Canadian Eh?

[Ogre]

ToysRUs Instores & Online: August 6-12

•20% off ALL LEGO Atlantis

Seems like that is ALWAYS on sale. Sheesh. Let me guess...it's not selling as well as TLG had hoped? Seems like the 'underwater' sets never do, because I always see them 'reduced' and 'on clearing pricing'. Aquanauts, AquaRaiders, Aquasharks...

*yawn*

[tedbeard]

Hang on, let's not get too carried away here with TRU price rants.

No kidding, the proper rant is the insane cross-border mark-up that has the same LEGO in $Cdn MSRP @ 20% or more above the MSRP in $US.

This is why I was said to some LUGmates last night that I saw nothing exciting about the new LEGO store in Calgary and only vague interesst in the rumoured store in Vancouver. Driving across the border to the US instantly makes LEGO at least 20% cheaper. We can get ripped off @ a LEGO-brand store or our local TRU, doesn't really matter when our $$ is basically @ par.

OK, that's my semi-annual price discrepancy rant out of the way. Somebody pass me a pick-a-brick cup ...

[ZO6]

No kidding, the proper rant is the insane cross-border mark-up that has the same LEGO in $Cdn MSRP @ 20% or more above the MSRP in $US.

This is why I was said to some LUGmates last night that I saw nothing exciting about the new LEGO store in Calgary and only vague interesst in the rumoured store in Vancouver. Driving across the border to the US instantly makes LEGO at least 20% cheaper. We can get ripped off @ a LEGO-brand store or our local TRU, doesn't really matter when our $$ is basically @ par.

OK, that's my semi-annual price discrepancy rant out of the way. Somebody pass me a pick-a-brick cup ...

You said it. I decided to compare the Star Wars sets for this year and found that we have to pay 20-40% more than in the US. This is ridiculous considering that our dollar is basically on par. I know lots of other countries around the world get shafted even worse than us, but hey, we are just across the border from the US - give us a bit of a break!

Regarding the 20% off sale at TRU for Atlantis sets - I personally have not bought a single set from the theme yet, but all these sales must be nice for those who have been collecting. Though the sale makes me very tempted to get a couple of sets, I'm finally going to be getting my first train set this weekend instead. I'm sure TRU will finally put ALL town Lego on sale in the near future, but I've been waiting a long time for the trains to make their way into stores and just can't resist any longer.

Don't forget everyone - keep your eyes peeled for series 2 of the minifigures if your interested in collecting them, you never know when they might pop up on shelves.

[dr_spock]

The 20% off Atlantis sale is good for my wallet as my spouse is collecting them.

If you prefer US prices, there is always cross border shopping or asking favors of your friends or relatives in the United States. I got my 8258 Crane Truck through relatives in the States.

[prateek]

Don't forget everyone - keep your eyes peeled for series 2 of the minifigures if your interested in collecting them, you never know when they might pop up on shelves.

I'll probably pop into Wal-Mart on the way back from school on the first day, but they will probably already have been there for a week.

[Ogre]

You said it. I decided to compare the Star Wars sets for this year and found that we have to pay 20-40% more than in the US. This is ridiculous considering that our dollar is basically on par. I know lots of other countries around the world get shafted even worse than us, but hey, we are just across the border from the US - give us a bit of a break!

That's what I don't understand. It costs next to nothing to ship to Canada in addition to the United States, our dollar is almost at par (and has been worth MORE than the U.S. dollar a number of times recently) yet, we pay 20%-50% more on basically EVERYTHING! And how come the U.S. gets the same price for Green Grocer, Fire Brigade and Grand Emporium but HERE, Green Grocer is $20 more? WTF is up with THAT??? I mean, it's not like it's being shipped FROM the states...we have a LEGO warehouse a fifteen minute drive from my house, on Mural St. in Markham! I've complained to LEGO about this and their 'answer' was that prices are set three years in advance, blah, blah, blah. Umm...okay, then how come they're basing their pricing on exchange rates from SEVEN years ago?

Ugh.

The only way I can keep my sanity on this issue is to refuse to even look at the U.S. pricing...and even then, it BARELY works.

[Stash2Sixx]

The size of a market also comes into play. The US is the biggest LEGO market out there. Germany is the second. This most definitely comes into consideration. But that's still tough to deal with I'm sure.

[Ricecracker]

...we pay 20%-50% more on basically EVERYTHING!

I don't want to start any arguments here, but from my visits to the U.S, many basics like food often cost more, not to mention fuel. There are many other costs and taxes that help equalize total money spent per capita between the countries. If you really are that annoyed with the price difference, though, the only thing that you can do is stop purchasing LEGO. I don't think that's a good solution whatsoever, but to each his own, I guess.

I mean, it's not like it's being shipped FROM the states...we have a LEGO warehouse a fifteen minute drive from my house, on Mural St. in Markham!

Often times, it is actually being shipped from the states, especially S@H orders. Check the shipping label next time you place an order.

[Ogre]

Now available at www.toysrus.ca...#7848

My link

I don't want to start any arguments here, but from my visits to the U.S, many basics like food often cost more, not to mention fuel.

Sorry, I should be more clear, I guess. When I said "everything" I meant "everything LEGO". I don't care about the cost of food...if it gets too expensive, I'll eat less.

[dr_spock]

I guess I would have to eat less too to buy more expensive Lego. That 8043 Excavator is going to cost me a lot of cheese burgers.

[Ogre]

20% off all 'City' at TRU Canada, the week of Aug. 13.

[ZO6]

20% off all 'City' at TRU Canada, the week of Aug. 13.

It's about time! I'd just about had my fill of 20% off all the fire stuff, where is the love for the rest of the city sets?

I had a feeling that when I went out and bought that train last weekend that they'd put it on sale now. Oh well, plenty of other stuff I'd be glad to pick up at a discounted price.

Happy shopping everyone!

[Ogre]

It's about time! I'd just about had my fill of 20% off all the fire stuff, where is the love for the rest of the city sets?

I had a feeling that when I went out and bought that train last weekend that they'd put it on sale now. Oh well, plenty of other stuff I'd be glad to pick up at a discounted price.

Happy shopping everyone!

Yeah, I just received my TRU truck set YESTERDAY. Darn that "Murphy's Law".

And yeah, I agree...ABOUT TIME more than 'just fire sets' went on sale for the City line.

[prateek]

I had a feeling that when I went out and bought that train last weekend that they'd put it on sale now. Oh well, plenty of other stuff I'd be glad to pick up at a discounted price.

You could always buy one from the sale and return it with your old receipt with the higher price on it

[Ogre]

You could always buy one from the sale and return it with your old receipt with the higher price on it

Except that when I logged on this morning, the TRU truck, level crossing and train station were all mysteriously 'out of stock'...even though they were all 'in stock' yesterday evening. Hmmm... Methinks that either a) someone's messing around or, b) there were a whooooooooooooooole lot of 'wee morning hours' shoppers out there.

And of course, that truck isn't in my local area brick and mortar stores yet, so it's not like I can just run out and grab another. *sigh*

[ZO6]

Except that when I logged on this morning, the TRU truck, level crossing and train station were all mysteriously 'out of stock'...even though they were all 'in stock' yesterday evening. Hmmm... Methinks that either a) someone's messing around or, b) there were a whooooooooooooooole lot of 'wee morning hours' shoppers out there.

And of course, that truck isn't in my local area brick and mortar stores yet, so it's not like I can just run out and grab another. *sigh*

They must have had mighty low stock of some of those sets to have sold out so quickly. Funny how that happens...

My local TRU in Newmarket has been pretty well stocked with everything, and has been on the ball in terms of getting new releases. I was however a bit surprised to see all of the new wave of Star Wars sets sell out within a matter of days. Most of these sets were between $55 -$160 too, so it's not like they were cheap. Either there were a bunch of AFOLs just waiting for them to be released, or else a load of kids had some mighty valuable gift certificats on hand. Personally, I wanted to pick up the level crossing when I got my train last weekend but they were sold out. If they are in stock in store tomorrow, I'll be aiming to get that level crossing and train station.

Hope that those of you looking to buy city stuff on sale have a bit of luck finding what you want.

Finally, I know I've been saying this for the past couple of weeks - remember to keep your eyes out for series 2 minifigures, they're bound to show up sooner or later.

[Ricecracker]

My TRU (Yonge and Eglinton, Toronto) now has many of the new Star Wars sets, except for Cad Bane's speeder. They have a huge amount of the games, and almost all of the other sets that are out in stores right now. I didn't however, see any train sets.

The Indigo in Yonge and Eglinton has their usual assortment of City and Creator sets, but it seems that they recently put out a huge amount of Tiny Turbo and Creator Mini sets, as well as four different Star Wars Battlepacks.

The De Serres art store a few blocks west on Eglinton has two full boxes of Series 1 minifigs for $2.99 each, so if you're in the GTA, that's the only place I know of to get them!

[dr_spock]

Finally, I know I've been saying this for the past couple of weeks - remember to keep your eyes out for series 2 minifigures, they're bound to show up sooner or later.

There must be a bunch of AFOLs in Newmarket or the parents with money. I had no luck with minifigs at the Newmarket store. I still have yet to see the 8043 there.

[ZO6]

There must be a bunch of AFOLs in Newmarket or the parents with money. I had no luck with minifigs at the Newmarket store. I still have yet to see the 8043 there.

There seems to be a whole range of customers at the Newmarket TRU. Most of the time when parents are there with the kids, the parents are pretty stingy with the cash. Quite often a kid will make a dash for the $140 Star Wars set, to which the adult will respond with "Are you out of your mind!? That costs a fortune!". It's a pretty harsh response, but mostly understandable - $140 isn't exactly small change. Now, what makes me sad is when the kid goes for the $15-$25 set and gets shot down with "No way we are spending that much money on a toy! That costs way too much! Put it on your Christmas list and maybe you'll get it then". Also, I hate to see it when a kid has $5-$10 dollars, and is extremely excited about buying a Lego set. But then of course pretty much everything costs more than that and the adult won't give the poor kid a couple bucks so he can pay for the tax on the $10 set.

Next there are the stealthy buyers that snatch up everything and leave nothing for others. First example: the 1:9 scale F1 Ferrari eventually went on sale for I believe $80 (normally $110). One day when I was in TRU and spotted two copies of the set left, I convinced myself to finally take the plunge. Knowing I was going to buy a copy, I decided to go to the cafeteria first so I wouldn't have to carry something that big around. By the time I got back from eating the two copies were gone. Those last two copies had been sitting there for weeks at the discounted price, yet the day I decide to get one they are both sold off. Another example: I stumbled upon the series 1 collectable minifigures one Saturday. I immediately checked the bar codes and picked out 16 unique ones so that I'd have the full set. Later that day I went back to get a few more zombies but all the figs were sold out. Luckily I can across the figs again the next weekend and was able to get the ones I wanted - I even managed to help a few kids pick out the ones of their choice. Finally, on a number of occasions, I've seen adults go into the Lego section with a shopping carts and literally fill them with sets. They usually either go for the city stuff or Star Wars sets, so I'd assume these are AFOLs who are shopping for themselves.

Regarding 8043, I've got a bad feeling that the TRU in Newmarket won't ever stock the set. I've bought a number of technic sets from that store, but I've never seen anyone else buy technic sets. A combination of the unpopularity of technic sets plus the high cost of the excavator leaves me to believe chances are low of seeing it. When I move back into Toronto in a few weeks I'll likely pick it up a one of the locations that it has been spotted.

I should be at the TRU in Newmaket tomorrow morning (Saturday), so I'll report anything of interest.

Cheers

(note, sorry for the nonsensical rambling in this post, I had too many thoughts and couldn't express them the way I had originally intended )

[MacK]

There seems to be a whole range of customers at the Newmarket TRU. Most of the time when parents are there with the kids, the parents are pretty stingy with the cash. Quite often a kid will make a dash for the $140 Star Wars set, to which the adult will respond with "Are you out of your mind!? That costs a fortune!". It's a pretty harsh response, but mostly understandable - $140 isn't exactly small change. Now, what makes me sad is when the kid goes for the $15-$25 set and gets shot down with "No way we are spending that much money on a toy! That costs way too much! Put it on your Christmas list and maybe you'll get it then". Also, I hate to see it when a kid has $5-$10 dollars, and is extremely excited about buying a Lego set. But then of course pretty much everything costs more than that and the adult won't give the poor kid a couple bucks so he can pay for the tax on the $10 set.

Yeah well that just means that their not spoiling the kid by buying them a 15-25 dollar set. 15-25 dollars a set will add up quite quick if the kid gets one every time they go, and whine for it at a store.

My brothers like that though whenever he gets 3 or 4 dollars he thinks he can run out and buy a Lego set especially if he's got a couple of pennies on him as well . My mom usually does end up buying him a 5 dollar set though.

Edited August 14, 2010 by MacK

[JELEŃ]

I generally purchase my sets when I'm across the border in Buffalo, at a Target or similar discount chains. Not only do I find that you can generally get more sets and more variety, but also much better prices.

Although I have bought some Bionicle sets here at the local TRU.

[The Legonater]

I went into my local Wal-Mart and found Plo's ship and the Midi-SD. Someone picked up the only one of Plo's ship there, but I was absolutly stunned at the SD, even though I'd seen it a hundred times.

[prateek]

I went into my local Wal-Mart and found Plo's ship and the Midi-SD. Someone picked up the only one of Plo's ship there, but I was absolutly stunned at the SD, even though I'd seen it a hundred times.

The new SW sets have been at my local Wal-Mart for a couple of weeks now.

[The Legonater]

The new SW sets have been at my local Wal-Mart for a couple of weeks now.

They've been quite possibly at mine for a few eeks too, but I haven't had a chance to look for the past few weeks.

[ZO6]

Yeah well that just means that their not spoiling the kid by buying them a 15-25 dollar set. 15-25 dollars a set will add up quite quick if the kid gets one every time they go, and whine for it at a store.

Very true. What I didn't like about the situation though is that often the parent will volunteer to buy the kid a Lego set, the kid will then pick out a 15-25$ set and the parent will freak about the price.

As expected I got into the TRU in Newmarket earlier today. Seems as though much of the city section had already been raided by those taking advantage of the 20% off sale. When I got my passenger train last weekend, there were about 7+ copies in total - they were all gone today. Come to think of it, there were a lot of empty spaces where sets had completely sold out. I managed to get the train station but they didn't have the level crossing in stock (I wouldn't be surprised if they just haven't gotten anymore in since last week). The whole Lego section was quite busy and sets were flying off shelves - it always puts a smile on my face to see people going for the brick.

Asides from a major restocking of the newest Star Wars sets, nothing else was new at the store. The wait is still on for the series 2 minifigures...