I know, I know, "But Jeff" you may ask, "what does Hudson's Bay have to do with toys in general and lego in particular?" Before today I'd have asked much the same, but a funny thing happened the last few weeks. As I am wont to do, I was out for a midday work break stroll through ye olde PATH system in downtown Toronto which sometimes takes me through the bowels of the flagship Bay store. Walking past the luggage area a couple of weeks ago I was shocked, shocked I tell you, to discover a sizeable amount of retail wall space completely empty with nothing but white shelves. What could this be I asked, wondering if Saks was just getting on with the inevitable and devouring the Bay from the inside out. Then I saw a sign, literally, which said "Toys". Immediately I thought, what are the chances that any of this will be for Lego, thinking back over recent Christmas seasons when the stores would have a handful of random lego sets and other toys scattered on tables in random places like ladies lingerie and power tools in one of the most bizarre retailing decisions I have ever seen. Well today we have the answer as I walked by this approx 75 foot long space only to find at least half of it looking like a Lego store with sets wall deep and price signs yet to be added and skids of Lego boxes still to be opened. So when I got back to my office I checked out their website and sure enough there is a very full selection of recent Lego sets on hand. Basically anything on their website was on this wall. City, Star Wars, Super-heroes, Nexo, Friends, Elves, Princess and Ninjago all to be had. 

We have a returned player in the game, at least until Christmas I'd imagine anyways, and as a token of my community goodwill I will post any sales related news I see from this location going forward over the course of my travels as in store deals are often the best and unadvertised. After I've indulged first of course. 

First the Eaton Centre Chapters dramatically revamped their toy section with a particular emphasis on Lego, and now this. I can only hope that this may be setting the groundwork for TRU to return to a downtown location and/or for Lego itself to add a store downtown. It's incredible to me with the rapid growth of the downtown area and all the families and parents either working or living here that there is not a proper toy store down here right now. My reselling would get infinitely easier (and more expensive upfront) if I could just walk 10 minutes to a TRU or Lego store to stock up.

Edited August 25, 20169 yr by jeff_14

First they need to work on their in-store functions. Was at the flagship store yesterday and saw a bunch of Star Wars Black Series 6 inch 2 packs of Poe in civvies and the riot control First Order trooper ("Traitor!"). I had not even heard that these figures were coming out, much less in a 2 pack. $59.99 for the pack. So I go to buy one for myself and went to 3 cashiers who could not sell it to me because it did not scan in the system. I used to work cash at Canadian Tire decades ago and anytime that would happen we'd just override and manually enter the price to get the sale. Not for these half-wits. They said they couldn't do anything because it would skew their inventory. I actually said to each one, "So you'd rather miss out on a sale to keep your inventory accurate? All this technology and you can't just charge me $60 plus tax?" Apparently not.

Went back this morning and tried yet another cashier and despite the same problem, she just did the override so I could finally buy it. Aye carumba! 

First they need to work on their in-store functions. Was at the flagship store yesterday and saw a bunch of Star Wars Black Series 6 inch 2 packs of Poe in civvies and the riot control First Order trooper ("Traitor!"). I had not even heard that these figures were coming out, much less in a 2 pack. $59.99 for the pack. So I go to buy one for myself and went to 3 cashiers who could not sell it to me because it did not scan in the system. I used to work cash at Canadian Tire decades ago and anytime that would happen we'd just override and manually enter the price to get the sale. Not for these half-wits. They said they couldn't do anything because it would skew their inventory. I actually said to each one, "So you'd rather miss out on a sale to keep your inventory accurate? All this technology and you can't just charge me $60 plus tax?" Apparently not.
Went back this morning and tried yet another cashier and despite the same problem, she just did the override so I could finally buy it. Aye carumba! 

Truth be told. It does screw up the inventory. And the whole store can look bad if they do it too often. If the store already has a shortage problem, in particular if that department has a shortage problem, their manager will get on to them about it. If they're a commission based employee every sale is recorded. So they'll have a track record.

Truth be told. It does screw up the inventory. And the whole store can look bad if they do it too often. If the store already has a shortage problem, in particular if that department has a shortage problem, their manager will get on to them about it. If they're a commission based employee every sale is recorded. So they'll have a track record.

They are definitely not commission based... if they were they'd all be working for slave wages.

Hudson's Bay is the oldest incorporated company in North America. It would be a shame if they went under, but the only people who I know that shop regularly are 60+. You won't survive if that's your main customer base!

12 hours ago, gregpj said:

 

They are definitely not commission based... if they were they'd all be working for slave wages.

Hudson's Bay is the oldest incorporated company in North America. It would be a shame if they went under, but the only people who I know that shop regularly are 60+. You won't survive if that's your main customer base!

 

The Bay seems to be doing quite well, which is a surprise given where they were 5-10 years ago. They're no Sears. Every system has bugs or errors. You don't give up a sale out of worry about a de minimis inventory count. If that happens too often customers get frustrated and then your inventory problem becomes that you're not selling any.

Edited November 9, 20169 yr by jeff_14

49 minutes ago, jeff_14 said:

The Bay seems to be doing quite well, which is a surprise given where they were 5-10 years ago. They're no Sears. Every system has bugs or errors. You don't give up a sale out of worry about a de minimis inventory count. If that happens too often customers get frustrated and then you're inventory problem becomes that you're not selling any.

Any good inventory system should allow manual adjustments .. a good in-store system would be to override the sale (allow it) and make a note to send to the inventory team. Mark the UPC (or take one of the items) and get them to add the product to the system and adjust quantity.

The Toronto downtown store is selling all lego at 15% off, though the website is not. The website does have a handful of sets on sale for 20% off, which sets are also 20% off at the store.

3 minutes ago, jeff_14 said:

The Toronto downtown store is selling all lego at 15% off, though the website is not. The website does have a handful of sets on sale for 20% off, which sets are also 20% off at the store.

Do you they carry any large exclusives?

No exclusives. They have all the latest and greatest for the main themes but no older sets verging on retirement or large or small exclusives. I have yet to buy a lego set from them.

Hudson's Bay participates in e bate s  as well.  Right now it is at 2.5% but before Christmas the last couple of years it went to 5%.  It seems to be 5% about half the time. 

Edited November 18, 20169 yr by Spensar

They have 20% off on Rouge One Star Wars Lego 

Not sure how to do affiliate links but I saw this pop up on my ebay feed. I'm pretty much tapped out on funds otherwise I'd probably grab a few. 

HBC $100 GC for $90

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/100-Hudsons-Bay-Company-Gift-Card-for-90-/192033781171

Not sure if cashback sites will hook you up if you pay with a GC? But the extra 10% sweetens the deal on some of their 20% off stuff. Doubt these arrive in time, I expect they're physical and not digital, but maybe good for Boxing Day purchases? 

Edited November 29, 20169 yr by Zelgazra

42 minutes ago, Zelgazra said:

Not sure how to do affiliate links but I saw this pop up on my ebay feed. I'm pretty much tapped out on funds otherwise I'd probably grab a few. 

HBC $100 GC for $90

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/100-Hudsons-Bay-Company-Gift-Card-for-90-/192033781171

Not sure if cashback sites will hook you up if you pay with a GC? But the extra 10% sweetens the deal on some of their 20% off stuff. Doubt these arrive in time, I expect they're physical and not digital, but maybe good for Boxing Day purchases? 

How does this seller sell GCs for less than actual value? And make a profit?

No idea how they manage it. Not sure if it was the same seller last year, but we all bought a bunch of Canadian Tire GCs 90 for 100. No scam involved. 

Edit: Just checked. Same seller from last year. 

9 minutes ago, lobo1969 said:

How does this seller sell GCs for less than actual value? And make a profit?

 

Edited November 29, 20169 yr by Zelgazra

17 hours ago, Zelgazra said:

No idea how they manage it. Not sure if it was the same seller last year, but we all bought a bunch of Canadian Tire GCs 90 for 100. No scam involved. 

Edit: Just checked. Same seller from last year. 

 

He has sold $100 sportchek GCs for $80. Not a problem buying from him.

Some sets at 25% off + 25$ off with 125$ checkout with PayPal + ****** 5% + 15% new credit card Hudson Bay!

6 hours ago, jonkiller said:

Some sets at 25% off + 25$ off with 125$ checkout with PayPal + ****** 5% + 15% new credit card Hudson Bay!

Finally something worth acting on. Got a few Awing/Tie Fighters plus First Order snow transport combos for about $125 as both are on discount already. Like getting the First Order set for free each time. Great for army building. 

8 minutes ago, jeff_14 said:

Finally something worth acting on. Got a few Awing/Tie Fighters plus First Order snow transport combos for about $125 as both are on discount already. Like getting the First Order set for free each time. Great for army building. 

Hmm, seems to be only valid once as my second order came in higher than the first. I'll consider this an extra $12.50 saving per offer.

Edited December 8, 20169 yr by jeff_14

4 hours ago, jeff_14 said:

Hmm, seems to be only valid once as my second order came in higher than the first. I'll consider this an extra $12.50 saving per offer.

delete cookies etc, or use a different browser,

14 hours ago, jonkiller said:

Some sets at 25% off + 25$ off with 125$ checkout with PayPal + ****** 5% + 15% new credit card Hudson Bay!

Maybe I missed it, but at what point does the $25 off notification for using PayPal come up?

There's a few sets on sale online for about 30% off. Example:

http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/star-wars-obiwans-jedi-interceptor-75135-0019-6135742--24

46 minutes ago, eliminator said:

There's a few sets on sale online for about 30% off. Example:

http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/star-wars-obiwans-jedi-interceptor-75135-0019-6135742--24

The original prices are all inflated however. That set for example really is only 10% off  

Still, not bad if you still need one

EDIT: I see now that this is in Canada. Silly me ?

Edited December 18, 20169 yr by MinifigW

Just a heads up. I had ordered a couple SW battle packs the other week. They all had multiple pricing stickers on them, they were shipped straight from the store rather than a warehouse.

4 hours ago, Vodium said:

Just a heads up. I had ordered a couple SW battle packs the other week. They all had multiple pricing stickers on them, they were shipped straight from the store rather than a warehouse.

Was there a "pick up at store" option? I do this with Sears in the past and have been getting mostly pristine boxes.

Just passed through a store and they are selling all toys for 20% off, lego excluded. But then they have another sign that says Nexo Knights, Ninjago, Superheroes and City are all 20% off. So basically you can get any toy at 20% off other than Star Wars and Friends lego. The Bay ain't stupid. 

Did anyone have problems using the hbc giftcards bought from the eBay store? 

Not sure if the website is broken or if the cards are fake. Is the card# located under the barcode of the pin or the huge number at the very bottom of the second part where it can be broken off and starts with 777000... The last 11 digits of this number does not match the number under the bar code

Its 4 am dealing with this bs, should have not bought the cards. Thanks for the help

Edited December 26, 20169 yr by jamalvegeta