Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids

Discussion in 'Whatever' started by smurph, Mar 12, 2018.

  1. Roger

    Roger Vintage

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    For those of you who are blaming the death of TRU on the products being offered by the toy industry, it's not that, it's about bad financial decisions by the private equity firms that owned the company and wrecked it with debt. Bloomberg has a good video explaining the details:

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...dation-would-leave-giant-hole-in-u-s-industry

    And yes, this is going to have a ripple effect across the industry, not just the people losing retail jobs but all through the supply chain. It's going to sting for big toy makers like LEGO, Mattel, Hasbro, etc., but if I worked at a smaller specialty toy maker I'd be pretty worried right now. I have some friends at NECA I'll be talking to soon to see how the mood is there, can't be too good.
     
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  2. zindabad

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    Thanks for the insight; I wasn't keeping tabs on this at all.
     
  3. smurph

    smurph Comment King

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    Doesn't ring a bell.
    This was the only competition my neighborhood TRU had back in the day (besides Kay Bee holding down the mall turf)

    [​IMG]
    Turn that frown upside down!
     
  4. Brooklyn_Vinyl

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    This was our competition to TRU
     
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  5. Headhunter

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    These are the new combinable 16 inch versions.
     
  6. Headhunter

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    All I have to say is good thing I work for Wal-Mart. I was originally trying to get a job at Toys R Us for months but they kept beating around the bush and highering younger ppl even though I was persistent about it.
     
  7. Vinyl Skin

    Vinyl Skin Toy Prince

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    I remember Kay Bee was small at the mall and it was always a zoo at Christmas, but could never hold a candle to the massive aisles of wonder at TRU. I have fond memories of Play World and Child World. Child World became a home improvement store called Rickels and then became Home Depot. For my fellow movie buffs, Child World is featured in "The Color of Money" since it's Vince's job before he hits the road with his cue.
     
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  8. smurph

    smurph Comment King

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  9. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    ^^Read that. Kids will always be entertained by their imagination and it's not like toys are not going to be produced... but I am bummed about the loss of jobs. That's rough.
     
  10. Nate

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    No one remembers Kaybee Toy Stores? Or was it just a California chain only?
     
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  11. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    We had a Kaybee in our town in Hawaii. I think it may have been the only chain toy store on the island. It was sad to see that one go in the early 2000s.
     
  12. spatula007

    spatula007 Comment King

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    We had KB's also. They were the mall stores, although I did know of two stand-alone shops.

    They partially fell apart after they were accused of fixing prices or false adverting. They would have a price tag on a toy for a higher price and then "mark it down" (in a red pen) to a lower price, which was actually the MSRP.
     
  13. Vinyl Skin

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    We had Kaybee's too at the malls.
     
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  14. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    ^^
    Most of the KB toys that I remember were in malls. I used to love going there.
    I worry about Barnes and Nobles. There used to be a lot in San Jose and now there are 2. I remember B. Dalton, Waldenbooks etc but nowadays people don't read as much.
     
  15. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

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    I think we are down to 2 in the entire state... :?
     
  16. Michael Beverage

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    I spent many hours both in Kaybee and Toys 'R' Us as a young impressionable child. It is indeed fucking depressing that future children may never know the wonder of combing through the aisles of toy stores.

    At least there are a handful of strong indie booksellers in bigger metropolitan areas that aren't going anywhere anytime soon. 'Tis a sad state of affairs when we have to mourn the passing of a corporate conglomerate like Barnes & Noble. I'm upset to see them go as well, but I remember them killing off the local book and music stores first.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2018
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  17. smurph

    smurph Comment King

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    B. Dalton & Waldenbooks. Blast from the past.
    B&N is still here. 5 around Baltimore (guess it is 'The City that Reads'...) and 10 across the state.

    Does seem people don't read as much as before, but still plenty who do. More inclined to fault e-readers/tablets and (of course) Amazon's cut-throat pricing for the decline of physical bookstores. At the risk of sounding antiquated, I think printed books will always have an inherent value devoid in their digital counterparts. Page turning > page scrolling.

    Semi-related side note: I still occasionally buy CD's (RIP Sam Goody & Record World)
     
  18. ungawa222

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    Child World and KayBee were the two mainstay toy stores in my area (both in Rockaway, NJ, a car ride away) growing up... I don't think TRU came to the area until just after I had moved to VT (1996). I remember getting my Flash Gordon and Dune figs at Child World... and many many tings, including my Mork & egg figure (thanks Aunt Judy)) and Godzilla's Gang toys (first sofubi!) at KayBee... but probably the majority of my Star Warce figures came from Jamesway, the long-defunct, regional dept store chain. There was one in my town (Ledgewood) and one right down the sidewalk from my dad's liquor store & bar in Hackettstown. Dad would often come home w/ a SW fig tucked comically somewhere on his person for me to spot as a surprise.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2018
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  19. Headhunter

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    RIP Media Play as well. They had an awesome section of toys.
     
  20. smurph

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  21. Headhunter

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    Well if there is any silver lining to all this iv found out that Kaybee Toys is rising back up from the grave. It's uncertain how this will all play out but if they don't go to ambitious we could still have a nice haven for toy shopping again.
     
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  22. Nate

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    Tough Times for Toys 'R' Us Kids
    Liquidation sales have started but the discounts are still low for our area. Checked yesterday and they have 10% off on action figures and video games. The only thing that's 30% off is gift wrap. The store was still busy though.
     
  23. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    Same. 10% of bikes. 5% of video games etc
     
  24. Headhunter

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    No, game consoles are 5% and it's video game software that's 10% off atm. Yeah any huge console sales will be gone probably before it even gets to that point.
     
  25. DrilOne

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    my Toys r US is so full of stuff. and nobody buying
     
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