[US] Walmart -- Post Christmas Sales

gmpirate

Curious how the day after Christmas goes at Walmart. Last year I didn't make any rounds until the following week, but this I'm thinking of getting up early on the 26th.

5 AM, right?
Is it a madhouse?
Big line to get in?
Huge lines to check out?

I would never go through what people do on Black Friday -- crazy! Is the day after Christmas much saner?

matrixrenegade

I was the one that posted the topic up last year. I got to Wal-mart at about 8:30 and they were just starting to price things around that time. There was nobody there becasue it was the day after Christmas I guess.

Yodalicious

My experience is always that the return line is out the door, but the rest of the store is relatively quiet. Of course, that's only my Walmart, which is outside of a city and not the first one the majority of the population would go, but it's not a madhouse unless you need customer service.

Basta

Yodalicious said:

My experience is always that the return line is out the door, but the rest of the store is relatively quiet. Of course, that's only my Walmart, which is outside of a city and not the first one the majority of the population would go, but it's not a madhouse unless you need customer service.

Some people must be keen to return that unwanted gift :)

In Australia we have what's knowen as the "Boxing Day Sales" at the big departments stores. The larger CBD stores are usually a mad house and the last place I would want to be, especially if I was just returning something.

Yodalicious

^ Every year it amazes me. Barely 8 in the morning and already 20-30 people in line to return things. They need to exchange is RIGHT NOW I guess.

turtle1173

Last years after Christmas was so phenomenal, I dare say that this year will have to be a disappointment because I just don't know of it can be topped. Oh, to have a crystal ball! I saw a hundred slave I's for $39.90 (only bought 5). HP burrow for the same price. HP castle for $99. Scorpions pyramids for$49. Falcon, frigate and queen annes revenge were half off in some places. So much lego goodness...

akunthita

Oh, the memories! Thanks to this Forum I ran over to Walmart on the 26th, and bought a bunch of sets for half price! They were not marked on the shelves yet, so nobody knew. Besides, hardly anyone was around. I think it was about 10 AM when I went over there.

Then I went over to a Super Walmart to see what they got and picked up a few more sets for half price. I really hope they will have something like that this year too!...(c:

staffmark

This is my first year doing this, so I am really interested to see how the 26th plays out. I really, really would be surprised to see these kinds of deals again this year for some reason though....I just think retailers have become wise to the fact that Lego is so hot that there's no reason to discount it 50%, it'll move at 30%. Besides, I've never seen a Lego set on the shelf anywhere discounted 50% in my area. We shall see, I really hope I'm wrong.

Is Walmart the place on hit on the 26th? How does Target compare traditionally? Any TRU deals?

neomonkey

I always thought Target was the place to go after Xmas until the big clearances last year. Has Walmart always discounted Lego greatly after Xmas each year?

It doesn't feel like the aisles at my Walmart are as well stock this year. Last year, they took up 2 entire aisles, but this year, it's barely taking up a single aisle.

gmpirate

One thing I've noticed this year is the Walmarts here in Socal have not been as stocked with Lego as in the past. And I don't see the Friends sets at all (and yes I know they are kept in the girls section).

After hitting a lot of Targets this weekend, I also saw that they are very depleted of Lego right now. They were pretty well stocked all year but not now.

Pacific493

In my area, Targets are much better stocked than Walmart. I doubt we'll see the kind of Walmart after x-mas sale this year that we saw last year. It seems like WM has not stocked as much Lego this year and has largely sold the sets that it has stocked.

tamamahm

With Walmart downsizing it's Lego section over the summer in some areas, I also do not expect big after Christmas sales this year (nor a ton of stock on sale).

lulwut

Shucks, I'm really hoping we see those 50% sets from last year. I still have very fond memories of all the awesome sets I picked for half off.

kim43235

I've never been part of WM 50% after Christmas sale and I'm also curious on this.

I've got two questions on this topic.

1. When they had 50% off sale, was it like nationwide sale or YMMV type of thing as usual for WM?

2. Was it 50% for all lego sets in the shelves or just subset of them?

Thanks!

vedder1029

In my area (Maryland), WM had their "clearance" section out the day after Christmas and for the following month or so. The first few weeks most of the lego that occupied the clearance section was 20-30% off. As it got closer to putting out the Spring items they discounted up to 50%.

So it might not turn out that sets will be marked down 50% for a few weeks following their toy department resets.

So yeah, YMMV

gmpirate

YMMV -- different at every Walmart and discounts adjusted as the weeks went on.

Joseph

^ & ^ Interesting, I thought the after Christmas WM sale was done by corporate last year and thus every store had the items for %50 off (though discounts larger than %50 were the manager's decision). Maybe that was just a semi-nationwide thing?

lulwut

There was a list last year. I found every single one of them at various walmarts for 50% off across 2 different states. I think it was updated in their system just like The Mine 4204 was.

meyerc13

Two years ago, the Wal Mart sale was definitely hit or miss. I remember one of the two local stores had everything in the LEGO aisle at 50% off, then a week later restocked those same items at MSRP. The other store that year didn't have anything on clearance.

Last year, I think there was a core list of items that were almost universally marked down, but an additional list that was hit or miss. I remember some of the items I couldn't find at the one store, but the other has some of those same items today still at MSRP and they were never marked down.

I'm not a reseller, I just pick up an extra copy or two of sets that I really like. Last year it was Mill Village Raid and the City Marina. I think I also picked up my Earth Defense HQ last year in the 50% sale. I remember looking for a Creator Lighthouse - never found that one on clearance anywhere. Probably picked up a few smaller City vehicles for parts too, but that was about it for me.

It generally isn't a mad rush like Black Friday, but you will find kids spending their holiday money, and resellers being greedy, and some AFOLs looking to get some cheap LEGO... if you see something you like, don't hesitate. I missed out on a City LEGO truck because I hesitated at Target, when I went back to the aisle after I had made up my mind someone had grabbed all three they had. On the other hand, some of the sets will still be in the clearance section a week later, especially at slower stores. I always laugh when some reseller eventually comes in and snaps up all of those sets... there is one guy on Craiglist who is still trying to sell Alien Conquest Motherships... to bad I can still find those in the clearance section at a few local stores for less than what he wants. That set is like the Ninjago Skull trucks... even at 50% off people aren't convinced they are worth it, so not much money to be made there.

staffmark

I just talked to the toy manager at my local target- he told me that their post xmas markdowns will start at 30%, and only will be marked down further if they linger on the shelves- but also that that never happens and theyll blow out at 30%. So I guess we won't see 50% at my Target. We'll see about Walmart.

gmpirate

^ depends on set . . .

Poochy

^ I'm hoping the Naboo fighter will go down to 50%. All of the TGs around me have them at 30% and even then that wasn't enough for me to pull the trigger. There was plenty of them everywhere I go.

graphite

^ they were 50% at some targets so if yours didn't do 50% already then they probably won't later either.

gmpirate

They will. Usually it takes two weeks in between markdowns.

Bandit

meyerc13 said:

I always laugh when some reseller eventually comes in and snaps up all of those sets... there is one guy on Craiglist who is still trying to sell Alien Conquest Motherships... to bad I can still find those in the clearance section at a few local stores for less than what he wants. That set is like the Ninjago Skull trucks... even at 50% off people aren't convinced they are worth it, so not much money to be made there.

??? Skull Trucks are selling for $70+. Not bad at all considering they've only just recently gotten scarce. I'm already over 100% profit on these after fees and shipping.

gmpirate

took long enough for them to dry out . . .

LegoFanTexas

gmpirate said:

took long enough for them to dry out . . .

No bloody kidding!!! I had a bunch from Walmart last year, bought 50% off.

What is kind of a shame is that I sold all mine for about cost about 6 weeks ago, just didn't wait long enough, but I decided to take the cash and buy stuff that I was sure I could sell for more money this Christmas.

I was actually right about that, but I could have made the same money just holding onto the Skull Trucks.

Oh well.

Dougout

I hope there is a good sale after Christmas as I missed out on the past Target City bogo. Everyone has seen Walmart reducing their Lego inventory as much as by %50, but it seems the Lego isle at my local target is also getting slim.

If I had to guess I would say Target's past sales were to push out most of their inventory before Christmas and eliminate the need for those big clearance sales. I'll keep my fingers crossed, but something tells me I should go get whatever is left at %30 off now before it is too late. (I'm looking at you money bank transfers)

flyingpig

Target has already clearanced a bunch of stuff. With proper signage the Naboos flew off the shelves in LA, even at 30%. Almost all the 50% Naboos I found were unlabled. Ditto bank transfers.

Pacific493

Dougout said:

I hope there is a good sale after Christmas as I missed out on the past Target City bogo. Everyone has seen Walmart reducing their Lego inventory as much as by %50, but it seems the Lego isle at my local target is also getting slim.

If I had to guess I would say Target's past sales were to push out most of their inventory before Christmas and eliminate the need for those big clearance sales. I'll keep my fingers crossed, but something tells me I should go get whatever is left at %30 off now before it is too late. (I'm looking at you money bank transfers)

I wouldn't count on many sets getting to 50% at Target. Last year in my area, 30% was the norm. It wasn't until 3-4 weeks after Christmas that anything hit 50% off and, by that time, there was almost nothing left.

odshowtime

I still can't believe they had anything at 50% right before x-mas. Then again maybe most kids don't like banks. And the 7877 should never have been $50. That's crazy. That's a $35 set at best.

thecleator

Last year definitely was amazing. I was sitting in a auto shop getting my brakes done when I saw a post from akunthita spent the next 8 hours shopping. Found 10 burrows at 50% off and a bunch of other stuff. Thanks akunthita:) This year I will be ready

crazycarl

Anyone on here want to sell me a HP Burrows kit for $50 then??? ;->

LegoFanTexas

crazycarl said:

Anyone on here want to sell me a HP Burrows kit for $50 then??? ;->

How about just the box for $50? ;)

thecleator

I will offer the box and instructions:)

zjygkmatt

odshowtime said:

I still can't believe they had anything at 50% right before x-mas. Then again maybe most kids don't like banks. And the 7877 should never have been $50. That's crazy. That's a $35 set at best.

Agreed, but its also still a naboo starfighter, and exclusive. If you notice, all exclusives are usually not worth their price. eg-Cad Bane's Speeder, Republic Swamp Speeder.

wagnerml2

^^ Republic Fighter tank? That one was pretty good.

zjygkmatt

Actually was just at Target and grabbed yet another Naboo fighter, this time being $24.98. Can't pass that up.

prevere

Wonder how low the Planets will get discounted at Target before people bite?

odshowtime

prevere said:

Wonder how low the Planets will get discounted at Target before people bite?

Maybe if they were $5 I'd buy the Lobot one. But I just got the old Lobot.

gmpirate

Two of the planet sets are at $5 now.

dragonhawk

^ At some Targets, all 3 series 1 are $5 each.

scotty12

I stopped by my two(2) Targets today (Iowa) and they were 30% on somethings and 15-20 on others. Wasn't all that excited. However, one of the Targets got 2 more 4204 Mine in for $89. That spot on the shelf had been empty since I purchased the 2 they had during WalMarts price-match ad.

flyingpig

zjygkmatt said:

odshowtime said:

I still can't believe they had anything at 50% right before x-mas. Then again maybe most kids don't like banks. And the 7877 should never have been $50. That's crazy. That's a $35 set at best.

Agreed, but its also still a naboo starfighter, and exclusive. If you notice, all exclusives are usually not worth their price. eg-Cad Bane's Speeder, Republic Swamp Speeder.

MF- the Zombies. Also from Target!

SquareSide

My Walmart must of found a lone LEGO Podracers set around the store. I scanned it and it was for $38.50. After giving up on it at $64 which was at that price for ages then disappeared, I went ahead and bought it. There's not really any sets I wanna pick up after Christmas unless Jabba's Palace is at $70 or something.

bmwlego

Target has sale signs on shelves for SW Planets Series 1 for $7 and Naboo Starfighter for $40 which is funny because the Planets are $6.98 or lower at Targets here on LI and the NSF is $34.98 or $24.98 which are both much lower than the actual sale sign.
Not complaining but this is an error that causes confusion for customers in the LEGO aisle. Might work out to our benefit however if these sets are marked down again after Christmas.

madforLEGO

Do not forget to check the seals on boxes you find.. I mean good thieves manage to unseal and reseal without leave many marks, but be sure you are not paying clearance prices for garbage in a LEGO box.

pharmjod

It makes me angry to even think about having to do that. I just went through my inventory and dumped a number of sets that I'm keeping for myself into a storage bin. I kept a copy of woody's roundup. When I dumped it though I noticed it was missing all the minifigures and the cover of instruction book 1 was missing. I cut the seals but when I examined the box, it did appear that someone had opened and reseated it. Very frustrating. Thing is, I thought I bought the set online from amazon or Kmart or target. Will have to see if I logged that purchase somewhere.

SquareSide

madforLEGO said:

Do not forget to check the seals on boxes you find.. I mean good thieves manage to unseal and reseal without leave many marks, but be sure you are not paying clearance prices for garbage in a LEGO box.

Yeah, while the box wasn't in the best shape, the seals look good and I just opened it up and all is accounted for. I try to give all the seals a good look over before buying as well. Thanks for your concern. Gonna build Anakin's Podracer tonight after work.^^

thehockeyboy

The advent calendars were notorious for having the Santa Yoda removed last year... Plus the seal on last years SW calendar was not very adhesive to start due to the weak box and the plastic-like design on the box.

thelegoguy421

For those wondering why there is after-Christmas sales on Lego, it is because they are trying to get rid of their inventory of that year's Lego sets so they can just have the new sets for the upcoming year.