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Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

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Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After buying a Serta from Amazon and a Tuft and Needle, I will never buy a mattress again without being able to lay on it first. Disrupted? Try to fit a king foam mattress back in the box to meet return obligations when you don’t like it, before we touch on the counterfeit product issue from Amazon.

T&N just needs to know you donated it with a proof of donation. No back in the box needed.

[deleted]

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#22

I read the whole article, and I didn't really see a convincing argument that it didn't have to die. Sure, it could have eked out a few more years... but it was living on borrowed time. Not only do most people shop online now, most toys are also online. I imagine most parents put money into TV shows, video games, iPhone apps, etc.

There's nothing about the brick & mortar toy space that's inherently living on borrowed time. It was Toys 'R' Us' own mismanagement that doomed it. Toy stores can be a destination. Provide a compelling experience for parents and kids alike. It's easy to imagine a space where kids get to play with toys hands-on, and parents get to judge for themselves whether they think they're appropriate in terms of fun and quality—…

It's easy to rattle off a list of things on HN, but a lot harder to build.

If people were invited to come play with toys, they'd just do it for free, enjoy the day, and buy it online after. Your other ideas just seem like... free babysitting? It's not like parents are going to shop for toys while their kids are babysat for free.

I agree the stores aren't great now... but they were working with insane debt and a dying business model.

I don't think it's impossible to sell toys (see: Disney), but it's really hard to do it when you're trying to pivot something like Toys 'R Us with no money to spend and nowhere to really go.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope that shit is getting disrupted. Ultimately mattresses will come from amazon.

After buying a Serta from Amazon and a Tuft and Needle, I will never buy a mattress again without being able to lay on it first. Disrupted? Try to fit a king foam mattress back in the box to meet return obligations when you don’t like it, before we touch on the counterfeit product issue from Amazon.

Is “Certa” a typo (for “Serta”) or some kind of knock off?

I’ve had great experiences with buying mattresses online. The secret is to have friends with a variety of mattresses so that their homes become your showroom.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#25
Toys R' Us was dead so many years ago. I went there once to buy a present for a kid and it was just so depressing and not at all a fun or cheerful place. When I had a kid of my own I never took her there. I regret it not being what it was when I was a kid but I don't regret it going from its state ~10 years ago to dead.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#26

I read the whole article, and I didn't really see a convincing argument that it didn't have to die. Sure, it could have eked out a few more years... but it was living on borrowed time. Not only do most people shop online now, most toys are also online. I imagine most parents put money into TV shows, video games, iPhone apps, etc.

There's nothing about the brick & mortar toy space that's inherently living on borrowed time. It was Toys 'R' Us' own mismanagement that doomed it. Toy stores can be a destination. Provide a compelling experience for parents and kids alike. It's easy to imagine a space where kids get to play with toys hands-on, and parents get to judge for themselves whether they think they're appropriate in terms of fun and quality—…

IKEA doesn’t work online because of the cost of shipping on a per unit basis.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's nothing about the brick & mortar toy space that's inherently living on borrowed time. It was Toys 'R' Us' own mismanagement that doomed it. Toy stores can be a destination. Provide a compelling experience for parents and kids alike. It's easy to imagine a space where kids get to play with toys hands-on, and parents get to judge for themselves whether they think they're appropriate in terms of fun and quality—…

It's easy to rattle off a list of things on HN, but a lot harder to build. If people were invited to come play with toys, they'd just do it for free, enjoy the day, and buy it online after. Your other ideas just seem like... free babysitting? It's not like parents are going to shop for toys while their kids are babysat for free. I agree the stores aren't great now... but they were working with insane debt and a dying…

I'd argue that a toy store, more than any other kind of retailer, is insulated from that, because the store has an little advocate for spending ten dollars extra to buy the product right now with most shoppers. And going to the toy store itself is kind of an activity that I don't think you can replace with online shopping.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#28
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After buying a Serta from Amazon and a Tuft and Needle, I will never buy a mattress again without being able to lay on it first. Disrupted? Try to fit a king foam mattress back in the box to meet return obligations when you don’t like it, before we touch on the counterfeit product issue from Amazon.

Is “Certa” a typo (for “Serta”) or some kind of knock off? I’ve had great experiences with buying mattresses online. The secret is to have friends with a variety of mattresses so that their homes become your showroom.

Typo fixed. Gracias! None of my friends are local unfortunately.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#29
post #25

Toys R' Us was dead so many years ago. I went there once to buy a present for a kid and it was just so depressing and not at all a fun or cheerful place. When I had a kid of my own I never took her there. I regret it not being what it was when I was a kid but I don't regret it going from its state ~10 years ago to dead.

I wonder if what you're actually describing is the change in your adult perspective, not in the store. As a kid, and as an adult who likes toys, shelves piled high with toys are "fun and cheerful" all by themselves. I'm not sure what else you felt was lacking.

Re: Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die

#30
The thing that's really lacking to me in online toy stores is, I guess, discoverability. Amazon can give you a list of all the Transformers, or all the Legos, in an instant, and with a bit of prodding it does an acceptable job of showing you the current top-selling toys, but it's impossible to walk down an aisle at Amazon and see something awesome that you've never heard of.
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