[US] Target marking up sets over MSRP

NotAnotherReboot

Is anyone else seeing Target marking sets up over MSRP? I'm wondering if this is a localized thing or if they're doing it everywhere.

I went today and saw a large number of sets marked up 10%. The 4432 Garbage Truck was 21.99, the 5770 Lighthouse was $43.99, etc.

These were all sets that were at MSRP a week ago.

llanowarsoldier

Just hope they don't jack them up to TRU's prices.

Odindusk

I have 4-5 Targets near me and I've noticed that they all seem to do their own thing.

Ninjago 9440 (Venomari Shrine - RRP $6.99)

I've seen this at Target for $6.99, $8.99, and $9.99

Ma1234

Target pricing is store-by-store. Target stores in nicer areas do indeed mark-up LEGO often.

madforLEGO

Apparently you have not seen Target.com where the Maersk train is something like 162 dollars

legoDad

The Target by me like the past 2 years were regularly marking up prices on anything popular, not just Lego. But at least with Lego I knew the retail prices.
They started with the Indiana Temple Escape set marking it up about 10% +...then you 'd see one or two other kits about a dollar or two more, while some others where a dollar or two below...so no biggie BUT the past year...they were marking up just about everything 20 to 30% (I noticed mostly when the newer Harry Potter sets came out). Then it went to most of the Star Wars kits (not all though).
On a turnaround though, recently I went to the store the past couple weeks and most of the kits are right at retail (I guess all my complaing online work...;)...) with even the new Tie-Fighter $5 bucks below retail.
They still have a couple marked up but not as crazy as the 20 to 30% deal they've been doing. I do hope that online complaints like I did with other patrons to the store helped them to realize...hey...there's a Lego Store only 2 blocks away with all the prices below yours...wise up Target! And I think they did. Power to the people...word up!

zjygkmatt

I work at a Target. I pay attention to their prices. The new tie fighter is 49.99, as opposed to 54.99. They are store for store, for example mine has the jedi-6 fighter for rrp where the one right down the road has it for 41.99. No idea why, but for the longest time the imperial v fighter was 15.00, and now its 19.99. They do have stuff usually below or at rrp. I've never came across something marked up yet.

rocao

^ When I was In New York, I found that the Target in Brooklyn marked up the price of LEGO across the board.

Back here in Northern California, I have seen sets that were marked up, although it is few and far between, and usually is unique to a store. The most recent instance was finding 4193 London Escape $10 above MSRP last year.

gmpirate

^^ It isn't significant (like TRU), but most of what I look at in Southern California is marked up.

sidersdd

Apparently you have not seen Target.com where the Maersk train is something like 162 dollars

Yep, and Yellow Cargo Train is $199.99 (like TRU) as well.

dougts

I've noticed this starting around Christmas time. their markups aren't as bad as TRU's, and they tend to be item by item and not everything. I've also noticed that several of my local targets have shrunk the size of their LEGO sections, with other brick brands now sharing the same aisle.

tamamahm

While I have seen the occasional mark-up, I have also seen the opposite, with the occasional price drop. This is different than a sale, in that it is long term and unadvertised and also a store to store thing. Last year, I saw this drop with The Alien Conquest set (Tripod?), and also the Ninjago ice dragon.

Tammy

jadedanc

I got the T-6 real cheap at Target 2 wks ago. It was the last one so I don't know if that was part of reason, but it was about 30- 40% below

tamamahm

That sounds like too much of a discount for it to be simply a price drop.

The items I saw were 19.99 selling for ~15. That 25% range is the most I have seen them label a set as a price drop. (Oh, and the sets were clearly labeled price drop). I can also state I have never seen a 'big' set with that sort of drop... just those $19.99 sets.

I think what is shows, though, is that yes, Target will adjust the Lego prices up or down at individual stores. At the stores I frequent, though, almost all the sets are at MSRP, and I don't recall seeing any that have been above MSRP.

BeardedCastleGuy

I see it their pricing vary from store to store and yes I've seen numerous sets above MSRP at times. It trends toward the smaller ones such as the $4.99 or $9.99 sets (yes I know the $4.99 sets have pretty much gone poof). I had been watching the PQ Golden Staff Guardians set last year as I like a number of the minifig accessories in it. I saw it for $9.99 (MSRP) and $11.99 and even $12.99, all at the same location..... The price started at MSRP and bounced up to the mid price, went back, bounced up to the higher price, back and then to the mid price mentioned above.

jadedanc

It wasn't a markdown or clearance on the T-6, it was clearly marked on the shelf with the regular tag at $29.00 even though I was still a new AFOL, I saw the piece count and grabbed it, esp since it was the last one. I triple checked the bar code to the tag, made sure it was the same and went to checkout. When I got up front, it rang up for the "normal" MSRP so I told the sales clerk what it was marked. She sent someone to check the tag. While he was gone, she checked in the computer and stated that the set had never been put on sale ever, much less clearance. The guy came back with the tag and I got it for $29. Best deal so far in my newbie AFOL career :)

Jenni

^ there was a mix up with the tags on that set, I saw an empty shelf with $17.99 price tag, someone else actually bought it for that price.

I've only seen Hogwarts marked up at Target, I did take advantage of the two deals tamanahm mentioned last year.

On a somewhat related note I think I saw a $30 LEGO game for $33.99 at Walmart today. Everyone is marking things up! Thank goodness we'll have a LEGO store soon.

chrisdojo

^^ About a month ago I was able to get a T-6 with a Target "tag error" of 17.49. There were three but they only let me buy one at that price. They took the other two off the shelf.

TheCoryJihad

I've noticed the prices going up and down. I bought the V-Wing fighter for $15 when retail was $20 but I've noticed the DC Superheroes sets going up. The Lex Luthor Powerwalker is up around $23 at my local Targets.

jadedanc

Yep I got the V Wing as well at Target for $15 the week after the T-6.

cloaked7

My local Target had (and probably still has) the Hero Factory Witch Doctor marked above retail. I think the set retails for $30 and it was marked up to $34.00. Course, that is still cheaper than TRU. I think they had it at $38 or $39.99. Pretty insane. Generally Amazon sells the set at retail, but has had it for as low as $24. Oh man, I know WAY to much about that set! :-)

jadedanc

I still wanna get that set, even though I am not interested in any of them, but my first unit in Army, we were called the WitchDoctors (medical company) :)

dsdg88

There's a sale at target.com (http://www.target.com/c/stuff-you-love-toys-outdoor-play/-/N-56g6f).
I don't follow these sets enough to know if there's interest, but I noticed the 8043 Excavator at $171 and 4645 Harbor at $70.

DavidBrickley

I think the Harbor set will be around for a while. I've got a local Wal-Mart that still has this for $45, and I'd bet others here do to. It's a cute set, but for sets in its price range, it's down at the bottom on the playability scale.
But thank you for lettin us know about the sale...always appreciated.