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Other Discussions => Off Topic => Topic started by: Roy H. on March 14, 2018, 09:49:05 AM

Title: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Roy H. on March 14, 2018, 09:49:05 AM
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/29196770_10213366876858877_2790244436062240768_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=b500260cf83c71f43ee5a8f38d4f74e4&oe=5B4BD092)

Quote
Toys R Us, the iconic U.S. retailer, is in the process of drafting the court motion for its liquidation plan, a source familiar with the situation told CNBC on Tuesday.

The retailer could file as soon as the end of Wednesday, making the motion official. It will then begin to wind down the storied toy retailer, after more than half a century in business
.
A liquidation will most likely result in the closing of all of Toys R Us' 800 stores in the U.S.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/toys-r-us-is-preparing-to-file-its-liquidation-plan-with-the-court.html

This has been a long time coming, and TRU was scheduled to close 100+ stores in April, so it’s not a surprise. With online competitors, Target / Walmart, plus a flawed high-price business model, this isn’t a surprise, but as a child of the 80s, it sucks. Going to TRU as a kid was one half-step below Disney Land.  My kids were just starting to enjoy the experience.  Plus, TRU gets a lot of exclusives for brands like Imaginext.

On top of that, 10,000+ workers are going to lose their jobs.

Overall, it’s a bummer.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Donoghus on March 14, 2018, 09:55:29 AM
So what is gonna happen to Geoffrey?

Right on about trips to Toys R Us being special back in the day.  I remember being downright giddy whenever my mom would take me to the one in Auburn. 
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Spilling Green Dye on March 14, 2018, 10:28:29 AM
Yeah this is really sad.  I don't remember the one time we went to Disney, but I still remember the feeling of going to and shopping at a Toys R Us in the 80's and early 90's.  And to a lesser degree, Kay Bee Toys. 

Online shopping obviously has its advantages, but being able to shop at Toys R Us was superior in showing you what else is available in the section you like, and in some cases even interact in person. 

Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: SHAQATTACK on March 14, 2018, 10:58:52 AM
NO NO NO ....

stomp,stomp stomp,

they can t do this to me ...

 Cartman ...   " I'm going ommh"
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: rocknrollforyoursoul on March 14, 2018, 11:06:39 AM
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/29196770_10213366876858877_2790244436062240768_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=b500260cf83c71f43ee5a8f38d4f74e4&oe=5B4BD092)

Quote
Toys R Us, the iconic U.S. retailer, is in the process of drafting the court motion for its liquidation plan, a source familiar with the situation told CNBC on Tuesday.

The retailer could file as soon as the end of Wednesday, making the motion official. It will then begin to wind down the storied toy retailer, after more than half a century in business
.
A liquidation will most likely result in the closing of all of Toys R Us' 800 stores in the U.S.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/toys-r-us-is-preparing-to-file-its-liquidation-plan-with-the-court.html

This has been a long time coming, and TRU was scheduled to close 100+ stores in April, so it’s not a surprise. With online competitors, Target / Walmart, plus a flawed high-price business model, this isn’t a surprise, but as a child of the 80s, it sucks. Going to TRU as a kid was one half-step below Disney Land.  My kids were just starting to enjoy the experience.  Plus, TRU gets a lot of exclusives for brands like Imaginext.

On top of that, 10,000+ workers are going to lose their jobs.

Overall, it’s a bummer.

Very unfortunate, especially for the 10,000+ losing their jobs.

When I was a kid, living in central Maine, the only TRU was in Portland—"the big city"—and we got to go to TRU only once in a blue moon, and it was amazing.

Now that I'm in my 40s, I'm starting to experience things my parents experienced, like seeing things from childhood go by the wayside, and it's a little sad.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: KGs Knee on March 14, 2018, 11:07:55 AM
Boo!

I don't want to grow up.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Monkhouse on March 14, 2018, 11:14:41 AM
Yeah this is really sad.  I don't remember the one time we went to Disney, but I still remember the feeling of going to and shopping at a Toys R Us in the 80's and early 90's.  And to a lesser degree, Kay Bee Toys. 

Online shopping obviously has its advantages, but being able to shop at Toys R Us was superior in showing you what else is available in the section you like, and in some cases even interact in person.

Kay Bee was my !@#$  :angel: :police: :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

All my childhood memories slowly going down the drain... Thanks Corporate America!
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: manl_lui on March 14, 2018, 11:24:03 AM
i thought it was a long time coming, at least in my knowledge, most if not all Toys R Us has already been closed, and i thought they filed for bankruptcy a long long time ago, also kind of hard for them to keep up in the digital age where kids prefers ipads over physical toys, much more different than when we were kids

just me guessing
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Csfan1984 on March 14, 2018, 11:25:39 AM
RIP TRU.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Adelaide Celt on March 14, 2018, 11:34:26 AM
Saw it closed in the UK recently and figured it was a matter of time before it followed suit everywhere else. Sad. As has been said, kids these days are a lot different than in the 80s/90s. My youngest nephew, not even 2 years old yet, is already starting to grasp the functions on an iPad.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Moranis on March 14, 2018, 11:39:05 AM
Never really went to Toys'R'Us (and I grew up in the 80's), but the wife and I did a fair amount of shopping at Baby's'R'Us as they really did have a much larger selection on baby furniture, clothes, and accessories than any other store. 
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Roy H. on March 14, 2018, 11:39:12 AM
i thought it was a long time coming, at least in my knowledge, most if not all Toys R Us has already been closed, and i thought they filed for bankruptcy a long long time ago, also kind of hard for them to keep up in the digital age where kids prefers ipads over physical toys, much more different than when we were kids

just me guessing

The previous plan was to close about 20% of US stores, many of them standalone Babies R Us outlets.  They were then going through the bankruptcy process, hoping to restructure or to sell the brand. That plan seems to have failed, so they’re liquidating.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: indeedproceed on March 14, 2018, 12:30:05 PM
Support your local toy stores if you want them around. That's the take home here.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Erik on March 14, 2018, 12:42:57 PM
I've been to ToysRUs several times lately due to people giving gift cards for our kid. Generally speaking, their prices are not consistent (higher) with Walmart and Amazon and I would almost always have to get a price match unless it's one of their handful of clearance items. This was fine back in the 90s when you had to drive around to shop around, but nowadays when I can see all prices of all stores with a few clicks, who is dumb enough to shop there? Their business model is outdated. In today's Amazon climate, a brick and mortar store needs to price their products either the same or better than Amazon to be able to compete (you get the "I want it now" crowd and the "I'd drive to save a buck" crowd). The Home Depot and Walmart are great examples of this. Their prices are generally better than Amazon, so if you have the motivation to get off your couch, it provides value. If I have to get in my car and drive down to ToysRUs AND pay more or price match Walmart, what's the point? Why not just go to Walmart or wait a couple days and get it delivered right to my door? Or you can be like BedBathAndBeyond and have an insane return policy (seriously.. how does this company afford to take 5 year old returns)? I'd gladly pay a bit more and know that I can return this thing essentially whenever I want.

I'm all for competition, but ToysRUs has been walking dead for a long time now. At least other, more useful businesses, can use their new real estate options to provide for customers.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: ChillyWilly on March 14, 2018, 12:53:20 PM
I'm assuming this liquidation is just Brick and Mortar and this brand will live on in name/web.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Roy H. on March 14, 2018, 12:56:17 PM
I'm assuming this liquidation is just Brick and Mortar and this brand will live on in name/web.

Any chance they’ll be able to compete with Amazon there?
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: gift on March 14, 2018, 02:04:27 PM
I worked at a Toys R Us for one summer when I was 17. Overall pretty cool job. Maybe that's just the nostalgia talking...
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: JHTruth on March 14, 2018, 02:25:57 PM
Yeah this is really sad.  I don't remember the one time we went to Disney, but I still remember the feeling of going to and shopping at a Toys R Us in the 80's and early 90's.  And to a lesser degree, Kay Bee Toys. 

Online shopping obviously has its advantages, but being able to shop at Toys R Us was superior in showing you what else is available in the section you like, and in some cases even interact in person.

Kay Bee Toys were the ones in malls right? Sad that old fashioned toy stores are dying out..
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Donoghus on March 14, 2018, 02:39:24 PM
Yeah this is really sad.  I don't remember the one time we went to Disney, but I still remember the feeling of going to and shopping at a Toys R Us in the 80's and early 90's.  And to a lesser degree, Kay Bee Toys. 

Online shopping obviously has its advantages, but being able to shop at Toys R Us was superior in showing you what else is available in the section you like, and in some cases even interact in person.

Kay Bee Toys were the ones in malls right? Sad that old fashioned toy stores are dying out..

Man, I don't know how many times I dragged my mom into the KayBee at the Greendale Mall.

Just up the stairs from the Dream Machine.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Rakulp on March 14, 2018, 03:08:48 PM
I remember at the beginning of the video game craze going there to find new Atari 2600 gaming cartridges.

Life changes...memories are precious.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: manl_lui on March 14, 2018, 03:12:11 PM
Yeah this is really sad.  I don't remember the one time we went to Disney, but I still remember the feeling of going to and shopping at a Toys R Us in the 80's and early 90's.  And to a lesser degree, Kay Bee Toys. 

Online shopping obviously has its advantages, but being able to shop at Toys R Us was superior in showing you what else is available in the section you like, and in some cases even interact in person.

Kay Bee Toys were the ones in malls right? Sad that old fashioned toy stores are dying out..

Man, I don't know how many times I dragged my mom into the KayBee at the Greendale Mall.

Just up the stairs from the Dream Machine.

o wow, i forgot about KB Toys, I remember growing up in Boston, one of my favorite toy store was fao schwarz, which the giant teddy bear is now in front of Tufts.

i thought it was a long time coming, at least in my knowledge, most if not all Toys R Us has already been closed, and i thought they filed for bankruptcy a long long time ago, also kind of hard for them to keep up in the digital age where kids prefers ipads over physical toys, much more different than when we were kids

just me guessing

The previous plan was to close about 20% of US stores, many of them standalone Babies R Us outlets.  They were then going through the bankruptcy process, hoping to restructure or to sell the brand. That plan seems to have failed, so they’re liquidating.

thanks for the clarification Roy!
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: TheTruthFot18 on March 14, 2018, 03:18:49 PM
Any idea what happens to Baby's R Us? We are registered there and have a bunch of gift cards from the baby shower. Maybe we'll find some crazy discounts?
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Moranis on March 14, 2018, 03:19:43 PM
Any idea what happens to Baby's R Us? We are registered there and have a bunch of gift cards from the baby shower. Maybe we'll find some crazy discounts?
they are closing.  better use those cards.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: kraidstar on March 14, 2018, 03:32:19 PM
Yeah back in the 80's I was just blown away by all the stuff there. "My" store was the Portsmouth NH outlet near Fox Run Mall. Mountains of Transformers and Masters of the Universe action figures. Makes me sad remembering it actually.

Then a decade later my mind was blown away again as I played Mario 64 for the first time at a kiosk there.

Come to think of it the mall is also a pale imitation of itself. No more packed bookstores, no more video stores with every film under the sun, no more KayBee Toys, the place where I bought a Virtual Boy and a bunch of games on clearance for 50 bucks (that stuff is worth a fortune today ironically).
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: kraidstar on March 14, 2018, 03:37:14 PM
There was always something about physically shopping and browsing through piles of items that was pleasing.

That sense of discovery when you find that lone rare item at the bottom of the bin, or that super-cool action figure at the back of the rack that no other store had in stock.

I still get that vaguely nostalgic feeling at Home Depot sometimes, of all places. Sometimes I will just wander around and browse.

Other places not so much, they all feel soulless for some reason. Maybe because most of them sell foreign-made junk now? Or maybe because the employees seem so run down. Like the "greeters" at Walmart who really are just there to remind you when you come in that they will be checking your bags to make sure you're not stealing anything on the way out.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: tazzmaniac on March 14, 2018, 06:43:01 PM
There was always something about physically shopping and browsing through piles of items that was pleasing.

That sense of discovery when you find that lone rare item at the bottom of the bin, or that super-cool action figure at the back of the rack that no other store had in stock.

I still get that vaguely nostalgic feeling at Home Depot sometimes, of all places. Sometimes I will just wander around and browse.

Other places not so much, they all feel soulless for some reason. Maybe because most of them sell foreign-made junk now? Or maybe because the employees seem so run down. Like the "greeters" at Walmart who really are just there to remind you when you come in that they will be checking your bags to make sure you're not stealing anything on the way out.
I like my Walmart.  The greeters are pretty good.  One of them has a great voice.  His "Welcome to Walmart" carries quite well.  The only time I get checked is if I have an unbagged item. 
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: BringToughnessBack on March 14, 2018, 07:00:55 PM
It is sad to see old companies not evolve in the digital age. I remember the store fondly from my childhood but they did not adapt to the online era in any manner that was memorable. They had a great domain name and a once great brand, they should have used it at a much higher level. I dont remember ever seeing any form of online advertising from them.

Adapt, and Evolve or get left behind.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: filmexec on March 14, 2018, 07:06:49 PM
I will miss walking through the store with my Grandkids and seeing them go crazy! LOL!
 
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Sketch5 on March 14, 2018, 07:18:32 PM
Support your local toy stores if you want them around. That's the take home here.

While thats true, the issue is Toy R Us prices were much higher than other stores. I don't know how many times I went in and could save 5 bucks or more on something. You can say it's only 5 bucks, but you do that enough times it adds up. Or if you are a collector and you can save 20 or 30 bucks on a series, you go else wheres.

 It was always weird to me they were a toy store yet sold them at higher prices like no one else had them. I'm sure when they first started they could get away with that, no internet, less competition. So them not adjusting to the times and market is really on them. When they did a Star Wars even for the new line, that had jack squat at our local store. Target had more.

Plus KB Toy was always better. :P
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: ImShakHeIsShaq on March 14, 2018, 07:51:13 PM
Support your local toy stores if you want them around. That's the take home here.

While thats true, the issue is Toy R Us prices were much higher than other stores. I don't know how many times I went in and could save 5 bucks or more on something. You can say it's only 5 bucks, but you do that enough times it adds up. Or if you are a collector and you can save 20 or 30 bucks on a series, you go else wheres.

 It was always weird to me they were a toy store yet sold them at higher prices like no one else had them. I'm sure when they first started they could get away with that, no internet, less competition. So them not adjusting to the times and market is really on them. When they did a Star Wars even for the new line, that had jack squat at our local store. Target had more.

Plus KB Toy was always better. :P

This so much.

Only thing TRU ever did right was giving me 1k worth of free toys (my choice) for an interview when I was a kid (I did a horrible job btw)!
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: jambr380 on March 14, 2018, 08:07:37 PM
This has been coming for a while. A couple of months ago I watched this video from 'The Company Man' on Youtube (interesting channel - highly recommended):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JYUo9WKkao (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JYUo9WKkao)

In 2005 they had a leveraged buyout and it was all downhill from there - even filing for bankruptcy in September of last year. I loved Toys R Us as a kid and still pop in every now and then for a gift - I guess that is no more. Hey, at least we will always have the memories...
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Cman on March 14, 2018, 08:32:53 PM
Boo!

I don't want to grow up.

This brought a smile to my face. A sad smile, but a smile nonetheless.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: ChillyWilly on March 14, 2018, 10:00:22 PM
I'm assuming this liquidation is just Brick and Mortar and this brand will live on in name/web.

Any chance they’ll be able to compete with Amazon there?

We've seen other brands do this, close their brick & mortar because of cost and go with online. Can they compete? Absolutely not but you don't need to as operation costs are considerably lower.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Roy H. on March 21, 2018, 10:56:17 AM
http://comicbook.com/2018/03/19/kb-toys-returning-message-to-toys-r-us-employees/

KB Toys is coming back. Nice.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: ChillyWilly on March 21, 2018, 01:21:54 PM
http://comicbook.com/2018/03/19/kb-toys-returning-message-to-toys-r-us-employees/

KB Toys is coming back. Nice.

I'm confused doesn't Toys R Us own the KB Toy brand? I'm 100% certain this was acquired during their final bankruptcy and liquidation sale.

This was a very poorly run company during the internet age. 0 confidence KB Toy won't be back into it's bankruptcy loophole it sure loves running.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: SHAQATTACK on March 21, 2018, 01:51:48 PM
KB to the rescue ...woo hoo

im a happy kid again
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: bdm860 on March 21, 2018, 02:35:41 PM
Nothing beats the memories of Toys R Us.  As a kid I feel like I got to go there fairly regularly, like maybe once every couple of months.  Just walking around, able to look at every toy I could ever want, rifling through all the packages and boxes. I was a big GI Joe fan, so my most of my memories basically look like this:

(http://i.imgur.com/Ue81lqL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/V0QxTQn.jpg)

Wasn't always there to buy, half the time was just window shopping, as my dad probably saw it as a cheap activity to get us out of the house for a little bit so my mom could have some peace and quiet. 

But the times when my dad said we could pick out 1 thing under $5-$10 were the best.  Felt like I'd spend 30 minutes digging through all the GI Joe figures, and as a kid it felt like the rack went 20 deep (even though it was probably more like 4-5), had to look through them all, couldn't risk making a decision without knowing every single figure that was available there (and always hoping to find some out-of-print figure buried deep in the rack).

Then I'd spend 10 minutes looking through the Transformers, then 10 minutes over to Legos.  And of course spent a few minutes looking at the toys I didn't have any of, but still looked cool and would love to have: Rambo, Robocop, Karate Kid, Ninja Turtles, Thunder Cats, Ghostbusters, etc.  Then usually always back to GI Joe again.

After an hour, I'd have narrowed my choices down to 3-4 possibilities, always tried to unsuccessfully bargain with my dad to let me get 2 things.  Nothing quite like the pressure of my dad saying, "if you don't have something picked out in the next 2 minutes, you're going home with nothing."

And then there was the dream of winning that shopping spree from Nickelodeon or some cereal company:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3UgZt6ShYU
(https://i.imgur.com/HpIImLv.jpg)

Disappointed my future kids may never get to experience this on the level that was Toys R Us.  That toy aisle at Wal-Mart or Target just ain't going to cut it.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: nickagneta on March 21, 2018, 03:01:07 PM
Maybe because I am older, the toy store I always tried to get my parents ti bring me to was Child World. Sadly, that was the 70's and my parents were poor so we barely went.

Toys R Us is the place I took my kids for toys. It started as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Legos then eventually became video game consoles and games.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Donoghus on March 21, 2018, 03:03:39 PM
Maybe because I am older, the toy store I always tried to get my parents ti bring me to was Child World. Sadly, that was the 70's and my parents were poor so we barely went.

Yeah, there was one on Rte 9 in Shrewsbury that I remember my mom taking my sister & I to.

That was a solid store.  I remember buying original Nintendo games there where you would pull the slip then bring it to the counter where they'd give you the actual cartridge in the box. 
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: Roy H. on March 21, 2018, 03:19:33 PM
Nothing beats the memories of Toys R Us.  As a kid I feel like I got to go there fairly regularly, like maybe once every couple of months.  Just walking around, able to look at every toy I could ever want, rifling through all the packages and boxes. I was a big GI Joe fan, so my most of my memories basically look like this:

(http://i.imgur.com/Ue81lqL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/V0QxTQn.jpg)

Wasn't always there to buy, half the time was just window shopping, as my dad probably saw it as a cheap activity to get us out of the house for a little bit so my mom could have some peace and quiet. 

But the times when my dad said we could pick out 1 thing under $5-$10 were the best.  Felt like I'd spend 30 minutes digging through all the GI Joe figures, and as a kid it felt like the rack went 20 deep (even though it was probably more like 4-5), had to look through them all, couldn't risk making a decision without knowing every single figure that was available there (and always hoping to find some out-of-print figure buried deep in the rack).

Then I'd spend 10 minutes looking through the Transformers, then 10 minutes over to Legos.  And of course spent a few minutes looking at the toys I didn't have any of, but still looked cool and would love to have: Rambo, Robocop, Karate Kid, Ninja Turtles, Thunder Cats, Ghostbusters, etc.  Then usually always back to GI Joe again.

After an hour, I'd have narrowed my choices down to 3-4 possibilities, always tried to unsuccessfully bargain with my dad to let me get 2 things.  Nothing quite like the pressure of my dad saying, "if you don't have something picked out in the next 2 minutes, you're going home with nothing."

And then there was the dream of winning that shopping spree from Nickelodeon or some cereal company:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3UgZt6ShYU
(https://i.imgur.com/HpIImLv.jpg)

Disappointed my future kids may never get to experience this on the level that was Toys R Us.  That toy aisle at Wal-Mart or Target just ain't going to cut it.

This absolutely nails the experience.
Title: Re: RIP Toys R Us
Post by: mgent on March 21, 2018, 04:51:31 PM
This thread just brought me back to watching the episode of Rugrats where Tommy and Chuckie decide it's a good idea to ditch their parents and live in the Toy Store.  That was always one of my favorite episodes.  The big Gorillla was finally about to catch them and then, "HALT!  I AM REPTAR!"

For whatever reason, the enjoyment of reliving that memory was significantly better than reliving my 1 or 2 very brief Toys R Us experiences (and that's saying a lot).