Mom & Pop stores - higher prices worth it?

[gratefulnat]

As a lower middle-income class earner, I am interested in getting as much as possible for my hard earned cash. Added to this, I live in Switzerland, where LEGO prices rarely end up in discounts (no 2 for 3, Bogo 50%, etc), so finding a way to get sets for lower than recommended sales prices (RSP) is hard (Switzerland is a 'rich' country, so obviously most retailers don't see a need for these kind of offers).

But, with a little patience and time, one can usually find assorted LEGO products for less than RSP on the internet. Here the problem is postage, because anything from outside of Switzerland will generate exorbiante postage costs & custom costs for VAT (tax).

Recently I discovered a great little family toy shop, with most prices about 5% more than LEGO s@h prices. They have a great selection, many sets that have been out of production for over 10 years, and are friendly. They also carry most exclusive sets which normally can be only found over s@h.

So I made a decision that paying a little more, with the knowledge that my money is helping finance a family and their business, is worth it. Whether I spend 2500 Swiss Francs a year, or 2625 (ok, a few less beers to drink throughout the year), really doesn't make a difference in calculating my budget. But knowing that I'm supporting a family's income rather than a company like TRU does make a difference.

So sometimes paying a little more can make a big difference if not only looking at one's own financial situation.

Any thoughts?

[meyerc13]

Here in the US, finding a small mom and pop shop that carries LEGO is very difficult, mostly due to LEGO's policies. There is one excellent toy store an hour from here, it reminds me of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. It has Playmobil, Thomas Wooden Railroad, and all the toys you'd expect to find in a store like this - except LEGO. I chatted with the owner one day about that, and her own kids love LEGO, but LEGO just isn't friendly to small retailers here in the US. They limit the products she can carry, set unreasonable minimum orders, and don't offer the product at prices that she can compete with the big box stores.

I only know of three smaller retailers within 100 miles that carry LEGO. One of them is a small variety/department store that has somehow stuck around when all others like it have disappeared. Like the shop you describe, they still have product from years ago. When I first rediscovered LEGO a few years ago, I found the road plates I had as a kid still at the same prices ($5 for a pack of 2!). If you are looking for Galidor or Jack Stone, you'll still find some of it there. Most of the good sets have unfortunately been picked over, but last time I was there they still had a good selection of Space Police left.

The other two retailers are learning stores. At both of them you can sometimes find LEGO from last year that the other retailers have clearanced, but these stores get enough business that the retired LEGO sets don't stick around much longer than that. I always take advantage of clearance and sales at the big box stores, but when I want a set and nobody has a deal, I'll go out of my way to buy the set here because if I'm going to pay MSRP, I'd rather it go to a local business than a big box chain. Like the retailer at the top of my post who doesn't carry LEGO, the selection in the themes they can carry is limited, but on the flip side they carry some of the dacta sets so they have some things the box boxes don't (like the minifigure collections).

I wish LEGO encouraged business from small retailers instead of discouraging it. I saw a post on another site that claimed that LEGO cancelled Minifig Series 6 orders from independent retailers. Unfortunately I suspect this could be true, and that's the kind of thing that sours these retailers to LEGO. LEGO should take care of these retailers, because there's a segment of the market that won't buy toys at Wal Mart, but only at retailers like these, and LEGO is losing business because of this.

[Pingles]

I am in a much different financial place than I have ever been in my life.

In the past I just couldn't justify higher prices for ANY reason. No ifs' ands, or buts. I needed to save money.

Now that my family is in a MUCH better financial situation I, too, have been trying to "spread" the wealth to people that I think deserve it. I have also found myself passing up VERY good deals because I did not care for the source of the deal.

We have a local Learning store and I try to focus on them for my purchases. I still have to hit Target or ToysRUs for the dumb-fun toys, :)

[brickmack]

I think it's definitely worth spending a bit extra to buy from these sorts of places. I'm not certain what the economic situation in Switzerland is like right now (though I'm guessing not terribly good, like most of the world right now), but I know here in America a lot of people, particularly small business owners, are struggling to make money. So, you help keep the store open by getting stuff there. Since they have such old sets (Assuming they haven't massively increased the prices with time), it's probably cheaper to buy older stuff there than online. Also, you won't have to wait for shipping, which is another bonus.

[Gryphon Ink]

As a lower middle-income class earner, I am interested in getting as much as possible for my hard earned cash.

I hear ya. I'm also in a situation where I have to be very careful what I buy. I don't even think we're lower middle-class earners here, more like upper lower-class. So, yes, I do a lot of shopping at Walmart even though all my enlightened, better-earning friends say I should boycott Walmart, and I'll totally buy a Lego set on Amazon if their price beats Walmart's.

Independent toy stores, however, are a breed of business that's on the verge of extinction, just like independent booksellers. Both are niche businesses that have a really, really hard time competing with big chains and online retailers. Both offer a more personal, individual experience, and both support their local communities instead of some corporate headquarters in who knows where. I try to give both of them some business on a semi-regular basis, even if I can't afford to do all my shopping there.

As far as I know, there is not one independent toy store left in my area. There were two really nice ones fairly near, that both closed down in recent years. I loved shopping there. So I say, if they have sets that you want, give them the extra 5% for at least some of your purchases. You'll miss those guys when they're gone and all you have is TRU or the Swiss equivalent of TRU.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Gryphon Ink

[brickmack]

As far as I know, there is not one independent toy store left in my area. There were two really nice ones fairly near, that both closed down in recent years. I loved shopping there.

Same here. Closest thing to an independent toy store here is a store that sells old used stuff. There is a lot of old LEGO there though, so I get stuff there occasionally.

[Legogal]

Same here. Closest thing to an independent toy store here is a store that sells old used stuff. There is a lot of old LEGO there though, so I get stuff there occasionally.

We don't have independent toy stores that sell Lego around us either. The only one left does not carry it because it can't compete with the prices of the big box stores like TRU and WalMart. It is a wonderful toy store that has carried a full line of Playmobil for all of the 20 years it has been in business. When I can, I buy Playmobil through them because I want to support the family that owns it. But Lego are another story.

SO I usually buy from the local Lego Store, Target or TRU and sometimes off eBay if the price is right or I need something that is older. And of course BrickLink.

It is clear that neither Lego nor Playmobil support the small toy stores any more, and that is sad for everyone. So if you do have a local toy shop, please give them some business now and then. Cheers!

[Hrw-Amen]

I use my local toy/hobby store for most of my purchases as I don't have a TRU within about 70 miles of home which adds to the cost anyway. The other day though I was going to the town where the nearest TRU is as my wife wanted to go shopping there. We stopped off to see what they had and I have to say that I was surprised that the prices were NOT discounted in anyway.

Having stuck with the local toy/hobby store and spending so much there, (Not just on LEGO but other hobbies as well.) over the years they have now given me a 10% discount off purchases the same as the staff get, so that has paid off in the end.

[Vindicare]

I would love to have a local toy shop that sold LEGO. It's nice to get in a relationship with the owners. Like Hrw-Amen said, he gets 10% off his purchases. Not a bad deal. Little perks like that is just good karma for helping the little guys out. Also, like someone else mentioned, some smaller stores would/could have older sets and exclusives. I'd give anything to buy exclusives at a shop and not have to wait that excruciating week to get it.

[splatman]

(ok, a few less beers to drink throughout the year)

When you have more LEGO, you'll be too busy to drink those beers anyway!