Walmart Stores gypped on Decor?

[DemonSlayerMau]

I don't know if any of you guys have bought your decorations at Walmart this year, but at my walmart they don't have squat for decorations. In fact, talking to a walmart associate, this is all they're getting.
Sure, they've got the candy and the costumes, but as far as decorations are concerned, there's light up jack o' lanterns, window clings, and kitchen towels. That's about it.
No inflatables, no big fake skeletons displays, no evil witch or grim reaper stand ups, no fake tombstones as far as the eye can see. It's barily worth looking at. Seriously, this is the worst Halloween Holiday display I've ever seen.
Now, don't get me wrong, their selection of Halloween tee-shirts is great. Their craft section has some nice things. But if you're a yard or lawn decorator, you can definately count out my walmart as a place to shop.
Has anyone else noticed this? I noticed at a few other walmarts that there's barily anything for Halloween as well.
Oh...but their Christmas display is beautiful. All kinds of selection, including the cat ornaments that I collect and must have every year. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and all, and don't shoot me because I've even bought a singing Christmas caroling cat already at Dollar General. But let's face it, Halloween got the cold shoulder at my local walmart this year, and I think it's been mentioned that Halloween is being pushed out the door by Christmas in other stores. But at walmart it's the least impressive display I've seen. Except of course, for the costumes, but if you want decorations, I would look somewhere else. They don't even have Halloween lights! This is so sad. The biggest department store in the US, and a very poor selection of Halloween items. I don't even think I got anything from walmart this year, except a bandana, and maybe some food items.

[Belladonna]

At the Wal-Mart near me they have a little better, but not much.
I was disappointed in the selection too.
I went to some crafts places and found stuff...but the drugstores have more than Wal-Mart had this year!

[DemonSlayerMau]

Really? I thought Dollar Tree had more than walmart did this year, with the exception of costumes and things like crafts and tee-shirts. But decor wise, I was really disapointed with Walmart's selection.
I thought I would check in today and see if they had more stuff, because sometimes there's just a delay on getting stuff in. Wrong. Ugh. I just can't believe it.

[MacPhantom]

I noticed the same at the local Walmart. I read a report which said that expectations for Halloween sales were extremely pessimistic this year due to the poor economy, and as Walmart increasingly caters to a less wealthy customer base, they probably assumed that Halloween products wouldn't sell well. Target, which for some reason has a reputation for being "classier" or more "middle class" than Walmart, has a very big Halloween section this year.

[Spookymufu]

I wasnt all that impressed with Target this year, but i did get a fogger and a timer there this year at a good price, but Target was far and away better then Walmart this year, I think out of the year round stores, Party City had the best selection of stuff........I would have liked to seen better animatronics this year, I wasnt impressed with ANY of the new ones for 09.

[MacPhantom]

Party City seems to get better each year. I love hitting them after Halloween and stocking up on foam skulls and wee rubber skeletons.

[DemonSlayerMau]

I thought Micheals had a real good selection. I don't think there's a party city anywhere near where I live. And the Micheals I'm talking about is an hour and a half drive away, and I usually only go to places like that and Target when I go to my classes to save on gas and wear and tear on my car.
Yet...walmart has a huge selection of Christmas stuff...and they're using "poor economy" as their excuse? Pft. If anything Halloween would help the economy.

[MacPhantom]

No, what I mean is, if retailers think people aren't going to buy Halloween decorations because the economy is bad and they're trying to save money for things like gas bills and groceries, then they aren't going to stock a bunch of stuff they'll be stuck with when no-one is buying.

Yeah, Michaels had some pretty good stuff. Pricey, though. I got the Mummy-Dog last year, and I'm glad I did, cause they didn't have them this year.

[Spookymufu]

the Michaels by me didnt have much, about a half an isle of stuff I couldnt really use....I do kind of like their little light up spooky houses tho

[adrian]

our target did a fabulous job
but our walmart... Mau hit the nail right on the head.. costumes, candy, no decor
its sad

but the good news is.. it seems more people are decorating this year

[DemonSlayerMau]

Maybe if the corporates saw how disapointed Halloween shoppers are this year, they'll take care to improve their selection next year. One can only hope.
Then again, most corporate offices only care about the mula. They don't really care about the customer's wants.
Perhaps we at Halloween.com should find a way to write to their corporate offices and demand more Halloween decorations for selection!

[adrian]

we should start a mass out cry to em letters upon letters stressing our concern and dissappointment in their lack of......EVERYTHING

[Murfreesboro]

Our WalMart has had a little better than you describe, but I, too, have noticed that most stores are going heavily into Christmas this year. Mainly, I've noticed that what was available a few weeks ago is mostly gone, and no one seems to be restocking. I think MacPhantom has hit the nail on the head. The economy is not. good., and retailers are hoping people will buy for Christmas. They probably think that most people will scale back on Halloween in order to have more for December.

I haven't bought much so far this year, but I have boxes and boxes of decorations from seasons past. I can put on a nice display without spending a lot of $$ every year. But of course, the stores need us to do that.

[adrian]

Our WalMart has had a little better than you describe, but I, too, have noticed that most stores are going heavily into Christmas this year. Mainly, I've noticed that what was available a few weeks ago is mostly gone, and no one seems to be restocking. I think MacPhantom has hit the nail on the head. The economy is not. good., and retailers are hoping people will buy for Christmas. They probably think that most people will scale back on Halloween in order to have more for December.

I haven't bought much so far this year, but I have boxes and boxes of decorations from seasons past. I can put on a nice display without spending a lot of $$ every year. But of course, the stores need us to do that.

i'm glad to hear you guys have it better your way.. i used to love waiting for wal mart to put all their stuff out

[Murfreesboro]

Well, we did have it better at first, but as I said, no one seems to be restocking. My MIL's birthday is today, and I decided at the last minute to try to get her a little gift to open. (She's 85 and lives in a nursing home, has diabetes--not too much you can give to someone in that situation). So I went to Cracker Barrel's Country Store, because they always have all this seasonal stuff. And it was almost all gone! They were stocking Christmas items like mad. You'd think it was Thanksgiving weekend already.

I did manage to find her a pretty long-sleeved tee shirt I think she might like, with a design about apple harvest all over it. And I got it at a good discount because they are trying to get rid of all their fall merchandise already. Really, didn't fall just officially start a couple of weeks ago?