Lego Mindstorms Robo Sports and Extreme Creatures sets $4.99! -?-

[bigfuss]

If anyone out there is into the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System (the one that lets you design, build and program your own robots,) then run, don't walk, over to your local BestBuy for a really hot deal! I was just in BestBuy this afternoon and noticed that one of the expansion sets, Robo Sports, had a shelf placard for $9.99, even though the box was stickered at the regular $49.99 price. Figuring that the placard was wrong, but that I might be able to haggle the manager into honoring it, I took it up to the checkout. Surprise; the placard was wrong - it didn't ring up at $9.99, but at $4.99!

Smelling a real kill, I rushed back and picked up one of every Lego Robotics expansion set they had and made the checkout clerk scan 'em all. The Extreme Creatures set also rang up at $4.99! All the other expansion sets were normally priced (in the $50 to $100 range) so I nabbed one of each of the $4.99 sets.

Even if you already have those sets, just the extra pieces are worth more than $5! These aren't available online (already checked.) I found 'em at a bricks & mortar store. Milage may vary.

 

[CouponCollect]

wow! you got lucky!! called my local store and they've got nothing of the sorttttttt.....they lose big money on those

 

[JaguarSavage]

really cool....I just bought one of the invention systems...I want one of these...awesome deal....hey bigfuss....if I'm not able to get these, would you be willing to sell me one of each??too cool

 

[bigfuss]

For what it's worth, I'm in Snellville, Georgia - a Northeast "cross a street" suburb of Atlanta. The Best Buy I was in is on Hwy 78 by Stone Mountain. They had one Robo Sports set left, but the shrinkwrap was ripped on it.

The checkout clerk (who has been there a long time, he must be one of the "seniors" and should be familiar with what's going on in the store) didn't believe the register was right at first. He scanned the Robo sports set twice, then entered the SKU by hand - $4.99 every time.

I'd guess they're trying to trim their toy stock (these were the first two Mindstorms expansion sets released, so they're older stock than the other.) It'll just be a matter if a particular store has any on the shelves. Staff probably won't even know of the price reduction until they scan them.

 

[bigfuss]

JaguarSavage- I only got one of each but, as my followup above states, there was one more RoboSports set left (no more Extreme Creatures.) Of the two, Robo sports is arguably the better set; Extreme Creatures contains more pieces, but Robo Sports has an extra motor and a light sensor. If you can't find one near you, I'll see if the RS set is still there.

 

[Kwad Guy]

I was just in my local BestBuy (Boston area) and they have
no mark downs on these sets. I even dragged them up the cash
register and forced the visibly annoyed clerk to scan them. Nope.
All original price.

Kwad

 

[bigfuss]

I dunno, maybe it's just local. Is Best Buy's register scanning/pricing not tied in to a national database? Do they price individually by store, or maybe by region? Sorry if this is a no-go for anyone, but it sure made my day and I had to share the possibility. Still prolly worth checking if you're gonna be in a Best Buy anyhow. I'll be in a different Atlanta area store tomorrow to pick somthing up and I'll check there too.

 

[Jeraden]

Stopped by my BB on the way home today. They had several Mindstorm sets but not the sports or extreme creatures. Everything was ringing up full price.

 

[bigfuss]

Yeah, even at my local Best Buy where I found 'em, it was only Robo Sports and Extreme Creatures. Everything else was normal.