[USA] Wal-Mart Clearance

[sonofgun1776]

Guys,
For those that missed out the clearance at walmart A (50% off item gone by the time they get there and YMMV), do you think it's a good strategy to buy the item at full price at walmart B and return and re-purchase at walmart A, or is that too low of a move (because that'd probably mess up their inventory)?

Admittedly, I did try to pull that move on one item and was denied with the "reason" that i would have to wait for a sale associate to put it back on the shelf again in order to go and grab it. To me, that makes no sense if that item IS GOING BACK TO THE SHELF FOR SALE b/c they'd have me as a customer willing to buy the item right off the bat.

I did ask a customer service personnel at another walmart who said that any item, whether at customer service desk or any where else inside any walmart, is fair game and up for purchase and that they cannot prevent customers from purchasing the item (unless it's on hold for someone else or defected). Supposedly, that's the policy across the entire chain. Now, if that is indeed true, then i can see some people will abuse the system and such, but for the rest of us, there'd be hope yet.

So, what do you guys think? Anyone else tried to pull that stunt and what was the result?

[nami]

Depending on the store and the duty manager present, some Walmarts will actually price match another store's clearance. This has worked for me several times, and just recently with Mace Windu's Starfighter & Luke's Landspeeder. The associate checks the receipt, okays it with the manager, and then calls the store with the clearance to make sure the upc is indeed at the clearance price. Even if the store selling the clearance is sold out, the clearance price is still usually in their system. Of course some stores won't do this because each store has a clearance allowance for the month and they don't match other stores clearance prices.

Anyway, worth a try first before you go through the trouble of buying it, returning it, and repurchasing it from the clearance store.

[fizicyst]

I have tried it a few times and always get the line about needing to reshelve it. The same is true at Target. Items purchased online (from Walmart) are tagged as online purchases and returned to the central warehouse. I think all the Walmarts around here must have gone through some training because they seem to say the same thing word for word at every store.

[sonofgun1776]

I'm talking strictly about return-repurchase because it is unlikely that one walmart will price-match another since that's not in their written policies, they can do whatever they want.

I wonder about the exact policy for purchasing any item (clearance or not) anywhere within a walmart store. The "reason" of needing to reshelf implies (to me) that any items currently at (or around) the customer service desk (except on hold or defect) is off-limit and we are NOT allowed to purchase it, Again, if that item is to go back to the shelf for sure to sell, their reason makes no logical sense and definitely not cost effective b/c their personnel has to spend some effort to put it back, customer has to spend effort to grab it from the shelf. It's a lose-lose situation.

Of course, their "solution" is to go and grab that exact same item on the shelf INSTEAD of just repurchase the one at their customer service desk. So, they are essentially telling me that I have to go the extra mile to get the same item. I think one of these days, i'll call the HQ to get the final verdict.

[ezra]

it could also be an asset protection issue though. I once returned a Boba Fett set hoping for a lower clearance price. I knew at my location there were only two in stock. The one that was still left when I bought mine and the one I returned... When I checked back later in the week. One of the two, presumably the one I returned, was resealed with masking tape. Possibly to check if all the contents were still there and not replaced with the same weight in socks. or could just be speculation.

[sonofgun1776]

ezra,
what you described is more of a return fraud. The issue here is that they DON'T want to sell items from customer service desk. I just simply want to repurchase what i have just returned. From their point of view, allowing me to do so should be the best solution unless that returned item will be shipped off somewhere and never see the shelf within that walmart again. By allowing me to repurchase that same item rather than getting a 2nd but identical one, wouldn't that reduce fraud (rocks inside instead of bricks)?

I seriously doubt that they can actually verify if all contents are there unless they know to get number of bags from booklets, and that if bag #1 with all the minifigs is present, then most likely all bags are there. They probably don't care that much. I once bought a big set home only to notice that the seals looked suspicious, even more so when i tried to open them and they came off easily. It turned out that bag #1 is missing along with an instruction booklet. That sucked.

[harrelmusic]

I just ran across two sets that were returned (because I have been to the WalMart enough to recognize the items weren't there before) and they didn't feel right. I looked closely and the tape seemed sealed, but....there was a small piece of scotch tape over the LEGO tape. I asked the cashier if we could open it and check before buying and sure enough, the wrong contents were inside. I'm guessing someone bought three sets, switched the contents from the cheaper two up to the next priced item, then kept the most expensive set for the price of the cheapest.
Items were Slave 1 with midi scale imperial star destroyer in the box
And Midi Scale ISD with some cheap Cars set in the box. No Slave 1 of course.

I'm glad I didn't buy them and realize it months from now when I gave it to my sons for a birthday or something, and I'm also glad some kid didn't get home and open them. Both cashiers (I actually opened them on two different days) told me they must have came that way from the factory! Ha!

I called to talk to a manager and let him know to check carefully when there are returns. He was thankful for the info. Thought this would be of interest here

[dulait]

I just ran across two sets that were returned (because I have been to the WalMart enough to recognize the items weren't there before) and they didn't feel right. I looked closely and the tape seemed sealed, but....there was a small piece of scotch tape over the LEGO tape. I asked the cashier if we could open it and check before buying and sure enough, the wrong contents were inside. I'm guessing someone bought three sets, switched the contents from the cheaper two up to the next priced item, then kept the most expensive set for the price of the cheapest.
Items were Slave 1 with midi scale imperial star destroyer in the box
And Midi Scale ISD with some cheap Cars set in the box. No Slave 1 of course.

I'm glad I didn't buy them and realize it months from now when I gave it to my sons for a birthday or something, and I'm also glad some kid didn't get home and open them. Both cashiers (I actually opened them on two different days) told me they must have came that way from the factory! Ha!

I called to talk to a manager and let him know to check carefully when there are returns. He was thankful for the info. Thought this would be of interest here

I have seen the case you mentioned, and cases like people returning a re-sealed box with lose pieces and without mini figures, re-sealed mini figure series bags and so forth. There are all sorts of people in this world who would do something likes these which is very sad.

[Legobrandon]

It is unfortunate that there are these types on people in this world. But nothing can prevent them from doing these types of activities.

[Luciant]

Unfortunately it's the bad eggs like these who cause Wal-Mart and Target to have those return policies, especially when it comes to Lego. Thanks jackasses for messing it up for the rest of us.

[legohunter]

Need to check with the LEGO tape carefully for future purchase. Now, I should go check my sealed box set.

[janckson]

Returned and resealed sets are nothing around here. Every few weeks I see a whole set gutted and left in the aisles..seriously the studs and bricks are gushing out and it's crying for help.

[maesterjay]

What I find in almost every store I go to is that the SW Books with the celebration Luke or Han Solo minifigures, they are about 70% of the time missing! I think that is out of control and lego needs to secure them better, they are way too easy to get out quickly. I have even seen Target selling it as repackaged at $15 without the minifigure in it

[markerpk]

Returned and resealed sets are nothing around here. Every few weeks I see a whole set gutted and left in the aisles..seriously the studs and bricks are gushing out and it's crying for help.

I frequently find opened sets at the stores around here. Sometimes they are obviosly missing stuff, but sometimes, they are still sealed with just a tear or hole in the box. Sometimes management will give a significant enough discount that its worth oicking up even if it is missing stuff, but usually they do a 10% open box discount. At one of my Walmarts I recently found a Turbo Tank box emptied of nearly all contents! The box looked pristine until you looked on the side. Whoever stole the contents had carefully placed the box back on the shelf so as not to be noticed readily. It still had about 20 or so loose bricks in it, so when I showed it to management, I offered them $1 for the box and what was left. They were grateful that I pointed it out to them and sold it to me for.54 cents. Best price per piece ratio I think ive ever gotten! Gave the pieces to my younger son when we got home and promptly built a very cool midi scale spaceship out of the pieces.

I was very dissappinted to see that someone would do something that low, but, sadly I was not suprised.

[markerpk]

One other item you all might find useful. At walmart, the discontinued items are usually priced ending in .88 cents. This is usually done prior to any major price drops, so keep on eye out for that as it may indicate soon to be clearanced pricing on those items.

[marcusloignon]

I just ran across two sets that were returned (because I have been to the WalMart enough to recognize the items weren't there before) and they didn't feel right. I looked closely and the tape seemed sealed, but....there was a small piece of scotch tape over the LEGO tape. I asked the cashier if we could open it and check before buying and sure enough, the wrong contents were inside. I'm guessing someone bought three sets, switched the contents from the cheaper two up to the next priced item, then kept the most expensive set for the price of the cheapest.
Items were Slave 1 with midi scale imperial star destroyer in the box
And Midi Scale ISD with some cheap Cars set in the box. No Slave 1 of course.

I'm glad I didn't buy them and realize it months from now when I gave it to my sons for a birthday or something, and I'm also glad some kid didn't get home and open them. Both cashiers (I actually opened them on two different days) told me they must have came that way from the factory! Ha!

I called to talk to a manager and let him know to check carefully when there are returns. He was thankful for the info. Thought this would be of interest here

I have seen the case you mentioned, and cases like people returning a re-sealed box with lose pieces and without mini figures, re-sealed mini figure series bags and so forth. There are all sorts of people in this world who would do something likes these which is very sad.

I just got a Turbo Tank on clearance. It felt a little light but I inspected the tape at the store and it looked good. Closer inspection at home revieled some damage to the box seam and glue residue along the box seam. I put it on my postal scale and it comes to 3 lb3.2 oz. Can someone elese tell me how much their set weighs?

[harrelmusic]

I just got a Turbo Tank on clearance. It felt a little light but I inspected the tape at the store and it looked good. Closer inspection at home revieled some damage to the box seam and glue residue along the box seam. I put it on my postal scale and it comes to 3 lb3.2 oz. Can someone elese tell me how much their set weighs?

According to Bricklink it should weigh a little more than 4 lbs, if google is converting the grams correctly. Not sure how accurate it is, but it's far enough off to be suspect....

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=8098-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cara]

If you're not keeping it for resale your best bet is to open it. I recent had a problem with PotC set with one bag and a few other bits missing. I phoned up LEGO because there weren't any more at Walmart to swap it with. Lego sent me all the missing pieces.

[octick]

Lego has the best CS. They have never been less than awesome. I have several sets missing pieces (minifigs) due to theft and they have sent me pieces free of charge.

[harrelmusic]

If you're not keeping it for resale your best bet is to open it. I recent had a problem with PotC set with one bag and a few other bits missing. I phoned up LEGO because there weren't any more at Walmart to swap it with. Lego sent me all the missing pieces.

That's awesome. I want to carry a journal of stories like this when I bump into someone who wants to tell me how expensive LEGO is or how it's only $1 worth of plastic for $20, yada yada.... It's not cheap plastic of course, but it's all this other stuff too