R.I.P. Toys R Us
04-14-18, 09:07 AM
#151
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
I went by our TRU today. Only 10% off most everything. 5% off Legos. What a joke. The only thing my kid was interested in, it was still 25% more expensive than Amazon.
04-14-18, 10:17 AM
#152
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Legos will probably never be significantly marked down. Lego will ask TRU to send them back first,
04-14-18, 05:17 PM
#153
DVD Talk Legend
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Walked around yesterday as well. Without the sign you wouldnt even know they were going out of business. It said 30% off but anything worth having was 5-10% off. Goodbye TRU.
04-14-18, 08:09 PM
#154
DVD Talk Hero
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
It was largely the same when I visited earlier in the week for nostalgia. You can tell that many things have been pulled by the manufacturers. There were zero children's books left, among other categories that have disappeared.
04-15-18, 04:37 PM
#155
DVD Talk Legend
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
I went into to the local store today and nothing changed. The discounts were still 10-30% off, I did notice that the store looked like it was being restocked, more merchandise was coming in from the warehouse. All the video game consoles were pulled from the store.
Last edited by Bluelitespecial; 04-21-18 at 04:21 PM.
04-15-18, 06:11 PM
#156
DVD Talk Legend
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Yesterday was the last day for the store here, really bums me out. And then I just found out that the Books A Million where I live closed down recently.
04-19-18, 12:18 PM
#159
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Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
I understand there is a point that an offer is rediculous, but ... isn’t something better than nothing? This is the problem with publicly traded companies in certain industries. There is profit to be had, but it’s not “enough” so we’ll just fuck the consumers and pull the plug so they get nothing at all.
He has an interesting vision that intrigues me.
The problem with his offer (that I saw) was wanting the Canadian stores. Correct me if I’m remembering this wrong, but TRU Canada is a separate company that is not a part of this.
He has an interesting vision that intrigues me.
The problem with his offer (that I saw) was wanting the Canadian stores. Correct me if I’m remembering this wrong, but TRU Canada is a separate company that is not a part of this.
04-20-18, 10:30 AM
#160
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Looks like the game isn't over quite yet.. I have to wonder if Larian will come back with a stronger bid or he will be happy to have at least the Canadian stores for distribution...
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fairfax...res-1524232786
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fairfax...res-1524232786
Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. has offered to buy Toys “R” Us ’s Canadian stores out of bankruptcy for $300 million.
The offer, revealed Thursday night in filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Va., is subject to higher bids at a court-supervised auction.
The retailer is seeking court approval to name Fairfax, the Toronto-based investment firm controlled by financier Prem Watsa, as the stalking horse, or lead bidder, at the auction. Companies selling assets in bankruptcy often seek to name a stalking horse to set a floor price to encourage bidding.
An auction for the retailer’s Canadian assets is scheduled to be held Monday in New York at the offices of Toys “R” Us’s bankruptcy lawyers. A sale hearing is slated for Tuesday.
Earlier this week, Toys “R” Us Inc. rejected an 11th-hour offer from a billionaire Isaac Larian, the founder of Bratz dolls maker MGA Entertainment Inc. Mr. Larian, who said he’d made a $675 million bid for the bankrupt retailer’s U.S. stores, had also bid $215 million for the retailer’s better-performing Canadian operations.
In March, Toys “R” Us announced it would wind down its U.S. business after it became apparent the retailer would be unable to reorganize its debt and move forward. The retailer, which employs about 33,000 people in the U.S., is in the process of liquidating all of the inventory at its 735 stores.
Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy protection in September after struggling with more than $5 billion in debt from a leveraged buyout. It also was squeezed by competition from Amazon.com Inc. as more parents shop online, as well as by discount retailers such as Walmart Inc.
The offer, revealed Thursday night in filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Va., is subject to higher bids at a court-supervised auction.
The retailer is seeking court approval to name Fairfax, the Toronto-based investment firm controlled by financier Prem Watsa, as the stalking horse, or lead bidder, at the auction. Companies selling assets in bankruptcy often seek to name a stalking horse to set a floor price to encourage bidding.
An auction for the retailer’s Canadian assets is scheduled to be held Monday in New York at the offices of Toys “R” Us’s bankruptcy lawyers. A sale hearing is slated for Tuesday.
Earlier this week, Toys “R” Us Inc. rejected an 11th-hour offer from a billionaire Isaac Larian, the founder of Bratz dolls maker MGA Entertainment Inc. Mr. Larian, who said he’d made a $675 million bid for the bankrupt retailer’s U.S. stores, had also bid $215 million for the retailer’s better-performing Canadian operations.
In March, Toys “R” Us announced it would wind down its U.S. business after it became apparent the retailer would be unable to reorganize its debt and move forward. The retailer, which employs about 33,000 people in the U.S., is in the process of liquidating all of the inventory at its 735 stores.
Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy protection in September after struggling with more than $5 billion in debt from a leveraged buyout. It also was squeezed by competition from Amazon.com Inc. as more parents shop online, as well as by discount retailers such as Walmart Inc.
04-21-18, 01:58 PM
#161
DVD Talk Hero
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Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
I’m still confused over this Canadian thing ... The Canadian stores are a separate company that was fine — I thought. Earlier posts indicate that, including a statement from them.
As I said, Larian’s concept of turning the stores into a destination sounds intriguing. IKEA for the family! Somewhat related to that concept — I’ve always wondered why movie theaters haven’t attempted merchandising within the theater.
As I said, Larian’s concept of turning the stores into a destination sounds intriguing. IKEA for the family! Somewhat related to that concept — I’ve always wondered why movie theaters haven’t attempted merchandising within the theater.
04-21-18, 05:42 PM
#162
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
The same thing happened to the retail company I worked for. They were going out of business and one of the old owners of the company offered to buy it back. The offer was rejected because they could make more money going through bankruptcy. They didn't give a shit about the hundreds of jobs that could have been saved.
05-18-18, 08:20 AM
#163
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
this is kind of funny....
https://www.geek.com/culture/toys-r-...mains-1740138/
https://www.geek.com/culture/toys-r-...mains-1740138/
Like the kids and kids at heart equivalent of the death of Princess Diana, Toys R Us’s slow slide into bankruptcy continues. The beloved toy retailer is the latest victim of predatory capitalism, and the result is that future generations of children will be denied the chance to have playthings hawked at them by a talking giraffe. All we have left are the memories.
However, if you want to remember a little more from Toys R Us, and you have the cash to spare, you can straight up own a piece of the company. As part of going out of business, Toys R Us is selling off its intellectual property, along with all the physical toys in its stores. And some of that intellectual property includes some very spicy sexual domains.
You’ve heard of Toys R Us and Babies R Us. But what about Sex Toys R Us? Kinky Toys R Us? Adult Toys R Us? Porn R Us? Naughty Toys R Us? No, these aren’t opportunistic sex shop small businesses, they are domains registered by Toys R Us to prevent anyone else from snatching them. It’s a common tactic when you have a popular name to cut off potential domain squatters at the knees as well as bury potentially bad news stories like “Innocent Child Accidentally Visits FuckToysRUs.com.”
However, now that Toys R Us is going away its empire of bootleg website names can now be yours if want to buy a domain from Geoffrey LLC. We’re not so much into the sex sites. Instead, we’ve got our eyes on all of Toys R Us’s self-owning websites like ihatetoysrus.com and toysrussucks.com. Also tempting are girafficparty.com and iwanttobeatoysrusmom.com.
But really, the true greatest treasure one could salvage from the wreckage of Toys R Us isn’t some funny erotic website. It’s the rights to that tall toy boy himself Geoffrey the Giraffe. No price is too high to own that plastic trinket beast.
However, if you want to remember a little more from Toys R Us, and you have the cash to spare, you can straight up own a piece of the company. As part of going out of business, Toys R Us is selling off its intellectual property, along with all the physical toys in its stores. And some of that intellectual property includes some very spicy sexual domains.
You’ve heard of Toys R Us and Babies R Us. But what about Sex Toys R Us? Kinky Toys R Us? Adult Toys R Us? Porn R Us? Naughty Toys R Us? No, these aren’t opportunistic sex shop small businesses, they are domains registered by Toys R Us to prevent anyone else from snatching them. It’s a common tactic when you have a popular name to cut off potential domain squatters at the knees as well as bury potentially bad news stories like “Innocent Child Accidentally Visits FuckToysRUs.com.”
However, now that Toys R Us is going away its empire of bootleg website names can now be yours if want to buy a domain from Geoffrey LLC. We’re not so much into the sex sites. Instead, we’ve got our eyes on all of Toys R Us’s self-owning websites like ihatetoysrus.com and toysrussucks.com. Also tempting are girafficparty.com and iwanttobeatoysrusmom.com.
But really, the true greatest treasure one could salvage from the wreckage of Toys R Us isn’t some funny erotic website. It’s the rights to that tall toy boy himself Geoffrey the Giraffe. No price is too high to own that plastic trinket beast.
05-18-18, 08:38 AM
#164
DVD Talk Legend
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
I was out of town earlier in the week and saw a TRU store with huge closing/sale signs. Stopped in to see if there were any deals. Everything was in the neighborhood of 30% off, meaning it was still way overpriced. 
05-18-18, 11:39 AM
#165
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
My son took his family to the TRU in their town and came out empty handed. He said everything is still overpriced and any "good stuff" has been taken off the shelves. He won't go back no matter what the final % off winds up being.
05-18-18, 11:56 AM
#166
DVD Talk Hero
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Yeah, once the liquidators take hold of these "clearances" you typically don't see any killer deals.
05-19-18, 12:55 AM
#167
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
One of our TRU Express in a mall closed down completely. In the last days, stuff was 70% off, which led to some actual deals if there was something left that you wanted. I picked up a Magic Tracks set for my son that's sold for $25 at its lowest on Amazon, for only $9.
05-20-18, 01:33 PM
#168
DVD Talk Legend
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Recent quote from the Toys R Us CEO:
“I have always believed that this brand and this business should exist in the U.S.,” Brandon said on a conference call with staff, adding that he guarantees that vendors who failed to support the retailer during the holidays and customers who shopped elsewhere will miss the retailer. They “will all live to regret what’s happening here,” Brandon said.
A lot of arrogance and entitlement in those quotes.
“I have always believed that this brand and this business should exist in the U.S.,” Brandon said on a conference call with staff, adding that he guarantees that vendors who failed to support the retailer during the holidays and customers who shopped elsewhere will miss the retailer. They “will all live to regret what’s happening here,” Brandon said.
A lot of arrogance and entitlement in those quotes.
05-22-18, 06:56 AM
#169
DVD Talk Legend
05-22-18, 07:41 AM
#170
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Looks like the bid for TRU is dead Well, that sucks. Looks like they will be gone soon. 
http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/21/news...-us/index.html
http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/21/news...-us/index.html
The billionaire behind Bratz and Little Tikes toys is waving the white flag.
Isaac Larian said Monday that he will no longer try to save Toys "R" Us.
"I am most disheartened that the legacy of the retailer will be lost for future generations," Larian said in a statement provided to CNNMoney. He added that he wasn't able to reach a deal with the company's lenders.
Powered by SmartAsset.comLarian, the CEO of MGA Entertainment, announced in April that he had placed a $675 million bid for 200 of the remaining 735 Toys "R" Us locations in the United States, and almost all of more than 80 locations in Canada.
Toys "R" Us rejected the offer a few days later. Sources said at the time that the offer was too low.
Soon after, Larian told CNNMoney that he had decided to drop his bid for the Canadian locations, but that he hoped to make a US offer work.
Related: Billionaire CEO won't stop trying to save Toys 'R' Us
"We were about 10% below the winning bid for Toys "R" Us Canada. So that gives me hope for our US bid," he said on April 23. "We have the financing we need. It's now a matter of determining how much more we're able to bid."
Larian hoped that by keeping Toys "R" Us stores open, he would be able to save jobs and protect the toy industry.
"I'm an optimist. I think things are going to work out," he said at the time. "The people handling the sale, I think they're genuinely trying to save the stores here in the US."
The toy megastore filed for bankruptcy in September, hoping to shed debt and reinvest in its stores. The plan didn't work, and Toys "R" Us said in March that it would sell or close all of its US stores.
Toys "R" Us declined to comment Monday.
Larian's decision comes soon after his efforts to merge MGA Entertainment with struggling toymaker Mattel (MAT) fell flat.
Last week, Larian shared an email exchange with CNNMoney that revealed the merger attempt for an undisclosed sum. Mattel stock has been cut nearly in half in the past few years. The company was hit hard by the bankruptcy of Toys "R" Us.
"The Mattel board unanimously concluded that this proposal is not in the best interests of Mattel and its shareholders," read the response from Mattel's outgoing CEO Christopher Sinclair, dated Thursday. "Mattel is not interested in further discussing the matter with you."
Larian has been waging a legal battle with Mattel over the copyright of Bratz dolls for more than 10 years.
Isaac Larian said Monday that he will no longer try to save Toys "R" Us.
"I am most disheartened that the legacy of the retailer will be lost for future generations," Larian said in a statement provided to CNNMoney. He added that he wasn't able to reach a deal with the company's lenders.
Powered by SmartAsset.comLarian, the CEO of MGA Entertainment, announced in April that he had placed a $675 million bid for 200 of the remaining 735 Toys "R" Us locations in the United States, and almost all of more than 80 locations in Canada.
Toys "R" Us rejected the offer a few days later. Sources said at the time that the offer was too low.
Soon after, Larian told CNNMoney that he had decided to drop his bid for the Canadian locations, but that he hoped to make a US offer work.
Related: Billionaire CEO won't stop trying to save Toys 'R' Us
"We were about 10% below the winning bid for Toys "R" Us Canada. So that gives me hope for our US bid," he said on April 23. "We have the financing we need. It's now a matter of determining how much more we're able to bid."
Larian hoped that by keeping Toys "R" Us stores open, he would be able to save jobs and protect the toy industry.
"I'm an optimist. I think things are going to work out," he said at the time. "The people handling the sale, I think they're genuinely trying to save the stores here in the US."
The toy megastore filed for bankruptcy in September, hoping to shed debt and reinvest in its stores. The plan didn't work, and Toys "R" Us said in March that it would sell or close all of its US stores.
Toys "R" Us declined to comment Monday.
Larian's decision comes soon after his efforts to merge MGA Entertainment with struggling toymaker Mattel (MAT) fell flat.
Last week, Larian shared an email exchange with CNNMoney that revealed the merger attempt for an undisclosed sum. Mattel stock has been cut nearly in half in the past few years. The company was hit hard by the bankruptcy of Toys "R" Us.
"The Mattel board unanimously concluded that this proposal is not in the best interests of Mattel and its shareholders," read the response from Mattel's outgoing CEO Christopher Sinclair, dated Thursday. "Mattel is not interested in further discussing the matter with you."
Larian has been waging a legal battle with Mattel over the copyright of Bratz dolls for more than 10 years.
05-22-18, 10:34 AM
#171
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
I have no doubt that at some point someone will buy the name out of bankruptcy and re-open at least an online store and possibly some B&M stores on a much smaller scale. The name could have some value, it's just the giant stores and the debt loaded onto the company that was killing it.
05-23-18, 03:33 AM
#172
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Recent quote from the Toys R Us CEO:
“I have always believed that this brand and this business should exist in the U.S.,” Brandon said on a conference call with staff, adding that he guarantees that vendors who failed to support the retailer during the holidays and customers who shopped elsewhere will miss the retailer. They “will all live to regret what’s happening here,” Brandon said.
A lot of arrogance and entitlement in those quotes.
“I have always believed that this brand and this business should exist in the U.S.,” Brandon said on a conference call with staff, adding that he guarantees that vendors who failed to support the retailer during the holidays and customers who shopped elsewhere will miss the retailer. They “will all live to regret what’s happening here,” Brandon said.
A lot of arrogance and entitlement in those quotes.
I do feel like people will eventually miss physical stores due to Amazon. Because once it's only Amazon, the prices will slowly start climbing again, and there's something to be said for browsing in an actual store.
But I think in this case, most of the stuff Toys R Us was selling was available in other stores. You can buy all the video games and consoles at Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Fry's.
A lot of the toys in Target.
Specialty toys in Barnes and Noble.
What are people going to regret if these stores are still around?
I have some good memories of Toy R Us. The commercials back in the day, the mascot, "Geoffrey Money" instead of gift certificates, the selection, all cool stuff. But didn't that chain put out the mom and pop toy stores?
05-25-18, 10:06 PM
#173
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
... I think in this case, most of the stuff Toys R Us was selling was available in other stores. You can buy all the video games and consoles at Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Fry's.
A lot of the toys in Target.
Specialty toys in Barnes and Noble.
What are people going to regret if these stores are still around?
A lot of the toys in Target.
Specialty toys in Barnes and Noble.
What are people going to regret if these stores are still around?
With the exception of video games and possibly kids videos, I can guarantee that absolutely none of those establishments have anywhere near the selection that TRU had. Even if you take them all together. Because, with a few exceptions, they will mostly share the same selection of toys.
And, over time, look for that selection to decline.
Anyone know of any local / regional, chain toy stores, or independents? And I mean full-fledged toy stores, not some other type of store that just happens to also sell some toys.
05-28-18, 03:16 AM
#174
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
Selection.
With the exception of video games and possibly kids videos, I can guarantee that absolutely none of those establishments have anywhere near the selection that TRU had. Even if you take them all together. Because, with a few exceptions, they will mostly share the same selection of toys.
With the exception of video games and possibly kids videos, I can guarantee that absolutely none of those establishments have anywhere near the selection that TRU had. Even if you take them all together. Because, with a few exceptions, they will mostly share the same selection of toys.
My last time at Toys R us, they had McFarlane Toys' Attack On Titan, and an entire aisle of Transformers, entire aisle of GI Joes, etc.
Target has like one aisle of Transformers AND Marvel toys.
[QUOTE]
And, over time, look for that selection to decline.
05-28-18, 07:53 AM
#175
DVD Talk Legend
Re: R.I.P. Toys R Us
[QUOTE=brayzie;13340395]True.
My last time at Toys R us, they had McFarlane Toys' Attack On Titan, and an entire aisle of Transformers, entire aisle of GI Joes, etc.
Target has like one aisle of Transformers AND Marvel toys.
Yeah, I guess as competition becomes less and less.
that must have been 6-7 years ago, if you saw that many Joes.
My last time at Toys R us, they had McFarlane Toys' Attack On Titan, and an entire aisle of Transformers, entire aisle of GI Joes, etc.
Target has like one aisle of Transformers AND Marvel toys.
Yeah, I guess as competition becomes less and less.