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Toys R Us - what does this tell you?

Craig234

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Toys R Us is gone in the US, closing all 700 stores a year ago.

You might not have known, they still have 900 stores in Europe, Asia, and India - and are planning 70 more mostly in Asia.

What does that tell us about the US?

Is it that Amazon has crippled retail here and not there, or something else?
 

Toys R Us are opening back up here. Two to start.
 
it tells me that humans often prefer to shop from their couches, where they don't have to fight traffic or deal with other humans, who are generally assholes in shopping situations. it also tells me that Amazon figured that out much more successfully than Toys R Us did. finally, it tells me that Amazon workers had probably better unionize unless they want to depend on Amazon to be its own conscience.

in other news, there is still room for brick and mortar stores. i was sad when Toys R Us shut down its stores, and i'm glad that there is still some hope for that.
 

I agree with all that you say - especially the unionization of Amazon.

But I a guilty also and I fully admit my complicity. The other day I wanted the new book AMERICAN CARNAGE about the Trump campaign so I ordered it online from Amazon and saved ten bucks off the publishers listed price. Then I got free delivery since we have a subscription to Amazon Prime as we are video subscribers. It arrived the very next day - which was the first day the book was in stores anyways.

So how does a brick and mortar location compete with that?
 
Why I was a kid they had a crappy D&D selection. I don't care if books aren't technically toys, I was a kid like everyone else. Well, now we see who gets the last laugh.
 
I miss Toys R Us. I grew up with that store. It was founded in NJ (where I grew up). Geoffrey, Gigi and Baby Gee were staples of my youth in commercials. When I became a mother myself I bought so much there. Loved that store.
 
tres borrachos said:
I miss Toys R Us. I grew up with that store.
Click to expand...

I liked going there to play the video games they had on demo display. In fact, that's how I got to wanting a Nintendo 64...by playing Starfox 64 every time there.
 
Roadvirus said:
I liked going there to play the video games they had on demo display. In fact, that's how I got to wanting a Nintendo 64...by playing Starfox 64 every time there.
Click to expand...

When video games became a thing, their displays were among the best. My kids loved to go play them before we broke down and bought them.

I miss that store.
 
I don't want to grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid...


I'm surprised they still have stores in other countries. Maybe Amazon is just not as dominant in other countries. But in the long run they'll experience the same fate in those other countries.
 

They can't compete with that book purchase. They have to compete another way, like the browsing, maybe they should have refreshments, carrying unusual books, who knows. Even then people could see it in the store and go home to save $10 and I think most would.
 

It competes when you need it right now or when it can offer you a different and appealing experience. An example would be customer service. Most of us like not having to talk to someone to put an order in, but almost all of us like having a person to talk to when we need help.
 

It doesn’t, really. It’s why all Brick and mortars are going the way of the dodo. You’ll always have places like Walmart or Target if you need something immediately, but as a huge fan of online shopping, I have learned to plan better, so I don’t find myself out of something.
 
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