A VISIT TO MEGATOYS FOR THE 2011 SHOPPING SEASON

Update October 19, 2011  We just visited MegaToys to check on their early arrivals for the 2011 shopping season and we were not disappointed.  MegaToys is starting to get in low priced dolls and playsets for girls including fashion dolls with accessories priced at around $7 complete, and there are toy tea sets priced as low as $3 each.  This discounter also has radio controlled cars as low as $5 each and these have a very good range and speed.  There are packs of ten die-cast cars for a $1 or just ten-cents per car.  There are packs of play tools and all sorts of game packages all well under $10 per set.

What really made me take notice was a new type of "cash register toy" that I've never seen before.  Not only does it have a very low price, but it has real-life features including a scanner that beeps when you swipe the toy credit cards that are included, and the cash register is actually a workng calculator, and there is a make-believe scanner/bar code reader that you can use on the toy groceries.  And what really got my attention was that the "play money" that comes with the game includes 100 Euro bills.  And these mini-Euro bills almost look like the real Euro currency.

That is really a sign of how toys have changed: this cash register set has a working calculator, make believe credit cards, a make believe credit card scanner, a make believe bar code scanner, and make believe 100 Euro bills. 

Keep in mind that the discounts for this holiday season will be bigger than in years past because MegaToys has plans to move from its current warehouse location to a new facility so owner Charlie Woo really wants to clear out his inventory to make the move easier this coming sping.  Our first Best Buys TV Show report for the 2011 Holiday shopping season is below.

OUR VISIT TO MEGATOYS FOR THE 2010 HOLIDAY SEASON

Megatoys continues to bring bargain prices to consumers because of its giant, nationwide wholesale business.  And again, Megatoys features the holiday classics as well as some of the new hot toys and gift items.  Megatoys has the new "food truck toys" including the Ice Cream Truck and the Taco Truck with music and sound effects for only $12 each -- and these can retail for $20 at the major discount chains.  Megatoys specializes in radio controlled cars at the 1/24 scale and these are priced as low as $6 each.  For younger kids, there are traction trucks and cars including the two piece truck and trailer Weekend Adventure sets for only $9 each and these retail for about $15.  I was very impressed to see a battery-powered race track that comes with two controllers, two cars, and two spare car bodies and more than seven and a half feet of track and this sells for $9.99.

This year, Megatoys has gift baskets and gifts appropriate for teachers such as holiday mug sets with hot chocolate or tea, and M&M gift sets that include a toy and lots of candy and a holiday mug.  The M&M gift set is only $9.99 and the mug sets with the hot cocoa are priced at only $2.75 each.  There are holiday bears at only $4 each.

Lots of toys and play sets for the young ladies including fashion dollars and tea sets and mini doll houses and some of these are in the range of $4 to $5 each.  The Betty Fashion Dolls which are 23-inches tall and come in fashion-forward clothing are priced at only $12.99 here.  And there are other playthings like a shopping cart that comes filled with toy groceries.

Finally, Dads and big brothers won't resist playing with the hopping Hummer battery-powered car, and Mom will just melt over the crawling dolls and the baby doll that makes life-like sounds, and these are all priced for under $17.   And there is something else that is very important: all of the toys at Megatoys meet safety standards for kids.  Our video report is below.