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03-10-2018, 09:54 PM | #76 |
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 167
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This could be great for Neca if they play it smart. All the other collector grade companies like McFarlane and Diamond Select might back away from their licenses, allowing Neca to takeover. Then all they have to do is open up distribution centres in North America for specialty shops to stock up and possibly even individual collectors!
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03-10-2018, 10:29 PM | #77 |
MUtant Overlord
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,751
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Quote:
I live in Tennessee. We experienced the same scenario with Hastings (out of Texas). It was heart breaking. I went to the store probably 3 times a week.
What collector old enough to remember the height of GI Joe, Transformers and Masters Of The Universe (no disrespect to you younger folks) doesn't LOVE to go into a brick and mortar and hunt? I remember when TRU had 12 columns and 12 rows of pegs dedicated to GI Joe. Ahhhhhhhh good memories.
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03-10-2018, 10:38 PM | #78 |
MUtant Overlord
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,751
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Quote:
This could be great for Neca if they play it smart. All the other collector grade companies like McFarlane and Diamond Select might back away from their licenses, allowing Neca to takeover. Then all they have to do is open up distribution centres in North America for specialty shops to stock up and possibly even individual collectors!
I do see a lot smaller brands and lines just finding nowhere to go other than online. All those exclusives TRU used to bid for. Where do they go? Does some of that just not get made anymore? Maybe Walgreens expands to two toy aisles lol.
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03-10-2018, 10:53 PM | #79 |
NECAllector
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 117
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This should be a wake up call to Neca and spur them into action in reevaluating their online presence. First they need to list their items on their own store and do away with ridiculous shipping charges. Cut out the middle man and being a direct supplier will massively increase their profit margins, plus it can be a loop hole to get products out with trickier licensing by skipping traditional retailers. Second they need their products to be fulfilled by amazon, thus creating a better mass distribution option with higher visibility.
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03-10-2018, 11:07 PM | #80 |
MUtant Overlord
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,751
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Quote:
This should be a wake up call to Neca and spur them into action in reevaluating their online presence. First they need to list their items on their own store and do away with ridiculous shipping charges. Cut out the middle man and being a direct supplier will massively increase their profit margins, plus it can be a loop hole to get products out with trickier licensing by skipping traditional retailers. Second they need their products to be fulfilled by amazon, thus creating a better mass distribution option with higher visibility.
Do they charge a ton of money for shipping? I don’t order their stuff but shipping costs money. The myth created by the Amazons and Walmart’s is that delivering you something is worthless. Smaller companies cannot afford to lose money like that. What may cost Amazon pennies costs others dollars, which add up. A lot of people order online but the collector can be hard to please. Many prefer retail when possible to scrutinize paint apps or box wear. There is a reason Amazon has started closing accounts of people that return too many things or have too many problems. Heck, a lot of retail stores are ditching price matching and lowering return time limits. I’m sure there is opportunity if TRU goes under but I’m not sure who exactly stands to benefit the most. The whole market is already suffering and it may just be that the loss of a giant like TRU only ends up balancing things out a bit.
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03-11-2018, 01:28 AM | #81 |
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 170
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does the liquidation mean the toys r us shops worldwide will close also or just in the US ?
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03-11-2018, 03:26 AM | #82 |
Under a tiny thumb
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: London
Posts: 772
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UK has already gone
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03-11-2018, 04:48 AM | #83 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 697
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From my understanding it hasn't been fully decided/announced yet, but apparently the only branch of the store that's profitable is the Asian market, and the report I read said they were still looking for a buyer for that segment. But it sounds like everything else is going to be a goner.
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03-11-2018, 04:55 AM | #84 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 697
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Quote:
What's funny though, is that my closest TRU has actually been really good when it comes to Marvel exclusives (and Marvel Legends in general, for the most part), as long as I'm a little bit patient and mildly persistent. So despite being busy they still get stuff in (They're horrible about regular Star Wars Black Series, but the exclusives are easy to get). Just for the record: Unless I had an appointment or something that gets me out of work, I only "hunt" in the evenings on weekdays and on weekends. I dunno if the manager here was just really good about making sure stuff gets to shelves instead of "being sold out of the back" or what, but I've never had a problem with exclusives here. I may only see them once, but I do see them. |
03-11-2018, 07:40 AM | #85 |
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Delaware
Posts: 2,114
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This does not affect me at all, so see ya in hell TRU. Don't let the screen door hit ya in the ass on the way out.
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Thor Laserpunch |
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03-11-2018, 08:42 AM | #86 |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,591
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I usually stop in on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays every week.
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03-11-2018, 09:27 AM | #87 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 697
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03-11-2018, 10:50 AM | #88 |
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pasadena, TX
Posts: 3,099
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Quote:
CCC. |
03-11-2018, 10:55 AM | #89 |
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pasadena, TX
Posts: 3,099
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Quote:
TRU used to have a price match guarantee. It was on a sign directly above their registers. One day I walked into a Target and found Playmates DS9 figures just arrived and already on sale. I bought what I could find and took my receipt to TRU. They did not have the figures. I showed the receipt to the manager and asked if he would match the price when he did get them in. He said no. A week later I found more at Walmart. I got what I needed and went to pay. I did not have the other receipt but told the clerk about the sale at Target. She did not even question but just rang up the sale price. I took that receipt and went back to TRU. Again no figures, again I asked the manager and again he said no. I then loudly announced "So much for your falsely advertised low price guarantee." while standing under the sign and then walked out. I did not make another purchase at a TRU for well over a decade, so you see, it is possible to successfully collect toys without shopping at TRU.
CCC. CCC. |
03-11-2018, 10:57 AM | #90 |
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03-11-2018, 11:11 AM | #91 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 781
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It isn't really about what they carry or what you buy there. The truth is that TRU going under will affect collecting on a broad spectrum. Many companies heavily utilized TRU to move inventory. When they are gone many companies will change their sales tactics. The reality is that the sales format is changing and TRU going under is a wake up call for companies to adapt their tactics.
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03-11-2018, 11:15 AM | #92 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,307
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Their point was not that you'll have less places to buy your figures, but that without such a toy-focused store willing to carry a variety of toys from both big and small companies, Target and Walmart will have even less incentive to keep up their toy aisles, and there'll be some lines/companies like NECA that will now have no major store in which to sell their products, so they'll probably have to majorly reduce production runs and increase costs, among other things. Plus, those smaller lines that pretty much only sell at TRU won't have as much growth in their customers from people just happening to come across them in a store.
Last edited by Jeddostotle7; 03-11-2018 at 11:28 AM.. |
03-11-2018, 11:20 AM | #93 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 697
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Quote:
TRU used to have a price match guarantee. It was on a sign directly above their registers. One day I walked into a Target and found Playmates DS9 figures just arrived and already on sale. I bought what I could find and took my receipt to TRU. They did not have the figures. I showed the receipt to the manager and asked if he would match the price when he did get them in. He said no. A week later I found more at Walmart. I got what I needed and went to pay. I did not have the other receipt but told the clerk about the sale at Target. She did not even question but just rang up the sale price. I took that receipt and went back to TRU. Again no figures, again I asked the manager and again he said no. I then loudly announced "So much for your falsely advertised low price guarantee." while standing under the sign and then walked out. I did not make another purchase at a TRU for well over a decade, so you see, it is possible to successfully collect toys without shopping at TRU.
CCC. I'll put it to you as simply as I can: The future iteration of that particular line you wanted might not even get made, because now if Wal-Mart doesn't want it (or doesn't have shelf-space for it), it simply won't get made at all. Now Wal-Mart and Target have every excuse they need to trim their toy aisles down even further, or even eliminate them altogether, because TRU isn't there to offer any alternative whatsoever. Now Wal-Mart and Target have no real need to cater to collectors at all. Collectors will have no choice but to shop there if they want anything from brick and mortar. And before you go thinking "Amazon/Online will save us!" if Wal-Mart and Target trim their toy selections, the toymakers will reduce their output accordingly. "Online" isn't going to pick up the slack because there won't be any slack to pick up. If Wal-Mart and Target eliminate toys altogether (don't laugh...Wal-Mart in particular would LOVE to get rid of the toy aisles to make room for more electronics or even more groceries...anything with higher profit margins and/or sell-through), then there is a very real chance that Hasbro/Mattel/Et al... basically go out of business themselves, but even if they don't you can bet they won't be cranking out remotely the same amount of product, and pleasing collectors will be a lot less important to them than just staying afloat. But sure, go ahead and keep thinking that TRU going away won't affect the toy business as a whole. |
03-11-2018, 11:34 AM | #94 |
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 226
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Quote:
TRU used to have a price match guarantee. It was on a sign directly above their registers. One day I walked into a Target and found Playmates DS9 figures just arrived and already on sale. I bought what I could find and took my receipt to TRU. They did not have the figures. I showed the receipt to the manager and asked if he would match the price when he did get them in. He said no. A week later I found more at Walmart. I got what I needed and went to pay. I did not have the other receipt but told the clerk about the sale at Target. She did not even question but just rang up the sale price. I took that receipt and went back to TRU. Again no figures, again I asked the manager and again he said no. I then loudly announced "So much for your falsely advertised low price guarantee." while standing under the sign and then walked out. I did not make another purchase at a TRU for well over a decade, so you see, it is possible to successfully collect toys without shopping at TRU.
CCC. And you made a scene about it? And you've held onto this imagined slight for over a decade? And you think this story reflects badly on anyone but yourself? Seriously, that's not how price matches work. There's no way he could guarantee a price on an item that would only possibly be available at some indeterminate time in the future. If one retailer has a sale for an item for $X, do you really expect another retailer's price match policy to honor that price in perpetuity? |
03-11-2018, 11:48 AM | #95 |
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pasadena, TX
Posts: 3,099
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Quote:
You asked for a price match on an item that they didn't have to sell you? But... why?
And you made a scene about it? And you've held onto this imagined slight for over a decade? And you think this story reflects badly on anyone but yourself? Seriously, that's not how price matches work. There's no way he could guarantee a price on an item that would only possibly be available at some indeterminate time in the future. If one retailer has a sale for an item for $X, do you really expect another retailer's price match policy to honor that price in perpetuity? CCC. |
03-11-2018, 11:49 AM | #96 |
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 17
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Quote:
Many casual fans will simply shrug at the loss of the retail outlet, which they see as just a more expensive alternative to the low prices of Walmart.
The only thing i got near me that's not an hour trip is a Target. And that place is only good for Star Wars and Marvel stuff. For some reason half of their toy stock seems to be blind bag stuff. i dont even have a comic shop near me. All this does is actually drive my shopping to be basically almost totally online. So i guess online won if this is the reason this is happening. Which i don't think it is totally. Quote:
Do they charge a ton of money for shipping? I don't order their stuff but shipping costs money. The myth created by the Amazons and Walmart's is that delivering you something is worthless. Smaller companies cannot afford to lose money like that. What may cost Amazon pennies costs others dollars, which add up.
A lot of people order online but the collector can be hard to please. Many prefer retail when possible to scrutinize paint apps or box wear. There is a reason Amazon has started closing accounts of people that return too many things or have too many problems. Heck, a lot of retail stores are ditching price matching and lowering return time limits. I'm sure there is opportunity if TRU goes under but I'm not sure who exactly stands to benefit the most. The whole market is already suffering and it may just be that the loss of a giant like TRU only ends up balancing things out a bit. |
03-11-2018, 11:51 AM | #97 |
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pasadena, TX
Posts: 3,099
|
Quote:
You don't understand the follow-on effects of TRU going out of business. Whether you shopped there or not is irrelevant. Look at how Mattel and Hasbro and Jakks Pacific stock (among others) is tumbling because TRU is going out of business.
I'll put it to you as simply as I can: The future iteration of that particular line you wanted might not even get made, because now if Wal-Mart doesn't want it (or doesn't have shelf-space for it), it simply won't get made at all. Now Wal-Mart and Target have every excuse they need to trim their toy aisles down even further, or even eliminate them altogether, because TRU isn't there to offer any alternative whatsoever. Now Wal-Mart and Target have no real need to cater to collectors at all. Collectors will have no choice but to shop there if they want anything from brick and mortar. And before you go thinking "Amazon/Online will save us!" if Wal-Mart and Target trim their toy selections, the toymakers will reduce their output accordingly. "Online" isn't going to pick up the slack because there won't be any slack to pick up. If Wal-Mart and Target eliminate toys altogether (don't laugh...Wal-Mart in particular would LOVE to get rid of the toy aisles to make room for more electronics or even more groceries...anything with higher profit margins and/or sell-through), then there is a very real chance that Hasbro/Mattel/Et al... basically go out of business themselves, but even if they don't you can bet they won't be cranking out remotely the same amount of product, and pleasing collectors will be a lot less important to them than just staying afloat. But sure, go ahead and keep thinking that TRU going away won't affect the toy business as a whole. CCC. |
03-11-2018, 12:05 PM | #98 |
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 226
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Quote:
I challenged their veracity on a policy they had only used to drive a competitor out of the market and then stopped honoring. At that time I could still shop at Walmart, Target, and K Mart, so they still had every reason to stay competitive, but chose not to. That is not good business, in spite of your opinion. Those policies exist to promote competition, not to ignore it.
CCC. Is it possible to buy a doorbuster item on Black Friday and then two months later bring in the receipt to a competitor and demand they honor that price for that item? Sure, but they're going to tell you no, because that isn't how price match policies work. |
03-11-2018, 12:05 PM | #99 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,307
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Quote:
I challenged their veracity on a policy they had only used to drive a competitor out of the market and then stopped honoring. At that time I could still shop at Walmart, Target, and K Mart, so they still had every reason to stay competitive, but chose not to. That is not good business, in spite of your opinion. Those policies exist to promote competition, not to ignore it.
CCC. EDIT: and if you really think small toy stores are gonna be opening back up, you must live in some universe where retail stores as a thing aren't in the massive decline they have been for a while in our universe. Last edited by Jeddostotle7; 03-11-2018 at 12:19 PM.. |
03-11-2018, 01:01 PM | #100 |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,591
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Here is something I just ran into. There has been a small shop by me since August. They have everything from shirts and comics to action figures and keyrings…anything "pop culture". It's a nice store with slightly higher prices than TRU. I stopped in today and the owner had raised all the NECA he had in stock from $24.99 to $29.99. When I asked about it, he shrugged and said, "I'll be the only game in town real soon."
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