Retailers battle in holiday 'toy war'

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - With only seven weeks left until Christmas Day, stores are scrambling to get your business.

Our economy has families everywhere looking for deals when it comes to holiday shopping, and retailers know it.  Several major stores recently released early toy sales and NewsChannel 15 found out, the competition is fierce.

Shoppers like Sarah Cohler of Fort Wayne say they are happy that they do not have to look far to find a bargain.

"You definitely have to look for sales right now with everybody out of jobs... and struggling," Cohler said.

Retailers across the country are begging for Cohler and other shoppers' attention with new sales and marketing strategies.

Just this week, Wal-Mart and Meijer announced big price drops. Wal-Mart added 100 toys to a rollback list that already included 100 items for $10.00.

Meijer slashed prices on 400 products advertising many on sale for $5.00.

NewsChannel 15 did some of its own comparison shopping, checking out some of the most popular toys this season; a Nerf Dart Tag Set , Mattel's  "Wedding Day Sparkle Barbie" and the "Bop-It" hand held electronic game.

Our crew hit the toy aisle in Wal-Mart, Meijer and Target.

Bop-It prices:
Wal-Mart - $15.00
Meijer - $14.99
Target - $14.99

Barbie prices:
Wal-Mart - $16.43
Meijer - $16.99
Target - $16.49

Nerf prices:
Wal-Mart - $39.96
Meijer - $39.99
Target - $35.99*

*NewsChannel 15 originally reported on 11/5/09 that Target priced the Nerf Dart Tag Set at $19.99.  That price was that of a different version of the Dart Tag Set than that sold at Wal-Mart and Meijer.