The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
09-18-17 | 02:59 PM
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk God
The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/18/toys...ource=facebook
Toys R Us could file for bankruptcy as soon as this week, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The sources noted that the bankruptcy plans are not definite, and both its plans to file and its timing could change.
A bankruptcy would help simplify a capital structure made complex by its trio of financial owners. Toys R Us was acquired by private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Bain Capital Partners and real estate investment trust Vornado Realty Trust in 2005 in a deal valued at $6.6 billion.
The three owners either declined to comment or did not immediately have a comment. The debt restructuring would help provide Toys R Us the financial flexibility to invest in its business as it repositions itself to combat a changing retail landscape.
Addressing the retailer's debt load prior to the crucial holiday season could give its major vendors such as Mattel and Hasbro clarity into the company's long-term viability to help ensure the toymakers continue to stock its shelves throughout the holiday.
Toys R Us has hired restructuring lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis to help address looming $400 million in debt due in 2018, CNBC had previously reported, noting that bankruptcy was one potential outcome.
Kirkland declined to comment.
The sources noted that the bankruptcy plans are not definite, and both its plans to file and its timing could change.
A bankruptcy would help simplify a capital structure made complex by its trio of financial owners. Toys R Us was acquired by private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Bain Capital Partners and real estate investment trust Vornado Realty Trust in 2005 in a deal valued at $6.6 billion.
The three owners either declined to comment or did not immediately have a comment. The debt restructuring would help provide Toys R Us the financial flexibility to invest in its business as it repositions itself to combat a changing retail landscape.
Addressing the retailer's debt load prior to the crucial holiday season could give its major vendors such as Mattel and Hasbro clarity into the company's long-term viability to help ensure the toymakers continue to stock its shelves throughout the holiday.
Toys R Us has hired restructuring lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis to help address looming $400 million in debt due in 2018, CNBC had previously reported, noting that bankruptcy was one potential outcome.
Kirkland declined to comment.
09-18-17 | 03:03 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hero
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
They almost certainly will file bankruptcy. Their bonds have dropped in value a great deal over the past month.
Unless some other company swoops in that wants the brand for themselves, I don't think the chain will be around in 3 years.
Unless some other company swoops in that wants the brand for themselves, I don't think the chain will be around in 3 years.
09-19-17 | 11:57 AM
#5
Thread Starter
DVD Talk God
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
It's official. Chapter 11.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/18/toys...ankruptcy.html
They have almost 5 billion in debt.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/18/toys...ankruptcy.html
They have almost 5 billion in debt.
09-19-17 | 02:32 PM
#6
DVD Talk Godfather
09-19-17 | 03:58 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
This news makes me sad when I think of memories as a kid, wondering up and down the aisles at the store in my local mall. But I haven't been in one in years and don't recall ever buying much there because their prices seemed so much higher than other retailers.
09-20-17 | 06:59 PM
#9
Senior Member
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
Ahh, while I also admit to not setting foot in one in many years, what I miss most is the "stocked to the ceiling" look and the clearance aisle of toys from years past. When the store looks like a Wal-Mart or Target and carries the same stock as a Wal-Mart or Target, what's the point of visiting a TrU?
09-20-17 | 07:10 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
I went to a Toys R Us earlier this year for the first time in ages. Aside from new toys the store honestly felt largely the same as it did when I was a kid. I was always more a fan of KB Toys to be honest but when my brother and I were younger and my parents took us on vacation going to Toys R Us was like an event (we never had one where I live).
10-30-17 | 02:23 PM
#11
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
I went in one yesterday to look for some arts and crafts supplies (they didn't have what I was looking for), and it was full of screaming children all running (or riding bikes) up and down the aisles. Total pandemonium. I barely escaped with my life.
Don't even ask me what Babies R Us looked like next door! *shudder*
Don't even ask me what Babies R Us looked like next door! *shudder*
10-30-17 | 03:01 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
I've been seeing Amazon casualties here-and-there (in example, local hardware shops). People just aren't buying at retail stores. Toys R Us couldn't lean up enough to stay alive.
I hope they can restructure under Chapter 11, get their debtors paid, and stay alive. But it's going to be an uphill battle to make the numbers work. I can't imagine how much has to be done to work on that much debt.
First thing I could think of ... downsize the stores to KB Toys' size and consolidate excess inventory to Amazon. Don't hang onto the past identity just for vanity (I've seen that happen a lot ... including the aforementioned hardware shops).
10-31-17 | 09:41 AM
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
$5B is serious. Lots of invoices are going to go unpaid. Sucks for Mattel and whatnot ... right down to the commercial real estate companies, unpaid payroll taxes, etc. It'd be interesting to see a list of their debts (though I don't know if that's ever made public).
I've been seeing Amazon casualties here-and-there (in example, local hardware shops). People just aren't buying at retail stores. Toys R Us couldn't lean up enough to stay alive.
I hope they can restructure under Chapter 11, get their debtors paid, and stay alive. But it's going to be an uphill battle to make the numbers work. I can't imagine how much has to be done to work on that much debt.
First thing I could think of ... downsize the stores to KB Toys' size and consolidate excess inventory to Amazon. Don't hang onto the past identity just for vanity (I've seen that happen a lot ... including the aforementioned hardware shops).
I've been seeing Amazon casualties here-and-there (in example, local hardware shops). People just aren't buying at retail stores. Toys R Us couldn't lean up enough to stay alive.
I hope they can restructure under Chapter 11, get their debtors paid, and stay alive. But it's going to be an uphill battle to make the numbers work. I can't imagine how much has to be done to work on that much debt.
First thing I could think of ... downsize the stores to KB Toys' size and consolidate excess inventory to Amazon. Don't hang onto the past identity just for vanity (I've seen that happen a lot ... including the aforementioned hardware shops).
10-31-17 | 01:16 PM
#15
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
There is a Toys R Us shop in our local outdoor outlet mall and it's really the perfect size. I could see them down scaling to that size and still making it work. They just need to cut out some of the crap that they carry today and stick to stuff that sells.
11-11-17 | 01:42 PM
#16
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re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
Restructure? Seriously? Fuck off and die already. I'm so tired of these shit businesses filing bankruptcy over and over and staying open. If it's not profitable anymore, it needs to fucking die. That goes for Perkins and Gander fucking Mountain too. I'm still pissed we have Kmart stores here. Circuit City stores all disappeared when it went bankrupt though.
11-11-17 | 02:05 PM
#17
DVD Talk Hero
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
Restructure? Seriously? Fuck off and die already. I'm so tired of these shit businesses filing bankruptcy over and over and staying open. If it's not profitable anymore, it needs to fucking die. That goes for Perkins and Gander fucking Mountain too. I'm still pissed we have Kmart stores here. Circuit City stores all disappeared when it went bankrupt though.
It's how chains like KMart and others have hung around far longer than anyone thought possible.
01-24-18 | 08:53 AM
#18
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
01-24-18 | 01:08 PM
#19
DVD Talk Legend
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
This chain should die off. Their pricing is a joke. Was in there this weekend with gift cards for the GF's kids - everything I saw seemed to be marked up 15-40% from other stores.
01-24-18 | 02:04 PM
#20
DVD Talk Godfather
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
I am curious what you were buying and what you were comparing prices to (sale prices online?) They do have some markup, especially on their exclusives or hot items like lego, but they often do the old KB tactic of marking things up so their sales won't bring the prices too low. They carry a larger variety of toys than the other B&m stores and even Amazon, and as the last remaining dedicated toy store their death would have the toy companies be even more at the mercy of those stores.
01-24-18 | 02:10 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
Sad day. Going to Toys to pick out a new NES game after my birthday was something I massively looked forward to as a kid. And Toys was my first job at 14.
01-24-18 | 03:25 PM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
I am curious what you were buying and what you were comparing prices to (sale prices online?) They do have some markup, especially on their exclusives or hot items like lego, but they often do the old KB tactic of marking things up so their sales won't bring the prices too low. They carry a larger variety of toys than the other B&m stores and even Amazon, and as the last remaining dedicated toy store their death would have the toy companies be even more at the mercy of those stores.
01-24-18 | 03:39 PM
#23
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re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
+Action figures, Barbie dolls, board games, etc. I've had the same experience as you with TRU's prices generally being significantly higher than the same product from their competitors
Let's talk about the hot product from this Christmas. Fingerlings. TRU was selling them in store at 17.99. Everywhere else had them at the regular retail price of 14.99
Let's talk about the hot product from this Christmas. Fingerlings. TRU was selling them in store at 17.99. Everywhere else had them at the regular retail price of 14.99
01-24-18 | 03:43 PM
#24
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
01-24-18 | 03:49 PM
#25
DVD Talk Godfather
re: The Toys R Us thread (update: no longer DEAD)
+Action figures, Barbie dolls, board games, etc. I've had the same experience as you with TRU's prices generally being significantly higher than the same product from their competitors
Let's talk about the hot product from this Christmas. Fingerlings. TRU was selling them in store at 17.99. Everywhere else had them at the regular retail price of 14.99
Let's talk about the hot product from this Christmas. Fingerlings. TRU was selling them in store at 17.99. Everywhere else had them at the regular retail price of 14.99
You may say oh, that's Marketplace sellers. But amazon has just recently started putting variable demand based pricing on toys. Say a Marvel Legends set has six characters, you'll see the most popular one sell out first, then you'll see it get relisted, from amazon, for higher than the rest, then higher. So it's not like Amazon is a paragon of keeping prices at retail.
They do blow out Lego and Nerf guns, though, it's pretty amazing the kinds of discounts they have.