Local Toys-R-Us Store: Christmas Music, Tree & Trains ... Already!

Pretty nifty looking cargo train from Lego.

 

there are a couple of radio stations that used to start playing Christmas music after Thanksgiving. The last few years they've been starting before that. I really like it myself. 

I like the music but not til mid November

I think it's nice people get ready for Christmas early. It gets me exited for the holidays.

But not when people go overboard...

That reminds me, I have to get started on my Christmas layout!!!

I am with you Keith. Thank you for your interest in model railroading and for taking an active part on our Forum. Really nice to see young folks get involved.

Happy Hallothanksmass!

Macy's and Gimbles started this whole Christmas in November thing many years ago. Traditionally Christmas Carols we not sung or played until Christmas season, which begins at...you guessed it....Christmas. Ever notice that the day after Christmas the 24 hours of Christmas music on the radio stops. Not a note is heard.

 

Gotta go now, its time to start on my Christmas layout. 

:-p

Condutor Earl

Episcopal priest  

I am pleased about the trains, really, but its not even close to Thanksgiving for cryin' out loud.  My wife and I went to Lowe's to pick up some wood for the layout yesterday, and they already had Santa and Reindear and big inflatable trees and lights and Christmas decorations up: On Halloween!!!!  

       
       


Thanks! I've almost always been interested in trains! It started with my grandpa's Chrismas layout when I was probably around 5 months old.

Regarding the forum, I love it! I enjoy everything about it!!!

Holidays are getting out of hand.  Christmas decor was going up in Walmart & Home Depot in September.

Hi Rk, I know what you are saying but I came to accept the difference between Christmas and the holiday shoping season.  

I don't mind stores like Hobby Lobby and the many other craft stores setting up Christmas stuff up in September since many crafting people want to start early. However, stores like Home Depot and Walmart are crazy

Be sure to post some photos

My local Lowes had the Christmas stuff up and on the shelves 2 weeks ago!!. Walmart was doing the same--. I'm really getting fed up with all the retailers rushing the season--- in a couple more years they'll start the season the day after Labor Day!

that train set is the grand prize in our christmas train display. The kids can win tickets for the raffle by completing the scavenger hunt, or mom & dad can purchase some extra... It is a beaut of a set.

Me to.  I'm still very old school. My Christmas season starts Thanksgiving weekend and ends Jan 6th the Feast of the Epiphany.

       
       


I'll definitely post some pics (if we ever start it)!!! My grandpa and I usually start the layout around this time. He brings out all his postwar items from his childhood, and I bring my collection. I'm not sure how large the layout will be, but I hope it is bigger than last year's!

Earl,

That's because the $$$ stop flowing for the most part.

 

I was in a situation for several years where the Christmas music was played non-stop, in part because of those stations, but probably more due to the lack of consideration for other people, and it wasn't a store. I now pity people that have to work in those.

By the week before Christmas I was so tired of hearing it that I didn't want to listen to any on a decent system at home, it ruined it for me.

 

But I think what bothers me more is what you mentioned, the abrupt end (not just the music) the day after.

 

Dave

 

 

Part of the problem with stores putting stuff out on shelves so early is they usually have to order 4 to 6 months early before the season to get the order delivered in time. Then the rule in retail is nothing on shelf, no sales so fill it now! So as soon as stuff gets sold down from one season (like Halloween) they start refilling it with the next season. Stuff has been taking up space in the back rooms and hallways so they push it out on the floor asap. Some stores do up to 90% of their yearly sales in these next two months so the pressure is on to be the first one to get the stuff out to sell to get the early birds doing their shopping. I don't go for it doing my shopping 2 months early but if that makes the difference between some businesses staying open or closing their doors forever I understand it.

The projected ten busiest shopping days for 2014.
 
      1,  Friday Nov. 28 (Black Friday)
      2,  Saturday Dec. 20  (Last weekend before Christmas)
      3,  Saturday Dec. 13
      4,  Saturday Dec. 6
      5,  Friday Dec. 26 (Day after Christmas)
      6,  Sunday Dec. 21 (Last weekend before Christmas)
      7,  Saturday Nov. 22 (Small Business Saturday)
      8,  Friday Dec. 19  (Last weekend before Christmas)
      9,  Sunday Dec. 14
    10,  Saturday Nov. 29

 

Merry Christmas.

A little late really.......many major retailers have had stuff up for weeks.....but if folks didn't buy....retailers would not do it.

Living in a colder region, I can understand the desire to purchase outdoor decorative items early and be done with it when the getting is good. However, I don't wish to see such displays activated until Friday after Thanksgiving. Retailers battle over sales and discovered that the first out gets the dollars. How long will it be before we see yule-tide treasures on shelves in July. 

Here in Central Florida the Local Walmart sterted putting out Christmas items October 1, Lowes followed suit 3 days later. Home Depot put their stuf out on the 14th. Ace hadn't started but I was told they begin November 1.

I can't complain as I began my display August 1 at an off site location.

I don't mind they put the stuff out early. But the problem with a lot of the chain stores is if you wait till you are ready they are already out of what you wanted. It's just like a coat, you better get it before you really need it. If you wait till that first really cold day you might be lucky to find what you want and in your size. And most won't get another shipment. But I understand, they don't want to have to mark down seasonal items at the end of the season. It's just frustrating at times. It's there when you don't need it, and gone when you do...........................Life..................

Went food shopping today, I thought this amusing.. One set of workers discounting the candy corn display, while 10 feet away another group stocking up candy canes. I pulled out my TSO (Trans Siberian Orchestra CD in the car today) 2 weeks to our annual TSO show . Little early yes but why not. 

PS.. 109 days to Pitchers and catchers! in the mean time drop the puck..

If too early is our biggest problem we are doing OK.

 

That's exactly how retailers do it, as soon as one space is cleared off from the previous season it's filled with stuff for the next season. Shelf stocker, " Lord Almighty,  we have a empty shelf, what are we going do? " Supervisor, " I don't know but fill it with something! " LOL!

I was in a Toy 'R' Us this past weekend and notice there were no Lionel product on the shelves.

 

Steve

Was in a Hobby Lobby over the weekend all the Christmas items were already marked down 50% off

I hear what you are saying.When I worked for Venture we would start right after Halloween.Know can you imaging working there and listening to it all day.I not it seems crazy but here in se Wisconsin we have had some snow already.I hope we have a good season.Can not wait for the train show this weekend at West Allis,(State park fair).

Traditionally it would start around Advent, which is in early December (church I belonged to it was around December 5th), which kicks off the liturgical season that ends with Epiphany. However, when Christmas started accounting for a huge portion of retail sales, it got shifted back and back. When I was a kid, it started right after Thanksgiving, now by Halloween the stores already have their stuff up and displayed in many cases, and you start seeing ads for the holiday time (Wal Mart and Lay away, Best buy showing people shopping in the snow, etc). Personally it is a bit too much, I kind of like the Thanksgiving to Christmas timeframe, it works, it makes it a bit more special to me, and maybe shorten the whole madness that is buy buy buy..but then again, given the gloom in the world, maybe it is as they said in the musical "Mame", "We need a little Christmas now" *smile*

I agree, it is because that is when the money stops flowing, December 26th is the day when people return or exchange things, or where they buy stuff they didn't buy before the holiday, but it shows the end of the retail season and that is what most care about, quite frankly Christmas as a religious holiday took a back seat a long, long time ago to the retail holiday. 

Here I am in Target on October 15...Halloween on the right and Christmas on the left. I will just ignore it until I am ready to decorate after Thanksgiving. First things first. Christmas really begins on Christmas Eve and nothing really happens until Christmas Day. It wraps up with Epiphany.