YuleLog Ornament Collector's Bulletin Board Forums Discussion Ornament Collecting Discussion Discounts on Ornaments Yet? How are your retailers doing?

Good Morning to All,

Just wondered how things are going in your local area's. We have a group of stores here in San Diego, who have been offering 25% off their ornaments. The stores nearby where I live, still seem to have high inventories on ornaments and cards. It seems like the economy has definetely affected Hallmark this year. Please share about your area!

Renee'

They never early discount here. Except at Kohl's, which I bought an ornament there today for 20% off plus an additional 15% off with a coupon. And I got the free salt and pepper shakers.

Luck, I know you collect the Precious Moments Dolls. I don't know if you are interested or not, however, QVC has the Precious Moments Christmas Doll, today. Just thought I would let you know. I didn't mean to hijack this subjest.

Our local Hallmark will have 30% off all ornaments on December 18th. They do that every year as the celebrate the 12 days of Christmas. Each day there is a differnt item, such as all Snowmen, all Santa's, all Jim Shore, all Collectible. It makes it really nice for gifts.
Bummber, since I don't need to buy anymore.

Not trying to continue the drive-by forum hijacking, but I get email notices from Precious Moments, and the doll's actually been on air a few times. I only have 2 of the stocking dolls though. One was free when you bought over $50 worth of merchandise on their website, and the other I found at a flea market for $10 I think, so I'm not really into them heavily. But thanks for remembering!

You know where a good place to get Jim Shore seasonal stuff on sale is? A hospital. I know it sounds odd, but I've seen the Jim Shore items in hospital gift shops, and most discount after Christmas to get rid of it since there's usually not a lot of space in hospital gift shops. I only know this because I've been to hospitals around the holidays before visiting relatives, and I go exploring hospitals. It's weird, but when other family members and friends arrive and want to spend time with the person in the hospital, you can't all fit in the room, and you have to go somewhere. I'm actually really good at finding my way around buildings and not getting lost. Put me in a car, driving to a strange place though...let's just say I should get a GPS.

I've received about 5 discount coupons from my local HMK chain and they're good on ornaments. The really n ice thing is they aren't "Spend $100 and get $1.00 off" LOL The coupons are 25% off.

I don't know about my hallmark stores but Longs is already discounting the Hallmark ornaments. They were 20% off last week and are 25% off this week. This is when I'm going to miss Mervyns. They would be going to 50% off by now or within the next few days. Then again, there's nothing I really still need to get so maybe I'm just being nostalgic :).

The stores in my area tell me that they are doing well.....and NONE of them ever have sales before Christmas. I thought that they weren't allowed to do that. I think people buy ornaments when the economy is bad, because they are "feel good" items.

I sure miss seeing those "sold out" banners on the website....that was fun.

The stores around here always give out coupons that aren't any good. They usually say: Not valid on Keepsake ornaments, Dept 56, or Vera Bradley. I got one last week that had those restrictions as well as "not valid on single Christmas cards." What the? Are you really going to lose a lot of money if someone takes 25% off 1 Christmas card? Honestly! Of course, this is a step-up. They used to send out stuff that said "some restrictions." And then, I tried to buy a collectible once, and the cashier said no collectibles. Then, I asked about using it on something else. Nope. Something else. No. Then I asked, what can I use it on. "The cards and the candy at the front register." Thanks... They wouldn't even let you use it on gift wrap. It was really annoying.

Oh, and I took a percent off card earlier this year with the restrictions of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments, Dept 56, and Vera Bradley. And I tried to buy an Enesco Precious Moments ornament. Cashier-"You can't use it on that." Me-"Why not? It doesn't say Precious Moments on it." Cashier-"Precious Moments are Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments." Me-"No, just the Snow White ornament and the Cinderella one are Hallmarks, this is Enesco." Cashier-"No, it's a Hallmark. You can't use it on that." Me-"No, it's Enesco, see?"(points to box) Cashier sighs and taps on the assistant manager's shoulder. We go through the same argument. Finally, the assistant manager says "Well, we consider it Hallmark." Me-"I'm sure Enesco appreciates you giving credit to another company for their work." Then, I pulled out a gift card and asked to use it. Sighing, they accepted it. Joke's on them. That was my premiere gift card that was 5% of my premiere purchase that couldn't be used on Keepsake ornaments (stupid, I know because it was their gift card, and I've received them for birthdays and Christmas and used them on ornaments). So...it couldn't be used on Keepsake ornaments, and the Enesco PM ornament was a "Keepsake." Hmm...

Really though, I hate the local chain here. They're ridiculous. I've explained their warped Keepsake after Christmas philosophies before, but if you want a good laugh, ask me about them, and I'll tell you guys again.

I use to shop at a chain around here that did that. There was NOTHING to buy with those certificates so I quit shopping there for the 10.00 for every 50.00 spent certificates. I was able to use them on a couple of Jim Shore pieces but there was NOTHING to buy and even inventory of that was very slim pickings so out of desperation I tried one last day or two before they expired and they had just received a new Jim Shore shipment so I was able to get the 200.00 or whatever it was display piece a year or two ago for like half price. Otherwise, I'd never had paid full retail for it.

Just got back from one of my local Hallmarks. Since my hubby and a friend got an email from this chain, saying their orns were 25% off, I called to see if they had Signs of Affection (Lady & the Tramp) and if they were still running the sale, since the email was received on 12-18, but the sale expiration date was 12-17. They did, would hold it for me and they were.

My hubby had told me President Bush had made 12-26 a federal holiday, so there will be many more after-Christmas shoppers this year than in years past, so since this store had one, I figured I could save myself some time and hassle of after-Christmas shopping, if I picked this one up today. I don't really NEED any other things at this point.

We printed out his email and went to the store. When we got there, there were 2 different signs on the Keepsake display. One said "25% off all Keepsake" orns, the other was "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" on the orns. He needed to get something for one of his employees, so he got him the laptop orn, I got my SoA (L&T) and Home is Where the Pets Are, since it was a Nina Aube animal orn & by definition, VERY CUTE!!

When we got to the register, she said we could pick whichever deal worked out better for us, which turned out to be the B2G1F deal, so that was great. I had won a Hallmark gift card at one of my local club meetings, so I gave that to her. I was told the card was probably for $20, but my girlfriend also got one and hers was $30, so I was curious to see what mine turned out to be.

Mine turned out to be $30 as well!! So, after the sale discount, I only had to pay $3 and change for the 3 orns!! Plus, I don't have to go out on 12-26 for after-Christmas shopping, unless I can't resist getting the Rudolph & Clarice plush that wasn't on sale at the shop yet.

Also, when I paid, she gave me a store coupon for $5 off any $25 or more purchase, of regularly priced merchandise, from now until 12-24. I won't be using it, but it was a nice idea.

I called our local corporate store too, they had the orn and when I asked her if it was on sale, she said no, regular price! So I guess not all of the corporate stores get the same sales!!

The only sale my Hallmark is running yet is "Buy the Hannah Montana ornament-Get High School Musical for Free" Couldn't even entice me with that!

She's also giving one of those color changing light up snowman snowglobes free with a $50.00 purchase to any Gold Crown member. I picked up a couple of ornaments for another Yulelogger and a couple of small stocking stuffers not knowing this, so I was surprised to be seeing it put into my bag.

Right now I'm not even thinking of going out after Christmas. We're supposed to be getting 12"-18" of snow tonight and I'm already feeling snowbound!

Karen

Received an e-mail from our local club sponsor that we can purchase our 1/2 off ornaments on Christmas Eve Day between 12 Noon and 6 P.M. rather than having to wait until the day after Christmas.

Our mall HMK is closing January 20! I'm going in there tomorrow (Tuesday, 12-23) to see what, if anything, is on sale now.

This was the store I went to for my VIP bag in November. This store seemed to have a problem the last few years. None of the ornaments I ordered would ever be pulled ahead of time and sometimes the specials (wrap paper) weren't put out on time either. Poor management.

There's a corporate HMK outside the mall but this arrangement has been in place for a long time.

We have a corporate store closing near us and everything except Christmas counter cards is 50% off.

Got a coupon for another store for an add'l 20% off on the 26th, and they are usually 50% so that's a good discount! Not much I really need tho!

Which store closing? I'm here in Northeast Ohio also and every once in a while venture north for bargains!

Midway Mall, Elyria Ohio, Rt.57, right off the Ohio Turnpike

I've been receiving emails daily from one chaing of Hallmark stores here in San Diego with various specials. Another chain that is in my neighborhood appears to still have a high amount of ornaments in inventory.

Renee'

No discounts here yet except for the cards.
Mary

I haven't seen any sales at Hallmark, at least none that pertain to me. I bought more ornaments at Kohl's (non-Hallmark) than Keepsakes this year. Lots more. As mentioned before, they had some great Gingerbread/candy/cookie type ornaments. I only bought those on sale and with a coupon but the past few years I think the original prices have been higher on Christmas items so the sales bring in back to normal pricing. Or is that just me?

The few times I've been in a Hallmark, they seem to have a good supply of Keepsakes, with only a few sold out signs. One store that had sold out signs now has some of those ornaments. The non-ornament line seems to be doing well, collectively.

Of the 250 PLUS ornaments that Hallmark put out this year, I have under 20, probably under 15. I'm just not as excited as in the past.

Ditto here. With the exception of buying the usual duplicates for the kids my Hallmark purchases were down overall and I didn't buy many of my series ornaments this year either. After going through some of my boxes while decorating, I plan to do another purge and eliminate some not so hot designs from my series before the days when I quit worrying about a "hole" in my series.