Best deals on Thomas wooden trains?

[Jessy1019]

We have decided to bite the bullet and get the Thomas wooden trains for Ronin for xmas. Whenever we go places that have them set up, he is obsessed, and Thomas seems to be the first and only character he actually recognizes so I do think I want to stick with those trains as opposed to the others.

Obviously, I want to get the best deal possible. Anyone know where to look? I think we'll probably buy a main set and then ask DP's parents (who are train nuts) to buy some other buildings and extras.

Thanks!!

[JamesMama]

Toys R Us has them fairly cheap...usually under $20 for one of the larger trains (Edward, James, the double ones) thats where I buy James trains usually.

We've gotten a few at hobby stores or 'wooden toy' stores but they are usually way more expensive there.

[StephandOwen]

Might I suggest you looking into the Thomas and Friends Take Along trains? My ds has a TON of the wooden ones but we recently started getting him the Take Along ones (they're die-cast). For one they have never been recalled, whereas the wooden ones have. Twice. Also the take along ones are smaller and cheaper (by quite a bit for some of them!). I've found Toys R Us has the best selection and it's usually just a few cents more expensive than other stores.

[Lesley77]

We got into the Take Along trains for the same reasons as StephandOwen. We do have a wooden table and track too, and Toys R Us usually seems to have a buy 2 get 1 free sale on the trains around this time of year. I've found a few lurking in cheap toy bins at thrift stores. Some of the DVDs include a train, so you get both for $10-$15.

[cycle]

I am getting ds a train table for his birthday/holiday too. The biggest selection of Thomas stuff I have ever seen is at AC MOORE. Its a crafts store, my mom told me about it and I happened to pass one the other day and stopped in. They had buy two get one free of all thomas cars. They had everything you can think of, stuff I had never seen and tons of tracks and stuff too. They had wooden and the die cast. On their website they have coupons and every Sunday (I think) you can get 30 or 40% off of one item. So if you were going to buy a track set I would get it their. Their prices were really good too.

[DevaMajka]

You can get the Toys R Us brand tracks (Imaginarium, I think) for much cheaper than Thomas tracks, and they work with Thomas trains. They also work with the thomas tracks, but some of them are a tight fit (it's not a big deal, it's just a couple of them).

I've seen the Thomas trains on sale at TRU for buy 2 get one free.

[Jessy1019]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I didn't even think of Toys R Us, but I'll have to check there.

We'll definitely check out TRU in our shopping tomorrow . . . I was mostly planning on going to local toy stores that sold primarily natural toys, but dd wants a Polly Pocket thingy that I can get at TRU anyway. I need to see this stuff in person, methinks.

[laura163]

Michaels sells Thomas stuff and you can use the weekly 40% off coupon on Thomas (as long as it isn't onsale that week).

Last Christmas I bought one Thomas item per week!

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by laura163

Michaels sells Thomas stuff and you can use the weekly 40% off coupon on Thomas (as long as it isn't onsale that week).

Last Christmas I bought one Thomas item per week!

Where in the store is the Thomas stuff? I've never seen it there.... point me in the right direction because I would be THRILLED to find it!!

[JanB]

FYI, I'm sure people know this but it tripped me up the first time I bought one -- the Take-Along trains DO NOT FIT on the wooden Thomas track. They are a different system, and the wheels don't fit the rails of the track. Just so you know.

[Lesley77]

Originally Posted by JanB

FYI, I'm sure people know this but it tripped me up the first time I bought one -- the Take-Along trains DO NOT FIT on the wooden Thomas track. They are a different system, and the wheels don't fit the rails of the track. Just so you know.

This is true. But, your kid might not care My 3.5yo plays with them interchangeably.

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Lesley77

This is true. But, your kid might not care My 3.5yo plays with them interchangeably.

So does my 4 year old. He'll make it fit Normally his wooden trains and track are in his bedroom. His Take Along sets are in the living room, under the table. Every once in a while a wooden train makes it downstairs or a Take Along one makes it upstairs though! And, of course, there's always a few random ones in the car too : He's actually got a few plastic ones (trackmaster, I think it's called) around too and I just learned his Grandma got him a big Trackmaster set for Christmas so we'll have wooden, take along, and trackmaster before long :

[WuWei]

We buy most of our Thomas stuff from local kids consignment stores. Also some on ebay. That stuff lasts forever, gently used is much cheaper. We've purchased many wooden engines/cars for only a few dollars each this way. Track and bridges, etc. also.


Pat

[miss_sonja]

Why not get the Brio trains instead? They're made in Europe (instead of China). I think they're better quality, and personally, I don't care for the obsession of the mass-marketed character.

[Lesley77]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen

So does my 4 year old. He'll make it fit Normally his wooden trains and track are in his bedroom. His Take Along sets are in the living room, under the table. Every once in a while a wooden train makes it downstairs or a Take Along one makes it upstairs though! And, of course, there's always a few random ones in the car too : He's actually got a few plastic ones (trackmaster, I think it's called) around too and I just learned his Grandma got him a big Trackmaster set for Christmas so we'll have wooden, take along, and trackmaster before long :

Eeek! Trackmaster. I'm trying to avoid that since we have wooden track, take along track and GeoTrax track already. I really don't need yet another incompatible system. It does look to have some cool stuff though.

[lilyka]

keep your eyes open for special deals. We have gotten 4 engines and 2 cars for free. Also there are often gift sets for Christmas that go on sale shortly after.

I would skip the table. they take up a lot of room and i haven't noticed that they add a lot to the play for my kids.

buy knock off tracks. That will save you a lot of money that you can put into the trains.

be patient. I bought each girl an engine and got the youngest a set of cars and a caboose. everything else has been gifts or thrift store finds. family is great about adding to her set (which is quite extensive now for tracks and trains and buildings.)