"state something completely random time!"

[Thierry Henry]

[Yharnamresident]

Holy hell Monster Boy pre-orders Switch is outselling the PS4 version 10-1. All these 3rd party games big and small always seem to do well on Switch. Devs keep coming out how well everything is selling. Maybe the 3rd party curse f not selling on Nintendo consoles is broken?

I've always said I thought Nintendo systems after the GameCube and GBA are underpowered gimmicks(Wii, Wii U, DS, 3DS), but I think the Switch evidentially crossed the fine line between gimmicks and innovation.

Props to him. I recently watched Home Alone in November. On Blu-Ray, mothafuckas.

[Thierry Henry]

[MrMatthews]

That would be so cool to have (Or the NES one)

[JCU]

Like... who, exactly?

And for the record, I’m not coming at this from the angle that Wal-Mart and Target are evil. One-stop shops are as much a part of modern consumerism as online shopping.

Best Buy, Gamestop, FYE, Cabelas, Bass Pro, Lowes, Home Depot, Barnes and Noble, etc..,

TRU essentially did one thing......poorly.

[MrMatthews]

I’m not saying that poor management had nothing to do with TRU’s failure. But it’s silly for you to completely deny that the company’s redundancy wasn’t also a very legitimate factor.

The biggest difference between Toys R Us and most of those other stores you mentioned is that the entirety of TRU’s merchandise can be found at Wal-Mart and Target. Neither of those chains offer much in the way of sporting goods, outdoor equipment, or home improvement/building supplies.

A store devoted to kids is focusing on a demographic without an income or a means to get to the store. Speaking purely as an individual, I’d rather go to Toys R Us than, say... the grocery store. But as a consumer, toys and video games unfortunately take a backseat to clothes, food, toilet paper, toothpaste, and all manner of things required to run a household of multiple adults, children, and pets. Why would I make a trip across town to Toys R Us when I could go to target for that birthday gift for my nephew AND pick up some garbage bags, a new pair of work pants, fill my wife’s prescription, and also some milk and cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow morning? All my shopping is done in one trip and I have the rest of the evening to spend how I see fit. It’s hard to believe that I’m too unique in that mindset.

As for Best Buy and GameStop... I don’t know if they’re doing that well at all. GameStop seems like they’ve been grasping at straws for years, and Best Buy is a shadow of what they were ten years ago. Much more floor space is devoted to computers, TVs, and appliances than movies, music, or games. It will be interesting to see where they are in five years.

Barnes & Noble... I don’t know how they’re still in business. It might be because all the Borders in town closed their doors a few years ago, so B&N is the only store left in town where you can find more than just the most popular books.

FYE, I’m not too familiar with. I’m assuming it’s that multimedia store that disappeared from my local shopping mall about fifteen years ago. If that’s the case, well... hopefully they are having better luck in a different area?

So... is poor management really the only reason Toys R Us is closing up? Or do you think that maybe there were multiple factors in play here?

[EyeDeeNo76]

I haven't yet seen Grapes of Wrath. With regard to Citizen Kane, I just don't see what the fuss is about. Must have seemed like "revolutionary" camera techniques and way of storytelling/filming for the time, but I found the whole thing completely underwhelming. At or near the top of almost every movie best all-time list. Yeah, ok. I can't see myself doing a repeat viewing of that, though. Speaking of Orson Welles, I felt a similar way about The Third Man. I guess I need a more refined taste to appreciate them.

I'll tell you a couple old-time actors I do enjoy.

William Holden. Especially his tough/gritty roles.
Gregory Peck. Smooth. Gentleman. It's, for me, that thing they call "gravitas" that he brings to his performances.



Anyways, back to off-topic,


Anyone thinking of picking up a few of these replacement Sega CD/Saturn/PS1 longbox cases?

https://www.amazon.com/Sega-Saturn-r...70_&dpSrc=srch

Wow nice find! Soooooo these are new? At least that is what it says. $40 for ten. I could use some and looks like Amazon handles them from a fulfillment center so that's plus. But looking at that photo the tray is not seated??

[JCU]

I’m not saying that poor management had nothing to do with TRU’s failure. But it’s silly for you to completely deny that the company’s redundancy wasn’t also a very legitimate factor.

The biggest difference between Toys R Us and most of those other stores you mentioned is that the entirety of TRU’s merchandise can be found at Wal-Mart and Target. Neither of those chains offer much in the way of sporting goods, outdoor equipment, or home improvement/building supplies.

A store devoted to kids is focusing on a demographic without an income or a means to get to the store. Speaking purely as an individual, I’d rather go to Toys R Us than, say... the grocery store. But as a consumer, toys and video games unfortunately take a backseat to clothes, food, toilet paper, toothpaste, and all manner of things required to run a household of multiple adults, children, and pets. Why would I make a trip across town to Toys R Us when I could go to target for that birthday gift for my nephew AND pick up some garbage bags, a new pair of work pants, fill my wife’s prescription, and also some milk and cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow morning? All my shopping is done in one trip and I have the rest of the evening to spend how I see fit. It’s hard to believe that I’m too unique in that mindset.

As for Best Buy and GameStop... I don’t know if they’re doing that well at all. GameStop seems like they’ve been grasping at straws for years, and Best Buy is a shadow of what they were ten years ago. Much more floor space is devoted to computers, TVs, and appliances than movies, music, or games. It will be interesting to see where they are in five years.

Barnes & Noble... I don’t know how they’re still in business. It might be because all the Borders in town closed their doors a few years ago, so B&N is the only store left in town where you can find more than just the most popular books.

FYE, I’m not too familiar with. I’m assuming it’s that multimedia store that disappeared from my local shopping mall about fifteen years ago. If that’s the case, well... hopefully they are having better luck in a different area?

So... is poor management really the only reason Toys R Us is closing up? Or do you think that maybe there were multiple factors in play here?

TRU being redundant stems from how poorly run its has been for the past 10+ years. The chain has not given people a reason to frequent and spend money in the stores. The other stores I listed are still in operation and far from the doom and gloom prophecy of TRU. Walmart and Target sell many of the same products of the before mentioned retail stores yet the abandonment is missing. Perhaps if TRU was more concerned with price, atmosphere, etc.., than pushing batteries with every purchase, the tides would not have turned so drastically.

Can you name anything inviting about Toys R Us?

[MrMatthews]

Can you name anything inviting about Toys R Us?

Sure, their selection of Amiibos is off the hook.

And again... being able to buy paint and nails at Wal-Mart does not put that story anywhere close to the same market as Home Depot. By comparison, EVERYTHING you can buy at Toys R Us can be found elsewhere.

It really doesn’t matter how fucked up your management and customer service is if you are the only act in town. Cold pricklies have a greater impact if your customer base has a hassle-free alternative right down the street.

[Leynos]

I need those Saturn cases. LRG is going to sell Saturn cases soon as well. I think as just something they keep in stock.

[JCU]

Sure, their selection of Amiibos is off the hook.

And again... being able to buy paint and nails at Wal-Mart does not put that story anywhere close to the same market as Home Depot. By comparison, EVERYTHING you can buy at Toys R Us can be found elsewhere.

It really doesn’t matter how fucked up your management and customer service is if you are the only act in town. Cold pricklies have a greater impact if your customer base has a hassle-free alternative right down the street.

As someone who has collected action figures since I was old enough to play with them, I personally do not use over-priced peg warmers as an inviting proposition especially when prices are cheaper else where.

Not everything at TRU is available at Walmart and Target just as you mentioned with hardware at H.D. Amazon? Sure, to a point. Even that route has its pluses and minuses though. Geoffrey has not been competitive in a very long time and kicking the can down the road has finally caught up with the company. Christ, if a global company can not maintain a store in the most famous city on the planet, it's not going to have much success elsewhere in America.

TRU is like Kmart (which will be gone soon) because there is absolutely zero reason to shop at these stores. The incentive is not there.

[MrMatthews]

So... you don’t actually have a point, do you?

Neat.

[Thierry Henry]

[Mega Drive Bowlsey]

I know one thing about Toys R Us and that's that they're a total rip-off. They charge like a wounded bull for everything. I took my nephew to one of their stores so he could spend his birthday money on his favourite thing (WWE action figures) and, holy Jesus the prices! He didn't seem to mind and happily spent all his money on action figures but I was thinking to myself "Has Toys R Us always been this outrageously expensive? Did I just not notice the prices as a kid?" I don't know how the prices for toys, games and related stuff compares over in American Toys R Us stores but if they are comparable then no fucking wonder they're going bust.

[Leynos]

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