Post by darkfire1978 on Sept 4, 2008 11:31:27 GMT -5
What is worse then getting a lump of coal in your stocking on Christmas? Thee worst of the worst…going into Target, getting excited at seeing the new packaging for the Justice League Unlimited line…and noticing that instead of “Captain Atom” sitting in the middle, in it’s place is a Burger King premium toy. As of late, my trips to Target have been a major disappointment. For one their lack of toys on the shelves leaves you feeling like you’ve wasted your trip and now once they do have the toys…they are violated. A while back I wrote to the powers that be, that the stores in Miami, for a lack of a better term…suck. The buyers seem to overlook us all the time. I mentioned this to them, and of course they replied with a system generated, generic response stating that sometimes there isn’t sufficient merchandise and they sell out…which will all due respect is crap. I am there daily, as I live across the street and they never have any of the merchandise I am looking for. For example, Justice League Unlimited line only has the same GL and the other peg warmers never anything new. The DC Classics line? Do they even sell those still? The only one they have had on the shelf for over a year has been Red Tornado. Forget ever getting the Batman figures there, I had to order mine through an online vendor for about 15% more plus shipping!!!
Aside from the not having any new merchandise this new “violation” of toys problems is increasing in many stores. I’ve seen Burger King toys stuffed in there, those generic toy soldiers and at times already played with figures (missing paint and chewed up). This issue is also affecting other lines. I’ve noticed that the GI Joe line and the Indiana Jones action figure assortments also have been “violated”. Sometimes the figures are intact, but only the accessories are missing. I spoke to several managers, whom looked at me like I was crazy…and I explained to them the situation that is occurring. They pound their chests, stating that they have a return policy in place, that with a receipt they can’t refuse products…again, that’s understandable…but do they have a tracking system for this? For instance, if I go in and buy all the JLU figures with the Question, take him out and replace him with a Batman figure…and then return them…don’t they question (excuse the pun) Why this person, has gotten so many? Or why he or she continues to return the same item?
Of course they really don’t care about this, because in the end, the sets are under $10.00 and not a big-ticketed item. I made sure to mention to the management that these toys mentioned are usually all under $10.00 however add that by the 5-10 sets, in each store, nation wide (it’s a big chunk of change) and I am pretty sure that the higher ups, would not like losing any profit. The management in some stores shrugged it off and said they would report it to the “Loss Prevention” department. A few other stores in my area actually walked with me to the toy aisle and I pointed out the “violations”. The managers then took the items down and contacted the return desk to get information.
My goal in writing this article is to alert all of you out there that purchase toys. Make sure that item you are getting in the store, is the very item that is in the packaging. I know the true collectors can spot them out, but perhaps if someone is out shopping for you, say a wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend they might not know the difference and in the end you’ve gotten robbed. If you have noticed this yourself, make sure to tell the management in your area as well.
Aside from the not having any new merchandise this new “violation” of toys problems is increasing in many stores. I’ve seen Burger King toys stuffed in there, those generic toy soldiers and at times already played with figures (missing paint and chewed up). This issue is also affecting other lines. I’ve noticed that the GI Joe line and the Indiana Jones action figure assortments also have been “violated”. Sometimes the figures are intact, but only the accessories are missing. I spoke to several managers, whom looked at me like I was crazy…and I explained to them the situation that is occurring. They pound their chests, stating that they have a return policy in place, that with a receipt they can’t refuse products…again, that’s understandable…but do they have a tracking system for this? For instance, if I go in and buy all the JLU figures with the Question, take him out and replace him with a Batman figure…and then return them…don’t they question (excuse the pun) Why this person, has gotten so many? Or why he or she continues to return the same item?
Of course they really don’t care about this, because in the end, the sets are under $10.00 and not a big-ticketed item. I made sure to mention to the management that these toys mentioned are usually all under $10.00 however add that by the 5-10 sets, in each store, nation wide (it’s a big chunk of change) and I am pretty sure that the higher ups, would not like losing any profit. The management in some stores shrugged it off and said they would report it to the “Loss Prevention” department. A few other stores in my area actually walked with me to the toy aisle and I pointed out the “violations”. The managers then took the items down and contacted the return desk to get information.
My goal in writing this article is to alert all of you out there that purchase toys. Make sure that item you are getting in the store, is the very item that is in the packaging. I know the true collectors can spot them out, but perhaps if someone is out shopping for you, say a wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend they might not know the difference and in the end you’ve gotten robbed. If you have noticed this yourself, make sure to tell the management in your area as well.