KC-Traderbear

Thanks Gator Pam. Did that happen to be a newly opened Target??

I thought I saw someone say in this forum that their Target 50% off clearance began Christmas Eve last year. Was I dreaming? Is that something that anyone else has seen happen?

They were setting the Kool Toyz (I think they are called)-- blue boxed stuff. I also saw lots of board games. They were just starting, so it made me think that the marks probably won't happen until tomorrow. There were a lot of workers scanning stuff and getting backstock on the shelves. I know that last year it was right before Christmas that the toys started to be clearanced that's what makes me think it will happen this week. But, then I'm no genie, so maybe this year will be different! (I am in Overland Park, and Target hop between about 9 Targets-- all within 15 minutes of my house.) Although, 30% is really nothing to shout about. A lot of times, you can get 30% during the Christmas season in their regular ads. The real popular Christmas toys aren't always part of the initial markdown, so I wouldn't run out and drive any extended way to get to a Target for 30% off on Toys. I've sold on ebay for 3 years now during the 6-7 weeks before Christmas based off my stash from the previous Christmas. I just can't do it next year though. I had my third baby last Jan. and it is tooooo time consuming with 3 kiddos. It's an incredibly profitable thing to do if you have the time though. You wouldn't believe how much money mommies and daddies shell out for hard to find toys!!

They were setting the toy clearance aisle this morning at one of our Targets. Nothing is being stickered yet, but they are compiling the toys, and I'm sure that either later today or tomorrow they will start to mark at least some of the toys down to 30% off, which isn't always that big of a deal, but it's a start!!

At most store in KC, here was the holiday clearance schedule for the past 3 years... Always 50% off the day after Christmas (at least to my knowledge). THEN, in 2003, stores here went to 75% on Jan. 2; in 2004 it was Jan. 1; and last year, it was Dec. 31st. In 2003, stores here went to 90% on Jan 7; in 2004, it was Jan. 5; and last year, it was Jan. 6. We have an ungodly number of Target stores in this city... many are newer stores in very new areas of the suburbs. They always have tons of holiday stuff left (for every holiday, not just Christmas). I don't know if that has anything to do with the markdown schedule or not. I just know that I don't really even pay attention to serious shopping until it's 75% off, and I still know that I will find lots and lots of stuff. I'm sure that will change as more people realize just how good the deals can get. (At least my husband hopes more people realize it, so that there isn't as much stuff for me to drag home and store!!) LOL

At our Targets, those messenger bags were all clearanced with the back to school stuff (backpacks, etc.). They had tons of them left for 75% off at that time (Sept, I think). I bought two (one for my sister)... neither of them worked. I returned them.

I recently got a Diet Coke coupon good for $1 off a 12 pack that printed on the cash register receipt. I combined it with the internet coupon (also good for $1 off a 12 pack). Our stores never give me a bad time about coupons. My total for a 12 pack-- 50 cents! So far I've only got 2 coupons off the receipt, but two 12 packs for a buck isn't bad.

We've had many new stores open over the past 3 years here in Kansas City. It's been my experience that those stores not only offer clearance deals BEFORE most of the other stores but also more frequently AND they mark down quicker too. For instance, it's not uncommon for the new stores to go straight to 50% off rather than to follow the 15%, 30%, etc. timeline that the older stores do. When we had our newest store open here in early Oct. one of the guys that worked there said, "We'll be the clearance store around here for awhile-- at least the first year." If you have a new store close to you, my advice is to visit frequently and EARLY. It seems like the newer store markdown teams get out right away in the morning for the markdowns whereas some of the older stores sometimes can take their time ... at least that is been my experience with the new stores that have opened around here. It's not always the case, but I have better luck with new stores when I go early in the morning. With the older stores I have better luck when I go more mid morning to early afternoon.

Got some of those Disney princess magnetic dolls at the dollar spot yesterday (as a bribe to my 3 year old to let me shop around!). None of them work at all. The magnets are dead. The clothes don't stick to the dolls and they don't stick to anything metal either. I bought 4 packs (only cost a quarter each), and none of the packs work. Maybe it was just my unlucky day. They a ton of them left. Thought I'd share that info with everyone in case anyone was planning to give them as gifts. I don't know if there is a way to regenerate a magnet once it goes dead or what might cause them to go dead in the first place. Oh well, at least they were only a quarter!

We had a new Target store just open up Oct. 8 in our metro area. LAST year, there was a Target store that opened on that very same day (Oct. 8). I was shocked when the store LAST year took Halloween to 75% off on Nov 3 (a full TWO days earlier than all the other stores in the city). They had TONS of stuff... candy, costumes, everything-- about 4 solid aisles full. (It was a blast shopping that day.) They had so much candy that I even found some good bags when it went 90%. Anyway, I wondered if the new store that opened up THIS year on Oct 8 would follow the same schedule as the store from last year. I took a chance and YUP, they did. They were at 75% off on all Halloween today. But, they only had about 1 aisle of stuff and NO candy. So it was kind of disappointing. Thought I might share with those of you who may have a new Target opening in your area. I don't know if it's something that they let ALL the new stores do or if it is just a fluke or what. If my records are right, most stores will take Halloween to 75% on Sunday. Does that sound right to ya'll?

I would like to be enlightened! I understand what a dcpi/upc code or number is and I also understand that many Targets have scanners that allow you to enter in a number, which gives you the current price as well as information about whether there are anymore items in the backroom. (Does it also give aisle information??) I love that page put together by http://www.schumanfamily.com..etc.. and frequently go out there to see what's listed. Is this stuff that this person/family has found by themself?? Do they buy all that stuff and then list it all by dcpi? If so, WHY? Are they just nice people who want to spread the Target joy? Does someone they know work at Target and give them a list? I am just so curious. I promise you I am not a Target spy trying to figure this out. I'm pretty new to the forum and have just been seeing people talking about all this dcpi stuff. In my experience, when something goes clearance, the chances are slim to none that there will be more stock in the backroom anyway, so I'm not sure what good the dcpi is doing for people, unless it's just directing people to the right aisle??? I am just so curious. Maybe there is something that I'm missing?? Anyone know the backstory on our buddies the Schumans? I've been wanting to know this for awhile, and am just know SO CURIOUS, I have to ask.:)

Just yesterday, the Flypens/chargers went to 50% off here in KC making them $62.xx. They come with a pen AND a charger in the box. There are flypens for sale (without the charger) for $99 in the aisle-- the sale pens were on the end caps. The charger is also for sale at a regular price of $30, so the combo set for $62.xx is a pretty good deal. Has anyone heard anything about how well they work? It is a gift for my nephew and I'm not sure if they are a thumbs up or thumbs down. It's from Leap Frog, which usually has great stuff, but I just haven't heard anything about these pens from people who use them.

Scrapbooking papers, embellishments, stickers, etc. 75% off in at least one of the Targets in KC today! Haven't had a chance to get to more than one store.

I caught markdowns in electronics here today at one of our stores. Weird cause I thought electronics was mostly a Monday thing... although, I have seen Friday markdowns in electronics before I guess-- don't know why?? Anyway, there were a bunch of Memorex MP3 players for $10 (reg $40); Memorex Karoke machines for $20 (reg $80); an awesome Ihome under the cabinet unit for an ipod for $37 (reg $150); a Sony wireless transmitter unit for $25 (reg. $99); lots of HP photo printers for $37 (reg. $150). Nice Christmas shopping. Also found some of those baby Bratz dolls for $1.24 (reg $5) and a tattoo machine for $3.74 (reg $15)-- which I think looks riduculous, but I've learned that if I think it looks stupid, my kids will think it is great! That's about it. This time of year I mostly go box hunting at Target to prepare for shipping stuff out on ebay!

I am wondering what the deal is on these Disney mix stix. I saw several of them at our Target tonight red stickered from $39.99 down to $19.98....Tinkerbell, Raven and Cars themes. They were just the MP3 players (no video). They also had tons of carrying cases for them at 75% off. I googled it and came up with this link... from October 2005. http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2005/10/disney-mp3-player-hitech-toddlers.php So is there something else new that is out for this year. Are these the same players talked about earlier in the forum????

That has happened to me too. I guess it's understandable that it might not be a good idea to scan people's stuff individually while they are working in the aisles (for fairness, maybe), but to me it seems like "what's the difference if you scan it, tag it and put it in my cart or put it back on the shelf." I have to say most of the time the workers are really friendly to me about it and are happy to change the ticket as long as they are working in the aisle anyway, but ONE time I got this really mean guy who recited some silly policy and told me he "would never get his work done if all he did was scan people's stuff", blah, blah, blah! Anyway, lots and lots of school stuff left here in KC. Backpacks did not go 75 today here though... just lots of markers, pencils, tablets, stickers erasers, sissors, etc... etc... My kids can now cut, draw, sticker and glue themselves silly :)

Nice deal on 15 packs of Bounty paper towels at two Targets around here. They were 1/2 price-- $6.74. They skipped from 15% off straight to 50% off. I don't know why they didn't go to 30%, but that is pretty cheap for Bounty. Some of the packs were the "select-a-size" and some were just regular. The sign in front still said 15% off, so there were a lot left.

Many of the school supplies are 30% off. Gardening stuff (hoses, pruners, grass seed, gloves, garden claw, bug spray, etc.) is 75% off. Also saw Hello Kitty and Spider Man ziploc type snack sacks as well as paper lunch sacks 30% off... very cute if you have school kids!

Bulk items went 50% off today. One of our newer Targets still had Pull Ups for boys 2T/3T for $8 (64 count); Minute Maid juice boxes for $2.98 (30 count); Force Flex Garbage bags $4.48 (70 count); Pampers Splashers (mostly larger sizes) went 75%-- $2.24.

THAT is great. I've been meaning to ask someone on this forum HOW to get a printed sheet full of the same coupn. PERFECT! Thanks JenKnee (and fairydustcrissy) for that link!

Many of the Targets/Super Targets have taken their bulk items down to 30% today around here anyway (Kansas City). This includes diapers and pull ups-- those expensive essentials that moms have to have! Great big box of pull ups for $12.xx plus my Target took TWO of my $2 off coupons for it. 30% off is pretty good if you have coupons to use as well. Many of those bulk items are bonus packages to begin with.

After watching from the sidelines for a few weeks now (and learning a lot more about shopping at Target), I'm putting out my first post. Since my husband doesn't share my enthusiasm for the AWESOME deals I find at Target, I'm turning to a group who appears to really GET IT! :) When I moved to Kansas City 15 years ago (from Minnesota), there were NO Targets anywhere. Now there are 8 Target stores within 10 minutes in any direction from my house. Must be close to 20 throughout the city! I am really addicted to shopping the end caps at Target! I was on vacation for the last two weeks and could only occasionally access this forum to read about the sales on toys and kids shoes that I knew I was missing! Anyway, the Britax booster seat deal sent me running out to find one, but had no luck. I did find a pretty Britax Marathon car seat today for $67, which is a pretty amazing price since I spent $299 apiece on the ones that my daughters sit in now.