lovetoshopCA

Hit my regular store when they opened, and they had just gone 90%. Employees were fighting over a bunch of the red box car kits. Even the managers! It was amusing. I had a stash in plain site, and it was all there. The big surprise was that someone must have found a case each of the LPS & Cars toys, because those were just sitting on a shelf, and they weren't there yesterday! Hit 3 more stores after that, and all appear to have gone 90% yesterday. Got a few odds and ends scattered throughout the store. Found some of the sheets, but didn't need them, so I found a mom who looked like she could use them. She was thrilled! Could not believe the price! Found another mom who I gave some little leather Winnie the Pooh crib shoes - also Christmas. She had a newborn and knew she wouldn't care if they had holly on them when he started needing them! I told her about our little group, and she took notes. :)

Good heavens! Did you drive that far? Those aren't close unless I mis-remember the distances from childhood!

In addition to what Dantegirl said, the store you visited may simply get a lot of traffic, and may sell out early. Every store is different in that regard, and some sell out before there are great deals. Also, you have to be there shortly after they mark things down in order to get the good stuff. The lower the price, the faster it goes. If you are new to this, I would recommend following the thread regularly, and then looking for the items mentioned as soon as possible after they are mentioned. Find the items you want before they go clearance, especially holiday merchandise, and then keep an eye on it as they do the markdowns. Sometimes you are willing to pay 30% off just to get something you really want. Other times you'll be willing to let it go if you can't get it for 75% off. We'll have the big toy markdown in the next few days to a week, and we'll have the Valentines & Target Home Design Event markdowns shortly thereafter. This is prime clearance season, and they'll go through each department over the coming months and do clearance and reset with new merchandise. Also, be sure to read the first post to get the basics of how it all works.

Just an FYI. I went to the second Pasadena, CA store today, and they are still 75%. They didn't have much left, so I don't think stock has that much to do with it. Anyone on here go to San Dimas, La Verne or Diamond Bar stores? I'm heading over that way tomorrow and was hoping for a report. LV usually goes later than the other two.

Pasadena, CA 2-story, Lake store 90% off. Didn't get to Madre this trip, but will in the afternoon. Not much left. Found a few of the small Legos in toys and managed to get the Playmobil Nativity set 90% off. It rang up regular, I asked wasn't it Christmas and therefore 90% off, he was going to give me 50%, so I said no thanks, and low and behold he changed his mind and gave it to me.

Or self-employed...that's me. Sure does come in handy for stuff like this. On the other hand, teachers and friends tend to treat me like I don't work at all and should be available at any time.... You are a better person than I am if you can tolerate teaching at all, and add 9th grade and special ed to that! Ooh! You must be a saint! I'd lose my mind!! Off to see if our local stores are 90%. DH is sick, so he doesn't want to go to church, and I need to go inspect a recently vacated rental....Will report when I return.

Go back carts are often simply left sitting in the department where they need to be unloaded. If you see an apparently abandoned cart full of stuff, and no one seems to be claiming it, it is probably go-backs. They are also often left full near guest services. Depends on the store, though, as some managers have a hissy fit if employees leave them there. Still, this time of year, they are usually there even in the best stores. It sounds like it is 90% today, but the signal from corporate is coming out later in the morning. It has happened like that before. For those who can go back, I'd certainly try if there is anything you really wanted. And for those who got messed over because they took the signs down, if you find out it goes back to 90% today, I'd call the 800# or email and have a fit. They will probably at least send you a couple of the $3 coupons.

No, he was right. You get what you had and that's it. Sounds like the stores were told today was the day, but corporate hasn't done the changes. I wonder if they'll happen later in the morning. I have to take DS to a birthday party this afternoon, so I'll take a look at our store. Nothing left there worthwhile, but I'll stop by.

The Christmas stuff is generally consolidated, but you might find items here and there throughout the store. It is really worthwhile to familiarize yourself with holiday merchandise when it is full price, so you can find it more easily on sale. So, when they bring out all the Valentines stuff you can be prepared for the big sale. Sometimes items aren't obviously holiday, and those are often the best deals! Toys are consolidated, though they are not always consolidated in an aisle or two. Sometimes they don't get them altogether, and even when they do, it is worth going through regular aisles to look for odds & ends. Also, be sure to look through the go-back carts. Always worth a look.

No such luck. I have looked several times because I got a medium sized one for DS and was hoping to get a bit back.

I know it stinks for most people, but tomorrow would be better for me...I can go as soon as I drop off the boys for school! I am feeling doubtful about toy clearance happening this week, too. I think it will be next week.

Oh, they had them everywhere. They, and the MLP ones, were in toys. At our store they are still ringing up full price.

It is simply not called Global Bazaar this year. It is called Target Home Design Event. It is in every way the exact same thing as what they previously called Global Bazaar, and they are already starting to set it up in most stores. In fact, I was talking to one of the employees I know pretty well, and asked about the name, and she said "I keep asking where is the Global Bazaar sign" because it is the same thing.

Every year Target has an event where they bring in a bunch of imported furniture, rugs, decorations, etc. from around the world. It clearances like holiday merchandise in a few weeks. Usually some good deals. Check out some pics on their site: http://www.target.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=13763961

Congrats! I tried to get my DH to stop by Target on the way home from the hospital after an emergency c-section. He refused, but did take me a couple of days later. It was Easter clearance! He just didn't understand. :tongue1::cheesy:

It isn't just a courtesy thing, if it says $9 on the shelf and it rings up higher, almost every state & county in the country has a weights & measures law that says they have to honor the price for at least 1 piece.

Sigh...wish that was our stores...we have an aisle or two of piddly junk left everywhere I have been. If it goes 90% tomorrow, I'll head out Monday to the stores where I have some stashes and see if anything is left....

$spot merchandise is not considered seasonal. the same rule does not apply. it only applies to Christmas, Valentines, Halloween and that sort of stuff set up in their special areas. Everything else gets the regular policy. It basically boils down to the items that go 90% off, with the possible exception of Back to School. I've never tried returning that stuff, so I don't know the rule there.

you just want to scope out who has more toys left. It also helps to know if your stores mark down toys first thing in the morning or later in the day.

That is only the case for holiday items, so unless people buy a lot of items like that, it isn't a big deal. Gift baskets are about all I can think might be a real issue, but by the time you are getting to giving those, people don't even expect a gift receipt.

You'll only get the 90% price. The posted policy is the one they go with.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Global Bazaar yet! They are calling it the Target Home Event this year, but the same thing. Some really cute stuff!

Awesome deal! Was it this one? http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LV--RWcAL._AA260_.jpg

It was one of the copper bowls that is only about 4" deep but about 12 across. You just have to have something larger on the shelf. Most of the shelves are more than tall enough to accommodate it standing, you just have to hope it doesn't roll out.

For those in SoCal and other warm areas where they still have patio furniture, they have a pretty decent black bench & small table on clearance for 75% off. The guy in garden actually told me about them. I also saw some Aussie grills at 50% out there. I need to go back for some folding lawn chairs that were also 75% off and they had those folding black metal bistro tables and the small ones that are good end tables all 75% off. Whoever was looking for the Christmas door mats, the ones I saw are in the Smith & Hawken stuff, and, unfortunately, they are not following the Christmas markdown. But they are pretty darned cute!! They are still only 50% off. I noticed the same of the flower kits. Hoping they go at least 75% soon as I have one of the big copper ones stashed at a store I plan to go back to when Christmas goes 90%.