The Never-Ending Story

 

  • The Never-Ending Story

    Posted by yellowcastle, 17 Dec 2011 21:46. Filed under Shopping (USA).

    6862: Superman Vs Power Armor Lex
    Super Heroes/DC Universe, 2012
    More details...
    ©2012 LEGO Group

    Toys R Us is having yet another Buy One, Get One 50% Off promotion this week.  Valid Sunday 12/18 thru' Saturday 12/24, the sale will be available both in-store and online and the only listed exclusion this time is Star Wars.  It is important to note however, that Toys R Us is currently marking up almost all of their sets, some of them to ridiculous amounts.  For example, they are selling the Catwoman Chase at 60+% over MSRP and the Quidditch Match at nearly 100% over MSRP.  That being said, there are deals to be had if you shop smartly.  And if you're as desperate to get Superman like I was this morning, you might just be willing to pay the ransom.

    P.S. For those hoping for news on Atreyu, Bastian or Falkor, I unfortunately can't help.  :o)


    30 comments, latest one posted 18 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by yys4u in United States, 17 Dec 2011 22:30

Isn't that illegal of them to do. To raise the prices of sets right before the sale? Very unethical, we should all write to TRU execs.

Posted by Legolover9531 in United States, 17 Dec 2011 22:38

And I just bought the Batmobile and Two-Face Chase today on a discount.... I'm gonna be back a TRU in a few days, since my TRU only had the Batmobile and Batwing in. I'm probably gonna get Superman and Catwoman.

Posted by Niallskie in United States, 17 Dec 2011 22:47

I do feel the same with the TRU mark ups, much as I want to get some sets there with the BOGO thing going on I just feel like its a cheat!!! I've done some price comparison with other sets to get an actual price. It works sometimes and a couple of times it does not, but its just not fair to the parents and grand parents that i see buying for their Christmas present that are getting ripped off. A little patience does work well as for sure Target and other store would carry the same sets priced as they are should be.

Posted by Legolover9531 in United States, 17 Dec 2011 22:52

I try not to buy at TRU, but I couldn't wait any longer for a Superhero set :P. I also don't like buying there because most of the time early releases won't ring up, and we have to call the manager to figure out the problem. It's all nonsense. Let me also say today the store (Altomonte Springs) was VERY crowded, and I had to park near the back.

Posted by odindusk in United States, 17 Dec 2011 22:56

Stop being weak, people! =P You're validating the mark-ups...

Posted by Nicholi in United States, 17 Dec 2011 23:33

I agree, we are enabling that behavior by paying the inflated price. Don't feed the greed!

I ordered directly from LEGO this time. Placed order online 12-13-11 preorder.
Package sent out 12-14-11
Received at home 12-16-11
I have to say, I am much more saticfied dealing with LEGO directly. Hopefully they will continue releasing their new
sets in sync or competatively with TRU's release dates!

Luckily LEGO must have noticed TRU was making a killing by getting to release the new sets early,
thus monopolizing the market for the die hard AFOL who is willing and able to spend big money on those
increasing expensive must have sets.

Remember- Every dollar you spend is a vote!

Posted by legomatt in United Kingdom, 18 Dec 2011 00:58

...or the NOTHING will GET YOU! ;o)

Also bear in mind, if other retailers see people stupid enough to buy inflated TRU prices, they (including LEGO) will follow suit, just like Gas/Electric companies do in the UK, resulting in zero competition and a general attitude of 'we can all charge ANYTHING and the idiots keep buying'. Don't be fooled by mark-ups and inflated prices (even by LEGO), as they do this simply to test the market for product-wide future price increases.

(You just watch how stupid Lord of the Rings sets will likely cost at first, and we'll buy them!, which in turn will then pull other non-license prices up with them).

Sadly, (and i count myself in this) we are all becoming suckers for new releases, when if we could just hold back for a month or three, we'd see prices begin to drop across the board back to levels of previous years (or at least give cause for LEGO to pause and rethink their ever-increasing pricing policy).

Posted by coolpix in United States, 18 Dec 2011 01:27

In the case of LEGO, sometimes they probably increase prices to cope with constant production costs increases as well, like Oil, which impacts the cost of the plastic used to make the bricks, and also on the licensing fees for the major licenses, like Star Wars and Super Heroes. Now, TRU is just greedy, and I agree with legomatt, if people pay these prices, they'll keep raising them every time a new set comes out, specially near Christmas, and other retailers may follow suit.

Want that to change? DON'T BUY THERE. Buy from S&H or a big box retailer like Target or Wal-Mart that has "normal" prices. Never buy LEGO over MSRP, even if a BOGO50% seems attractive. I even come to the extreme to not buy LEGO at TRU at all during times like these, even if there are regular priced items that work well on a BOGO50%. TRU never gives us a decent Clearance Sale like the other stores. They are just greedy and don't mind having sets in the shelves for a couple of years, so let's help them. Maybe if they don't sell at all, they may end up doing a huge Clearance after Xmas (one can always dream...)

Sometimes I see confused parents at LEGO alleys, and sometimes they even ask my opinion on sets, and I always point to them if an item they want is cheaper somewhere else. I even sent two people already to the local LEGO store for sets that can't be found at Target or Walmart, because they would be cheaper there.

Posted by Isabella and Lego Liker in United States, 18 Dec 2011 01:42

Everyone Boycott TRU!

Posted by spency13 in United States, 18 Dec 2011 01:43

Haha yellowcastle, at first after reading the title I thought 'not Never Ending Story in Lego TOO!'

Posted by jake9 in United States, 18 Dec 2011 01:45

Well said, coolpix. I agree that TRU is just being greedy, and taking advantage of unsuspecting adults shopping for kids. I will try to avoid TRU when I can. Unfortunately, I don't have a LEGO store near me, but I can order online. And of course there's always Target and Walmart.

Posted by ETAV8R in United States, 18 Dec 2011 03:14

Greed! The more people stop paying the TRU premium the less it will happen. The only thing I will "have" to buy when it comes out are CMF's. All other things can be had for far less if you hold out long enough. I did have to get the Alien Conquest Mobile Defense when it came out but I got it at a LEGO store. Happy hunting holidays!

Posted by yys4u in United States, 18 Dec 2011 03:17

@ETAV8R I've decided not to partake in this BOGO sale because you all convinced me I shouldn't be supporting TRU's mark up, but like you if I spot the CMF there first....well...I'll have to buy them. Probably not a full set, just a couple figs tho

Posted by xccj in United States, 18 Dec 2011 03:40

The only times I've ever bought at TRU is when I'm getting sets that are exclusives. And even then, people make a good point in that you could just order directly from Lego. I'm lucky that there are plenty of other retailers in my area who carry Lego products, so I do not have to rely exclusively on TRU. And it's not like they're the only place having good sales. :)

Posted by Andhe in United Kingdom, 18 Dec 2011 04:58

There is a new film supposedly in the making. So maybe a licence is possible, following the current state of licensing :p

Posted by madplanet in United Kingdom, 18 Dec 2011 08:03

I have noticed that US prices on some sets have increased to almost to match prices to the rest of the world. It might be trying to create a universal price seeing how many different countries TRU inhabits. I still hope that prices drop in UK and EU to at least encourge spending. I think the US has been very lucky that their prices have stayed so low for so long.

And before I start of a weird flame war. This isnt an attack to US collectors/buyers. Merely a point I noticed when I was trying to see if it would be cheaper to buy a Star Wars advent calender (from US to send to a friend and in turn send to me in UK), but instead I noticed at the time price was near enough the same to UK. But if it does go back up to $50 then the US is actually paying more if that set was bought from TRU.

I have a feeling that Catwoman lego set ($20 is about £12) will work out to same cost here too licensed basic sets to seem to run around £11 mark.

It doesn't hurt to make some 'noise' and unite a joined effort reporting Toys R Us. You might get lucky.

Posted by grelb32 in United States, 18 Dec 2011 09:15

I don't think we should boycot ALL Legos at Toys R Us, just the really expensive ones. I don't have a problem going to TRU and picking up a set that's maybe 1 or 2 bucks too expensive... but when they're releasing new sets and putting 7 to 15 bucks too much on them, I say either wait till they go to Walmart or Target, or wait till they go to eBay. And if you can't wait, then just pay the extra $5 shipping and get them on Lego.com. But when TRU is putting $110 on Hogwart's Express, or $37 on the Quidditch match, then it's just common sense to go shopping elsewhere for your Christmas Legos.

Or you can do what I'm doing, and just wait two years for the sets to go half off at Walmart, and then have your Mom buy them for Christmas for you... :-)

~grelb32

Posted by SapmiSatan in Norway, 18 Dec 2011 09:22

Toys R Us in Norway is cheaper than other places. A 1000NOK set usually costs about 100NOK less than the usual price. However, I went to one when I was in New York, and that was more expensive than the LEGO shop. Still cheaper than Norway, though.

Posted by jonny43 in United States, 18 Dec 2011 09:44

Come on TRU. I'm very disappointed in you. You have the most sets, you get exclusive sets, and bring back some hard-to-find retired sets. Shame on you. Even though I'm a LEGO City fan they shouldn't be aloud to do that. I've seen them do it to lego city, so I just avoid that set until it goes down, OR better yet, sometimes get it AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT, because, most-likely that's when you'll get the best deal. Yes it may go on sale, but the price will rise, so I think it's best to get it as soon as it comes out. Or you could boy-cott TRU so they have no choice but to lower prices so people will buy again, or they'll raise prices high, not getting much business, and then get no business at all because the price will be WAY to high. Why can't they just have a fair sale?

Posted by Be-Burger in Israel, 18 Dec 2011 12:04

I always have to wait for sets, anyways.

But when I lived in the states, I usually bought LEGO from Target, not Toys R Us.

Posted by doodlebird in United States, 18 Dec 2011 12:30

i've been working hard on my self control lately. i've even picked some sets up and carried them around the TRU for a bit... but then i put it back. i simply cannot pay the mark up. i like the local lego store (i'm lucky to have one) and i will wait, get my VIP points, and know that TRU can't get me. :) i WILL buy lego from TRU when it's on a decent sale. to me, that's me taking advantage of them... just like they do to everyone else. they deserve it. i will ONLY buy something at a discount of 25% off MSRP or more... i'm sure they still make money, but if we all did this, then they'd realize that they can only make smaller margins. and it's an easy choice for them. smaller margins are better than no margins at all. DO NOT PAY THE TRU TAX!!!!! you're only making it worse for everyone, yourself included. i recently got city of atlantis, the PQ pyramid, and the power boat transporter, all for 30-40% off MSRP. + a $10 off $100 with a coupon.

Posted by nathan77 in United States, 18 Dec 2011 12:44

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! I went to TRU to get the Superman set, and the clerks said they haven't seen any since it came in a few days ago. He said all the Superheroes sets have been bought except for the buildable action figures. I was so furious. I can't wait any longer. I WANT MY SUPERHEROES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 18 Dec 2011 14:57

Uh, Huw, teeny problem: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=6862-1

Posted by The Reviewer in United States, 18 Dec 2011 15:40

Darn! MY local TRU has no 2012 sets at all (except for the Dino ones) I'm ready to flush 2011 down the toilet. Come on!!! I'm ready for series 6. Superheroes and the new Star wars

Posted by yys4u in United States, 18 Dec 2011 16:02

@The Reviewer well don't feel too bad, no place in the US has series 6 so far

Posted by jonbuddy in United States, 18 Dec 2011 17:01

HOLY! 100% markup? Good thing I don't shop at TRU.....

Posted by skipper1011 in United States, 18 Dec 2011 17:41

Wow, even with the BOGO you still save hardly anything if anything at all. I do feel horrible when I am buying a couple minifigures at TRU for the parents who are paying $10-$15 dollars than they should be.

Posted by Isabella and Lego Liker in United States, 18 Dec 2011 18:28

As of now, The Racers sets and the 9445 Ninjago set are still at MSRP. 9391 still at MSRP. The Super Star Destroyer is still MSRP. The Pet Shop is still MSRP. Other than that, all of the late 2011/2012 sets are above MSRP for TRU.

Posted by Gandalf1 in United States, 18 Dec 2011 21:58

Haha! It really is a never-ending story. :D I've only seen the movie, and it was extremely weird. :\ Though that, The Dark Crystal, and The Labyrinth all blur together in my mind. :-)

@Alemas: Wow. Yeah.

Posted by sharky in United States, 19 Dec 2011 09:00

These sets are going to be very widely available to the point where you will get sick of seeing them on the shelves at Target and Walmart. I'm waiting this out and avoiding the early bird frenzy and the last minute Christmas rush.

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