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Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

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Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#71

Post by bodz »

bduerst wrote: post #53
bodz wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's something to be said for getting rid of excessive waste and unnecessarily large warehouses of "cheap junk", but it's also worth remembering that toys play a very important part in teaching children fundamental skills like hand-eye coordination, simple problem solving, fostering imagination, etc. It's a game of "what-ifs", but I'm fairly confident in saying I wouldn't be pursuing the career I am now if I had n…

Same - except for me it was also Capsela (now called IQ Key), a bunch of cheap plastic crap that let you engineer modular machines. I think the medium that kids play with 'toys' has changed with tablet and phone devices. Now they're solving puzzle apps and building Minecraft cities - whether or not that's a good or bad thing, I'm not sure, but it doesn't bode well for toy stores.

I think so too, but I wonder about the long term effect that doing everything in the virtual world will have on abilities in the physical world. It's extremely anecdotal, but my little brother, who almost exclusively plays Minecraft, seems to have a fantastic imagination but very poor fine motor skills. He has trouble doing anything physical that requires not using a keyboard and mouse.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#72

Post by agumonkey »

heurist wrote: post #10
smaili wrote: post #7

It really is unfortunate that stores I grew up with as a kid, ones like KB Toys, Montgomery Wards, Service Merchandise, Blockbuster, Kmart/Sears, and now even Toys"R"Us have gone by the wayside for one reason or another. It both depresses me and blows my mind that future generations may not even be able to experience Brick and Mortar.

Do we really want our kids to enjoy fluorescent-lit warehouses full of cheap crap that will be thrown away a couple months after it's bought?

You're a bit too cynical even though the subject is interesting. Childhood is full of crap that is magical to the eyes of kids. I wished I and others had clearer, cleaner and more serious things to grow and learn; but in a way I'm not sure it's neither both possible nor worth it.

And similarly the notion of "place" is melting in this era. No more music shop, useless, you can buy a Trillion things on whatever. Same for toys now. But I think humans have a thing for local space. Culture in a way. Every shop used to be customed in weird ways. Some people would waste their time there and find things randomly. They would discuss with owner tastes. Going to a toy store was a treat in itself, even when you couldn't get one.

Right now they're going away, but like vynil some will reopen when people miss them too much.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#74

Post by ringaroundthetx »

rb808 wrote: post #66
atourgates wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Toy stores are a _great_ example of opportunity for brick and mortar. Just like book stores, they operate in a space where curation, discovery and the physical experience adds real value. The town I grew up in has a great independent toy store, and I make it a point to shop there every time we're in town. Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tact…

>Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tactile act of playing with something that couldn't be fully replicated online. You're absolutely right. The result usually is though that the kid finds a toy they like then puts in on their Birthday/Christmas wishlist from where the Santa buys from Amazon. I like to think I never do this, but if the price is…

> I like to think I never do this, but if the price is much higher even I have a limit.

Really? You rationalize going to a brick and mortar international franchise simply because it is physical, instead of going to an online international franchise?

Thats the biggest stretch of "buy local" that I've ever been exposed to.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#75

Post by joshvm »

CodeTheInternet wrote: post #44
devmunchies wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A place to try before you buy on amazon.

I used to go to Borders constantly, like a hangout. As Amazon grew, I found myself doing exactly this: going to check out the latest releases, flip through the pages, pull out my phone and check Amazon prices. 99% of the time it was cheaper there. Add the book to a wishlist or my cart, put the book back on the shelf and leave empty-handed. I felt horrible when Borders went under, but I do the same at B&N. If brick-n-…

This is why many bookshops teamed up with coffee shops. Even Blackwell's in Oxford has Caffé Nero upstairs. Several indie bookshops do it too.

Nowadays I just go to the Oxfam bookshop near me. It's cheaper than Amazon marketplace (£2.80 shipping). I'm working through the old Hugo/Nebula winners and pretty much every week there's a new classic sci-fi I haven't read. That and cookery, you can pick up lovely books that would cost upwards of £20 for £2.50.

I'm also very wary of buying on Amazon, because it's been flooded with cheap crap from Aliexpress. The exception are a few brands like Anker which are reliably OK.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#76

Post by marcell »

Toys 'R' Us might have been a great store when we (I) were kids, but I went there a few months back--what a wasteland. Barbie, GI Joe, and movie tie-in action figures as far as the I can see. Good riddance. People can buy crappy Angry Birds dolls on Amazon just as well as Toys 'R' Us.

I hope this opens up opportunities for superior brick & mortar toy stores.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#77

Post by Naritai »

ringaroundthetx wrote: post #74
rb808 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tactile act of playing with something that couldn't be fully replicated online. You're absolutely right. The result usually is though that the kid finds a toy they like then puts in on their Birthday/Christmas wishlist from where the Santa buys from Amazon. I like to think I never do this, but if the price is…

> I like to think I never do this, but if the price is much higher even I have a limit. Really? You rationalize going to a brick and mortar international franchise simply because it is physical, instead of going to an online international franchise? Thats the biggest stretch of "buy local" that I've ever been exposed to.

OP is talking about a small toy store, but regardless - an international franchise that has a location in your home town employs people from your home town, whereas Amazon (for the sake of argument in this case) does not. That's the core argument of 'buy local'.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#78

Post by [deleted] »

marcell wrote: post #76

Toys 'R' Us might have been a great store when we (I) were kids, but I went there a few months back--what a wasteland. Barbie, GI Joe, and movie tie-in action figures as far as the I can see. Good riddance. People can buy crappy Angry Birds dolls on Amazon just as well as Toys 'R' Us. I hope this opens up opportunities for superior brick & mortar toy stores.

[deleted]

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

#80

Post by nielsbot »

marcell wrote: post #76

Toys 'R' Us might have been a great store when we (I) were kids, but I went there a few months back--what a wasteland. Barbie, GI Joe, and movie tie-in action figures as far as the I can see. Good riddance. People can buy crappy Angry Birds dolls on Amazon just as well as Toys 'R' Us. I hope this opens up opportunities for superior brick & mortar toy stores.

Wonder if Amazon will eventually get there? I think they are opening brick and mortar stores now... They can dominate both online and in meatspace.
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