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06-30-2008, 12:07 PM | #1 |
Cobra Bounty Hunter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 257
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’m not sure about the rest of the country, but in Colorado, Toys R Us is a disaster when it comes to collectors.
Facts: 1. TRU gets exclusives that are nearly impossible to find. 2. TRU is NEVER a fertile hunting ground for new product. 3. TRU’s price point is almost always higher. 4. TRU keeps old, out-dated product on the shelves for years. 5. TRU rarely has true collector toys (you know, the stuff you see in Entertainment Earth catalogs). When they do, they generally don’t have what you need (newest football figures, etc.) I’m not a businessman, but I think TRU could really benefit from carving out a niche amongst adult collectors. I think most of us would agree that adult collector’s make up at least 25% of the “boy-themed” toy market (action figures, cars, etc.) and maybe up to as much as 40%. Because of TRU’s practices, they are in essence missing out on a whole segment of the toy-buying public. TRU Should: 1. Develop at least one toy aisle in their stores devoted to collectors. These aisles should carry everything from McFarlane, Mezco and Neca to themes ranging from Sports to Anime to Rock Bands (kind of like the old “Media Play” had). I know TRU carries some of this stuff, but it’s still very scattershot. 2. Instead of acquiring large quantities of mass-market collector lines (Star Wars, GI Joe, Marvel/DC) every so often; order smaller quantities more frequently. Then, try to work with the toy manufacturers (like Hasbro) to get new product first. 3. Exclusives: sure, get the exclusives, but then carry the damn things. I know exclusives are limited, but TRU needs to do a better job of notifying collectors of the projected street date of the exclusive, then try to keep the exclusive stocked and then offer more quantities online. 4. Clearance old “peg-warmer” product sooner. Target has learned that even reducing the price by 10% after 3 months will clear out the majority of their old stuff. Then reduce it another 5% every two weeks till it’s gone. I really believe if TRU took this approach we’d see collector’s embracing the stores and actually making them a consistent “hunting” destination. If I knew TRU would be one of the first locations for new toys to hit, I’d be there every morning (well, I still have to work, but you get my drift). While I don’t mind a little hunting, with the price of gas I can no longer afford to go on day-long hunting expeditions. At $4 a gallon, the thrill of the hunt has really died out. With getting new product first, TRU could even keep the higher price-point because the majority of us are willing to pay a little extra to get new toys when they first come out. Plus, once you attract collectors to your store, you’ll see an increase in purchases of truly adult collectible items (i.e. McFarlane, etc). I for one am sometimes an impulse buyer. Though I currently only collect the Joe, Indy and Star Wars toy lines, I will also impulse buy something cool when I see it (Kurt Cobain, a Military Figure, Ren & Stimpy, etc.). In fact, that is how I initially began collecting every toy line I own…by impulse buying a single figure I liked. What do you guys think? |
06-30-2008, 12:15 PM | #2 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 688
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Quote:
’m not sure about the rest of the country, but in Colorado, Toys R Us is a disaster when it comes to collectors.
Facts: 1. TRU gets exclusives that are nearly impossible to find. 2. TRU is NEVER a fertile hunting ground for new product. 3. TRU’s price point is almost always higher. 4. TRU keeps old, out-dated product on the shelves for years. 5. TRU rarely has true collector toys (you know, the stuff you see in Entertainment Earth catalogs). When they do, they generally don’t have what you need (newest football figures, etc.) I’m not a businessman, but I think TRU could really benefit from carving out a niche amongst adult collectors. I think most of us would agree that adult collector’s make up at least 25% of the “boy-themed” toy market (action figures, cars, etc.) and maybe up to as much as 40%. Because of TRU’s practices, they are in essence missing out on a whole segment of the toy-buying public. TRU Should: 1. Develop at least one toy aisle in their stores devoted to collectors. These aisles should carry everything from McFarlane, Mezco and Neca to themes ranging from Sports to Anime to Rock Bands (kind of like the old “Media Play” had). I know TRU carries some of this stuff, but it’s still very scattershot. 2. Instead of acquiring large quantities of mass-market collector lines (Star Wars, GI Joe, Marvel/DC) every so often; order smaller quantities more frequently. Then, try to work with the toy manufacturers (like Hasbro) to get new product first. 3. Exclusives: sure, get the exclusives, but then carry the damn things. I know exclusives are limited, but TRU needs to do a better job of notifying collectors of the projected street date of the exclusive, then try to keep the exclusive stocked and then offer more quantities online. 4. Clearance old “peg-warmer” product sooner. Target has learned that even reducing the price by 10% after 3 months will clear out the majority of their old stuff. Then reduce it another 5% every two weeks till it’s gone. I really believe if TRU took this approach we’d see collector’s embracing the stores and actually making them a consistent “hunting” destination. If I knew TRU would be one of the first locations for new toys to hit, I’d be there every morning (well, I still have to work, but you get my drift). While I don’t mind a little hunting, with the price of gas I can no longer afford to go on day-long hunting expeditions. At $4 a gallon, the thrill of the hunt has really died out. With getting new product first, TRU could even keep the higher price-point because the majority of us are willing to pay a little extra to get new toys when they first come out. Plus, once you attract collectors to your store, you’ll see an increase in purchases of truly adult collectible items (i.e. McFarlane, etc). I for one am sometimes an impulse buyer. Though I currently only collect the Joe, Indy and Star Wars toy lines, I will also impulse buy something cool when I see it (Kurt Cobain, a Military Figure, Ren & Stimpy, etc.). In fact, that is how I initially began collecting every toy line I own…by impulse buying a single figure I liked. What do you guys think? Also, send these recommendations to Toys R Us. Perhaps someone there will read your suggestions. Send it in about once a month until someone reads it. Gaelinic
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06-30-2008, 12:15 PM | #3 |
Joe Grapping Specalist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 1,825
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If only they would listen.
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06-30-2008, 12:18 PM | #4 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 699
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I agree with all of your points, i barely ever to to TRU because it is just banged up figures that should have been on clearance months ago. My TRU still has Marvel legends wasp figures for 12.99. they have been there for almost a year and a half.
If they stocked like they did back when i was a kid i can guarantee i would go there daily and drop some coin I have barely any education, and this makes sense to me lol
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06-30-2008, 12:32 PM | #5 |
Alley Viper
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cicero IL
Posts: 957
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Toys'R'Us needs to start taking pre-orders on "collectibles" for the same reasons Game Stop and places like that take pre-orders on games. Its ridiculus (at least in my area) that you need to be at a store before it opens to even have a chance at getting something.
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Solomon Grundy,Born on a Monday ... |
06-30-2008, 12:33 PM | #6 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Woodbridge, VA
Posts: 5,420
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Sometimes it can take awhile for the exclusives to show up, but I've never had trouble finding the Joe or Star Wars exclusives. Only time I ever got any 'new' figures I was looking for, was when a friend worked there and could set them aside for me.
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06-30-2008, 12:34 PM | #7 |
Mercenary for Hire
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: City of lost angels, Cali
Posts: 2,064
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good points! I had many disappointments leaving TRU empty handed.
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06-30-2008, 12:42 PM | #8 |
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Darkness
Posts: 1,675
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TRU stopped carrying alot of the mcfarlane line years and years ago. And i highly doubt they would ever cary any necca or mezco figures worth while. I remember trying to get all the new spawns and movie maniacs with my cousin years back, but they stopped carrying them because they are too "adult themed"
My TRU doesnt really even have any joes. They had a little tiny shelf on the side of an endcap with the a few 25th figures. They do though have a ton of the TRU exclusives. They cant give those away haha (i wish they would though) As for peg warmers, unlike Walmart or Target, TRU is exclusively a toy store so you would think they would be loosing money by not stocking their shelves with new product that sells. I have seen the same ripper and serpentor figures there for a year now, and the star wars, and transformers have been there forever too. I hate when i go into a place and the pegs are fully stocked with the same figure. Common. Liquidate that junk and get some new stuff in. Besides a few exclusives, i never really have had a good score at TRU but i love going there. I have been going there since i was able to walk, and it just brings back good memories. I can understand other retail stores not doing much for the collector, but like said TRU is exclusive ly a toy store. They should be loaded up to the T with the newest and greatest toys at all times. |
06-30-2008, 01:22 PM | #9 |
Plastic lover
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Over The Rainbow!
Posts: 8,396
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The TRU exclusives were pegwarming hard around this area. Price is the biggest complain from me for a bunch of repaints.
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06-30-2008, 01:35 PM | #10 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Where people are De-evolved
Posts: 2,125
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Isint TRU a bankrupt company? I always assumed that was why they were under par.
Yes those sugestions would help. I also think they should give me free toys. |
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