Post by iacon45 on Mar 17, 2018 8:29:27 GMT -5
I want to say not having a TRU locally has helped me get used to the idea of TRU not being around going forward. But the nostalgic side of me is mourning what TRU used to be and how hard it had fallen not just now with it's closing but it's downward spiral overall. I remember in the late 80s and early 90s and the shelves were FULL with HUGE areas dedicated to the big toy lines like GI Joe and Transformers. My grandparents would take me there every so often and I would end up getting rushed because I couldn't make up my mind with the huge selection of toys they had.
Most importantly though, the adult in me has nothing but sympathy for the approximately 31,000 employees who are going to lose their jobs and have no hope of any severance pay what so ever. When I see reports of the approved payouts of all the bonuses last Christmas, it gets my blood boiling because that pay should have been used to go to some of these employees instead or as BR put it, why not use it toward some of that debt. I also feel sorry for all the toy companies because they are going to be losing a good chunk of business and especially the smaller companies. Mattel/Hasbro could lose about 10% of sales but for some of the smaller companies, they could be losing 50% or more of sales. I fear for the future of those smaller companies, especially when TRU was their only distributor, and the other jobs that could be lost as a direct result of TRU closing. Also wonder how this is going to affect the toy market in more than just sales too since TRU was also willing to carry some newer and not as well known products in order to test the water.
I know the thought is that online is taking the place of the brick and mortar toy store but honestly, I will always prefer going into a toy store and actually seeing all these items in hand before making any kind of purchase. Also kind of hard for online to fully take the place of stores when it's just as hard to find something online for retail and IN STOCK. (Yea, I know there are other online options like eBay for little to a lot above retail too but not everyone can afford to constantly go that route). I know there are some smaller Mom and Pop type toy stores still around but none will be able to fill the void TRU is about to leave. RIP TRU.
Most importantly though, the adult in me has nothing but sympathy for the approximately 31,000 employees who are going to lose their jobs and have no hope of any severance pay what so ever. When I see reports of the approved payouts of all the bonuses last Christmas, it gets my blood boiling because that pay should have been used to go to some of these employees instead or as BR put it, why not use it toward some of that debt. I also feel sorry for all the toy companies because they are going to be losing a good chunk of business and especially the smaller companies. Mattel/Hasbro could lose about 10% of sales but for some of the smaller companies, they could be losing 50% or more of sales. I fear for the future of those smaller companies, especially when TRU was their only distributor, and the other jobs that could be lost as a direct result of TRU closing. Also wonder how this is going to affect the toy market in more than just sales too since TRU was also willing to carry some newer and not as well known products in order to test the water.
I know the thought is that online is taking the place of the brick and mortar toy store but honestly, I will always prefer going into a toy store and actually seeing all these items in hand before making any kind of purchase. Also kind of hard for online to fully take the place of stores when it's just as hard to find something online for retail and IN STOCK. (Yea, I know there are other online options like eBay for little to a lot above retail too but not everyone can afford to constantly go that route). I know there are some smaller Mom and Pop type toy stores still around but none will be able to fill the void TRU is about to leave. RIP TRU.