disney store vs. disney direct

[mickeymel]

I have recently learned that the disney store was bought and is really no longer owned by disney. With that said, before I knew it was bought, I thought the store in our town had totally went down hill. Anyone else having that experience?
I got the disney direct catalog over the weekend and they had a few good sales on things I thought to get the kids for summer. I stopped by the disney store just to compare prices and the prices were much higher than the catalog. I know you have to pay shipping (unless you get a free shipping code), but the sales associate kept trying to convice my to buy 2 towels for 25.00 when I kept insisting I only needed one towel for 9.99 out of the catalog. If you buy only one at the store it is 14.50. It is the exact towel.
Just venting.....

 

[hellow]

I was just thinking the same thing this weekend. One thing I really liked about ordering from the catalog is that I could return at the Disney store at the mall if it didn't fit. The CM at the Disney store in Portland said he wasn't sure how long they would allow that since they are now owned by different companies.

 

[mking624]

I work for TDS so let me try to explain how this works.

We are no longer owned by the same company (DD is owned by TWDC, TDS is owned by The Children's Place) therefore we will not have the same promotions as the catalog or internet store...neither will we match prices as we have been able to do in the past. DD is slowly moving away from carrying the exact same merchandise as us,s o while you'll see the same items here and there, the majority of their items are exclusive to them. They have always run their sales at different times/lengths than the store has, but the difference was that we were able to match it if the guest brought in the catalog page or the internet printout with the sale price. That is not the case anymore. CP now determines when certain items will go on sale, so we don't yet have a sale on individual towels. It's no different than if you went to one store and found jeans on sale and went to another store and found the exact same pair of jeans at regular price. Right now we have the promotion where you can get 2 towels for $25. We're supposed to recommend it to our guests, just like any other store would recommend their promotions. But insisting that you buy it, that's something altogether different and I'm sorry you had to go through that. I, personally, hate that. But bear in mind though that when it comes down to it, our $14.50 for 1 towel really isn't that much different than paying $9.99 plus shipping for one towel. That is, unless, you're buying a bunch of stuff and get free shipping.

Right now, we're still able to take returns from the internet/catalog (as well as the parks). But as Hellow said, we do not know how much longer we will be able to do that since we are no longer owned by the same company. I'm sure it will end at some point and everyone will have to go back to the traditional "return it to where you got it" policy, but as of right now, none of us have a clue as to if and when that will happen.

 

[mamalle]

wow- I had no idea. I went in to our store and they had some cute bathing suits and clothing that the catalog doesnt have. Of course the suits were $19.99 each and the towels were 2 for 25 so I walked out. I try and only buy when things are dirt cheep in there. I went online and bought the towels and different suits on sale plus used my disney visa promotion for 15% off and the free shipping- cant beat that.

 

[rickdeni]

I guess it depends what you are looking for as to which store is cheaper. I bought a Buzz tent for my grandson from the store in our local mall for $16.50. It is on sale online for $34.99 plus shipping. However, the store had no girls tents but DD did where I got a Tink tent for about $17.50 with discount plus $7 shipping - still a good deal plus she got her name on hers. I check both places before buying.

 

[mickeymel]

Where did you see the info about the 15% off with the disney visa? I checked the web page, but didn't see anything.
Thanks!!!

 

[mamalle]

here is the code Im not sure how long its good for.

VISASPRING0515