KBtoys is giving 30% off to buyers in store from Oct 8-14 to settle a lawsuit.

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: CheapyD
One of the users of my site, emailed the attorney and he replyed saying video game merchandise IS NOT included.
Sorry to burst your bubble.

Well, if that's true, that's complete BS. The biggest mechandise section in K-B toys that has the "issue" with slashed prices is the video-game section. For them to exclude that, essentially proves that this is all just part of a lawyer's vacation fund finance scheme, nothing more and nothing less. Why? Because we can't have any legal impediments to the existing status-quo of price-fixing by the mfg's, can we? Oh no, of course not. K-B likes this settlement too, why? Because it provides a hot word-of-mouth reason to go shopping there for the early holiday season.

Screw em all, this holiday season, that's what I think. It's time to teach retailers a lesson. Save your money, spend you time with your families, travel, do anything but fill bait-and-switch retail swindler's coffers this season.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: CheapyD
One of the users of my site, emailed the attorney and he replyed saying video game merchandise IS NOT included.
Sorry to burst your bubble.

Well, if that's true, that's complete BS. The biggest mechandise section in K-B toys that has the "issue" with slashed prices is the video-game section. For them to exclude that, essentially proves that this is all just part of a lawyer's vacation fund finance scheme, nothing more and nothing less. Why? Because we can't have any legal impediments to the existing status-quo of price-fixing by the mfg's, can we? Oh no, of course not. K-B likes this settlement too, why? Because it provides a hot word-of-mouth reason to go shopping there for the early holiday season.

Screw em all, this holiday season, that's what I think. It's time to teach retailers a lesson. Save your money, spend you time with your families, travel, do anything but fill bait-and-switch retail swindler's coffers this season. (Note that I am speaking in general about the retail industry here, not specifically the store mentioned in this thread.)

 

[dealseaker]

keep this up there (CHRISTMAS)

 

[skarydrunkguy]

the actual markups on video games and the like is not that much. and no law suit, no matter how ridiculous, can force a store to sell things at a loss. pretty much everything in stores (kbtoys, jcpenny, whatever) is marked up 50% or more, in the case of video games and consoles, it is closer to 13%. taking 30% off the other stuff is fine, because they will still be making money, 30% off video games makes them lose money. no judge would allow something like that.

 

[Krutoy]

I'm not an attorney, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn. From what I see, this didn't isn't particularly hot, seing how Video Games are excluded.

 

[DrPizza]

What I want to know is - can I get these lawyers to go after grocery stores that force the use of, and extraction of customer data from, those "Shopper's Cards"? It's pretty clear that stores have arbitrarily raised their prices on goods up to 500% (in some cases), in order to make the "savings" look arbitrarily higher, while at the same time raising costs prohibitively on basic essential food staples for those that choose not to whore themselves to corporate marketing investigators

Answer: Not if I get them to go after the grocery stores first! whooohooo! It's a race to the lawyer's office now. btw, the lawyers got over $1million in the KBToys settlement (if you read all the fine print), and I believe the person who brought forth the suit got $10K. The rest of us have to settle for 30% off.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: skarydrunkguy
the actual markups on video games and the like is not that much. and no law suit, no matter how ridiculous, can force a store to sell things at a loss. pretty much everything in stores (kbtoys, jcpenny, whatever) is marked up 50% or more, in the case of video games and consoles, it is closer to 13%. taking 30% off the other stuff is fine, because they will still be making money, 30% off video games makes them lose money. no judge would allow something like that.

Yeah they would. It's called punative damages. They wouldn't make them lower the price by 30% permanently, but a one-week period with prices lowered like that on everything (inclusive of video games) would probably amount to something like a 7-digit punitive damage award. The only difference would be that the consumer would actually get to see some of that money.

 

[Anonemous]

So it's Oct. 1st, any news of the settlement? Or do we assume everything is 30% off...

 

[skarydrunkguy]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: skarydrunkguy
the actual markups on video games and the like is not that much. and no law suit, no matter how ridiculous, can force a store to sell things at a loss. pretty much everything in stores (kbtoys, jcpenny, whatever) is marked up 50% or more, in the case of video games and consoles, it is closer to 13%. taking 30% off the other stuff is fine, because they will still be making money, 30% off video games makes them lose money. no judge would allow something like that.

Yeah they would. It's called punative damages. They wouldn't make them lower the price by 30% permanently, but a one-week period with prices lowered like that on everything (inclusive of video games) would probably amount to something like a 7-digit punitive damage award. The only difference would be that the consumer would actually get to see some of that money.

A judge doesnt have the power to do that though. They can (and ususally do) enforce punitive damages, but they have to be straight money. You can't say, "ok, punitive damages will be... oh... well, whatever you lose in the course of this sale." It has to be something along the lines of, "$3.5 million in a scholorship fund" or "$12 million to the states to fund shoppers anonymous meetings" or something similar.

 

[michal1980]

considering the fact that most of these higher price compersions stemed from video games,
it does seem wrong that the 30% of does not include them.

it be like getting caugth stealing... u get to keep what u stole, but paying for the window you broke to get into the store... now thats fair?



err to respond to the punative damage clause... the guy that says the judge does not have power to do that.



2 points.

1 the judge will only examine the settlement and apporve or deny it something along those lines.
he is not setting the terms. KB toys and the lawyers are...

kb toys basicaly has to lose 3 million dollars in the promo time frame, if they don't then they have to donate whatever amount of monies are left over from the 3 million to charity in the form of toys.


while the final paragraph of the brief says some exculsion may apply... to know for sure if video games are excluded.. we'll need to see the final approved draft of the settlement... which was supposd to be done yesterday...

any one know where to get the whole thing?

 

[sparkle020]

Hey,
I just called KBToys (in stonestown sf), and the 30% off is NOT for systems nor is it for games.
On October 26th from 4-9pm they will have a 10% discount on games. Systems never go on sale.

 

[sparkle020]

sorry, newbie, didn't see page 2. obviously you all have realized this.

 

[michal1980]

ya just came for a kb, worked there (not for them just there)

no 'video' 30% of at all...

but the store in general seems a bit confused as too specific details as they just hread it from another store...

sale starts this monday the 6th instead of the 8th or so it seems at least in wisconsin.


bring in the orginial form from the website and u might have a chance to argue the deal with some mangers a big YMMV. since that for is not specific in any for of exlusions, get a manger that was off for a few days and isn't on the up and up, with the legal mambo jambo and u might get lucky..

 

[tivo1]

Look.. if you ask me it is rediculous that they are excluding games and systems.. not that i would buy one anyway... but the whole point is that they fuked up, and are now being forced to pay 3 mil dollars, what does it matter what 30% it is taken off of.. looks like the sale only goes on for a couple of weeks.. i doubt that they will even end up paying out the full 3 mil.

 

[cloude27]

i know this is a stupid question, i know the systems and the games are not 30% off but what about the other hardware. 30% off a new wavebird wouldnt be too bad.

 

[Duckstab]

With the small amount of profit that is made on video games and systems the sale would last about 15 minutes. Instead of complaining about what ISN'T on sale, why don't we all take advantage of what IS on sale... just a thought.

 

[Fiveohhh]

would xbox controllers be included in thes...?

 

[nickmarine]

I'm not a lawyer and I've never slept with one allthough I might if she was hot, bought me dinner and drove a porsche, circle goes around.

I say we all raid the KBToys on the same date at the same time and crash the entire system so they have to kick us out or do manual reciepts which would be impossible with the highy educated staff they have.

Take advantage of what they do have at %30 off and get yours while you can.

KBToys sells a hell of a lot more than just game consoles

Maybe even something for Daddy

Nick

 

[DeeTees]

This should give them time to raise their prices by 50% in time for the 30% off sale. Making the consent decree a cheap form of advertising.

Never overestimed the morals of a mall retailer.

 

[Shinta]

Okay, I agree w/ those who say we should take advantage of what is on sale, but thing is WTH do they have that's worth buying?

Those of us with kids (not me) can buy bikes and balls and stuff, but is there anything else besides maybe Lego for the rest of us to care about?

 

[Sputs]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
So it's Oct. 1st, any news of the settlement? Or do we assume everything is 30% off...

I'm a law clerk in Chicago. I will check at the courthouse to see if it went through on Monday or Tuesday and post the results.

 

[michal1980]

i agree with tivo...

plus its not like there going to have extra stock on hand for the games and consoles... there not required to have extra in stock so once its gone its gone.

to me that 10 or so consoles each store has per system type is not a huge loss.. and once they run out well they'll be gone... since theres no rain check on this not a freakin big deal.

as to what else is a good deal... overall nothin because kb toys is generally higher priced then every other toy store. so the 30% of isn't great.

plus they already have a scheduled 20 or 25% freinds /family sale at the end of oct.
and lego sale in november.

so only thing that one can get that i haven't heard is on any major sale is bikes, boardgames...
dolls.
or like slot cars which while still fun when one is older.

70 or so bucks even after the 30% off is still up there for a toy that does get old fast when ur older.

 

[VSOP]

I think I'll have to pick up some model rocket engines.. I can have some fun with those.. Its been a while since I have messed with building custom rockets..

 

[puppyfriend]

Is this just B&M or online as well?

David

 

[QueHuong]

I don't know if this has been addressed or not, but I came in today to ask about the sale, the cashier said it doesn't apply to video games. Can anyone confirm?