Large Scale Central

Toys R Us

General Discussion
#1

Its no secret that Toys R us is closing down. Some people will miss that chain of stores. Today, while I had some free time at York, I decided to stop in and see if I could get some die cast cars on sale. The shame is that Toys R Us was never particularly well stocked in die cast cars, but hope springs eternal. I didn’t find any die cast cars that appealed to me, of the 5 that were left, but I did pick up some Schleich horses and a cow on sale. This particular Toys R Us still had a decent selection of Schleich animals, as well as a few of those cheep large scale train sets. The kind that a few folks have successfully based into small, but believable models.

Since all of the stores are supposed to be closing down, I thought I would pass along what I found. Maybe the one closer to you will have a die cast car or truck that will fit your railroad’s era. And most layouts could use an animal or two, be it a dog, a horse or something else.

#2

I live within range of Columbia, MO, and there is a Toys R Us by I-70 and the Columbia Mall. In all the years lived here I don’t think I ever went in: remember one time going to go, pulled in, parked, then got a this place has some really bad vibes feeling that was strong enough I never went in and never went back. Which was kind of interesting comparison to the Toys R Us stores I enjoyed in 2 other cities in earlier decades.

#3

Maybe not. Billionaire CEO on a mission to save Toys ‘R’ Us

#4

Dan, well, I wish him luck. I hate to see that many people suddenly unemployed. But right now the ones around here have banners on them that say store closing, and everything is on sale.

I was unhappy when Toys R Us bought out KayBee toy and hobby, because the KayBee near my house had a nice die cast car selection. Toys R Us never really did, at least the ones I visited didn’t.

Forrest, I get in real trouble, when I don’t listen to myself when I get those feelings. So, for whatever reason, you probably made the right choice.

#5

He might have a chance if Amazon keeps getting dissed.

I was in one 17 years ago, helped my father buy a drum for a grandson… maybe if I had gone back…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-money-mouth.gif)

#6

Same in the UK. Toys R Us here are shutting down. No buyer in sight. I think I set foot once, about 30 years ago, and thought “there is nothing of interest here”. Never went back. If they do Schleich figures I might pop by to see if they have any bargains at their Milton Keynes store (about 15 miles from me, long distance for us here).

There is a big stink about a deal cut with our pensions “protections” agency, somewhat futilely as it turned out, that allowed them to keep trading for a while longer here. It resulted in their 3000 employees “defined benefits” pension scheme being left under funded rather than fully topped up.

Listened to founder Charles Lazarus’s obituary on BBC Radio 4’s “Last Word” show yesterday. As well as being acknowledged a major figure in changing the face of retailing the world over they also mentioned that he actually enjoyed putting his rivals out of business. I get the impression the will be all kinds of karma and schadenfreude floating around after his and the business’s he founded passing.

#7

I dropped into T’rU almost weekly in the early yrs of my railway looking at their as-is section for diff. items that were returns and the packaging was no longer pristine to reshelf. Quite often at 50% off or better !

I still actually have a few of the figures still in that packaging, ex. 3 of the spice girls, harry potter figures (what’s her name harrys’ female sidekick, is actually a engineer for the PSRBrwy !!)

BTW there was actually a article in the Wpg.FreePress, Mar.23rd, "crowdfunding effort launched to help save t’ru’ " But $ not to include Cdn stores.

… IMHO a member of the top 5% abusing the original concept of crowdfunding---- for personal gain !! yeeech !

nite,

doug c

i would scan the article for attachment but i have a family priority for awhile but just could not resist

#8

Husband and I also stopped at the York Toys’R’Us, have to say we were not overwhelmed. I’ve never been real impressed with their pricing and most things were only at 10% off. For shows we frequently use “fantasy” characters as people our layouts cuz the kids get a kick out of them (Legos, Smurfs, Dinosaur Train, etc.) But I didn’t see anything that appealed to me price-wise.

Sophie B

#9

I went to my local Toys R us last week and it was mobbed. The signs on the door were for 30% off but the fine print said up to. Most items were 10% off including the diecast cars of which they didn’t have that many to begin with. On the way out I over heard a cashier exclaiming to a customer that they had just saved $4 on a Lego set. Wow $4. but the kid looked happy to be getting the Legos.

I didn’t think about looking at the plastic animals so I might have to go back. I could use a few cows.

#10

10% off of PLAYMOBIL, the primary denizens of the Triple O! This pretty much washed out shipping costs for a small purchase.

#11

FYI some recent news on the wire more for the Cdn aspect.

There was a long-winded article awhile back that chattered also about the top 2%er that was abusing crowd-funding model (IMHO) to initiate his cartel’s plan of a rejuvenated u.s. T’rUs. But this is latest …