Big Lots ever get models like Ollie's does?

[russosborne]

No Ollie's out here. We do have lots of Big Lots though.

Anyone know if they get lots of models? I never see them mentioned as having any.

No Ollie's out here makes the move back to the Phoenix area even worse when everyone is talking about them like the current thread going on.

Thanks,

Russ

[SSNJim]

They used to have models and diecasts on occasion; I haven't seen them in years. I still check my local Big Lots to no avail. They usually wouldn't get the selection that Ollie's gets. Usually Big Lots would get three or four model styles, while Ollie's gets a lot of different ones.

[russosborne]

Thanks, I thought that was the case.

Russ

[Mark]

Years ago, they did.  It's hard to imagine now, but about twenty years ago the AMT '66 Nova (stock version) was out of production and highly sought after.  I found about twenty of them at a Big Lots store, and resold them for what would be decent money even today.  A dealer bought the last six from me, and he paid the same price as everyone else.  So he must have been expecting to resell them for even more.

[Renegade]

Never saw any at the Big Lots down here.

[Mike999]

Never seen any here in Upstate SC. There's a Big Lots nearby that I check pretty often.

A few years ago, California had a bargain store chain called Pic 'n Save.  Pic 'n Save got in big model lots pretty often. I bought tons of closeout kits there in the 1990s. But then Big Lots bought them out, and I never saw model kits in the stores again.

[mikemodeler]

Big Lots has changed their business strategy over the last 5-10 years and has become more of a bargain retailer than a closeout store it once was. Years ago Big Lots was similar to what Ollie's is today- a clearing house of merchandise that was manufacturer overstock, old product from closed stores, leftover items from store re-sets and consolidation of retailers.

Back in the day they would get models in and the last time I bought them there, I think glue kits were $5.00 and snap kits were $4.00. The just released AMT 84 GMC pickup truck was one they had there and I remember buying 5 of them for $25 and now they are getting $25 each for them!

[Mark]

Big Lots around here hasn't had kits in eight or nine years.  The last ones were probably from RC2 clearing out their stock when they decided to quit the model kit business.  Buyers' Choice Silhouette, '76 Caprice, '66 Wildcat, things like that.  They might have been $5 apiece, maybe $7.  At the same time, Ollies had returns from Walmart when they quit selling kits around the same time.  They had the WM-boxed Modified Stockers and ex-MPC dirt track cars, for (I think) $4 apiece.

[Deathgoblin]

Big Lots doesn't do closeouts like they used to.  They usually do what they call "engineered closeouts" where a manufacturer makes too much of something, or they change the packaging, and BL sells the difference.  Mostly it's just discounted items now.  Used to work there.

[1930fordpickup]

I have not seen models at Odd Lots for about 10 years around here, and as others have said even then it was not what they used to carry. My last good source for closeouts was KB Toys  but then they went under around here. 

[Dave Van]

Yep......got some good deals........but I think they changed their MO and don't any longer....

[oldcarfan]

They haven't had any in my part of Texas for many years. The last time they did was around 8 years ago. I bought 3 Chrysler 300s, an Escalade and a couple of the 65? Lincoln Continentals from them. Cleaned them out.

[russosborne]

Thanks. I remember those days from the 90's. There were some stores here in Phoenix, maybe the Pick and Save, or something similar.

I had thought that Big Lots didn't seem the same as I remembered, thanks for the update on what they are now.

Now the question is how to get an Ollie's to move here.

Russ

[Daddyfink]

I have not seen a model kit at a Big Lots in years, but, when they where Pic N Save, they used to have a nice selection of stuff. 

[Eshaver]

They used to have models and diecasts on occasion; I haven't seen them in years. I still check my local Big Lots to no avail. They usually wouldn't get the selection that Ollie's gets. Usually Big Lots would get three or four model styles, while Ollie's gets a lot of different ones.

Big Lots in the Richmond Virginia - Petersburg area seldom sees plastic model kits any longer

[Edsel-Dan]

Same here

Last they had was at the time of the Silhouette kit

in original Box art reprint.

I did not get any. They had at least 10, but by the time I had cash, all were gone!!

 

Olie's has them most of the time, but 

outside of no cash for any right now
Car needs work to be trustworthy to drive the distance!!

[RickRollerLT1]

I haven't seen any at BL for a while now, its mostly knock-off toys and electronics they sell now. Last time I saw models there, it was at the Centereach store in 2009 and they had 5 Revell Mitsu Eclipses and about 10 Willys Street Rods, all on $2.00 markdowns! I built two of the Eclipses and the Willys and traded in the rest at Daves Hobby in Freeport, NY for some goodies he had.

Edited April 15, 2016 by RickRollerLT1

[Eshaver]

Dan, I remember those AMT Silhouette kits with the Worlds fair art work . That was about the time I went in the hospital in 2010

[MG Brown]

I have seen R/M Kits at Big Lots- a few years ago they had the reboxed Fujimi Ford GT Mk II and I should have bought all that they had- I think they were $4.99.

The kits usually are found around the end of year holidays and aren't restocked after the first of the year.

[vamach1]

I have seen R/M Kits at Big Lots- a few years ago they had the reboxed Fujimi Ford GT Mk II and I should have bought all that they had- I think they were $4.99.

The kits usually are found around the end of year holidays and aren't restocked after the first of the year.

You're killing me on that one. :-(

[Dave Van]

Big lots had the Ertl/RC2 IH off road dump trucks years ago for like $8......

[Rob Hall]

I have seen R/M Kits at Big Lots- a few years ago they had the reboxed Fujimi Ford GT Mk II and I should have bought all that they had- I think they were $4.99. 

I remember getting the Revell boxed Fujimi Ford GTs at Big Lots..but that was like 1990-1991.  Got the AMT Lexus LS400 there also (reboxed Aoshima kit, IIRC).

[plastic trucker]

Big lots had the Ertl/RC2 IH off road dump trucks years ago for like $8......

I remember that. But I bought all the mixers they had instead of the end dumps.

[oldcarfan]

Big Lots no longer carries overstocks like they used to. From what I've read, they have turned into another version of Dollar General, except with furniture. They sell things that are purposely made and packaged for their for their shelves. Big Lots used to be one of my regular 'treasure hunt' stops. Since around 2005ish they quit carrying models and strating carrying made for them generic toys and other BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH.

[ranma]

I think Big Lot's is following  what Value City had done. Soon it will be all Furniture and appliances! Our local BL is 50% Furniture now the other 50% is devided between Grocery, electronics, lawn/garden, Home good's and makeup/fem need's.