Dear Valued Customer,
As you may know, in September we announced that we were beginning a formal process – known as Chapter 11 – designed to strengthen our financial position and allow us to reinvest in our business. This was a proactive and voluntary move that gives us the opportunity to reset and do the things necessary to continue to earn your business now and well into the future.
I’m writing today because I want to assure you that you can continue to shop with us with confidence, in store or online. Your local Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores are open and our team members are standing by ready to help. You should also know that we are continuing to honor our various customer programs including Registry, Endless Earnings, Geoffrey's Birthday Club, gift cards and warranties.
With the holidays just around the corner, we have a number of exciting things in store for you:
Price Match Promise¹ – If you find a toy or baby product at a lower price at one of our competitors, Toys"R"Us will match the price. Not only will we match competitor’s prices in store, we’ll donate an additional $1 to Toys for Tots every time you price match now thru 12/24, up to $1 million.
Parents Night Out² – As a parent, I found it was always tough to find time to shop when the kids weren’t looking, so this year Toys"R"Us is hosting special events on Sunday, November 12 and Thursday, November 30 from 8-10pm local time. During these very special events, customers will have access to a shopping expert, hot toy demonstrations, games and treats (think hot chocolate bar, raffles and more) plus a sweepstakes where Rewards"R"Us members have a chance to win a trip for 4 to New York City.
Layaway and Then Some³ – We will once again offer free layaway services this holiday season, waiving the usual fee. Plus, every single day from Sunday, November 5, through Saturday, December 9, Toys"R"Us will select one layaway customer who will receive a $200 TRU gift card to put towards their layaway.
Play Lab – I have seven grandkids who would love nothing more than to visit one of our stores to test drive the newest toys. On Sunday, November 1, forty-two Toys"R"Us locations across the country will open designated play spaces in their stores. Shopping list meets play time.
Play Chaser™ – Our new augmented reality gaming app is turning our toy stores into an interactive playground. It’s also connected to our much-awaited holiday catalog, The Ultimate Guide to Play. Kids can now build their favorites list using the app.
These are just a few of the exciting changes I’m most excited for this holiday. No matter how you choose to shop with us, know that you can continue to count on us for an outstanding experience. We have been in the business of bringing joy to kids for nearly seven decades, and we welcome the opportunity to serve you this holiday season and long into the future.
Sincerely,
A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
Posted by Va'al
Oct 29, 2017 at 3:33am CDT
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Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Stuartmaximus
Oct 29, 2017
apart from their bloody prices! 

Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by hurricane567
Oct 29, 2017
Yes, there's a huuuuge profit margin on those Bumblebee headphones, but only if someone buys them! The profit margin on an actual Bumblebee Transformer might be a lot less, but the odds of it getting sold are much better.
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by cloudballoon
Oct 29, 2017
Here in Canada, I don't get how we can complain much about TRU's TF toy prices. Their main line TF prices are only a few cents higher than Walmart's. Like $19.99 vs. $19.97 for a TR DLX. They have similar prices for Legend, Deluxe and Voyager except Leader - TRU is $5 more expensive than WM.
But TRU runs far more sales on TF toys than Walmart & price-match. I'd say 75% of my TFs were purchased at sale prices (through sales of the week or rain checks from previous sales) at TRU.
TRU exchange policy is also better. I can exchange any figure from the same line to a different one with minimum hassle. This is not possible at Walmart.
Only thing I can complain are the shelf-warmers, but that's not *my problem* per se, as I can get TF figures I want 90% of the time at TRU... eventually. I'm just concern the losses incurred on TRU's finances about those shelf-warmers.
If we all want TRU to get through this tough time, we should find out how TRU can help themselves by improving their purchasing analysis. We (collectors & parents) can only buy so much BBB, OP & repaints before we collectively say "enough, don't need another similar BBB/OP"? Hasbro can also help out too.
But TRU runs far more sales on TF toys than Walmart & price-match. I'd say 75% of my TFs were purchased at sale prices (through sales of the week or rain checks from previous sales) at TRU.
TRU exchange policy is also better. I can exchange any figure from the same line to a different one with minimum hassle. This is not possible at Walmart.
Only thing I can complain are the shelf-warmers, but that's not *my problem* per se, as I can get TF figures I want 90% of the time at TRU... eventually. I'm just concern the losses incurred on TRU's finances about those shelf-warmers.
If we all want TRU to get through this tough time, we should find out how TRU can help themselves by improving their purchasing analysis. We (collectors & parents) can only buy so much BBB, OP & repaints before we collectively say "enough, don't need another similar BBB/OP"? Hasbro can also help out too.
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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That is no different then buying toy from bigbadtoystore tfsource, robot kingdom , amazon and eBay ToysRus prices are cheap compare to online stores online store you pay for shipping and handling and tax and if you want free shipping at certain online stores you need spend certain amount plus Walmart is cheaper but there selection sucks take your pick.,
Pay double for deluxe figure at online store with shipping and handling plus tax, or go to Walmart with cheaper prices and toy your theme your looking for only takes two shelf space racks on one big aisle I look at walmart transformers section and others Toysrus selection for those have bigger selection same with target compared to walmart
Comment by dragons
Oct 29, 2017
Stuartmaximus wrote:apart from their bloody prices!
That is no different then buying toy from bigbadtoystore tfsource, robot kingdom , amazon and eBay ToysRus prices are cheap compare to online stores online store you pay for shipping and handling and tax and if you want free shipping at certain online stores you need spend certain amount plus Walmart is cheaper but there selection sucks take your pick.,
Pay double for deluxe figure at online store with shipping and handling plus tax, or go to Walmart with cheaper prices and toy your theme your looking for only takes two shelf space racks on one big aisle I look at walmart transformers section and others Toysrus selection for those have bigger selection same with target compared to walmart
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by shajaki
Oct 29, 2017
Seems to me that this is the statement they should have made in the first 24 hours of the Chapter 11 filing... 

Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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One thing I've really noticed just with talking to Will is the difference between TRU USA and TRU Canada. To your points here, the price differences are huge in some cases. back in combiner wars, they were selling deluxes for $24.99 while every other store (Walmart, Target) were selling them for $14.99. and even now, their deluxes range from $16.99 to $21.99, while Target and Walmart are the same. TLK is a bit more at Target and Walmart, but they're only a buck or 2 higher per size class. So the TRU USA Price difference is fairly significant.
Our TRU's do not do many sales either. If a figure goes on sale, it is almost always a simplified figure, not part of the main line. And if it is part of the main line, it's very expensive and not selling (Cybertron).
Exchange and price matching at TRU USA are BS too. You must have proof of the exact same figure, not size class, same figure to the name and packaging, to price match, and if you have to do that, why even both buying it there when you can buy it where you saw it? (I learned that with the combaticons, they would not price match them).
Honestly, TRU USA is only good for exclusives, that's about it. Prices are much higher, they are usually behind the other stores with stocking (RiD Bisk and Paralon are very popular sights around here still while Walmarts and Targets have Soundwave and Blurr), and their policies are not good either. They need to make some changes if they don't want to go bankrupt. Their USA stores and policies are flawed.
Also, Dragons: TRU USA has prices on par or worse than online, and often times here their selection is not that good, even online. How many times have I seen a figure I want on TRU.com and it says "store only" and can't be bought online. Too many. So shopping at TRU is a lot like BBTS and the such pricewise, but there are better options and more updated product-wise options, so I would rather buy from BBTS than TRU since they are more reliable
Comment by D-Maximal_Primal
Oct 30, 2017
cloudballoon wrote:Here in Canada, I don't get how we can complain much about TRU's TF toy prices. Their main line TF prices are only a few cents higher than Walmart's. Like $19.99 vs. $19.97 for a TR DLX. They have similar prices for Legend, Deluxe and Voyager except Leader - TRU is $5 more expensive than WM.
But TRU runs far more sales on TF toys than Walmart & price-match. I'd say 75% of my TFs were purchased at sale prices (through sales of the week or rain checks from previous sales) at TRU.
TRU exchange policy is also better. I can exchange any figure from the same line to a different one with minimum hassle. This is not possible at Walmart.
Only thing I can complain are the shelf-warmers, but that's not *my problem* per se, as I can get TF figures I want 90% of the time at TRU... eventually. I'm just concern the losses incurred on TRU's finances about those shelf-warmers.
If we all want TRU to get through this tough time, we should find out how TRU can help themselves by improving their purchasing analysis. We (collectors & parents) can only buy so much BBB, OP & repaints before we collectively say "enough, don't need another similar BBB/OP"? Hasbro can also help out too.
One thing I've really noticed just with talking to Will is the difference between TRU USA and TRU Canada. To your points here, the price differences are huge in some cases. back in combiner wars, they were selling deluxes for $24.99 while every other store (Walmart, Target) were selling them for $14.99. and even now, their deluxes range from $16.99 to $21.99, while Target and Walmart are the same. TLK is a bit more at Target and Walmart, but they're only a buck or 2 higher per size class. So the TRU USA Price difference is fairly significant.
Our TRU's do not do many sales either. If a figure goes on sale, it is almost always a simplified figure, not part of the main line. And if it is part of the main line, it's very expensive and not selling (Cybertron).
Exchange and price matching at TRU USA are BS too. You must have proof of the exact same figure, not size class, same figure to the name and packaging, to price match, and if you have to do that, why even both buying it there when you can buy it where you saw it? (I learned that with the combaticons, they would not price match them).
Honestly, TRU USA is only good for exclusives, that's about it. Prices are much higher, they are usually behind the other stores with stocking (RiD Bisk and Paralon are very popular sights around here still while Walmarts and Targets have Soundwave and Blurr), and their policies are not good either. They need to make some changes if they don't want to go bankrupt. Their USA stores and policies are flawed.
Also, Dragons: TRU USA has prices on par or worse than online, and often times here their selection is not that good, even online. How many times have I seen a figure I want on TRU.com and it says "store only" and can't be bought online. Too many. So shopping at TRU is a lot like BBTS and the such pricewise, but there are better options and more updated product-wise options, so I would rather buy from BBTS than TRU since they are more reliable
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Va'al
Dec 2, 2017
In another addition to the long saga of the Toys'R'Us bankrupcty news, previously reported on back in September, we have some news coming at us from the UK branch of the multinational retailer, courtesy of fellow Seibertronian blackeyedprime.
It appears that, according to the BBC, out of the 106 stores currently open in the UK, at least 25 of them will be closed in the coming months due to issues of rental costs and the model of the stores themselves. You can read more about the issue here, but it seems as though holiday retail at least will not be affected, though several thousand jobs will be cut if no solution is found on time.
Worth noting: this is an entirely different issue than the Chapter 11 filing, and is limited to the UK locations of the retailer.
It appears that, according to the BBC, out of the 106 stores currently open in the UK, at least 25 of them will be closed in the coming months due to issues of rental costs and the model of the stores themselves. You can read more about the issue here, but it seems as though holiday retail at least will not be affected, though several thousand jobs will be cut if no solution is found on time.
Worth noting: this is an entirely different issue than the Chapter 11 filing, and is limited to the UK locations of the retailer.
The closures would form part of a deal to renegotiate debts owed by the company to its landlords - which must be agreed by 75% of its creditors.
The toy giant, which has around 3,000 workers, is looking to move away from its "big-box" out-of-town store model.
Christmas trading and gift cards are not expected to be affected.
The company is seeking approval from its board and US parent company to enter talks with the landlords.
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Carnivius_Prime
Dec 2, 2017
Yeah I saw bbc page earlier and am really hoping the Cambridge store ain't gonna close cos that's the only one that's even remotely practical for me to get to and even that's an hour and half on a bus away.
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Evil Eye
Dec 2, 2017
As if UK distribution wasn't crap enough as is...
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by frogbat
Dec 2, 2017
Just like these stores killed the independent retailers of old... the internet has killed this giant too. Not too sympathetic towards the company itself, however I hope not many peeps lose their jobs
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Aimless Misfire
Dec 2, 2017
I was reading this article, they want to pay 32 million to 17 executives: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/01/trustee-gives-toys-r-us-executive-bonus-plan-a-lump-of-coal.html
lol Same here! I got 2 Misfires & 1 Windblade from Timmy's.
Misfire is one of my favorites but I'll probably never see him in a store.
hurricane567 wrote:My local US TRU has a 4 foot wide Transformers section.[orders Misfire from Timmy's Toy Box/Amazon.com]
lol Same here! I got 2 Misfires & 1 Windblade from Timmy's.
Misfire is one of my favorites but I'll probably never see him in a store.
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Cybertronius Primus
Dec 2, 2017
Oh no. We will lose so much. Sad. (If you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm).
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by nemesisorion
Dec 2, 2017
Im glad these toy shops are shutting down in the uk no misfire slugslinger windblade twintwist sixshot overlord skyshadow and they call themshelfs toys r us lol ebay is cheaper and better i got misfire slugslinger windblade twintwist sixshot overlord skyshadow on ebay for a total £150 no wonder TRU is bankrupt
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Prime Nova
Dec 2, 2017
Don't worry we have Smyths Toy Superstore & The Entertainer that do stock toys & aren't empty like tru stores.
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by nemesisorion
Dec 2, 2017
DO NOT TRUST SMYTHS TOY STORE FOR Transformers THEY REMOVED skyshadow misfire slugslinger windblade twintwist sixshot overlord dragonstorm nitro zues and voyerger scorn DO NOT TRUST SMYTHS TOY STORE THEY ARE POISON TRUST EBAY
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Prime Nova
Dec 2, 2017
tru try arresting you if you reuse bags in the UK when you have to reuse bags. I don't buy anything from them. You dont get bags if you go in & shop unless you pay for them
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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The Entertainer charges £23 for £18 Titans Return figures...And they have done since way before TLK Deluxes were £23 so doesn't seem like an error and I've pointed it out to them but they're like... "huh". Also their stock (at least going by the Cambridge store) of Transformers is far worse than the same town's Toys R Us.
Also unrelated to TFs but still bugs me is that Toys R Us is the retailer even remotely near me that stocks Mega Construx which I love to (and often pose with Transformers) so I really don't want to see them go.
Comment by Carnivius_Prime
Dec 3, 2017
Prime Nova wrote:Don't worry we have Smyths Toy Superstore & The Entertainer that do stock toys & aren't empty like tru stores.
The Entertainer charges £23 for £18 Titans Return figures...And they have done since way before TLK Deluxes were £23 so doesn't seem like an error and I've pointed it out to them but they're like... "huh". Also their stock (at least going by the Cambridge store) of Transformers is far worse than the same town's Toys R Us.
Also unrelated to TFs but still bugs me is that Toys R Us is the retailer even remotely near me that stocks Mega Construx which I love to (and often pose with Transformers) so I really don't want to see them go.
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Stuartmaximus
Dec 7, 2017
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Va'al
Dec 19, 2017
We have some more unfortunate news for those following the saga of Toys'R'Us, both in the US and the UK, ever since the first invocation of chapter 11 and the 'bankruptcy' story first broke (as covered here).
As you might remember, the UK branch of the retail chain has been facing some rough times entirely independently of the US branch's bankruptcy filing, and around a quarter of their stores in the country could be facing closure. The latest addition to that story, as reported by major UK national media, informs us that pension funds may also be in trouble. Apparently, whatever the outcome stores will not be closing until the spring, meaning that holiday shopping (and jobs) will be unaffected, but you can read more on this below.
As you might remember, the UK branch of the retail chain has been facing some rough times entirely independently of the US branch's bankruptcy filing, and around a quarter of their stores in the country could be facing closure. The latest addition to that story, as reported by major UK national media, informs us that pension funds may also be in trouble. Apparently, whatever the outcome stores will not be closing until the spring, meaning that holiday shopping (and jobs) will be unaffected, but you can read more on this below.
Toys R Us UK is facing potential collapse this week with the loss of 3,200 jobs as it struggles to win the support of the state-backed Pension Protection Fund (PPF) for a planned restructure.
The PPF, the industry-funded, state-backed safety net, demanded that the troubled retailer pump about £9m into the ailing Toys R Us UK pension fund.
This is in order to gain the PPF’s support for the retailer’s planned company voluntary arrangement (CVA) procedure, which involves the closure of at least 26 loss-making stores. That deal would lead to the loss of up to 800 jobs.
[...]
Malcolm Weir, director of restructuring and insolvency at the PPF, said the body had yet to decide how to vote: ‘‘We are seeking to fully understand the current position of the company, including its future potential, position of the US parent and the reported historic financial transactions.
“The pension scheme is already underfunded and, if we were to vote in favour of the CVA, we would need actions taken that ensure the position of the pension scheme was not going to further weaken.
“Whatever the outcome of the CVA, the pension scheme members can be reassured that they remain protected.”
Re: A Message from Dave Brandon, Chairman & CEO, Toys'R'Us
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Comment by Rodimus Knight
Dec 19, 2017
I have a friend who works for Toys R us, and she mentioned all the things she was told they were going to do during the holiday season to bring in customers and then she noted that they havn'r done any of it.
I wouldn't be surprised if Toys R Us wasn't around next holiday season.
I wouldn't be surprised if Toys R Us wasn't around next holiday season.