet, I watched people buy entire carts-full of LEGO at higher than RRP, without even using a Rewards R Us card... It was so sickening.
Brent
Brent
But TRU is the last of a dying breed and we as a consumer are better off with them in the marketplace. There are always deals to be had for the discerning consumer and I for one will continue to funnel a majority of my LEGO funds through them.