This is why I try not to go to stores after about an hour past opening.

 

Kind of makes one wonder if there really is a recession. I see folks flocking to buy the $150+ SW Millenium Falcon, iPods, TV's, Transformers, Power Rangers, Bakugan, SW ships and figures, Elmo Live's, that Dinosaur that makes noice and growls, etc. Shopping carts full of stuff. I went Saturday, and that was enough. I'll be going during the weekdays now too.

 

I didn't shop in the weekend at all (since I got myself Cyclonus and Hound on Friday morning) .. but if I saw any parents looking after the TFs, I will definitely persuade them to buy more oil Slick than anything else... with the reason oil slicks have one thing good.. as the motorcycles for the joe's. And this is a Win Win situation if the parents clear those oil slicks for them and us.  

 

To be frank, it is no different here in my country, in my state to say at least. TRUs here are basically deprived of TF toys and Star Wars stuff. The moment they get displayed, in a day's time 90% of them are gone. Same here for the local toy specialty shops. TFs that are pegwarming for a whole YEAR gets eaten up. I wanted to get a Henkei Ramjet last week and it has been warming the pegs for a long time (probably 8 months and there were like 8 of them). but last week when I decided to bite the bullet, it's gone. ALL OF THEM. Seems like the Christmas spirit intensified every year here.

 

when our middla day sales start after christmas , its packed with ppl. Guess its a worldwide thing.

 

Keep in mind we ended up in a recession because we love to buy things we cannot afford. Don't ever try to take away the things we love  


But yeah, the stores seemed out of control this weekend.. I haven't hunted in almost three months, but when I heard about Target getting Uni Wave 4 I spent all afternoon yesterday searching. What a waste of my time... At every store there were 7 or 8 people standing in front of the TF section... After waiting to get a peek I see literally empty pegs.

This morning I ordered Cyclonus, Hound, 3 new legends, and Inferno from HTS for $53 total with free shipping.
Just because gas is cheap doesn't mean I should be wasting it.

 

I read an article that said that even in a recession, parents-buying-for-their-kids is the last thing to diminish. They said parents will do without basics for themselves in order to still get their kids what they want - especially so that the kids don't feel left out at school.
Noble in some ways, but foolish in others. i.e. my wife and I are indeed making sure our kiddos have a happy X-mas this year, looking for good values and sales and we are likely going to spend around $150 on each of them (compared to about $50 we're spending on each other's gifts). On the other hand, my wife's aunt spends around $1000-$1500 per kid on her two each X-mas, to the point where the kids don't even open many of the toys for weeks and weeks because they are over saturated. Not to mention that she has to buy two of everything because her boys will not share. The mountains of toys they have are neglected and broken. Then again, these kids also can (and frequently do) reject whatever has been made for dinner and instead demand and get fast food. I think her boys, who have "everything", are doomed - they are demanding, disrespectful, angry little people and life isn't going to go well with their outlook.

Anyway, back to the main point - yeah, I won't shop at all on weekends between now and the New Year. Ugh - I hate crowds at the best of times, X-mas crazed ones are some of the worst.

 

Its still not too bad around here. The Target I work at is really never that bad, and I can still do some peaceful shopping on my breaks. As far as the shelves being stocked, though, it tends to be pretty bad. Something I can understand with, say, Bakugan (which btw, I think is awesome =D), but we barely have any Marvel Legends figures! Plus, I STILL haven't seen ANY Power Rangers R.P.M. figures...

 

I make it a rule to never do a serious hunt during December. If new stuff is out that I "MUST HAVE" then there's always online.

 

I really want to add that it might have to do with the different endorsements from TV that parents have to buy Bakugan. I've caught quite a few day time talk shows or even on the news showing that Bakugan is the new hit item and so forth.

Anyhow, I've never gone hunting on weekends. I'm usually working those days. I doubt I'll ever look for figures during that time unless it's right after to hit up local wal-marts since they're 24 hour stores. Otherwise holding off on looking for anything new for the time being.

 

It will unless Nintendo decides to remake Pokemon Gold and Silver for the Nintendo DS. If not, I'll be PISSED.  

BULLCRAP! December 26th happens to be the TRUE Christmas in my book. It's the day where you can buy all the stuff you didn't get on Christmas day. I'll fight my way through the crowds if I have to.

And yes, I'm aware of this Bakugan. Pfft. It won't last.