Ross/TJ Maxx/Marshalls

I spent about two years in Los Angeles and came across Ross out there. I had never been there and saw no reason to either.

I recall finding the Firefly/Greenshirts packs from Toys R Us after someone posted here that they were available.

My question is: have these stores always carried toys and similar merchandise like that or were those initial sightings the first time we started seeing them on a regular basis. If not, what came before them?

I used to hit up Marshals all the time and don't recall ever seeing toys let alone anything I would ever want.

Hmm, that's a good question. I think I remember seeing toys way before I was back into 25th Joes, but I was only collecting Japanese stuff at the time and didn't really care to check.

I know with my company since the recession, we've had had to sell off excess inventory to discount stores. More than we have in the past. Normally our branded stuff doesn't get sold to discounters since it can be harmful to the brand.

I remember that they had a much smaller selection, but then I think after KBs and other toystores went defunct, these stores started picking up the slack.

They always had a toy section as long as I can remember, but it usually has crappy toys that couldn't sell when they were discounted at Walmart

Ross - Anything good lasts about 2 minutes. If you here about something at Ross its probably already to late.

TJ Maxx/Marshalls - Got a large supply of Joes in the past couple of years. The stock tends to be about 2 years old. They will stock up more around Christmas time. The toy sections usually have dust on many toys & look like a bomb went off. You will not see the good stuff the first time pass through.

Originally Posted by VideoViper

They always had a toy section as long as I can remember, but it usually has crappy toys that couldn't sell when they were discounted at Walmart

Ross - Anything good lasts about 2 minutes. If you here about something at Ross its probably already to late.

TJ Maxx/Marshalls - Got a large supply of Joes in the past couple of years. The stock tends to be about 2 years old. They will stock up more around Christmas time. The toy sections usually have dust on many toys & look like a bomb went off. You will not see the good stuff the first time pass through.

I am familair with what they have received since 2008...what were their selections prior to that?

Marshall's/TJ Maxx has always been a 'lot' retailer. Meaning they buy lots from larger stores that didn't sell and then sell them at a discount, still above cost, but cheaper than say Target, Toys R Us, etc.

I have been going to Marshall's near me for over 20 years and they have always had what I liked to call 'last years toys'

Originally Posted by Lody

I am familair with what they have received since 2008...what were their selections prior to that?

Lots of old puzzles, young kids toys. Things that were name brand things like Star Wars & Joe might be something like a coloring book or crayon set.

Nothing to interesting.

I picked at least 16 Legions sets there and another 8 or so of the original Cobra 5 pack and maybe 2 of the Joe pack... Those are what I remember seeing first. There was some Sigma Six both 8" and 2.5" on the shelves as well...

I keep hearing about how Ross gets all of these toys, but only actually find them once in a while. I have a Ross right down the street from me and they haven't carried Joes stuff in 2 years. Well, they finally got some Joe stuff in, but not what I wanted, they got the stupid Rise of Cobra Mars 3 pack in. -_-

A Ross that is like 14 miles away ended up having the Resolute Cobra pack, which I managed to get the last one last Saturday, but still, it is ridiculous to buy anything there. The toy isles are either a train wreck that is never cleaned or they have next to nothing. Supposedly, Ross carries one of the Transformers I still need (Grapple) and GI Joe vehicles that were never released.