Toys R Us Files For Bankruptcy

[aura of foreboding]

Never much cared for Walmart and don't shop there much.  There are actually stores that sell things cheaper than Walmart or at the same price (Kroger companies for groceries and Target for other things).  Walmart's toy selection, however, is usually okay...  not as unique as Target's, but they sometimes have carried interesting things.  Not recently, but -- in the past -- they had some okay toys.  That being said, there is no comparison to TRU.  I don't know why anyone would choose to go to Walmart specifically to look for toys, nor do I understand why anyone would want to browse for toys online.  It's like clothes shopping.  If you can't feel it and try it out, why would you do it?  I firmly believe that Walmart only sells toys because people are in the store for a totally different reason.  They play to the impulse buy and view toys as impulse purchases. 

I think a lot of the fault here lies in the fact, as has been pointed out, that kids are so video game-centric today.  It's like all they do...     

[Hepcat]

I think a lot of the fault here lies in the fact, as has been pointed out, that kids are so video game-centric today.  It's like all they do....

Sad but true.

[Remco Wolfman]

Never much cared for Walmart and don't shop there much.  There are actually stores that sell things cheaper than Walmart or at the same price (Kroger companies for groceries and Target for other things).  Walmart's toy selection, however, is usually okay...  not as unique as Target's, but they sometimes have carried interesting things.  Not recently, but -- in the past -- they had some okay toys.  That being said, there is no comparison to TRU.  I don't know why anyone would choose to go to Walmart specifically to look for toys, nor do I understand why anyone would want to browse for toys online.  It's like clothes shopping.  If you can't feel it and try it out, why would you do it?  I firmly believe that Walmart only sells toys because people are in the store for a totally different reason.  They play to the impulse buy and view toys as impulse purchases.   

First, I'll say I absolutely love Walmart. Some Walmart's are scary/trashy but I don't live anywhere near those Walmart's. If me liking Walmart offends your delicate sensibilities, I don't care. I like it because I can pick up a K&N oil filter, ShopVac bags, Coleman propane cylinders, Stove Top Stuffing, a Slobulus Mad Ball and a camo hoody all in the same trip and using self checkout be in and out of the store in 5 minutes.  That was my last trip to Walmart and every item I just mentioned are almost always less expensive at Walmart than on Amazon.

Now to my point. I'm not opposed to TRU, Target or Amazon. But for a KID to actually look for toys that a KID would like Walmart is probably the best and most accessible choice. Now, for the types of toys adults like to collect Walmart would generally be a bad choice. What do you guys think kids play with? If you want to know walk through the Walmart toy aisle. A lot of kids play video games. But a lot of kids also don't, and those that do play video games still play with toys.

Target is great but usually frequented by trendy moms who think they are too good to mingle with the Walmart crowd.
TRU is frankly kind of overwhelming for a kid and honestly their selection on a lot of stuff kids like (Star Wars action figures, Monster Jam trucks, etc) is usually quite limited.
Amazon - Well, I rarely see an 8 year old adding items to his/her cart on Amazon.

I like and use all of them but this is my impassioned argument for the usefulness of Walmart (and based on sales figures a lot of people agree).

[aura of foreboding]

First, I'll say I absolutely love Walmart. Some Walmart's are scary/trashy but I don't live anywhere near those Walmart's. If me liking Walmart offends your delicate sensibilities, I don't care. I like it because I can pick up a K&N oil filter, ShopVac bags, Coleman propane cylinders, Stove Top Stuffing, a Slobulus Mad Ball and a camo hoody all in the same trip and using self checkout be in and out of the store in 5 minutes.  That was my last trip to Walmart and every item I just mentioned are almost always less expensive at Walmart than on Amazon.

Now to my point. I'm not opposed to TRU, Target or Amazon. But for a KID to actually look for toys that a KID would like Walmart is probably the best and most accessible choice. Now, for the types of toys adults like to collect Walmart would generally be a bad choice. What do you guys think kids play with? If you want to know walk through the Walmart toy aisle. A lot of kids play video games. But a lot of kids also don't, and those that do play video games still play with toys.

Target is great but usually frequented by trendy moms who think they are too good to mingle with the Walmart crowd.
TRU is frankly kind of overwhelming for a kid and honestly their selection on a lot of stuff kids like (Star Wars action figures, Monster Jam trucks, etc) is usually quite limited.
Amazon - Well, I rarely see an 8 year old adding items to his/her cart on Amazon.

I like and use all of them but this is my impassioned argument for the usefulness of Walmart (and based on sales figures a lot of people agree).

You can like Walmart.  It's fine.  No one said you couldn't.  We in the Pacific Northwest have a much better option than Walmart called Fred Meyer, which existed long before Walmart did and has everything Walmart has and does everything better than Walmart does.  Some people don't have those choices, so they go to Walmart.  I lived in a city once that had 10 Walmarts.  Now, I only have 2.  Better competition leads to less Walmarts.  Less competition leads to more Walmarts. 

[AlwaysWitty]

I still think "kids just like video games more now" is a bit of a narrow assessment. There's surely some truth to it, but it must be considered that kids can't exactly go to these stores themselves. Parents need to drive there. You know where parents don't need to drive? Steam. Nintendo Shop. Playstation Store. Etc. Video games can be bought and played almost INSTANTLY without having to go anywhere, or having to wait for a package from Amazon several days later. There's an instant gratification factor there. Kids want to play with something new RIGHT NOW? Video game. Parents don't feel like driving to the store? Video game.

And I know I've said this before, but the overall economy is a factor that should be considered in several areas. Driving to the store requires gas in the tank. Gas costs money. When the gas prices are higher, that's more money it costs to travel here and there. When you're in a situation like me, living in a town without at Toys R Us and freaking broke as heck, you don't have the money to even drive there let alone buy anything once you arrive.

[Remco Wolfman]

You can like Walmart.  It's fine.  No one said you couldn't.  We in the Pacific Northwest have a much better option than Walmart called Fred Meyer, which existed long before Walmart did and has everything Walmart has and does everything better than Walmart does.  Some people don't have those choices, so they go to Walmart.  I lived in a city once that had 10 Walmart's.  Now, I only have 2.  Better competition leads to less Walmart's.  Less competition leads to more Walmart's.

Some people do get very irrational about Walmart. I don't work for them, or have stock with them or anything, but I certainly choose the Walmart over the Target across the street from it mostly because of the stuff I buy there isn't at a Target (or Fred Meyer), at least not one I've ever seen. We used to have Fred Meyer's where I live. There are still a couple 60 miles or so away but all the rest went out of business when Target's began to pop up. Kroger (owner of Fred Meyer) also has a ton of different grocery store chains where I live, some of them very Fred Meyerish.  If I were to guess I'd say both Target and Fred Meyer go the way of Kmart in the years  to come.

[aura of foreboding]

If I were to guess I'd say both Target and Fred Meyer go the way of Kmart in the years  to come.

I don't think that's a very accurate assessment, but you're free to think that.  Kroger is a food giant.  Target is where the middle class prefers to shop.  I think both are safe for at least the next 30 years. 

Walmart will be around for years to come as well...  Until something better comes along... or our trade deals with China go south.  China gave rise to Walmart and gave the death knell to Woolworth's.  But just as China gave Walmart life, it will eventually lead to its demise. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-lDYPR2P8

Cheers!

[Remco Wolfman]

Kroger is a food giant.  Target is where the middle class prefers to shop.

"We don't have a competitor in variety. There is none." - Toys R Us founder Charles Lazarus

"Sears was regarded as a national institution, almost like the Post Office, ... Everybody went there, everybody did business with them. Everybody believed they were a permanent part of the landscape." -  Gordon L. Weil, Sears, Roebuck, USA: The Great American Catalog Store

Sounds familiar

[Mord]

I see T'R'U closer to Tower in comparison. Both specialty stores that followed an obsolete business model. Target is playing in the same field as Wal-Mart. I just think Target has a far more pleasant atmosphere than Wal-Mart.

[Remco Wolfman]

I just think Target has a far more pleasant atmosphere than Wal-Mart.

Completely agree. But only because of the fact that Target shoppers are significantly more attractive as a whole. This is a fact and it cannot be disputed.

[Mord]

Completely agree. But only because of the fact that Target shoppers are significantly more attractive as a whole. This is a fact and it cannot be disputed.

I'm looking in the mirror...yeah, you're absolutely right! I never thought of that.

[MadCow]

Completely agree. But only because of the fact that Target shoppers are significantly more attractive as a whole. This is a fact and it cannot be disputed.

Of course it is. Why do you think I shop there?

[Joseph_Baeza]

I just think Target has a far more pleasant atmosphere than Wal-Mart.

If it counts for anything, Wal-Mart is good when you need a self-esteem boost.

[aura of foreboding]

"We don't have a competitor in variety. There is none." - Toys R Us founder Charles Lazarus

"Sears was regarded as a national institution, almost like the Post Office, ... Everybody went there, everybody did business with them. Everybody believed they were a permanent part of the landscape." -  Gordon L. Weil, Sears, Roebuck, USA: The Great American Catalog Store

Sounds familiar

And the same could be said of Walmart.  You are really into this Walmart thing.  Good for you.  I'm just pointing out a lot of people hate Walmart.  A lot of people dislike Walmart.  A lot of people will find alternatives.  A lot of people don't even shop there.  It's not some holy, sacred place.  If your Sears quote applies to any business, it is, in fact, Walmart. 

And I do, in fact, shop at Walmart occasionally.  My Walmarts are actually nice looking stores.  Do I like being harassed about my purchases on the way out the door?  Absolutely freaking not.  If you don't trust I bought the item, don't have some little old lady in charge of checking my receipt.  Call the cops.  Walmart is the only store I know that does this, and it was a recent change.  Costco has, of course, done this since around Day One.  But Walmart is the only store of its kind that makes its customers feel like crooks during every purchase. 

[Remco Wolfman]

And the same could be said of Walmart.

Do I like being harassed about my purchases on the way out the door?

Of course the same could be said of Walmart or any store.  That's the entire point of that post. I don't love Walmart, if Walmart ceased to be in business today it would have no impact on my life other than I'd have to go somewhere else the 2 or 3 times a month I go there. I'm baffled I'm arguing about it.

I've also never had anyone do anything when I leave Walmart other than maybe mumbling "have a good day". Maybe you just have a foreboding aura about you?

If nothing else your preference for establishments other than Walmart has provided defacto and unequivocal evidence to all of Universal Monster Army and perhaps even to the entirety of the interweb that you are a significantly more physically attractive individual than I.