Walking Through A Retail Carcass

Posted by Chris on 04/07/18 at 06:21 PM Category: Toys R Us

This Toys R Us store I visited was one of the stores marked for closure while the retail chain was trying to restructure its debt (prior to going out of business). I assume that is why the clearance is much further along than the other stores in the area, which are only down to 30%. The ominous signage greets you as you enter.

This photo is a week old, so it's five days now.

"Up to" is a familiar trap, and, as expected, the discount on Star Wars wasn't quite as steep. It did come close, however:

Despite this, I left empty handed.

There was very little Hasbro product left. I was hoping to have my arm twisted by a sub $100 AT-ACT, but all the vehicles were long gone. It was mostly left over 5POA Rogue One product.

The majority of the Star Wars items still in the store were the non-Hasbro ancillary products like the expensive interactive figures that no one ever asked for. They were still piled up in droves even at this steep clearance. It's almost like the liquidation sale is a case study in the bankruptcy itself. This particular store is stuffed with product that won't sell at seemingly any price. One Hasbro product was plentiful, however:

I thought sixers were powerless against the call of a good clearance. Why are there so many left?

Overall it was largely just a sad experience. I don't have any emotional childhood ties to Toys R Us except for the commercials. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the vicinity of a New England landmark called Spag's which was the go to toy store (and from where 90% of my Star Wars toys came). The also defunct Child World was the second option. No, the sadness comes from a once viable retail giant being brought down by what seems like avoidable circumstances, and the unfortunate employees who are out of jobs due to no fault of their own.