Toys Aren't Us Anymore: The End Of An Era (1 Viewer)

[Henry Ford]

Toys R Us will apparently close all of its U.S. stores in the coming months.  Where will Geoffrey the Giraffe go?  Will he be sold to a zoo?  A glue factory?  Simply another homeless statistic on the streets of the United States?

While I haven't been in one in decades, I will miss the sight of them.

Growing up is awfuller than all the awful things that ever were.

 

[Koya]

 

 

[Koya]

I'll forever miss the smell.

Like hardware stores or headshops, there's a unique olifactory footprint of any Toys r Us I've ever visited.  

I hadn't been to one in decades, like you - but had to pick something up last year and the scent was just the same, bringing with it a rush of youthful memories of good times and new toys.

 

[Henry Ford]

I'll forever miss the smell.

Like hardware stores or headshops, there's a unique olifactory footprint of any Toys r Us I've ever visited.  

I hadn't been to one in decades, like you - but had to pick something up last year and the scent was just the same, bringing with it a rush of youthful memories of good times and new toys.

I just remember the rows and rows of bicycles you could ride around the store.  

 

[Soulfly3]

walking into the video game aisle as a child, is something that I will take to the grave.

it was like a castle of wonder... seemingly no end.

grabbing the "ticket" off the shelf and walking over to the man behind the glass, who handed you over the golden cartridge of coolness.

I'd kill to experience that feeling, one last time.

 

[Henry Ford]

walking into the video game aisle as a child, is something that I will take to the grave.

it was like a castle of wonder... seemingly no end.

grabbing the "ticket" off the shelf and walking over the man ebhind the glass, who handed you over the golden cartridge of coolness.

I'd kill to experience that feeling, one last time.

Yes!  The tickets!  For bikes, too - anything they didn't just keep stacked on the shelves.  Totally forgot about those.

 

[Henry Ford]

There's a Toys R Us down the street.  I'm going to try to go there before they close up for good.

 

[Soulfly3]

Yes!  The tickets!  For bikes, too - anything they didn't just keep stacked on the shelves.  Totally forgot about those.

absolutely blows my mind that a solid 25yrs ago, video games were 59-89$ a pop.

No idea what the hell my parents were thinking ever buying me even one.

 

[Henry Ford]

absolutely blows my mind that a solid 25yrs ago, video games were 59-89$ a pop.

No idea what the hell my parents were thinking ever buying me even one.

When Coleco Vision came out - in 1982 - it was $175 for the console.  That's equivalent to over $450 today.  Crazy.

 

[NutterButter]

Not again.   For ####s sake.  

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

We were country folk and my Dad did not have much money when I was young (Intern and Resident).  If we wanted a toy we would get a stick, spear a turd, and use it to chase around a sibling.  That or we would abuse fire for our amusement.

 

[RokNRole]

I'll forever miss the smell.

Like hardware stores or headshops, there's a unique olifactory footprint of any Toys r Us I've ever visited.  

I hadn't been to one in decades, like you - but had to pick something up last year and the scent was just the same, bringing with it a rush of youthful memories of good times and new toys.

I think that’s the off-gassing of cheap Chinese plastic

 

[Zow]

I think they're still probably sell Hondas.

 

[Henry Ford]

I think they're still probably sell Hondas.

I think you should go back to English class.

 

[Bacon is Delicious]

All the good #### required the tickets.  

 

[The Football Freak]

What a bummer. I love Toys R Us. 

My favorite Toys R Us story was a simple shelving mistake. I was there to pick up a new pack of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, and I noticed something odd behind a few other toys on the shelf. It looked familiar, but I figured I was remembering wrong, or it was some sort of re-release. Nope.

It was a Mego Hulk doll from the 70s. I’m a collector, so I recognized it right away.  It must’ve been hidden somewhere in their storeroom for years, and some worker found it and put it on the shelf without looking closely.  I threw it in the cart, gave my mom the “don’t say a thing” look, and ran the cart to checkout. It had been hand-marked down to $.99. I still have it with my other collectibles. 

 

[Mr. Ected]

Sadness...

 

[Epic Problem]

While Toys 'R Us was great, this was the toy store closure that brought a tear to my eye.

Dispensa's Castle Of Toys

I can't even explain the rush of excitement an 8 year old Epic felt when walking up to a castle filled with toys.

And if the castle filled with toys wasn't enough, behind it was an amuesment park

Kiddie Kingdom

 

[CurlyNight]

So many things and stores are becoming obsolete in our genetation due to technology. I see my 4 year old cousin online playing games. She sits in a corner by herself. At her age I had my little friends over for not just real play but social interaction, both important for growing in to a healthy adult. All this technology promotes isolation, not social interaction skills that is important in the adult life. 

I too reminisce going to stores that exist no more, walking the isles excited with my saved allowance deciding what to buy. It's making people lazy. Find what you want online and order from your couch. No need to get out and walk around to find what you are looking for anymore.

There was a nice piece here on Tower Records when the founder died. I'd spend hours digging for albums and videos.

I am sad for this new generation.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Toys Aren't Us Anymore...very funny!

 

[LoadLetterPaper]

Not to fear. I buy my toys on the moon now

 

[otb_lifer]

Gimbels closing was the most cataclysmic of this ilk, if they could fold up tent, then nothing shocks me anymore ...

... they took a chance on a green speed/coke freak, and gave him his first union gig - was employed there for two years, cumulative time that i actually "worked" was perhaps seven hours. 

see, this is why the Chinese are better. 

oh, and #### Geoffrey

 

[B Maverick]

When Coleco Vision came out - in 1982 - it was $175 for the console.  That's equivalent to over $450 today.  Crazy.

I still have my Intellivision, Nintendo, Sega....

Looks like my wife and kid have a couple gift cards to use.  Reportedly they will be honored for the next 30 days.  Use em or lose em!

 

[Chemical X]

what’s most amazing is that after 70 years in business, mgmt didn’t have the foresight or vision to understand a changing market and adapt.

 

[Henry Ford]

what’s most amazing is that after 70 years in business, mgmt didn’t have the foresight or vision to understand a changing market and adapt.

They did buy the etoys domain after etoys went out of business.

 

[PIK95]

I actually toik my daughter on Tuesday, spent her gift cards ($200!) and took a few pics of her looking at her favorite stuff.  American Girl doll mostly.

 

[Capella]

walking into the video game aisle as a child, is something that I will take to the grave.

it was like a castle of wonder... seemingly no end.

grabbing the "ticket" off the shelf and walking over to the man behind the glass, who handed you over the golden cartridge of coolness.

I'd kill to experience that feeling, one last time.

I remember getting the gold Zelda cassette. Like the best feeling ever. 

 

[Eephus]

what’s most amazing is that after 70 years in business, mgmt didn’t have the foresight or vision to understand a changing market and adapt.

Management was preoccupied with stripping and selling off assets to pay debt service from the acquisition.

 

[Zow]

I think you should go back to English class.

I think our President has mandated that speaking English well doesn't matter anymore. 

 

[Mario Kart]

Worked at my local one for a summer during college. Was 3rd shift though. Did get first dibs on the new Episode 1 stuff as it came out. Moved some shelving units one night and found an old folded up $20 full of floor wax. Cool.

 

[daddo39]

I honestly think they blew it when they decided to push the Babies R Us over the toys. The modern stores don't have half the cool stuff they used to.

 

[PIK95]

I honestly think they blew it when they decided to push the Babies R Us over the toys. The modern stores don't have half the cool stuff they used to.

When I was there a few days ago they had a giant remote control AT AT from Rogue One that made it move.  I wanted to buy it but didn't.

I did grab some Stranger Things Vinyls for my desk.  That was fun.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

anyone else have this as a kid?

 

[Henry Ford]

anyone else have this as a kid?

A model in a babushka?  No, can't say as I did.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

A model in a babushka?  No, can't say as I did.

a nanny ...with a machine gun.  

a secret machine gun.

 

[Henry Ford]

a nanny ...with a machine gun.  

a secret machine gun.

Is "secret machine gun" code for a secret game one might have played with one's nanny?

 

[RokNRole]

Toys R Us will apparently close all of its U.S. stores in the coming months.  Where will Geoffrey the Giraffe go?  Will he be sold to a zoo?  A glue factory?  Simply another homeless statistic on the streets of the United States?

While I haven't been in one in decades, I will miss the sight of them.

Growing up is awfuller than all the awful things that ever were.

He will be processed in to the glue that seals the envelopes of everyone’s last check.

 

[RokNRole]

What a bummer. I love Toys R Us. 

My favorite Toys R Us story was a simple shelving mistake. I was there to pick up a new pack of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, and I noticed something odd behind a few other toys on the shelf. It looked familiar, but I figured I was remembering wrong, or it was some sort of re-release. Nope.

It was a Mego Hulk doll from the 70s. I’m a collector, so I recognized it right away.  It must’ve been hidden somewhere in their storeroom for years, and some worker found it and put it on the shelf without looking closely.  I threw it in the cart, gave my mom the “don’t say a thing” look, and ran the cart to checkout. It had been hand-marked down to $.99. I still have it with my other collectibles. 

What’s it worth?

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Is "secret machine gun" code for a secret game one might have played with one's nanny?

tv commercial with Kurt Russell as secret agent.

 

[The Football Freak]

What’s it worth?

If it was in mint condition, $400-500. I did play with it a little, though. 

 

[ChiefD]

 I see my 4 year old cousin online playing games. She sits in a corner by herself. At her age I had my little friends over for not just real play but social interaction, both important for growing in to a healthy adult. All this technology promotes isolation, not social interaction skills that is important in the adult life. 

I am sad for this new generation.

I am more sad for parents. 

Kids can still play outside. They can still have their friends over. They can still play make-believe and all of those other things. It's parents that give kids electronics. It's parents who hand a 4 year old a smartphone or a tablet to play for hours. It's parents who plop DVD's into a player so their child will stay quiet for hours.

Sure, technology is changing how people shop and buy things and how they interact with people, but we can also make sure our own kids, in our own houses, have a wider mind. 

(not picking on your family - just making my technology get-off-my-lawn speech.  )

 

[B Maverick]

I am more sad for parents. 

Kids can still play outside. They can still have their friends over. They can still play make-believe and all of those other things. It's parents that give kids electronics. It's parents who hand a 4 year old a smartphone or a tablet to play for hours. It's parents who plop DVD's into a player so their child will stay quiet for hours.

Sure, technology is changing how people shop and buy things and how they interact with people, but we can also make sure our own kids, in our own houses, have a wider mind. 

(not picking on your family - just making my technology get-off-my-lawn speech.  )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db6vGo7QJ9M

You aren't wrong.

Part of the problem is if your kid is outside in the front you need to be out there too.  You cant send your kid out to play in the street while you clean the house anymore. You can't send them out telling them to come home when the street lights come on.  Different world then when we were kids. Technology becomes a crutch, easy to entertain the kids while you get stuff done or while you be lazy and watch tv or play on the ipad.

With that though, more parents need to put down their devices and take their kids out to play. Turn off the TV and go outside themselves.  

 

[Chaka]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db6vGo7QJ9M

You aren't wrong.

Part of the problem is if your kid is outside in the front you need to be out there too.  You cant send your kid out to play in the street while you clean the house anymore. You can't send them out telling them to come home when the street lights come on.  Different world then when we were kids. Technology becomes a crutch, easy to entertain the kids while you get stuff done or while you be lazy and watch tv or play on the ipad.

With that though, more parents need to put down their devices and take their kids out to play. Turn off the TV and go outside themselves.  

Why not? This "different world" is much safer than the one most of us grew up in.

 

[Chaka]

I feel bad for the employees but this isn't really surprising.

 

[TLEF316]

For 4-10 year old me, I'm pretty sure heaven was turning the corner into the action figure aisle and seeing the wall of GI Joe's I could choose from. Every Christmas I'd get some figures and a new vehicle. One of my earliest memories is running downstairs and seeing the giant box for the gigantic space station. Pretty sure it took my dad like 8 hours to put together and put on all the freaking decals.

 

[EYLive]

My local TRU had a "everything up to 30% off" sign in front this past weekend. I'm not biting til I see 50+% off. Then I'm pouncing on board games.

 

[CurlyNight]

I am more sad for parents. 

Kids can still play outside. They can still have their friends over. They can still play make-believe and all of those other things. It's parents that give kids electronics. It's parents who hand a 4 year old a smartphone or a tablet to play for hours. It's parents who plop DVD's into a player so their child will stay quiet for hours.

Sure, technology is changing how people shop and buy things and how they interact with people, but we can also make sure our own kids, in our own houses, have a wider mind. 

(not picking on your family - just making my technology get-off-my-lawn speech.  )

Yup. Electronics has become the best pacifier and babysitter for small kids. They sit for hours quietly playing games.  Thry see their parents on their phones and want to do the same. 

My other cousin does it right. They hardly watch tv except for some news, sports and informative tv. It's a lot of talking and discussing about everything including current events like politics. His kids 13 and 8 are smart beyond their years as are their parents. Play is always about discovering why or how something works, constantly asking questions. These 2 kids will go far.

 

[The Noid]

My local TRU had a "everything up to 30% off" sign in front this past weekend. I'm not biting til I see 50+% off. Then I'm pouncing on board games.

Same at mine, but lots already picked through. Not because of price (most things were only 5-10% off), but because of people using up all their gift cards and rewards points on the decent inventory (Legos, LOLs, video games, etc.) Plus, they pulled most of the good electronics like iPads and game systems, before starting the liquidation.

 

[RUSF18]

Flashback to about a year ago...

Me: We should just buy the conversion kit now for our TOYS R US EXCLUSIVE crib. It'll be good to have for whenever we eventually need it.

Wife: What's the rush? She'll probably stay in that crib until baby #2 comes in a couple years. Then we'll get her a real bed and have the crib for the baby. 

Me: Well, one day she may be fine in the crib, and then the next she's climbing over the railing and we need to convert it ASAP. And maybe it will be out of stock or it will take a week to get it. Or maybe they'll just stop making the crib and we'll be completely ####ed.

Wife: You're crazy. That's so unnecessary.

Apparently not mentioning the potential BK of the store was a big miss by me, and of course everything is out of stock with no apparent plans to re-stock. 

 

[Bull Dozier]

Yup. Electronics has become the best pacifier and babysitter for small kids. They sit for hours quietly playing games.  Thry see their parents on their phones and want to do the same. 

My other cousin does it right. They hardly watch tv except for some news, sports and informative tv. It's a lot of talking and discussing about everything including current events like politics. His kids 13 and 8 are smart beyond their years as are their parents. Play is always about discovering why or how something works, constantly asking questions. These 2 kids will go far.

I have seen video of where they hand a toddler a board book, and they poke their fingers at the pictures and get frustrated when there is no response to their touch.  Before they can speak they learn that touching a picture results in some effect. I've heard some argue that this is a sign of "kids learning how to use technology at an early age." I disagree because board books are introductions to reading and language, for which technology is not a replacement.