Shopping : 1916


Marketplace / Shopping / 1916

Slim Pickings at Target —Lindsay Frederick Braun

<whine> Hi all, Is it just here in Detroit, or does Target's post-Christmas clearance stock seem unusually sparse this year? I've been trying to buy up Space Simulation Stations, and across five Targets, I've found exactly one--wait, amend that, I (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

(canceled) —Mike Timm

Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Kevin Salm

Of the three TRU stores that I frequent I have seen something this holiday season that I have never seen before. The supply of Lego in the store is way down. Almost no restocks on current sets [1] and the supply of 2000 sets is limited. [2] TRU (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Lindsay Frederick Braun

(...) Buy up those Sith Infiltrators at $17.90 apiece--grey bricks and grey plates galore! It's better than a service pack at that price! (Need I add that you get Boba Fett heads too? ;) ) LFB (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Ray Sanders

Kevin, My outlook on what you have observed... Over the last four months, I have visited a fair number of TRUs seeking old product. The store stock situation (with respect to Lego) varies widely. I believe that there are a number of contributing (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Erik Olson

(...) In New York, TRU employs RJIS to do total shelf inventory. After Christmas, RJIS staffs up and dispenses laser scanner belts to college students on break. You sometimes find their data sheets lying about. My experience with TRU is that 3 year (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Ray Sanders

(...) I wonder how that works. Most of the errors I have seen are like this... 1. The computer says we have X stock of Y, but there in none physically there. 2. The computer says we have no stock, but I found some on the shelf. Once or twice, I have (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Greg Crisp

A couple of comments: 1. Most large retail chains these days use inventory forecasting software, such as IBM's INFOREM, that does all sorts of statistical analysis on past sales trends (per SKU, incidentally) to forecast probable sales. These (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Kevin Salm

(...) such (...) are (...) keys (...) Not (...) I have no argument or disagreement with what you say. However, the added twist to this is that whoever does the actual ordering for the large chains (at corporate or warehouse-by-warehouse region) has (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Greg Crisp

Of course, the other snafu is that existing forecasting software works by the SKU, on products that are available over a period long enough to amass a statistical base. This kind of blows the system for new products, which is basically the scenario (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere (Was: Slim Pickings at Target) —Ray Sanders

Which goes back to what I was saying in the first place, everyone is trying to predict the future and not dealing with what actually happens. No inventory balancing. If Mos Espas sell out in one store, and the store 50 miles away can't move them at (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere —Kevin Salm

From a profitable sales prospective, the idea of moving product from store to store would seem to work. And if used, would definitely increase the revenue of each participating outlet. From a paperwork or tracking prospecive, it could become as (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere —Lindsay Frederick Braun

(...) No! No! Never! Don't say that, they could be listening. <shifty looks> (...) This is true of most of the megastores--even more so now that we're below 4% (!!!) unemployment in many states. The Wal-Mart near my home in NJ can't even find (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim pickings everwhere —Ray Sanders

(...) Yes, *they* are listening :) (...) *sigh* [climbs on small soapbox] The retailers and TLC are cooperative partners in the situation that exists. Each has its own turf and wants to keep it that way. Perhaps Lego product should be thought of as (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Troy Cefaratti

(...) I made a stop at one of the Local Target stores on the 24th, and there was NOTHING to be found! There were maybe 15-20 lego sets TOTAL on the shelf. I was totally amazed, i'd never seen any store that low on stock. Must have been a hell of a (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Lindsay Frederick Braun

(...) They must be learning. Drat! (...) You know, they had these--but I'm not interested in the Podrace sets yet, because I scored one at $54 from K-Mart a month or so ago. (...) All of the stores I went to had at least three, one had six. (...) I (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Mike Stanley

(...) *sigh* All you non-thrifty people buying things at 40% off just totally destroys any chance of me finding them at 70% off in a few weeks. I'm sure I'll get back to Knoxville to discovere every store cleaned out at what some people insist on (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —James Brown

(...) Must be nice... around here *anything* more than 20% is a good deal, and a rare find... James (URL) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Tim Coats

(...) The Target across the street from my apartment was the same way. The amazing this was that it was NOT clearence prices that emptied their shelves. Most of the good stuff was gone BEFORE they even got to the clearance prices. TImbo (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Lindsay Frederick Braun

(...) Wow. I got lucky at the Maple and Haggerty Target--two 6455 Space Simulation Stations and three Com-Link Cruisers. I'm pretty much sated for the next couple of days, although I'd love more of those inverted windshields if I can find them! :) (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Larry Pieniazek

(...) Agreed. I made a predictive post to this effect, don't recall where. Sadly, I turned out to be correct, all the targets I visited had only the biggest set of the line marked down, the others were regular price. I DID save another 48 bucks by (...) (25 years ago, 27-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.mi.det)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Frederick Paepke

West Michigan fared no better. The first Target I stopped at in Kalamazoo had 4 or 5 clearance sets left on the shelves. The second Target store had a bit more: a MindStorms Robotics Discovery Set (bought it even though I just got one before (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Troy Cefaratti

(...) Check www.target.com They had both of these sets listed at $30 and were in stock as of yesterday. (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Paul Sinasohn

(...) This afternoon at Target Bridgepointe (San Mateo, CA), I found several Advent calendars marked down to $11.90, a few 5978s at $26.90, and one 5533 at $29.90 No other Lego was marked down. Paul Sinasohn (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.ca.sf)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Larry Pieniazek

(...) I think that's the chainwide price for these (subject to local option). I cleaned out my local store of these, 5 cents a piece is not too shabby for a parts assortment that includes several trans 2x2 medium slopes. (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.ca.sf)

Re: Advent set at Target —Will Middelaer

(...) I grabbed 2 of these at the clearance price of $11.90 from the Target on 28th street in GR. I haven't decided whether to use them for parts or to save them for next year and give them to some of my friend's children... The Targets back here in (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Steve Demlow

(...) The Wal-Marts here have the Advent calendars marked down to $10, much better than their typical ~33% off clearance prices. Steve (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.ca.sf)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Robin Werner

(...) The mother load at Wal-Mart in Clearwater, Florida! They have a large pallet stacked 5 feet hi with Advent calendars marked down to $10. There must be 75~100 of these sets. I think I’ll wait and see what they do with all of them. Maybe the (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Mike Stanley

(...) As long as most of them don't move, they should drop. If you're tempted to buy a few now, don't. You'll just hold up the price drops, or possibly stop them entirely. (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Larry Pieniazek

(...) I've seen you advocate this, but I have to, to a certain extent, disagree. Suppose you don't buy any, the price doesn't drop, and someone else buys them all? Or worse, it drops, and someone else swoops in and buys them all. Now what do you (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl, lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Mike Stanley

(...) I guess you just have to decide what's worth more to you and also decide if you're willing to gamble. I've waited and scored BIG and I've waited and scored nothing. I've also waited and seen them dwindle ever so slowly with NO price drop. > (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Ray Sanders

(...) What you speak of seems to be *very* dependent on the particular store and their philosophy of markdowns. My local WM-sc seems to be of the mind "don't clearance it until we have tried ever other way to sell it. Once we start marking down, do (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Mike Walsh

Ray Sanders wrote in message <386A232E.8C1F287E@gate.net>... [ ... snipped ... ] (...) How long did this process take? This also begs the question - how frequently does Target typically drop their prices? I have been to three Target stores in the (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Larry Pieniazek

(...) I don't know the answer to that, but there is a GMLTCer that might. Her hubby is a Dayton-Hudson exec. I do want to add that there is a certain digit (digging around here will tell you which, I think it's 4) which means that Target isn't going (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Larry Pieniazek

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Julie Krenz

(...) Yes, it's been my experience that 4 is the number. There is actually another indication of a possible great deal. If you scan it and it comes up "clearance" or something like that, no price indicated, then it's usually real cheap. I have had (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Lindsay Frederick Braun

(...) I'm not a Dayton-Hudson exec, but in the last three years, the usual drop speed has been once every two weeks, on a Monday. So look on 3 or 4 January, and they may have gone down again--but they may not. (...) The digit in question is a 4. (...) (25 years ago, 30-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Frank Filz

(...) Of course the counter is that occaisionally they screw up. This same Target (which Mike has said the stock people have said they "never" put any LEGO on clearance), clearanced 5978 earlier this year. They then continued to re-stock all fall at (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Ray Sanders

(...) My best recollection is several weeks. I think they were wrangling the price twice a week or so. The current round (mentioned in .shopping yesterday) should be most interesting. They have little freed-up shelf space from xmas. There were two (...) (25 years ago, 30-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Mike Stanley

(...) Yeah, in some cases the store management seems to figure into it. I think the biggest percentage drop I ever saw was ... lemme get the set number ... 6938 Scorpion Detector. $25 retail. About 30-40 of them on the shelf. Dropped to $20, $15, (...) (25 years ago, 29-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.theory)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Robin Werner

Just got back from Wal-Mart, the same mother load of Advent calendars (1298) are now $3.00 each!!! WOW!!! I only got 20 I didn't want to make a seen but I am going back for more... See Ya... Robin GFLTC (...) (25 years ago, 7-Jan-00, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Mike Walsh

Robin Werner wrote in message ... (...) (1298) (...) I (...) Wow - I was at two Wal-Mart stores today and saw exactly zero Advent Calendars. The last store I saw them in scanned at $16. Mike Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com (URL) (25 years ago, 7-Jan-00, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —George Sikora

My Wal-Mart (Katy, Texas) has them at 19.95 yet. They say they aren't marking them down because they will return them. George Mike Walsh <mike_walsh@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:FnzEvp.GzG@lugnet.com... (...) but (...) (25 years ago, 8-Jan-00, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl)

Re: Slim Pickings at Target —Robin Werner

Hi all, Just got back from Target, not much left and not much on sale. But Target is the only local store in my area (Clearwater, FL) with LEGO Sets for a sale price. SW 7171 - $54.?? (I did not get this one. They only had one badly smash set) SW (...) (25 years ago, 28-Dec-99, to lugnet.market.shopping, lugnet.loc.us.fl)