Toy Theory, Conspiracy but basically Fact...

[jimsmegos]

things-toy-stores-wont-say: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

[boynightwing]

That was a very interesting read.

I've noticed at Toys R Us in the last few years where they put the hot new movie toys right in the entrance. Like Iron Man or Toy Story. It didn't clue in though that the idea was to cause children to throw a fit until they get them. My niece is a pretty good window shopper so its lost on her. She see's things she likes but my sister-in-law has her conditioned to realize she might have to wait until a special occasion or ask Santa etc. And she's really good about it.

[palitoy]

Some of that is accurate and some of it is outright bull plop IMO.

[Werewolf]

Some of that is outright bull plop.

What he said.

[Flynne]

What he said.

...and I third that.

"Why not shop on a weekday when there's less competition and more elbow room? Because you might not find what you want: there's often less of a selection on weekdays, especially for toys in high demand, says Jim Silver, an independent toy industry analyst and editor in chief of TimetoPlayMag.com, which researches toys. During the holidays, stores keep hot toys in their back room and bring them out for sale on the weekends, beginning on Friday evening, because toy stores expect weekend shoppers to spend more money than the time-pressed and more efficient lunch-hour or after-work shopper, he says."

There is no business that will hold back stock from the shelves unless there is a "street date" on the item. It makes no sense at all to hold stock back when it can be out on the shelf where people will buy it. Besides, at TRU during the 'Holidays' their sales start on Fridays where the (you guessed it) hot toys go on sale. So, as a business, TRU holds this stock back after receiving it midweek so that you can come in to buy in on the weekend at a lower price, simply to make you wait in line longer in hopes that you will get an add-on sale from the cashwrap display while you wait. Utter poppycock!

The end caps and front door targeted displays are dead bang on, though.

[Doc]

Some of that is accurate and some of it is outright bull plop IMO.

What he said.

...and I third that.

"Why not shop on a weekday when there's less competition and more elbow room? Because you might not find what you want: there's often less of a selection on weekdays, especially for toys in high demand, says Jim Silver, an independent toy industry analyst and editor in chief of TimetoPlayMag.com, which researches toys. During the holidays, stores keep hot toys in their back room and bring them out for sale on the weekends, beginning on Friday evening, because toy stores expect weekend shoppers to spend more money than the time-pressed and more efficient lunch-hour or after-work shopper, he says."

There is no business that will hold back stock from the shelves unless there is a "street date" on the item. It makes no sense at all to hold stock back when it can be out on the shelf where people will buy it. Besides, at TRU during the 'Holidays' their sales start on Fridays where the (you guessed it) hot toys go on sale. So, as a business, TRU holds this stock back after receiving it midweek so that you can come in to buy in on the weekend at a lower price, simply to make you wait in line longer in hopes that you will get an add-on sale from the cashwrap display while you wait. Utter poppycock!

The end caps and front door targeted displays are dead bang on, though.

Not exactly right guys and gals. Yes shelves are not kept empty if there is stuff in back. LOL but Especially at Wally world. Cirular items would only be set right before the weekend. It would stay in back until the last minute. Not just big sales items all the little crappy stuff in an add. They never want to be caught short. Best time to go at Walmart (at least) is the weekend.