Big Box Toy Companies Extort Consumers

Posted by jim on October 9, 2008 under Consumer Experience | Be the First to Comment

In the wake of WalMart announcing dramatic price drops in the Toy category, KB announced it would drop prices on 200 toys.  CEO Andy Bailen explained, “Clearly, more consumers are looking for affordably priced gifts and that is why we also just took over 200 great toys and lowered their prices to $10 or less.”  What a great gesture to the consumer in this time of economic crisis!

Not so fast!  Let’s look at some of the items on the list.  The Are U Smarter Than a 5th Grader? game.  This game came out for last Christmas.  Toy sellers have been selling that at below cost all year to get rid of it.  MLB action figures – it’s October.  My Little Pony – it’s 2008.

Big Box toy stores are using the fear put into consumers by the DJIA dropping faster and faster every day (in the wake of any news, good or bad) to convince them to buy toys they can’t sell anyway.

Don’t fall for it. Purchasing toys that kids don’t want in order to save money is not going to help the consumer.  Why not make smarter purchases from independent toys stores?  Instead of buying a couple of outdated, useless, sub-$10 toys, why not purchase a product with an online component that is only $14.99 and allows children to play for months and months with other children on the web like VIPs or Groovy Girl RSVPs?

Both presidential candidates have gone on record about the importance of supporting small business and how it helps the economy. What will help the economy faster?  Helping WalMart or KB unload some old stock before Christmas or supporting that local toy store in your town that can barely pay the light bill?

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