toy clearance!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[jen276here]

Tips:

*The store should start moving tons of merchandise to one aisle and a bunch of end caps a few days to a week or so before the actual markdown. You can get a good idea of what you can match w/ a coupon or are looking for.

*It was either the last Weds or Thurs of the month when it happened last year (not sure on earlier years). But I guarantee you someone here will post when it started so keep checking back!

*The toys are not always individually ticketed at 75% off. Last year at both stores I shop at the toys were all marked around 50% and they just tossed up the 75% signs in front of them.

*SCAN EVERYTHING. I picked up tons of stuff marked, not marked, etc. I was pleasantly surprised a few times (the Cozy Coupe, Tonka ride-on toy and Sand/Water Table) and disappointed at others (some items were still only 50% (The GeoTrack set) but either tossed on the shelves by employees or other customers).

*Get there early. The really good stuff goes quick.

*Don't walk by something that catches your eye. Put it in your cart and decide on it later. You can always return it too. If you leave it, most likely it will be gone before you get back to it.

*Be prepared for folks to grab thing from right out in front of you and out of your cart. It is almost worse than Black Friday. I seriously had one woman I remember pulling things from my cart - DS was in it and I was standing right there!!!! I was polite and just said, I'm sorry that was in my cart (really loud so people turned and looked) and then pointed to DS in the cart to prove it was my cart (lol). The lady did seem surprised and put it back so I'd like to think she was just really not paying attention!

*Go back later. Since I am so close I was able to make multiple trips, but I went back a few days later and lucked out on some great deals - don't know if they were returns or found in the stock room or what.

Finally:

*Check the regular aisles for hidden merchandise. I do this during any sale because I know a lot of people will hide things on shelves to get later. I don't agree w/ people doing this, but I understand why they try - either way if I find it, I'm buying it!

[jenrose]

Also, not all stores do their mark downs on the same day. Two stores only miles apart may not have things marked down the same percentages on the same days. You never know for sure until you go!

[jen276here]

I haven't been doing Target very long. Judging from the posts, I take it there's a yearly toy sale in July? How is it different from other toy sales?

This is the time of year to prepare for Christmas so Target goes through inventory, decides what is hot and not and what needs to go to make room for the new toy releases. They have at least one full aisle plus all end caps in the toy dept filled. Almost all are 75% off. So it is like a one-stop-shop to stock up on toys.

[jenrose]

They clearance out their toys in July and January. Gotta get rid of the old to make spaces for the new models of each toy to come in.......why do that have to change one thing on a toy and rerelease it every few months??

[texxie]

So when should we start "lurking" the isles? LOL the last week of the month?

[LadyDove]

I can't wait!!!!!!!

[jenrose]

So when should we start "lurking" the isles? LOL the last week of the month?

Glance when you are there. They usually go 15%, 30%, 50% then 75%. When they hit 50% then start stalking.

[texxie]

that sounds good. I'm not a frequent "targeter" but I may have to increase my trips in a couple of weeks.

[amylynne01]

When I get back from vacay, Target is my first stop. I made out like a bandit last year!

[captainQpin]

woohoo I cant wait never did this before but cant wait