Is Wal-Mart the worse place to buy toys?

[iamcobra]

It seems that every time that I go to Wal-Mart their toy selection is a bunch of crap. The only time that I got lucky was with Transfromers Prime Hot Shot and Knock Out. Other than that I was able to find the figures that I was looking for at Target and Toys R US. What has been your experience with Wal-Mart?

[Adamassc]

Walmart is notorious for overordering the first wave of any toy line, and refusing to reorder until it sells out. Target is a little better about it, and TrU specializes in toys. It can be location, too. My local WM usually does better than the nearest TrU.

[Galaxus]

Hit and miss and more times then not miss.

[pig iron grenadier]

Blame hasbro and mattel

[jetsandheels]

If my success at Walmart was a batting average, I would be hitting about .042

[sharky]

Actually, K-mart is the worst.

[percehonson]

I have one Walmart in my area that usually never lets me down. Other than the really, really hard to find variants, I usually find everything I want at that Walmart. The one they built just down the street from my house isnt looking too bad either. I found wave 3 of The Avengers there. I have a Target now, but a few years back I didnt, so if it wasnt for Walmart I would not have many action figures. Also, in like 2006 I used to be able to find all kinds of Ultimate Soldier action figures and vehicles. They would often be on clearance too. Anyways, no, I would actually say Big Lots is the worst. They used to be a sweet ass place to got toy shopping but I've found like one cool toy in the past three years.

[RayType]

The 24 hour Walmarts are the places for major fail for me. These stores usually have reduced toy sections and the toys they have are very limited in selection, usually only carrying popular crap and movie-line toys.
The normal hour WMs are usually better; they have much larger toy sections and stock almost everything that Target would carry.
Supercenters are the best in terms of overall selection, but I only have a few that are reachable.

[Jinx723]

Blame hasbro and mattel

Smart@$$
I am so sick and tired of Hasbro being blamed. They have no control if a retailer wants to buy their product or not.

Walmart isn't the worst, but they have shrunk their toy departments. Especially, when it comes to boys toys. There's one Walmart I don't even bother any more because I haven't found anything at that one since the ROC BattleStation Exclsives were on clearance.

[RuckusJr]

Smart@$$
I am so sick and tired of Hasbro being blamed. They have no control if a retailer wants to buy their product or not.



I agree, but I guarantee there are a dozen Tankers who'd gladly chime in and tell you why it is Hasbro's fault retailers don't want to buy their wares, and it's because their toys suck. I miss the Tank from late 2008...

[pig iron grenadier]

Smart@$$
I am so sick and tired of Hasbro being blamed. They have no control if a retailer wants to buy their product or not.

Walmart isn't the worst, but they have shrunk their toy departments. Especially, when it comes to boys toys. There's one Walmart I don't even bother any more because I haven't found anything at that one since the ROC BattleStation Exclsives were on clearance.

I was joking to a point. hasbro is the one that packs black widow one per case though...just saying. there aren't 20 ric ollies and 10 flesh absorbing mans sitting on the pegs for no reason.

[HueyCobra AH-1]

Walmart used to be ok. now it's a joke.
like the entire time the renegades line was out, they put the figures in the aisle where overstock/clearanced items go. didn't even know they were in there until i stumbled upon them.

[Zarana]

I don't know about toys,but it's an awful place to buy fish.

[GI C]

Yeah,Walmart is even low on the TF prime Transformers.Some only have 2 to 3 Bumble Bee figures.

[goodguys9]

Walmarts vary so much from one location to the next; I've gotten lots of 25th/ROC at one then 5 miles from there I never saw new items or even GIJoe on the shelf most of the time.

[Galaxus]

The more I go there to look for toys the more I am starting to think it is becoming the worst, though target is not far behind.

[laurenluna1977]

I've gotten lucky at WM ... not just with toys

[Hicks_Royel]

Walmart is notorious for overordering the first wave of any toy line, and refusing to reorder until it sells out. Target is a little better about it, and TrU specializes in toys. It can be location, too. My local WM usually does better than the nearest TrU.
Not around here... I bet better than 60% of the Lexington store is baby crap and toddler furniture. Hell, the GPS selection at the TRU is better than the toy selection.

[Shipshape1983]

Its hit or miss, but they have the best prices.

[Tracker]

yes

[gyrapados]

yes

so......tell us how you really feel. :)

[Trojan Gambit]

My WM's are actually more reliable than Target or TrU.

I recently scored Wave 3 Avengers and the Retaliation 3-Packs at TrU, but that's the first hit in months at that place.

Target used to be my favorite, but they've sucked ass since POC came out.

[RedEyes]

The closet Walmart's to me are probably the shittest in the state. There's 4 Walmarts that still have yet to do their reset. It's like nobody even works in the toy department. All the stuff that's suppose to be up by now is just sitting the backroom. I know this cause I saw it all on the pallets. But it just sits back there and rots while they could be selling it. Instead Target and TRU down the block profits from doing their resets on the 28th of May and have already sold through a ton of new stuff. So when I think about those specific Walmarts, then yes, it sucks for toys.

Even still though it's always hit or miss at every store. I like Targets inventory scanners though. At least that helps when asking an employee to go in the back and get something for you if it says "in stock".

[vkat7phish]

The Walmart by me sucks and unless I'm looking for something common to get at a low price, they rarely have anything worthwhile. However, when I hit up Walmarts out of town, I usually find hard to find items. I think it really depends on location. I'm in saturated area with many collectors so it's hard to find things unless I'm lucky and something has just been put on the shelves.

[vermillion21]

Walmart is notorious for overordering the first wave of any toy line, and refusing to reorder until it sells out.

Hit and miss and more times then not miss.

^ Truth

[wolverine2281]

the selection at all of my Walmart, Targets and TRUs suck equally. And there are probably about a dozen combined in my area. That said, I can ALMOST always find what I'm looking for. But, no, I wouldn't single walmart out.

[themidnightdoctor]

All of the big three US toy retailers are spotty at best.They all have their merits and faults.I can't really say I think one is worse than the other when all three disappoint me at times.

[Lody]

I guess it depends

When was the last time you hit up a Dollar general or ~shock~ Family Dollar?

[red4]

The 24 hour Walmarts are the places for major fail for me. These stores usually have reduced toy sections and the toys they have are very limited in selection, usually only carrying popular crap and movie-line toys.
The normal hour WMs are usually better; they have much larger toy sections and stock almost everything that Target would carry.
Supercenters are the best in terms of overall selection, but I only have a few that are reachable.

It took me a while to assimilate the concept of a Walmart that isn't open 24 hours. Every single Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market in my city is open 24 hours. That's approximately 10 stores.

[mister-x]

what is walmart???
i have never heard of such a place...

[red4]

what is walmart???

I didn't realize we're playing Jeopardy.

[sharky]

what is walmart???
Walmart is Jerks!