The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

You understood perfectly, that is exactly what a leveraged buy out is. It minimizes the risk for investors.

[lakebot]

And here I thought that the internet would cheer me up after being sick all day.

I couldn't agree more about not taking your toys for granted. Here is to hoping that another company will try and pick up where TRU is leaving off. Makes me worry a bit for the future of toys as a whole considering how crappy my local Target is.

I really see everything trending to more online now. It has to. Target and Walmart will not carry anywhere close to what TRU did(despite the fact that a lot of times it was never on the shelves anyways). But you're never going to find the Predaking set at Walmart/Target in store(I'd honestly already decided I would BBTS that anyways) for example. I really hate having to shop online for new toys. Having packages sit on your door step all day is a dangerous game(porch pirates) and that doesn't even take into consideration the damage that can occur during shipping. Hence why I have had the chip on my shoulder regarding TRU's lack of stock. Although I do realize my experiences do not necessarily reflect those of others in other locales.

[lakebot]

You understood perfectly, that is exactly what a leveraged buy out is. It minimizes the risk for investors.

Ok that's, yeah, that's scary. That just screams failure. There would never be any way to climb out of that hole.

[WreckerJack]

I really hate having to shop online for new toys. Having packages sit on your door step all day is a dangerous game(porch pirates) and that doesn't even take into consideration the damage that can occur during shipping. Hence why I have had the chip on my shoulder regarding TRU's lack of stock. Although I do realize my experiences do not necessarily reflect those of others in other locales.

I also dislike the 3rd party sellers on amazon. They can have different characters in the same wave for an absurd price difference. Yeah, sure I could hit up HTS but the shipping costs are terrible. Target's site gets stuff that is ancient history, that is if it's not out of stock. And don't even get me started on walmart and the scalpers they allow to use their website.

[Mindmaster]

Very depressing. TRU has came in clutch on more than one occasion for me (its literally the only place that’s even bothered to stock the last three Titan-class figures on the shelves where I’m at). Got quite a few memories from TRU.

[doublej102]

Disappointing and heartbreaking. I was a Toys r Us kid as well, but all good times must come to an end. I guess at least I have the memories...

[X3ROhour]

well @#$%!

i was there when it opened
ill b there the day it goes.

I AM
AND SHALL EVER BE
A TOYS R US KID!
NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT.

[darkjedi187]

Use those gift cards if you can, I was told yesterday they wouldn't accept them.

[Cyber Bishop]

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/14/news/companies/toys-r-us-closing-stores/index.html

Jesus that got me right in the feels...

[Rodimus Knight]

Use those gift cards if you can, I was told yesterday they wouldn't accept them.

See, that's kind of what I was wondering about. I have $20 worth of R US rewards, and I'm wondering if I'll be able to use them.

[That_Guy]

I'm just glad my son is young enough that he will forget the experience. Last weekend wife and I took him, and while we did not buy anything imagine this little three year old glowing with excitement pushing buttons and running around the store. Worse case, he will see the landmark and assume and shout "Play play! Xavier play!" which will break my heart . At least with Barnes and Noble they have a train table. I thought about taking him this weekend as a last time trip, but I don't think myself I can handle it knowing it'll be gone, not just cause of my childhood, but memories of him there. Every year I have a video of him when we go for his birthday week since the age of 1 (he's three now) getting the crown and balloon and he's just as excited as ever.

And I agree with the Statement about Walmart and Target.
There was a time when Walmart did exclusives, I believe it was MP Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker, but they stopped doing them. Never seen the large figures IE Metroplex, Trypticon and Fortress Maximus at neither Target or Walmart. With the market for DC/Marvel and Star Wars, I doubt there will be room for Transformers. They're starting to be like Power Rangers there where the selection is very very small where as DC/Marvel and Starwars has an entire isle side dedicated to them.

What I do hope then with Toys R Us going down, maybe Walmart and/or Target, along with any other store like them picks up the slack on toys. If they're smart they will see a business model on toys and see their largest competitor is gone and start having a larger selection. Doubt it, but we'll never know.

That or I'll start a toystore in my local area (kidding, but you never know).

[Cyber Bishop]

i was there when it opened
ill b there the day it goes.

You are 70??

I just hope online retailers don't get greedy and get the idea that now that TRU is closing that they can jack the prices even higher because they would be one of the primary ways that people get some of their specific toys.

It would also be nice if Wal Mart and Target would look at this as a way to expand their toy sections and make them bigger with more selection and maybe they could keep the shelves stocked.

I remember when I was a kid in the late 70's going down isles at TRU and seeing nothing but a wall of Star wars figures on one side and the other loaded with vehicles. Lionel Playworld was like this as well. Such fond memories....

[tmthor]

Well for starters not to be a wet blanket on what some of you are saying....there will be no one to take their place. I was and still am a small retailer. You all bitch about ToysRUs's high prices ever see what the little guy pays for things? I will tell you right now on many items we buy we little guys pay almost what Target and Walmart SELLS them for. My whole sale price on some Marvel legends (after shipping) can be around $17.00 a figure in order to make a profit I have to sell them at around $24+ other wise as I have chosen its not worth it.

The main problem I see is TRU should have been able to be competitive being all they bought were toys...I worked there in the 90's and damn they were the place to go I remember seeing them sell out of 100's of toybiz X-men figures in a week. Oh wait there was a x-men cartoon on after school and on the weekends. Maybe the decline of the toy industry is the lack of Saturday morning cartoons and the after school cartoons. They are no more..don't give me the Cartoon network and nickleodean excuse either. I talked with a guy who used to work for Hasbro in the 80's and 90's and he confirmed when the Saturday morning cartoons went away so did the toy companies main source of advertising (commercials and toy tie in shows). He told me that with out some change (this was around the time of the first TF movie) in movies and other forms of entertainment ....the Toy industry as a whole will colapse and well that was before KB closed....and now TRU.

The last thing now I want to say is all of you complain about scalpers and lack of product...well with only Target and Walmart they will get to dictate what gets made...technically only Walmart does because Target is having some troubles as well and that means everyone will be fighting for what ever makes it to stores floors....if anything. I know many stores around me that have employees who buy stuff to sell on Ebay or their Amazon accounts and tend to buy up most of the "rare things" before they hit the floor seems like the internet will be where we will have to shop.....unless Amazon buys TRU before the closure....but I think if they were going to they would have by now.

IF..and I mean IF they get saved I hope some of you put your money where your mouth is and lets organize a save TRU day and go in and spend $100.00 and together it would add up and be a nice thank you to whoever bails them out.

[That_Guy]

Maybe the decline of the toy industry is the lack of Saturday morning cartoons and the after school cartoons. They are no more..don't give me the Cartoon network and nickleodean excuse either. I talked with a guy who used to work for Hasbro in the 80's and 90's and he confirmed when the Saturday morning cartoons went away so did the toy companies main source of advertising (commercials and toy tie in shows). He told me that with out some change (this was around the time of the first TF movie) in movies and other forms of entertainment ....the Toy industry as a whole will colapse and well that was before KB closed....and now TRU.

90's I don't think it was just the Saturday morning cartoons (while at the same time yea, I agree was a large portion), in the 90's "before school" cartoons were on, this was when I watched Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Beast Wars, etc. The time they played in the morning was perfect, they played when kids were getting ready for school and eating their breakfast. We all know those toys sold out often, they smothered the walls in toy isles, and were sold out often. Took me forever to finally find the original Megazord and my folks put it on Layaway (even though the sword was gone, didn't care lol). First went the morning cartoons, then the Saturday morning cartoons. The CW was able to hold out until 2014, now it's live action educational shows (https://gizmodo.com/this-is-the-first-w ... 1642441646).

Yea I noticed smaller stores having to have a higher price. There's a comics and hobby store (and I think it's the norm, I could be wrong) but they have a Overlord 49.99 and the wave 1 Power of the Primes are 15.99+

[william-james88]

Very depressing. TRU has came in clutch on more than one occasion for me (its literally the only place that’s even bothered to stock the last three Titan-class figures on the shelves where I’m at). Got quite a few memories from TRU.

I keep seeing this claim about the titans and while its true that they put them in their stores, I dont see how that helps anyone.
Would americans pay 150$ if they see it in a store right now, rather than instead purchasing it for way less at walmart.com https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... n/55589165

Or amazon https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... zon/40584/

[That_Guy]

Very depressing. TRU has came in clutch on more than one occasion for me (its literally the only place that’s even bothered to stock the last three Titan-class figures on the shelves where I’m at). Got quite a few memories from TRU.

I keep seeing this claim about the titans and while its true that they put them in their stores, I dont see how that helps anyone.
Would americans pay 150$ if they see it in a store right now, rather than instead purchasing it for way less at walmart.com https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... n/55589165

Or amazon https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... zon/40584/

for some folks, it's about also holding it in your hands while purchasing it. While at the same time, not 100%, I don't trust shipping. I've gotten some amazon packages that looked like they were kicked to my apartment (luckily the product itself was not damaged). While you can then go online and say "Hey package came in, but it was damaged" how often do the remedy that?

[william-james88]

Very depressing. TRU has came in clutch on more than one occasion for me (its literally the only place that’s even bothered to stock the last three Titan-class figures on the shelves where I’m at). Got quite a few memories from TRU.

I keep seeing this claim about the titans and while its true that they put them in their stores, I dont see how that helps anyone.
Would americans pay 150$ if they see it in a store right now, rather than instead purchasing it for way less at walmart.com https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... n/55589165

Or amazon https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... zon/40584/

for some folks, it's about also holding it in your hands while purchasing it. While at the same time, not 100%, I don't trust shipping. I've gotten some amazon packages that looked like they were kicked to my apartment (luckily the product itself was not damaged). While you can then go online and say "Hey package came in, but it was damaged" how often do the remedy that?

Ok, all this is worth 50$ ? To how many people? Has anyone here actualy purchased a titan for 150$ in a store when they could have bought it for 50$ less online at that very moment?

I have not found 1 person so far who did.

[That_Guy]

Very depressing. TRU has came in clutch on more than one occasion for me (its literally the only place that’s even bothered to stock the last three Titan-class figures on the shelves where I’m at). Got quite a few memories from TRU.

I keep seeing this claim about the titans and while its true that they put them in their stores, I dont see how that helps anyone.
Would americans pay 150$ if they see it in a store right now, rather than instead purchasing it for way less at walmart.com https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... n/55589165

Or amazon https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... zon/40584/

for some folks, it's about also holding it in your hands while purchasing it. While at the same time, not 100%, I don't trust shipping. I've gotten some amazon packages that looked like they were kicked to my apartment (luckily the product itself was not damaged). While you can then go online and say "Hey package came in, but it was damaged" how often do the remedy that?

Ok, all this is worth 50$ ? To how many people? Has anyone here actualy purchased a titan for 150$ in a store when they could have bought it for 50$ less online at that very moment?

I have not found 1 person so far who did.

Call me weird, but I would, although I can get it on a Mil base for $112, yea still not 50 dollars, but it's in my hand and if I see an issue I can quickly return it and worse case get my money back. Wife also calls me very old fashioned, but yea. As you can tell, I don't buy things often from Amazon or Walmart. My wife does, she would probably do that. Also, Toys R Us did (almost put does, but they're going bye bye) price match (even online prices, I asked a cashier they said yup [yes I'm that guy]) something Walmart no longer does.

Edit: I also enjoy the hunt, again call me weird if you must.

[tmthor]

Very depressing. TRU has came in clutch on more than one occasion for me (its literally the only place that’s even bothered to stock the last three Titan-class figures on the shelves where I’m at). Got quite a few memories from TRU.

I keep seeing this claim about the titans and while its true that they put them in their stores, I dont see how that helps anyone.
Would americans pay 150$ if they see it in a store right now, rather than instead purchasing it for way less at walmart.com https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... n/55589165

Or amazon https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... zon/40584/

for some folks, it's about also holding it in your hands while purchasing it. While at the same time, not 100%, I don't trust shipping. I've gotten some amazon packages that looked like they were kicked to my apartment (luckily the product itself was not damaged). While you can then go online and say "Hey package came in, but it was damaged" how often do the remedy that?

Ok, all this is worth 50$ ? To how many people? Has anyone here actualy purchased a titan for 150$ in a store when they could have bought it for 50$ less online at that very moment?

I have not found 1 person so far who did.

Call me weird, but I would, although I can get it on a Mil base for $112, yea still not 50 dollars, but it's in my hand and if I see an issue I can quickly return it and worse case get my money back. Wife also calls me very old fashioned, but yea. As you can tell, I don't buy things often from Amazon or Walmart. My wife does, she would probably do that. Also, Toys R Us did (almost put does, but they're going bye bye) price match (even online prices, I asked a cashier they said yup [yes I'm that guy]) something Walmart no longer does.

Edit: I also enjoy the hunt, again call me weird if you must.

ok fine Your weird

part of the fun of collecting is the hunt. as I said I do sell as well as collect nothing makes me happier then when I am able to provide someones Grail or an item they have been looking for.

[william-james88]

If anyone ever wanted all the details on the Toysrus bakrutcy court hearing, well today is your lucky day since WFMJ.com got their hands on the 124-page filing in U.S. Bankruptcy court. It states the reasons as to why Toysrus has to start liquidating its stores right away, which incudes "2017 U.S. holiday sales [that] came in well below worst case projections". The sales were 250 Million less than projected.

Employees have been given a 60 day notice to employment termination, which means that they will at least be paid for 60 more days (regardless of whether or not the stores will remain open for 2 more months).

It is unsure if gift cards will be honoured since it is not part of the instructions but it is being urged by state governors.

What is part of instructions though, is the description of a deal Toys R Us is currently in the middle of. While a liquidation must happen, it is simultaneously working on a deal to sell 200 US stores along with their entire Canadian operations (which is a very hot commodity right now) to a some interested parties.

While the US operations are unatractive to investors, the lack of competition in Canada and overal better managed stores, have made those stores very profitable (to the point of having a surplus which went towards repaying debt owed by the US operations) and that has attracted several investors. So Toys R Us might survive afterall, but it would be a smaller company and a predominantly Canadian one. We have included the most important part of the 124 page document below, which illustrates this plan, but you can read the entire file here.

In the face of these extraordinary circumstances, further waivers of covenant
defaults are unobtainable. The B-4 lenders—the primary economic stakeholders with respect to
the U.S. collateral—have determined that the best way to maximize their recoveries is to liquidate
the existing inventory in all of the Debtors’ 735 remaining U.S. stores and begin an orderly
wind-down of the U.S. operations. To be clear, the Debtors are not precluding the prospect of any
going concern option for U.S. stores.

In fact, the Debtors have developed a potentially
value-maximizing transaction that would combine up to 200 of the top-performing U.S. stores
(primarily those operating under the side-by-side format similar to the stores operating in Canada) with a going-concern transaction for their Canadian operations. The Debtors are currently
engaged with certain interested parties, including the B-4 Lenders, regarding this transaction and
are hopeful that such a transaction can develop as part of the sale of their Canadian
operations

But because time is of the essence to mitigate losses and maximize recoveries to U.S.
stakeholders, the Debtors regrettably must move forward with implementing a wind-down while
simultaneously pursuing a going-concern transaction tied to Canadian operations.
Accordingly, by this Motion, the Debtors are taking the prudent and responsible
step of seeking authority to begin an immediate and orderly liquidation of their U.S. business and
to sell the Debtors’ equity interest in the Canadian operations.

In short, there is too much of an interest by investors to close Toys R Us Canada, which will instead be sold. What is unknown now is if the buyer will only buy the Canadian operations or also buy 200 US stores as part of the bundle. If that works out, and Canadian practices are applied to those 200 US stores, what you see below may be found in the US as well one day.

[tmthor]

If anyone ever wanted all the details on the Toysrus bakrutcy court hearing, well today is your lucky day since WFMJ.com got their hands on the 124-page filing in U.S. Bankruptcy court. It states the reasons as to why Toysrus has to start liquidating its stores right away, which incudes "2017 U.S. holiday sales [that] came in well below worst case projections". The sales were 250 Million less than projected.

Employees have been given a 60 day notice to employment termination, which means that they will at least be paid for 60 more days (regardless of whether or not the stores will remain open for 2 more months).

It is unsure if gift cards will be honoured since it is not part of the instructions but it is being urged by state governors.

What is part of instructions though, is the description of a deal Toys R Us is currently in the middle of. While a liquidation must happen, it is simultaneously working on a deal to sell 200 US stores along with their entire Canadian operations (which is a very hot commodity right now) to a few interested parties.

While the US operations are unatractive to investors, the lack of competition in Canada and overal better managed stores, have made those stores very profitable (to the point of having a surplus which went towards repaying debt owed by the US operations) and that has attracted several investors. So Toys R Us might survive afterall, but it would be a smaller company and a Canadian company. We have included the most inportant part of the 124 page document below, which illustrates this plan, but you can read the entire file here.

In the face of these extraordinary circumstances, further waivers of covenant
defaults are unobtainable. The B-4 lenders—the primary economic stakeholders with respect to
the U.S. collateral—have determined that the best way to maximize their recoveries is to liquidate
the existing inventory in all of the Debtors’ 735 remaining U.S. stores and begin an orderly
wind-down of the U.S. operations. To be clear, the Debtors are not precluding the prospect of any
going concern option for U.S. stores.

In fact, the Debtors have developed a potentially
value-maximizing transaction that would combine up to 200 of the top-performing U.S. stores
(primarily those operating under the side-by-side format similar to the stores operating in Canada) with a going-concern transaction for their Canadian operations. The Debtors are currently
engaged with certain interested parties, including the B-4 Lenders, regarding this transaction and
are hopeful that such a transaction can develop as part of the sale of their Canadian
operations

But because time is of the essence to mitigate losses and maximize recoveries to U.S.
stakeholders, the Debtors regrettably must move forward with implementing a wind-down while
simultaneously pursuing a going-concern transaction tied to Canadian operations.
Accordingly, by this Motion, the Debtors are taking the prudent and responsible
step of seeking authority to begin an immediate and orderly liquidation of their U.S. business and
to sell the Debtors’ equity interest in the Canadian operations.
6
To effectuate the U.S. wind-down,

So in otherwords the US stores will Liquidate and if a deal is set the Canadian stores could be saved...but its basically too late for the US stores once liquidation starts. Untill the Canadian owners want to open new stores in the areas where the 200 stores were performing...maybe they could open smaller stores at the malls I hear rent is cheaper then big standalone stores

[LevelRage]

Never did find Cogman in stores, had toborder him from TFSource. Seeing him in that picture along with Nitro Zues, the Jada die cast cars, and a couple Titans Return figures makes me hope that this investor does take that route of stocling should they aquire it.

[That_Guy]

If anyone ever wanted all the details on the Toysrus bakrutcy court hearing, well today is your lucky day since WFMJ.com got their hands on the 124-page filing in U.S. Bankruptcy court. It states the reasons as to why Toysrus has to start liquidating its stores right away, which incudes "2017 U.S. holiday sales [that] came in well below worst case projections". The sales were 250 Million less than projected.

Employees have been given a 60 day notice to employment termination, which means that they will at least be paid for 60 more days (regardless of whether or not the stores will remain open for 2 more months).

It is unsure if gift cards will be honoured since it is not part of the instructions but it is being urged by state governors.

What is part of instructions though, is the description of a deal Toys R Us is currently in the middle of. While a liquidation must happen, it is simultaneously working on a deal to sell 200 US stores along with their entire Canadian operations (which is a very hot commodity right now) to a few interested parties.

While the US operations are unatractive to investors, the lack of competition in Canada and overal better managed stores, have made those stores very profitable (to the point of having a surplus which went towards repaying debt owed by the US operations) and that has attracted several investors. So Toys R Us might survive afterall, but it would be a smaller company and a Canadian company. We have included the most inportant part of the 124 page document below, which illustrates this plan, but you can read the entire file here.

In the face of these extraordinary circumstances, further waivers of covenant
defaults are unobtainable. The B-4 lenders—the primary economic stakeholders with respect to
the U.S. collateral—have determined that the best way to maximize their recoveries is to liquidate
the existing inventory in all of the Debtors’ 735 remaining U.S. stores and begin an orderly
wind-down of the U.S. operations. To be clear, the Debtors are not precluding the prospect of any
going concern option for U.S. stores.

In fact, the Debtors have developed a potentially
value-maximizing transaction that would combine up to 200 of the top-performing U.S. stores
(primarily those operating under the side-by-side format similar to the stores operating in Canada) with a going-concern transaction for their Canadian operations. The Debtors are currently
engaged with certain interested parties, including the B-4 Lenders, regarding this transaction and
are hopeful that such a transaction can develop as part of the sale of their Canadian
operations

But because time is of the essence to mitigate losses and maximize recoveries to U.S.
stakeholders, the Debtors regrettably must move forward with implementing a wind-down while
simultaneously pursuing a going-concern transaction tied to Canadian operations.
Accordingly, by this Motion, the Debtors are taking the prudent and responsible
step of seeking authority to begin an immediate and orderly liquidation of their U.S. business and
to sell the Debtors’ equity interest in the Canadian operations.
6
To effectuate the U.S. wind-down,

So in otherwords the US stores will Liquidate and if a deal is set the Canadian stores could be saved...but its basically too late for the US stores once liquidation starts. Untill the Canadian owners want to open new stores in the areas where the 200 stores were performing...maybe they could open smaller stores at the malls I hear rent is cheaper then big standalone stores

What would be interesting is to see Toys R Us in the US(if this happens) pop up like Kay-bee used to. What scares me, and this is more than likely individual malls, is how long it would last. Countryside Mall in Clearwater has had a lot of stores close their doors. There is a lot of space, while at the same time the comic and hobby shop there is expanding. Time will tell, but there are a lot of eyes, ours the local mom groups on my wife's FB page, and in general on what is going on.

[Aimless Misfire]

Damn! If my TRU looked like that I would shop there all the time.

The Transformers section in my TRU isn't even a quarter of that.

[MrBlack]

The "side-by-side format" seems to be referring to stores with Toys R Us and Babies R Us under the same roof, correct?