Saturday, September 20, 2014

New and Notables at Walmart

I haven't been to Walmart in about 30 days so while this was my first time viewing all of these items in person, I know others have already found and blogged them so I'm basically showing stuff I thought was cool or notable.



Rainy Day, Cowgirl and Camping $8.97

I like these themed sets a lot. For the cost, I'm impressed with their efforts and details. Though, of course, not as well made quality wise, as say a Moxie themed set, they still offer you playability and decent fashions. The Rainy Day one is my favorite and it gives me such a Parisian vibe.

Fairy Tale Collection $22.88

I am not a "Princess" person, so these do nothing for me, but I think a kid under 4 might like them. However, a kid older than that is probably more brand name aware and might turn their nose up at a Disney-ish clone.

Princess with Horse $16.97

There were 4 different versions of the doll, but the horse is the same in each pack. $16.97 seems a tad hefty to me, but you are getting a horse, a doll and a pretty cute dress. If you ever wanted to build yourself a carousel, then a bunch of these horses is the way to go.

A Pack of Trouble - Wolf Family $45.97

$46?! Oh my goodness. I know that only equates to $11.50 per doll, but dang. I dunno, I'm just not feeling it and Clawd having one hand posed in a rad sign looks a little awkward to me.





Day/Night Dreamhouse Fashions $11.97

Hmm. I like some pieces as separates but overall, my fashion tastes lean more toward the simplistic wear that Sparkle Girlz produce. I would like the cat shirt if it didn't have "Barbie" on it. I like the black and white stripped pants and I like the metallic silver and purple dress. That "Fab!" pack looks like something the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Nicki Minaj would wear on a date in 1990.

Style Fashion with Doll $8.88

I'm not gonna lie, I do like the dress with the hot pink top and black bottom. However, I still dislike the direction Mattel took the Fashionista's and then they turned them into these non articulated mannequins. Barf.

Ken Gift Set - Walmart Exclusive $19.97

Wow, I could not believe this was only $20. At best you can find individual Ken clothing packs for $5.97. So if you buy this, you'll be getting a doll and an extra jacket for only $2 more. That's a darn good bargain, especially if you compare it to the girl's pack also available.

Barbie Gift Set - Walmart Exclusive $29.97

Granted the Barbie set comes with stickers, but whoop-dee-do. I guess she's more expensive because she's "Barbie" and has actual hair.

Barbie Glam Camper $89.97 versus Kid Connection Camper $19.97

$90 mother freaking bucks. I mean, it's got a lot of stuff in it, so don't get me wrong, but you can buy the Monster High High School for $70! If you've got the funds, more power to ya, but if you're a broke bee like me, the Kid Connection Camper might be more your speed.


True, it's a little sedate and rather plain, but it will get you where you are going and probably with reasonable gas mileage.

It does not have a pool though, lol!

But if you insist on being fancy, the Glam Camper is the way to go.

I was feeling good about finding all this cool stuff and then I get to checkout and had this conversation:

A-hole Clerk mutters: "I didn't know people still bought Barbie stuff."
Surprised Muff says:  "Excuse me?"
A-hole Clerk repeats: "I didn't know people still bought Barbie stuff."
Ticked off Muff says: "Well, they still make it so why wouldn't people buy it?!"
A-hole Clerk just shrugs.

I wanted to snatch that trick's twists off her head. Why cant clerks keep their negativity to themselves? Ugh!

43 comments:

  1. I saw this post in my reading list just as I was about to write one about all the new stuff at Walmart, Target, and TRU. Your pics of the new Sparkle girlz fashion dolls are much better than mine. My store didn't have the camping or rainy day ones. Mattel is going a little too loud and glitzy with their fashions lately. LOL @ your comment about the Fab fashion pack.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jewell, I haven't been to Target or TRU in a while either so I'll be looking forward to seeing what all you've found. That FAB pack just screams Nicki Minaj. I know I have seen her in that dress. But actually, if you ever wanted to make your own Minaj doll that would be the perfect pack to get.

      Delete
  2. The top Sparkle Girl -- the Rainy Day one -- enticed me when I saw her at Walmart last week, but at 7 p.m. on Sunday night, my Walmart looked like a tornado had blown through, and I couldn't match the box to a spot on the shelf with a price!

    Hasn't the clerk noticed it's frequently necessary to straighten and restock that very pink half-aisle or so, over there in Toys? The Barbie section in my Walmart never looks quite as eaten-by-locusts as the Monster High shelves opposite, but it does have stuff come and go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Smaller, that Rainy Day Sparkle really is enticing. She practically jumped out at me as I was walking down the isle. The craftsmanship isn't all that great, but it's still a really cute outfit.

      I have been in some Walmart toy isles with that cyclone syndrome. It's like a bus load of kids ran through there and ran out.

      Delete
  3. Hey lady,
    It seems everything I like you also liked. Just the other day they put out the sparkle stuff and I bought a few individual outfits. I am still debating selling some or my artic and non-artic girls so not buying a lot of clothes. But if I do it will be Sparkle rather than true Barbie stuff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Grandmommy!

      That's why I like the Sparkle stuff so much. If you buy their products you'll have a little bit left over to buy more stuff, lol.

      Delete
  4. Oooh! I like that blue and purple Barbie fashion set! Hopefully the designs wrap all the way around the clothing. The Kid Connection camper is actually really cute. If my dolls went RV-ing, that's probably how they'd go. XD The Rainy Day Sparkle Girlz set is so cute, I wish that it had finished edges/sturdier construction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Presto, if I recall, the fashions are half print and do not wrap around. That camper is awesome, especially at that price. It's a perfect rehab project. I actually don't mind the construction of the Sparkle stuff because if it was better finished and non sergered, it would cost more.

      Delete
  5. I really like the Ken gift set, great clothes. The Glam Camper is even more expensive here, but it is very Glam though, with everything that's in it! I like the Kid Connection Camper too, it's probably equally fun to play with for kids :-).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Night Owl, the Ken set features clothing styles Mattel has produced a hundred times before, but the colors look nice and it's always great to find more male fashions.

      LOL, the Glam camper is VERY glam. They filled it with a whole lot of glam and some bling bling too.

      Delete
  6. The Ken gift set looks like it's worth its price, I don't understand why mattel started producing the fashionista's on a MM kind of body, MM is ok for a collector, but fashionista is supposedly playline....but the style fashions I've seen so far looks pretty good.
    the Glam Camper is Uber Glam, but th kid connection looks very playable....
    about the clerk, I'm sure she never had any glam or pink in her childhood, poor thing....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, Billa! The clerk didn't have enough glam in her life and that's why she was so glum. I'll pretend that was her problem.

      Delete
  7. Oh yes! Wal-Mart has been rolling out some good stuff lately. I've seen most of this stuff about a month ago except the sparkle girls adventure packs, i would really like the Rainy day one it does give off a Parisian vibe its so cute. As far as the Day and Night fashions i have all of them except for Nikki's and Raquelle's fashions. Raquelle's out fit seems repeated from an old artsy fashionista doll IMO. Didnt know that Barbie's lil gift set was $30.00 that heifa is thinking highly of herself cuz she added a few stickers. LOL I kinda would like to see you get the camper and see you pimp it out "MUFF" style. I ve been trying to come up with ideas for it but im drawing blanks. About your store clerk situation this is what you do, leave them chickenheads ALONE go straight to Self Checkout that is the best thing they have ever invented!!! You dont have to talk to anybody just scan your stuff, pay, and go!!! I love it especialy since im a guy I dont get any weird looks or anything. Isn't technology great!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jay, you know if it says "Barbie" it's got to cost more. We all know who is the big cheese in the Barbie/Ken relationship.

      Oh, I did get the Kid Camper! It was the only one there and I snatched that bad boy. I also got the Rainy Day and the Ken Gift pack. I couldn't say no to those prices. As far as what I'm going to do with the Camper, probably absolutely nothing, lol. At this point I'm seriously just hoarding stuff. What I would like to do with it is turn it into a food truck like Vita did with her camper. Yes, I'll be adding that to my long list of never to be done projects.

      My Walmart (the one closest to me) doesn't have self checkout. At one point it was under construction as though they were putting them in but then it never happened.

      Delete
  8. A flea market seller who specializes in toys made a comment like that at me a while ago. I picked out some dolls and she goes, "You know nobody likes Barbie anymore, right? It's all about those "Monster" things now." I'm like.. okay? Thanks, I'll make sure not to enjoy Barbie in the future.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alrunia, that is so weird that she would say that to you when she is SELLING the stuff herself. I guess her Monster stuff goes faster, but way to almost turn away a sale.

      Delete
  9. Great stuff and great photos as usual.

    Walmart checkers do better by greeting, check scanning I tems, and wishing customers a good day. Commenting on a customer's purchases should be the number one item on their what not to say list, but they probably don't have one.

    dbg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie, I shop at Publix and they used to be very polite and basically asked if you found everything okay and if you want any help out. Now they are just as personal as the people at Walmart. Getting into your business and commenting on what you are purchasing. One lady even said to me, "Ewww, okra! You like that? But it's so slimy though. How are you going to cook it?" The hell?!

      Delete
    2. Pardon the OT post, but a Rite Aid store clerk told my Mom that the management tells them to make conversation with the customers. I overheard a clerk from that same store telling the customer that she really hopes that the customer finds her ring. I could barely keep from laughing - really? Like the clerk was really concerned about someone else's ring. LOL. Polite is good, but fake concern is off-putting when it isn't out and out hilarious.

      Delete
    3. D7ana, they need to take them back to public relations class so they can unlearn that. It's one thing to make inane conversation, it's another to be intrusive. I think so many of them don't have a filter. You know, I have always wanted to work at Walmart, but in stocking, not as a clerk because I am not people person material. I do enjoy lifting and carrying junk though.

      Delete
  10. I love those outfits, especially the Rainy one. Unfortunatelly they are not available in our country:(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greetings, Natalia! Too bad the Sparkle stuff isn't in your country! :(

      Delete
  11. Hello from Spain: I love the Sparkle doll clothing. The designs are original and the price is cheap. In my country these dolls are not for sale. Also the set of clothes for Ken is a great find. Keep in touch

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marta, I know that you would put those Ken clothes to great use.

      Delete
  12. I was in Wallyworld yesterday and saw the SG princess set but not the single dolls. I also saw some of the Barbie clothes but not the singles or the Ken set. The Rainy Day is the best, not feeling the Cowgirl right now. As for a the clerk at least you were being polite because if it was me I would of asked her, "When did Walmart staring paying you enough to comment on someone purchases? Hold on, let me get a quick pic and email it to Corporate right now?" Trust me after that her day would of been missed up I would of asked for her manager name too and for her to spell it AND held up the line.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brini, I think the Cowgirl could have done better with some different colored accessories. The others have varying color schemes but all her stuff is a dull, poopie brown. She also has the most boring accessories too.

      I try real hard to keep my ire to a minimum when it comes to these rude clerks, because the last thing I need is to catch a case over a doll purchase. I can see it now...

      "Whuchu in foh, shorty?"
      "Uh... fighting because a clerk insulted my Barbie purchase."

      Delete
  13. More good stuff! I might have to get that Ken clothing set if my WalMart has it. I could use the doll for experimentation -- er Muffication! Can't believe that clerk. I probably would have replied with something like "I guess I am nobody then." Or, "I guess MY people do." The audacity of some people! I love it when I can come up with a good comeback. Like when my daughter was little (she is Chinese and I am Caucasian), people always made stupid comments or asked dumb questions. One lady looked us up and down, and asked: "Oh, is her father Asian??". I replied, "I don't know, I wasn't looking." She gasped and did not say anything else!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phyllis, that Ken doll is very oddly posed. He's almost posed like a Barbie Basic model, but more exaggerated. His legs do open a tiny bit wider than most non articulated Kens do.

      LOL @ your comment to the lady questioning you about your daughter. I never think of good comebacks until AFTER I've left.

      Delete
  14. The glam camper set looks really glam,pricey though,but then it's Barbie so can't complain! :D Cool updates on the new releases!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pam, anyone who can afford that Glam camper really is getting a lot of stuff. I had to settle for the el cheapo one and it's basic but cute.

      Delete
  15. That monster high set looks awesome except for Clawd's hand. Maybe they have spare hand parts on ebay that can replace the one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leandra, I don't watch the Monster High episodes so maybe that is something he does a lot in the series with his hand so they threw it in there. Even so, they could have thrown in a regular hand for more options.

      Delete
  16. Thanks for sharing this through review of stuff at Walmart!

    I had to laugh at the clerk's comments. Even if she thought that, she shouldn't have voiced it to a customer. Her job is to get stuff OUT of the store. LOL. Paid for and out, I mean ;-)

    The Sparkle Girl fashions are starting to grow on me. My younger teen dolls are looking wistfully at your photos and then to me. Muff's getting her girls new fashions. Why aren't you getting us stuff. Sigh.

    Is it just me or is there something ludicrous about a swimming pool - and a itty bitty one like that Mattel one - being part of a camping set? Shouldn't they be swimming in a pond or some kind of "natural" body of water?

    The purple overstuffed chair for the bargain camper looks a little out of place, too, but you can use it elsewhere. that Mattel pool ... barely looks like there's room for the little sister let alone little sis AND Summer. Tsk.

    I'd like the Ken Gift Set - minus Smarmy Ken, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, D7ana! I know, right! Way to discourage me from making a purchase.

      For the price, you could get one of the single Sparkle fashions and then throw it at your dolls and let them go Fight Club over it. To the victor goes the spoils and whatnot.

      OMG, D7ana! They are going GLAMping, not CAMPing. You surely don't expect them to venture into a pond like commoners? AS IF!

      Delete
    2. LOL at GLAMping ... totally forgot this is Barbie and her sisters. No, they can't expose their high fashion nylon finery to natural elements.

      I got several glares when I suggested tossing one Sparkle outfit among the doll line, Whose nails was I trying to break? ;-)

      Delete
  17. I've been to Walmart a few times lately and I've seen a lot of this same stuff. It seems like the shelves are jam packed right now (except I can't find some of the Sparkle Girlz stuff that I want). I laughed at your conversation with the a-hole clerk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roxanne, I was definitely glad to see the shelves stocked at my store. I could tell they were already getting set up for Black Friday and Christmas stuff at my store.

      Delete
  18. I shop at wally world quite alot- I'm so forgetful I usually have to go back. I gave in and got a couple of the sparkle girl fashions. They really screwed up the fashionistas- I used those jointed dolls for decent body donors on dolls- that I need articulation on but i'm not willing to decapitate a dynamite girl or a pivatol barbie for- that's an extra $35-50 bucks for a body! (I think you can find the jointed fashionistas at tuesday mornings or dollar general) or use the $20 style barbies with the cool fashions on them. I've never had the friendly comments on my purchases by walmart people- they are usually too busy complaining to me how their back hurts, when they were supposed to have their break, and so on.lol. Not that I don't have sympathy with them...but hey, it's Walmart. Thank you for the updates on the items out, I keep an eye out for doll prop stuff...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, I don't think I've been to a Dollar General before. I know they have them here though. Next time I notice one I'll see what kind of pricing they have.

      Delete
  19. Funny thing about the Sparkle Girlz outfits - in spite of the box drawings, the stuff is actually doing a good job at avoiding pink!
    The clerk was a jerk though. I probably would have called the manager and left without the purchase no matter how much I wanted it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Black Kitty, I like that the Sparkle people balance the seemingly pink requirement with some neutral colors. Pink box to attract the kids and regular colors to appease adults.

      Delete
  20. I hate how we don't have walmarts here in the philippines!
    I want the ken pack and the sparkle girlz princesses sooo badly!!!

    the clerk thingy happens to me most of the time(mostly since i'm a teenage boy who isn't supposed to be seen in the pink isles of toysrus because society says so)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ampy, it's too bad you cant get this stuff locally. I hope you'll be able to find some online and that one day stinky people will let others buy what they want, comment free, regardless of their gender.

      Delete