Is it time Lego Dropped Toys R Us exclusive

Fredburger · January 2017

Today was about the 3rd time in a year I've had issues with TRU. Only over Lego products. 2 previous times it had to do with price matching. Today was about limits. Now i have no issue with only matching active pricing (not discontinued items) or about limits to purchases. My issue is the over pricing and supposed discounts which in most cases isn't really a discount. And in Florida any limits to purchases must be clearly posted. Today it was an arbitrary decision by the cashier.

Normally i don't buy from TRU on rare occasions or for some reason i miss an exclusive in the Lego store. But that just makes the issues with them stand out more since i do rarely go there.

And for some context. It's about the Lego Batman mini. I had sifted through the 3 boxes they had and picked 10. Called a friend who wanted some and grabbed 5 more. When i got to the register i was told the limit was 5. I politely pointed out there was nothing to indicate that. (politely i had not yet lost my temper). If there had been a sign posted, which yes I've seen them post it before. I would have been happy to pick 5 and be on my way. (Last week i walked into Walmart which actually had a full box, pulled out 20 and not a peep from the cashier.)

I've gotten better deals from amazon, and Walmart. Who more closely follow the pricing from Lego. But this over priced exclusives from TRU really need to stop.

madforLEGO · January 2017

Wait are you complaining about the LEGO Batman Movie CMFs series that every store, not just TRU, has?
So are you complaining about Exclusives, or TRUs limits on things?

SumoLego · January 2017

I've not had any limit problems at TRU. I think that is a store-by-store policy.

Legogram · January 2017

My tru store would only allow price matching on 2 minifig packs. They also do not have the mini batmobile, which many others have been able to purchase.

fourstud · January 2017

I bought a whole set of 20 and price matched it with absolutely no problem, took like 10 minutes total to deal with the whole thing. Guess my TRU is a good TRU :)

77ncaachamps · January 2017

CM4S said:

I bought a whole set of 20 and price matched it with absolutely no problem, took like 10 minutes total to deal with the whole thing. Guess my TRU is a good TRU :)

Great example of company policy and how it gets implemented in the stores.

Sounds like a YMMV which sucks for those who only have TRU as the sole brick and mortar vendor for Lego.

Jody · January 2017

A TRU near me only allows you to buy 1 CMF per day, and you must ask for it at the service counter. Talk about ridiculous.

AllBrick · January 2017

Jody said:

A TRU near me only allows you to buy 1 CMF per day, and you must ask for it at the service counter. Talk about ridiculous.

That is ludicrous.

Do what I do in TRU, be friendly, find the right person and always deal with them. I was lucky and my source even gave me some free poly bags and shop display signage. He left though so I need to socialise more.

From my experience through visiting stores and reading posts here, TRUs are like snowflakes.

piratemania7 · January 2017

^Right, I think every TRU is different and often times it can even come down to management and who is on duty during a shift! I recently was given #10654 as a gift; from my understanding it is a TRU exclusive but other than it just being a certain amount of bricks in a box with different art on it I am not sure what makes it "better" or anything like that? At the end of the day its all marketing and cornering a sliver of the market itself...

Sethro3 · January 2017

I thought this was in regards to official TRU only sets. Which, I understand why certain stores have those exclusives, but it can be frustrating if you can't get it from LEGO directly for whatever reason.

As for minifigures that are available elsewhere, the only thing I can think is if in this situation other stores didn't have them readily available. I have only seen them at Target around Christmas, and nowhere else since then. My walmart never has CMF and I don't go to TRU, so I have no idea what they have. But maybe in this case TRU was the only place this person has found them? Which then makes it more frustrating...

I wonder if it is a limit per transaction or per day or per customer? If it is day/customer, then I can't help you. But if it is per transaction, ask them to ring them up individually, so it is multiple transactions. Or leave the store and come right back after leaving the goods in your car and bam! new transaction. It sounds silly, but so do their cmf limits. Maybe they would get annoyed enough to just lift that limit for the time being.

Sethro3 · January 2017

Edit: somehow posted twice

77ncaachamps · January 2017

AllBrick said:

Jody said:

A TRU near me only allows you to buy 1 CMF per day, and you must ask for it at the service counter. Talk about ridiculous.

That is ludicrous.

Do what I do in TRU, be friendly, find the right person and always deal with them. I was lucky and my source even gave me some free poly bags and shop display signage. He left though so I need to socialise more.

From my experience through visiting stores and reading posts here, TRUs are like snowflakes.

Just a little more elaboration on @AllBrick's post: if you decide to hold them to their terms AND be a pain in the butt, it's going to be even more difficult the next time you step into that TRU.

It's not about being fake but being the grease for the machinery that gives you the deals you want. It's all about how you go about it.

AllBrick · January 2017

@77ncaachamps - Thank you.

Yes, don't be fake or bulshy and most importantly, don't be rude. I am very much myself and admit to whoever it is I am dealing with that I have the obsession, not my son. If you both find common ground it is much easier. My contact collected Hot Wheels as do I.

It's not what you say, it's how you say it.

Fredburger · January 2017

Just to elaborate. There are 3 different TRU's in my area, and i am lucky enough to have an actual Lego store in driving distance.

This particular time, I was looking for myself and doing a friend a favor. I was polite. But shopping at TRU always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, One reason i rarely do it. If they had posted the limit which they normally do i wouldn't have had a issue. And when i say exclusives i don't mean just the TRU only items. I mean how they are technically a Lego partner but IMO aren't doing much for the Lego brand. Most people shop there because it's convenient but your paying more and when they rip you off or set arbitrary store policy it ticks me off.

I had typed a lot of the other issues but this post got to long.. I just think it's time Lego rethinks their partnership with TRU. It's not helping their brand.

Yodalicious · January 2017

^ On the contrary, to be as present in such a large chain store that has as many locations as TRU has is actually helping their brand.

You have to keep in mind that you're one of us. And by that I mean someone that knows the RRPs, shops for the good deals, and is a LEGO "hunter." Most buyers are not that. They are parents or grandparents looking for a present for a child. Or they are a child with spending money to blow that want to go to the massive toy store. (I've had to teach my oldest on numerous occasions that we can get certain sets for lower prices.)

In my area--also Florida--a new TRU opened in November. The LEGO section is right inside the entrance doors. There is a massive brick-built Hulk welcoming you and plenty of other display items that make it fairly obvious that LEGO will be the store's focal point for quite some time. It most definitely doesn't hurt LEGO's brand at all. If anything it promotes it.

People pay the inflated prices and will continue to because "they don't know any better." Sure others will go elsewhere to make their purchases, but TRU still sells plenty of LEGO, which in the end of course helps LEGO.

Even me, being "one of us," shops there because 1) they have more LEGO stock than any store in my area (I'm 90 minutes from the closest LEGO store), 2) they price match, and 3) they price match very quickly. Case in point...

Friday. Wanted another copy of the Speed Champions Camaro set...

"I'd like to price match this."
"Great. To what site?"
"LEGO"
"Oh, sorry, we don't price match to LEGO's site."
"Your policy online says you do."
"It does? Oh no, I'm so sorry. I apologize for that. Yes, there it is. Let me take care of that for you."

The entire process took less than 3 minutes. If I had wanted to buy it at full price, I would have been waiting in line at the normal checkout just as long.

I completely get where you're coming from when it comes to limits and policies that aren't posted. Annoys me to no end as well. Especially when they're created arbitrarily by store. There is no such policy at the TRU I mentioned above. But TRU isn't hurting LEGO's brand. If anything, it's helping it reach more people. We also have to remember, we are the 1% or maybe even the 5-10%. We aren't the 90% that happily walks into a TRU and pays whatever the sticker says.

MattPetersen · January 2017

Fredburger said:

Just to elaborate. There are 3 different TRU's in my area, and i am lucky enough to have an actual Lego store in driving distance.

This particular time, I was looking for myself and doing a friend a favor. I was polite. But shopping at TRU always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, One reason i rarely do it. If they had posted the limit which they normally do i wouldn't have had a issue. And when i say exclusives i don't mean just the TRU only items. I mean how they are technically a Lego partner but IMO aren't doing much for the Lego brand. Most people shop there because it's convenient but your paying more and when they rip you off or set arbitrary store policy it ticks me off.

I had typed a lot of the other issues but this post got to long.. I just think it's time Lego rethinks their partnership with TRU. It's not helping their brand.

By chance, do you happen to live in South Florida?

krklint · January 2017

ah yes, the days of living in Miami with 2 lego stores close by, and an endless source of Target, ToysRUs and Walmart stores with overlooked clearance sections. Living in South Dakota now, ToysRUs becomes one of the few locations a person can wander through and find hard-to-find poly bags.

If Lego would end their exclusives with ToysRUs, I personally feel that the amount of offerings in the U.S. would drop off. Exclusives are a frustrating but fun part of collecting. Yes, they overprice a lot, but they also have sets available out here in the Dakotas that people can't always find in this area without ordering online.

Some may not like shopping at TRU, but that does not mean we should call for an end to their selling of exclusive sets. Doing so would just limit the outlets of fun stuff for those of us in the outskirts of society do enjoy their existence. It is hurting their brand with AFOLs, but TRU also holds many special events (more so than most 3rd party sellers) that bring a good number of shoppers to their store (or would if they were advertised better).

Does TRU have many failures within the eyes of AFOL? Yes; yet do they also make other offerings that strengthen Lego's connections to the broader public? Yes. We are but a niche market within the TRU audience-base... even though they are a niche market store that has forgotten this reality. Frustrating, but not a reason to call for an end to a partnership. It is more a call for TRU to be reminded how their policies are actually hurting their sales numbers.

MattPetersen · January 2017

Yeah, I'm pretty spoiled in Fort Lauderdale. The Sawgrass Mills LEGO store and Aventura LEGO store are easy driving distance, so all the exclusives and special build events are easy to get to (and my son loves coming with me).
Target, Walmart, and Toys R Us are everywhere.
in fact I just found a Batman set yesterday at Target that was discounted to $20 AND they accidentally mislabeled the Civil War Airport battle for $35 so they sold it to me for that price!!!!!

datsunrobbie · January 2017

Sometimes it is just a matter of who is working in customer service. When the series 15 minifigures were first out Toys R Us ran a 2 for $5 sale on all blind-bag toys. TRU was out of stock locally, so I dropped by Target to price-match. On my first attempt I was told limit of one match. The next day I tried again, got a different person in customer service, and no limits were imposed.

Boardshorts85 · January 2017

I've basically stopped checking the TRU in Chicago. Typically CMF are sealed in plastic cases to prevent feeling out the contents, and when I did actually find a full box of the Batman series, they would only price match on 2 figs.

To say nothing of the fact that their 2017 selection is marked up massively. Batmobile for $89.99, Joker's Lowrider same price. I'd rather shop Target, Amazon, or S&H

CaptainLego · January 2017

I just wish I could find the Speed Champions set in other big stores. When I went to check for 75876, TRU jacked it up to $85. I ended up ordering it from Lego's online shop.

77ncaachamps · January 2017

krklint said:

ah yes, the days of living in Miami with 2 lego stores close by, and an endless source of Target, ToysRUs and Walmart stores with overlooked clearance sections. Living in South Dakota now, ToysRUs becomes one of the few locations a person can wander through and find hard-to-find poly bags.

If Lego would end their exclusives with ToysRUs, I personally feel that the amount of offerings in the U.S. would drop off. Exclusives are a frustrating but fun part of collecting. Yes, they overprice a lot, but they also have sets available out here in the Dakotas that people can't always find in this area without ordering online.

Some may not like shopping at TRU, but that does not mean we should call for an end to their selling of exclusive sets. Doing so would just limit the outlets of fun stuff for those of us in the outskirts of society do enjoy their existence. It is hurting their brand with AFOLs, but TRU also holds many special events (more so than most 3rd party sellers) that bring a good number of shoppers to their store (or would if they were advertised better).

Does TRU have many failures within the eyes of AFOL? Yes; yet do they also make other offerings that strengthen Lego's connections to the broader public? Yes. We are but a niche market within the TRU audience-base... even though they are a niche market store that has forgotten this reality. Frustrating, but not a reason to call for an end to a partnership. It is more a call for TRU to be reminded how their policies are actually hurting their sales numbers.

I acknowledge that it's the more remote parts of this vast country that need TRUs around.

But if only they were more dedicated to stocking their website...who would need a brick and mortar TRU?

Dedgecko · January 2017

77ncaachamps said:

krklint said:

ah yes, the days of living in Miami with 2 lego stores close by, and an endless source of Target, ToysRUs and Walmart stores with overlooked clearance sections. Living in South Dakota now, ToysRUs becomes one of the few locations a person can wander through and find hard-to-find poly bags.

If Lego would end their exclusives with ToysRUs, I personally feel that the amount of offerings in the U.S. would drop off. Exclusives are a frustrating but fun part of collecting. Yes, they overprice a lot, but they also have sets available out here in the Dakotas that people can't always find in this area without ordering online.

Some may not like shopping at TRU, but that does not mean we should call for an end to their selling of exclusive sets. Doing so would just limit the outlets of fun stuff for those of us in the outskirts of society do enjoy their existence. It is hurting their brand with AFOLs, but TRU also holds many special events (more so than most 3rd party sellers) that bring a good number of shoppers to their store (or would if they were advertised better).

Does TRU have many failures within the eyes of AFOL? Yes; yet do they also make other offerings that strengthen Lego's connections to the broader public? Yes. We are but a niche market within the TRU audience-base... even though they are a niche market store that has forgotten this reality. Frustrating, but not a reason to call for an end to a partnership. It is more a call for TRU to be reminded how their policies are actually hurting their sales numbers.

I acknowledge that it's the more remote parts of this vast country that need TRUs around.

But if only they were more dedicated to stocking their website...who would need a brick and mortar TRU?

Children

MattPetersen · January 2017

Dedgecko said:

77ncaachamps said:

krklint said:

ah yes, the days of living in Miami with 2 lego stores close by, and an endless source of Target, ToysRUs and Walmart stores with overlooked clearance sections. Living in South Dakota now, ToysRUs becomes one of the few locations a person can wander through and find hard-to-find poly bags.

If Lego would end their exclusives with ToysRUs, I personally feel that the amount of offerings in the U.S. would drop off. Exclusives are a frustrating but fun part of collecting. Yes, they overprice a lot, but they also have sets available out here in the Dakotas that people can't always find in this area without ordering online.

Some may not like shopping at TRU, but that does not mean we should call for an end to their selling of exclusive sets. Doing so would just limit the outlets of fun stuff for those of us in the outskirts of society do enjoy their existence. It is hurting their brand with AFOLs, but TRU also holds many special events (more so than most 3rd party sellers) that bring a good number of shoppers to their store (or would if they were advertised better).

Does TRU have many failures within the eyes of AFOL? Yes; yet do they also make other offerings that strengthen Lego's connections to the broader public? Yes. We are but a niche market within the TRU audience-base... even though they are a niche market store that has forgotten this reality. Frustrating, but not a reason to call for an end to a partnership. It is more a call for TRU to be reminded how their policies are actually hurting their sales numbers.

I acknowledge that it's the more remote parts of this vast country that need TRUs around.

But if only they were more dedicated to stocking their website...who would need a brick and mortar TRU?

Children

We tend to forget that apparently ;)

77ncaachamps · January 2017

Dedgecko said:

77ncaachamps said:

krklint said:

ah yes, the days of living in Miami with 2 lego stores close by, and an endless source of Target, ToysRUs and Walmart stores with overlooked clearance sections. Living in South Dakota now, ToysRUs becomes one of the few locations a person can wander through and find hard-to-find poly bags.

If Lego would end their exclusives with ToysRUs, I personally feel that the amount of offerings in the U.S. would drop off. Exclusives are a frustrating but fun part of collecting. Yes, they overprice a lot, but they also have sets available out here in the Dakotas that people can't always find in this area without ordering online.

Some may not like shopping at TRU, but that does not mean we should call for an end to their selling of exclusive sets. Doing so would just limit the outlets of fun stuff for those of us in the outskirts of society do enjoy their existence. It is hurting their brand with AFOLs, but TRU also holds many special events (more so than most 3rd party sellers) that bring a good number of shoppers to their store (or would if they were advertised better).

Does TRU have many failures within the eyes of AFOL? Yes; yet do they also make other offerings that strengthen Lego's connections to the broader public? Yes. We are but a niche market within the TRU audience-base... even though they are a niche market store that has forgotten this reality. Frustrating, but not a reason to call for an end to a partnership. It is more a call for TRU to be reminded how their policies are actually hurting their sales numbers.

I acknowledge that it's the more remote parts of this vast country that need TRUs around.

But if only they were more dedicated to stocking their website...who would need a brick and mortar TRU?

Children

I get it. Kids do. I remember as a kid going down the aisles and seeing all the toys I WANTED but couldn't all have.

I was thinking for the rural Americans. The ones that have to drive over an hour or so just to get to a TRU.

If TRU stocked their website (with quantity limits), these folks would be able to acquire the same items without the time, gas, etc. It's not much of a hardship for me because I am surrounded by multiple locations and I can drive in good weather. But for others, it can feel like a small vacay.

But I understand your point. Targets and Walmarts do the same as well, but not in an overwhelming fashion.

MrJ_NY · January 2017

Toys R Us,come for the high prices,stay for the wide selection of damaged boxes at full price & don't forget the customer is always up for a fight,oops I mean the customer is always right

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/y5/pkw3v90w4vik.jpg

MattPetersen · January 2017

MrJ_NY said:

Toys R Us,come for the high prices,stay for the wide selection of damaged boxes at full price & don't forget the customer is always up for a fight,oops I mean the customer is always right

I'd love to get that set.
I would have asked for a discount with the argument that I don't know if the contents of that box are still whole.

josekalel · January 2017

^^Is that even MSRP?? Amazon has it as a $99.99 list price and Brickset at the same price, which is a whopping 15% over RRP!!

77ncaachamps · January 2017

Not to mention it was $70 around Christmas.
And is currently $69.99 on Amazon (30% off).

scotty12 · January 2017

^ Exactly! And here's another funny one....in-store is $114.99? and ToysRUs on ebay it's $75.99. Figure that one out

MrJ_NY · January 2017

It costs $39 extra for the spider strap marks & deluxe hole in box

theLEGOman · January 2017

MrJ_NY said:

It costs $39 extra for the spider strap marks & "deluxe hole in box"

That's a Toys'R'Us exclusive.

77ncaachamps · January 2017

scotty12 said:

^ Exactly! And here's another funny one....in-store is $114.99? and ToysRUs on ebay it's $75.99. Figure that one out

But you cannot redeem reward dollars on eBay nor receive rewards (unless use a TRU credit card via PayPal or entering cc)...HOWEVER, you can choose to pick it up from the store!

Aanchir · January 2017

CaptainLego said:

I just wish I could find the Speed Champions set in other big stores. When I went to check for 75876, TRU jacked it up to $85. I ended up ordering it from Lego's online shop.

The Speed Champions line has been a Toys 'R' Us exclusive series in the US since its inception. The first two waves were available at LEGO Brand Retail as well since they came out before LBR changed their policy about carrying other stores' exclusives, but I wouldn't be surprised if this year's Speed Champions sets were only at TRU and LEGO.com.

Dedgecko · January 2017

Aanchir said:

CaptainLego said:

I just wish I could find the Speed Champions set in other big stores. When I went to check for 75876, TRU jacked it up to $85. I ended up ordering it from Lego's online shop.

The Speed Champions line has been a Toys 'R' Us exclusive series in the US since its inception. The first two waves were available at LEGO Brand Retail as well since they came out before LBR changed their policy about carrying other stores' exclusives, but I wouldn't be surprised if this year's Speed Champions sets were only at TRU and LEGO.com.

Changed their policy!? Haven't LBR / S@H always carried everything? Or they only recently started carrying everything, including exclusives for other stores (Walmart, TRU, Target - in the USA for example)?

dragon114 · January 2017

^ you cant buy store exclusive in store anymore can only get them online.

Yodalicious · January 2017

Aanchir said:

CaptainLego said:

I just wish I could find the Speed Champions set in other big stores. When I went to check for 75876, TRU jacked it up to $85. I ended up ordering it from Lego's online shop.

The Speed Champions line has been a Toys 'R' Us exclusive series in the US since its inception. The first two waves were available at LEGO Brand Retail as well since they came out before LBR changed their policy about carrying other stores' exclusives, but I wouldn't be surprised if this year's Speed Champions sets were only at TRU and LEGO.com.

I think some of the original line was available at Target too. I remember briefly seeing them at numerous stores in my area. Maybe. The last few years have been a LEGO blur.

Aanchir · January 2017

Dedgecko said:

Aanchir said:

CaptainLego said:

I just wish I could find the Speed Champions set in other big stores. When I went to check for 75876, TRU jacked it up to $85. I ended up ordering it from Lego's online shop.

The Speed Champions line has been a Toys 'R' Us exclusive series in the US since its inception. The first two waves were available at LEGO Brand Retail as well since they came out before LBR changed their policy about carrying other stores' exclusives, but I wouldn't be surprised if this year's Speed Champions sets were only at TRU and LEGO.com.

Changed their policy!? Haven't LBR / S@H always carried everything? Or they only recently started carrying everything, including exclusives for other stores (Walmart, TRU, Target - in the USA for example)?

They always carried other stores' exclusives up until around the second half of 2016. You can still find most store exclusives from before last summer (like last year's Speed Champions sets) at LEGO Brand Retail, but you won't find sets like #41132, #41133, #41134, #70588, #70590, #70596, #75158, #76056, #76057, or #76060 there.

This only applies to the brick-and-mortar LEGO Brand Stores. The LEGO Shop website still carries sets regardless of what brick-and-mortar stores they're exclusive to. Because of this, store exclusive sets in the LEGO Shop catalogs are now marked with a yellow "Buy @ shop.LEGO.com" tag.

Dedgecko · January 2017

@Aanchir ah, thanks for the clarification

GIR3691 · April 2017

Is the new A-Wing a TRU exclusive? It only seems to be available there or Shop@Home.

CaptainRogers · April 2017

@GIR3691 yes. Plus the Landspeeder is a Wal-Mart exclusive and the Desert Skiff is only available at Target.

Is it time Lego Dropped Toys R Us exclusive

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