[rann]

Very sad...but I can see why TRU is failing, and has been for several years. First, kids don't play with "toys" anymore, but TRU hasn't figured out that it needs to appeal to adult collectors, IMO. Like Saturday morning cartoons, most American toy manufacturers have faded away. I saw that a new 12" Captain Scarlet figure will be coming out in a few months. Would I EVER spot it at the local TRU? Dream on...

I cannot stand to set foot in the TRU here...chockablock full of junk that has been sitting there since the place opened. I cannot even remember the last time I actually found anything I was looking for, and purchased it, at a TRU. Action figures? The pegs that aren't empty are clogged with the absolute lowest common denominator available. I suspect scalper employees hawk whatever they can on ebay. These days I find 90% of anything I need on Amazon or BBTS or a few Asian websites. Very sad. I would much prefer to patronize local businesses.

I started collecting Kenner Super Powers figures in the early '80s. Still have 'em on my shelves. Even this little town had three independent toy stores in those days...two at the newly opened "mall." Remember those halcyon days? Back when Sears was THE go-to store for almost everything from blue jeans to car repair? Now our mall (minus every "anchor store") is a run-down hang out for parking lot thugs. Yet the #1 place for toys here, for many years, was Target. They got the latest Kenner & ToyBiz figures in profusion. I could pick & choose the best paint jobs. Later I was able to shop for a wide range of well-sculpted DC Direct figures at a few local "comic book stores." All are gone now. TRU won't be missed by me, but the nostalgic memories of the brick & mortar stores will remain.