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Post by jayrod2009 on Dec 19, 2017 22:11:55 GMT -5
Most of us 90's kids remember begging our parents to take us to the toy store, and that toy store for many was Toys R Us. That was THE one stop shop for toy hunting. From Kenner Aliens, Biker Mice From Mars, Jurassic Park, to Star wars and our wrestling figures. They had rows and rows of fgures. Over the past 10 years, that inagine has been changed. Online shopping has become the go to for consumers. Trading in person brick and mortar shopping to the convienece of at home or on the go shopping for a computer or mobile device. I knew one day, it would take its toll on physical stores. Today, it looks to be the start of it. We all remember KB Toys going out of buisness after being ought out by the Toys industry juggernaut TRU, then they ate FAO Shwartz, a literal toy paradise. Now, we all get to watch as TRU takes its first step into becoming a memory as their financial department and development are currently looking at options on closing anywhere from 100-200 stores nation wide. We saw where KMart went with this, and I beleive they have dwindled down to nearly 60 stores Nation wide. www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-19/toys-r-us-sales-declined-ahead-of-september-bankruptcy-filingnews.toyark.com/2017/12/19/toys-r-us-may-begin-closing-us-stores-281250My fear now, is, how long until Amazon own retail? Will the days of toy hunting on foot be over? Where fors this leave companies like Mattel with exclusives? Will we see major cut backs from lines like Spotlight? |
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Post by Robert69 on Dec 19, 2017 22:19:31 GMT -5
Bankruptcy, and store closings, doesn't mean that Toys R Us is ending. Not even remotely.
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Post by kennyw86 on Dec 19, 2017 22:20:08 GMT -5
Im down for anything that kills exclusives. Can never find them in my area.
Have yet to see tnf setg, any hof 5, any nxt 2 elites, virgil, marvel legends walmart black panther or tru spidey/mary jane.
I hate exclusives.
Love tru, but theyre dead.
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Post by jayrod2009 on Dec 19, 2017 22:27:36 GMT -5
Bankruptcy, and store closings, doesn't mean that Toys R Us is ending. Not even remotely. Sure it does. A 15% drop during Holiday season is a major deal. That is prime time retail season. 100 stores closing is less shelf space for retail sales, which means less products purchased which means less of a wholesale price on bulk sku's. That would be roughly 200 + less cases of waves of figures, assuming each store only stocked 2 cases a wave. Thats one line. Now extend that across all brands, lines, and waves. For TRU thats alot of money saved, but its also mony lost which at one time would have been pressumed a guarantee from Companies like Mattel. The trickle down effect could potentially lead to product mark ups to balance that loss. More than likely not fromassive brands like Mattel or Hasbro, but look at the hit companies like Neca could face. |
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Post by legendsguy on Dec 19, 2017 22:28:35 GMT -5
a place like TRU I don't mind if it closed. I hate exclusives also , But it does eliminate just 1 more store that wont stock figures, so its a win/lose situation. Mine had its moments at times, but overall I never find anything in there now, they rarely stock anything new. Ive shopped more online TRU than in the actual store tbh. too bad they just cant go pure online...like a Amazon.
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Post by Mongo Bears on Dec 19, 2017 22:34:22 GMT -5
The Kmart in my area didn’t close and I think the tru’s in my area won’t close either, I’m not worried.
But I am worried for the future of wwe figures as it is now with Mattel. Walmart, Target and tru have all cut down on the wwe section.
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Post by Glorydaysofwrestling on Dec 19, 2017 22:53:07 GMT -5
I agree, we are reaching the end of an era with actual toy stores. So many great memories going into all the stores back in the day and seeing all the toys and being in awe.
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Post by romanthenewyorker on Dec 19, 2017 23:11:49 GMT -5
This means only one thing.....Ringside Collectibles store front in NYC!!
Lol Just kidding.
It’s unfortunate that TRU is going through such a hit. But I suppose it’s a lesson of mismanagement amongst many other issues with chain retailers.
The toy store needs to thrive again
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Post by disorder on Dec 19, 2017 23:15:14 GMT -5
Ringside better start including tinfoil hats with all orders
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powerfred3k
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Post by powerfred3k on Dec 19, 2017 23:52:35 GMT -5
Toysrus ever since they got rid of baf elites/basics and have the network spotlight series has been the best wwe figure store. If i can't find it in store i can order it online pretty easily.
They are also the only major retailer that carries neca alien/predator figures that i have several display stands full of.
I really hope amazon or someone else buys them out. Then again i really hope hasbro buys out mattel and fixes there awful distribution since mattel has shown little to no sign of that improving on there own.
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eaterofworlds
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Post by eaterofworlds on Dec 20, 2017 1:08:38 GMT -5
Ive felt that way lately because it seems there are fewer and fewer toys coming out nowadays due to technology and game consoles and such. It seems like a lot of "toys" are geared more towards the older generation of people who collect these figuees and toys
I love when kids are physically playing with a toy over playing a game on an ipad or the computer or something
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Matt Hardy Collector
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Post by Matt Hardy Collector on Dec 20, 2017 1:57:14 GMT -5
Toys r Us did it to themselves with ridiculous price hikes on toys that you can find anywhere, and then they got exclusive series that also got a price hike. Their best hope would be to close a bunch of stores and restructure as an online store. Unfortunately Amazon still has companies beat. I bought 2/3 of the new New Day elites for $10 each, but if I went to any store they would've been $20 per fig. Amazon also has damaged package deals that stores don't give you. Sure you don't get to look at the figures you buy online, but you don't have to worry that some a$$hole took the accessories or switched the figure and returned it. That is another thing that hurts Toys r Us and all other physical stores. The people who remove accessories or swap the figure and return it, and the staff just doesn't care enough to look at it. I was at a TRU a couple days ago and there was an empty SH Figuarts SS2 Gohan package hidden behind the WWE toys. So as much as TRU is at fault for their outrageous prices, so are the scumbags who steal a $50 figure because they don't want to spend that kind of money on it.
Meijer also has a theft problem, saw 2 of the electronic raw rings missing the Goldberg figure and they marked them down to $60.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2017 2:01:24 GMT -5
My bigger worry is that we are going to see a decline in toys in general because children prefer electronics.
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ClassicFan2
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Post by ClassicFan2 on Dec 20, 2017 3:18:28 GMT -5
theyd be smarter to do more online selling/marketing anyway, but also open more small stores in malls/strip malls, instead of big giant stores.
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powerfred3k
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Post by powerfred3k on Dec 20, 2017 3:29:44 GMT -5
Toys r Us did it to themselves with ridiculous price hikes on toys that you can find anywhere, and then they got exclusive series that also got a price hike. Their best hope would be to close a bunch of stores and restructure as an online store. Unfortunately Amazon still has companies beat. I bought 2/3 of the new New Day elites for $10 each, but if I went to any store they would've been $20 per fig. Amazon also has damaged package deals that stores don't give you. Sure you don't get to look at the figures you buy online, but you don't have to worry that some a$$hole took the accessories or switched the figure and returned it. That is another thing that hurts Toys r Us and all other physical stores. The people who remove accessories or swap the figure and return it, and the staff just doesn't care enough to look at it. I was at a TRU a couple days ago and there was an empty SH Figuarts SS2 Gohan package hidden behind the WWE toys. So as much as TRU is at fault for their outrageous prices, so are the scumbags who steal a $50 figure because they don't want to spend that kind of money on it. Meijer also has a theft problem, saw 2 of the electronic raw rings missing the Goldberg figure and they marked them down to $60. Hey i don't mean to burst your bubble but people do buy figures off of amazon, swap belts and return them. It happened to me when i tried to buy a discounted e50 rhyno figure for the extra belt to have a set of 2. Amazon helped me return it and refunded my money quicker than normal, but it still happens. Let that be a lesson for everyone, don't buy discounted wwe elite figures on amazon for belts, not worth the hassle. |
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Matt Hardy Collector
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Post by Matt Hardy Collector on Dec 20, 2017 3:35:49 GMT -5
theyd be smarter to do more online selling/marketing anyway, but also open more small stores in malls/strip malls, instead of big giant stores. Malls are closing faster than TRU. |
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Post by BadGirlRyleigh on Dec 20, 2017 7:25:15 GMT -5
Amazon will never own everything. Walmart is pretty much bulletproof for at least the next 25 years. That's not very great for wrestling figures but at least it's better then Disney owning every form of entertainment
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Post by stc13 on Dec 20, 2017 9:20:05 GMT -5
I wish I was surprised how short sighted some people in this thread are. This won't stop store exclusives, but it would definitely have an impact across the entire WWE line. That's thousands of fewer cases ordered and sold throughout the year between basics, Elites, exclusives, which puts a dent in Mattel's bottom line. If anything, that may encourage Mattel to seek out MORE store exclusives to make up the lost revenue. TRU would be buying less stock, which would impact their manufacturer direct price. That could lead to a price increase on figures, ala KMart. And if Mattel can't make up that lost revenue through increased sales elsewhere, then you're looking at that being passed along to the consumer.
That's just the WWE line. Mattel sells a wide range of products through TRU, and again...they're going to make up that lost revenue one way or another. While this is far from the death of retail, it's not a good sign for the overall health of the industry that is our hobby. Not to mention the loss of thousands of jobs at those stores Celebrating that because you're upset that you can't find a store exclusive toy that you want is petty to say the least, especially when you consider how readily available TRU's exclusives are online.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2017 9:28:09 GMT -5
Very sad news. Nothing but great memories of seeing the floor to ceiling Hasbro display in my local one. Still well stocked now with all the latest series’ and plenty of the NS exclusives etc.
I will ALWAYS buy in store where I can, I can’t stand the whiney bitch noises moaning about imperfections or packaging damage, always from those who buy online. I love shopping in store picking the best of the bunch. Give me a store over the internet any day
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Post by CampCornette on Dec 20, 2017 17:31:39 GMT -5
My bigger worry is that we are going to see a decline in toys in general because children prefer electronics. 100% my niece is 8 and wants iPhones and google chrome from Christmas. I’m 34 and I want Action figures. Go figure |
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