|
Community Links |
Social Groups |
Pictures & Albums |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
09-07-2017, 04:08 AM | #41 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Real World, USA
Posts: 468
|
Quote:
Quote:
TRU's been pretty good to me. They've always had toys my son (you know, an actual kid) wanted and I never had much of a problem finding what I wanted there either. Sorry to say this, but what ails TRU has very little to do with what some of you all have pontificated on. Competition from Walmart/Target and Amazon, and outsized shrink are probably the biggest problems for a store like TRU.
Contrary to popular opinion, TRU's sometimes higher prices aren't the real issue, so much as it's just more convenient to buy toys online or get them in a store you already have to be in for other items anyway. And the shrink at a store like TRU is ridiculous. Their customer oriented, 90-day, few questions asked return policy encourages abuse. Meanwhile, the in-store theft is just atrocious. Everything from ticky-tack sneak-thievery to people actively piling a cart full and running out the door. All of which is made easier by the fact they can't afford to run the store with a full staff or pay the people who work there a decent enough wage. The margins just aren't there, so they pay relative peanuts and skeleton crew it. I've been in plenty of TRU backrooms and they all had piles of opened packages missing the actual item and mounds of returned items too damaged/tampered with to re-sell. And I got news for you, all of that theft comes from adult toy collectors and parents. It isn't all crack-heads, and it sure ain't little kids with sticky fingers. TRU is basically easy pickings and we all take advantage of it. Shit, just a few weeks ago, I scared a fat geek off from shoving a Marvel Legends figure into his messenger bag. I turned into the aisle just in time to see it going down. Thing that pissed me off most, judging by his clothing and hygiene (not to mention the Audi suv-thing he scampered into), was that he wasn't poor. He just didn't want to pay for something he could easily steal. Anyway, these are tough times for retailers and it bodes poorly for us all. People have been buying less anyway, either going without or stealing what they can't afford. The more places go under, the less competition there will be. And the less competition, the higher the prices. The higher the prices, the more theft. It's a vicious circle that even Walmart is feeling. Theft and shrink. To avoid going into a long commentary on "society in general", I'll just say you are absolutely right...in spades. As I mentioned elsewhere, I know people there and I've been shopping at the same store all my life. Everything you said is completely accurate, except (at least around here) kids do steal. I just happen to be there when a manager caught a kid about to swipe some trading cards and kicked him out. The local store has actually had the video game display cases broken into....while the store is open.....with people around. For a while, they were even putting some Marvel, Transformers and (IIRC) Power Ranger items behind glass. Almost every time I'm there I see empty packaging on a shelf somewhere.
__________________
West Coast G.I.JOE & TOY SHOW - On Facebook & Instagram @SoCalGIJoeShow |
09-07-2017, 04:12 AM | #42 |
Cobra Lab Rat
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: California
Posts: 3,046
|
Just to clarify, I believe Toys R Us is actually not hemorrhaging that much money in the U.S. The problem is essentially, EVERYWHERE else.
Out of 1,853 stores, Toys R Us actually operates a whopping 987 foreign stores, only 866 of the stores are in the U.S.!!!! If you've been to Europe, you're probably aware of how high Toys R Us prices are and toys in general. Keep in mind that Europe has a highly competitive local toy market that makes their own toys in general. Do you think Toys R Us is efficiently maximizing profits in Europe given that they sell a large majority of the same toys from the United States branch for a higher price in countries that probably have indigenous local toys in high demand? I DON'T THINK SO!! Multiply that hypothetical inefficiency by the high amount of Foreign stores, and I'm guessing a lot of those Foreign Toys R Us are disasters hemorrhaging profits in overstock and botched localization plans. |
09-07-2017, 09:15 AM | #43 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: S. Florida
Posts: 888
|
Hopefully they can restructure and keep some type of brick and mortar open. As an adult collector I have no problem ordering online, in fact I prefer it. (Hasbro shares the blame big time.) But my kids love going to TRU. Going to the toy store is a childhood experience that should not be missed. Like many of you, I have had beefs with TRU. But this will suck for the kids. Ordering from Amazon is not the same for them. Holding the toy in hand as they skip happily to the register is a priceless memory.
__________________
MY B/S/T Page http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...-t-thread.html Stan: Dude, dolphins are intelligent and friendly. Cartman: Intelligent and friendly on rye bread with some mayonnaise. |
09-07-2017, 09:23 AM | #44 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: At the bottom of the pile!
Posts: 2,846
|
Quote:
Hopefully they can restructure and keep some type of brick and mortar open. As an adult collector I have no problem ordering online, in fact I prefer it. (Hasbro shares the blame big time.) But my kids love going to TRU. Going to the toy store is a childhood experience that should not be missed. Like many of you, I have had beefs with TRU. But this will suck for the kids. Ordering from Amazon is not the same for them. Holding the toy in hand as they skip happily to the register is a priceless memory.
|
09-07-2017, 10:35 AM | #45 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: sitting in my tin can far above the world
Posts: 3,933
|
Heck yes! Children's Palace was our place to go. We didn't even have a toyrsus here until I was "to old" to be getting toys.
__________________
Feedback: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...-feedback.html |
09-07-2017, 10:47 AM | #46 |
I just want foam gliders.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Tooele (two-willa), Utah
Posts: 18,727
|
Kay Bee Toys was where I found the 25th Airborne and Eel wave. After that they turned into an outlet type store and changed their name.
__________________
Problems with the Club? Click me.... How to post pics to Hisstank? Click me.... BST Feedback |
09-07-2017, 11:22 AM | #47 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,184
|
Everything will be alright as long as I can still get my toy fix at Child World and Hornsby's and Venture and Kay Bee Toys and Venture and K-Mart.
Right? |
09-07-2017, 12:06 PM | #48 |
He Who Remains
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Florida
Posts: 9,385
|
Someone mentioned Kmart and RIP. The funny thing is, there STILL are Kmart stores that are open for business. Kmart(and Sears) first filed for bankruptcy over a decade ago, I believe, and they're still going. They're just dying a very slow death. So I predict, that IF ToysRus files for bankruptcy, we may see something similar. Where they slowly close 50-60 under-preforming stores each year. They'll basically become a Zombie chain. While I'd love to think that this will lead to ToysRus lowering their prices, if you happen to find and wander into a Zombie Kmart, you'll see that their prices on several things are still quite high. So lower prices might not necessarily be the case. I wouldn't mind picking up some True Heroes vehicles on clearance though.
|
09-07-2017, 12:33 PM | #49 |
I LIVE!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Altus, OK
Posts: 6,087
|
Quote:
In the end I think TRU probably needs to rethink its business model. And maybe even cut down some of its toy stock and go with a better online presence. Stay more in B&M for the Baby's R Us stuff. With a token selection of toys...and maybe even stay more focused on collectors items than a wall of 'blockbuster film' merchandise.
I don't know...I don't have all the answers, but I will be very sad to see what my sister has often called my 'Church' close its doors. That said, it doesn't overly surprise me. From what I've seen (given the closest TRU to me is over 2 hours away), it doesn't look like they've really changed the business model in 15-25 years, and the market has changed a LOT in that time. I think one of the bigger issues has been their insistence on the large retail location design. I actually wonder how a dedicated toy shop might do with a smaller, boutique, style retail footprint. To me, larger VARIETY of products can be more effective than simply have a VOLUME of product, and I'm not sure TRU ever really grasped that.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRealDubya
Any sort of panic at this stage is just pure unsubstantiated reptile brain stem fear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokePants
This is why companies are secretive -- because we all want the truth, but most of us cannot handle it.
|
09-07-2017, 01:31 PM | #50 |
I just want foam gliders.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Tooele (two-willa), Utah
Posts: 18,727
|
The only one in SLC still has a massive wall of Pixar Cars... so that either means they aren't selling... or selling so well that they're restocking like crazy... but I don't think it's the latter...
__________________
Problems with the Club? Click me.... How to post pics to Hisstank? Click me.... BST Feedback |
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Bankruptcy = Collection Worry | MyJoeCollection | G.I. Joe General Discussion | 52 | 06-29-2014 04:58 PM |
Just received sideshow major bludd and hot toys joe Colton | Lansingland | G.I. Joe 12 Inch Toy Discussion | 8 | 11-05-2013 01:56 AM |
On the horizon....MAJOR MATT MASON movie and toys? | Skipper | General Discussion | 0 | 09-04-2012 06:46 AM |
McFarlane Toys Confirms Major Staff Cuts | TOYARK.COM | Toys | 4 | 04-30-2009 08:41 AM |
KB Toys Has Filed For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection | Jonathan | General Discussion | 119 | 12-12-2008 06:57 PM |
|
|
Recent Off Topic Threads |
Hisstank Late Night thread... |
Last Movie You Watched? |
What song are you listening to? |
G.I. Joe March Madness 2024 Championship Battle Armor... |
2024 Toy Hauls |