[Stranger]

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!

[Iceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by firmpulse

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.

Hastings suffered from the same problem TRU does but worse. Wal-Mart might be $20 on an item, TRU would be $23-$25, and Hastings would be $27-$30. They are doing it to themselves. Hastings I guess drew people in for rentals and trade-in programs but I couldn’t imagine why anyone ever purchased from them. They had lots of cool stuff to look at but way cheaper everywhere else. I would check out stuff there but hardly even bought anything until they went out of business. Even then it took until it was 40% off plus to be worth it.

[Iceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

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!

In what world would that happen? A likely scenario I see is with the last higher priced retail competitors out of the way places like Wal-Mart can up the prices a bit. Maybe not. The market will tell.

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.

[adcatalano]

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.

[Iceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adcatalano

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.

[JokerArkham]

does the liquidation mean the toys r us shops worldwide will close also or just in the US ?

[Jimmyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JokerArkham

does the liquidation mean the toys r us shops worldwide will close also or just in the US ?

UK has already gone

[Jmacq1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JokerArkham

does the liquidation mean the toys r us shops worldwide will close also or just in the US ?

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.

[Jmacq1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpasticPlastic

Just stopped into the store by me. The entire parking lot was packed and they had 3 registers going. I've never seen it that busy…ever.

How often do you go on Saturday? My local TRU usually has a pretty full parking lot nearly every Saturday. Sunday usually isn't bad, either.

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.

[Thor Laserpunch]

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.

[SpasticPlastic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmacq1

How often do you go on Saturday? My local TRU usually has a pretty full parking lot nearly every Saturday.

I usually stop in on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays every week.

[Jmacq1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Laserpunch

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.

Do you not collect a single toy line that Toys R Us carries?

Because if you do, even if you don't buy it from TRU, this will affect you.

[LordMudd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmacq1

Do you not collect a single toy line that Toys R Us carries?

Because if you do, even if you don't buy it from TRU, this will affect you.

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.

[LordMudd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordMudd

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.

Btw, it was another 6 weeks before TRU got those figures, by which time everyone who wanted them had them from the other stores, so they peg warmed there for a very long time. That manager had the opportunity to learn a lesson, if he was not too dense to see it.


CCC.

[Thor Laserpunch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmacq1

Do you not collect a single toy line that Toys R Us carries?

Because if you do, even if you don't buy it from TRU, this will affect you.

Not actually. Aside from Figuarts, I don't think there's even a brand they carry that I would buy.

[Bearjew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Laserpunch

Not actually. Aside from Figuarts, I don't think there's even a brand they carry that I would buy.

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.

[Jeddostotle7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordMudd

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.

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.

[Jmacq1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordMudd

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.

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.

[domu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordMudd

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.

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?

[LordMudd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by domu

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?

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.

[Sighphi]

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.

For the people that have a Walmart around. I have to go to another state if i want to walk into a Walmart. Kmart is also closing stores, there's going to be a bunch of people that have nothing close to them but a mom & pop stores that's half filled with pharmacy toys.

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:

Originally Posted by Iceman

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.

For a 24 dollar fig their shipping was 13 bucks last time i checked, that's half the price of the fig. They need to figure something out because Amazon and Walmart are not the only places that can ship one Neca figure for half their shipping cost.

[LordMudd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmacq1

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.

I have not seen one comment on the possibility of people opening small toy stores. You know, the ones TRU drove to extinction? Now there is no more TRU to do that, but everyone here is all doom and gloom. One door closes, and another opens.


CCC.

[domu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordMudd

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.

Hey, I don't know if they were or were not honoring their price match policy in other instances, but in the situation you described (it has nothing at all to do with opinion) you were 100% in the wrong.

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.

[Jeddostotle7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordMudd

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.

You yelled at some employees for """not honoring a policy""" (which may or may not be a bad policy, that is not relevant to the actual events you detailed here) on an item they did not have, and therefore could not sell to you, just to try to "challenge their veracity on it"? If I've misunderstood your explanation, please clarify, because if it played out the way I'm understanding your post, man, I would have hated to have you as a customer when I worked at Target or TRU.

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.

[SpasticPlastic]

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."