Why I hate Toys R Us

[fred67]

The first half of this image shows what you get in the email; the second shows what you get when you click on it to get the coupon. This is just plain SPAM, IMO.

In what universe can you say "ALL"... ALL, in BIG LETTERS, twice as BIG as all the others, and then with a straight face list exclusions on the coupon you have to click to get?

I'm sick of this... Barnes and Noble is on my crap list, too... any sets I want are shown "Note: This item does not qualify for coupons or promotional discounts unless expressly stated."

When was the last time I saw one "expressly stated?" HOW ABOUT NEVER!

Sorry... venting over.

[Legoman]

Wow... That's got to be a new low, even for TRU.. That said, I should say USTRU, Because I know in some places TRU is the single best place to shop for Lego... But yes.

It's quite funny... However, terribly misleading and annoying for those of you in the US.

Ah well, I guess thats what shops have to do to get customers in the door these days

[fff]

Try to be in a country where these offers NEVER happen...

[Flare]

I've never liked Toys R Us. Every time they have a sale it doesn't include the themes I want to get. I've only had a good deal once in Toys R Us... Walmart and Target are nicer but don't have as large a stock.. oh well... bricklink here I come!

[Scouty]

Well, to be fair, the first coupon isn't saying half off on LEGO Star Wars etc. sets. It's half off for Star Wars action figures, etc.

"Construction" probably means Creator sets and similar sets.

[jonwil]

The only reason I ever buy from TRU is if they have an exclusive (like the City Public Transport) or if they are the only ones with a set in stock (like the Kingdoms impulse sets were at the time I bought them) or on the rare occasion they have something thats actually cheaper than other stores.

[lightningtiger]

Are the old evil TRU, yes....the home of exclusives and high prices, well it's not that I hate about them.....NO LAYBY !

Keep on find somewhere else to shop !

[Destroydacre]

Well, to be fair, the first coupon isn't saying half off on LEGO Star Wars etc. sets. It's half off for Star Wars action figures, etc.

"Construction" probably means Creator sets and similar sets.

No, all Lego sets are classified as construction sets because you have to put them together. This is pretty lame, however I will say that this shouldn't be too shocking to anyone. Star Wars sets are very rarely included in TRU's buy one get one half off deals.

Somewhat similar I love how they've put sets such as the AT-AT Walker and Palpatine's Shuttle "on sale" for $110 and $60 respectively. In other words, all they did was remove the ridiculous TRU mark-ups. Most probably because the sets were sitting on the shelves for so long. I decided to get the AT-AT from TRU a couple weeks ago and it had a layer of dust on the top of the box. It had probably been sitting on the shelf since the initial release.

[RileyC]

It kinda seems like while it was a let down on your half, you seem to have misread it as Scouts said. I agree these loop holes can be annoying but you just got to get over it. There area worse things happen on in life and you should get over it. In the world of lego the US gets it pretty good even though most of you complain about prices. You should convert some of the New Zealand prices to US just to see what im talking about. But I digress...

I decided to get the AT-AT from TRU a couple weeks ago and it had a layer of dust on the top of the box. It had probably been sitting on the shelf since the initial release.

I think this is a good thing for you guys. If TRU is not selling their sets then it may look at their high prices and decide to lower them so they sells some sets.

[CommanderFox]

Wow, what hypocrites!

What a laugh, you made my evening fred67!

CF

[Big Cam]

The only reason I ever buy from TRU is if they have an exclusive (like the City Public Transport) or if they are the only ones with a set in stock (like the Kingdoms impulse sets were at the time I bought them) or on the rare occasion they have something thats actually cheaper than other stores.

You can get any LEGO exclusive from shop at home, and for the original price, not Toy's r us's jacked up prices. I used to go there just for the collectable minifigs but now you can get those at Walmart again for the original retail price not some jacked up premium.

[fred67]

I think some of you misunderstood... I know we have it good in the U.S. as far as sales and LEGO pricing goes...

I also know that TRU sales usually exclude Star Wars (and now, apparently, Harry Potter).

But the point is that first thing is what I got in the email... ALL LEGO construction sets & board games!

Then you click on the link to get the coupon, and coupon itself says "ALL!!!!" "ALL!!!" Woohooo!!!!

It's no better than any scam spammer, IMO.

[Bricks2000]

...And thats why they close tru down here in indonesia.

good thing is that my local toy stores always have exclusives in stock!

[jonwil]

You can get any LEGO exclusive from shop at home, and for the original price, not Toy's r us's jacked up prices. I used to go there just for the collectable minifigs but now you can get those at Walmart again for the original retail price not some jacked up premium.

In my case I was able to get the City Public Transport from TRU here in Australia for a price that was less than what Shop @ Home would have cost (once you count the shipping)

And I was able to acquire the Pig Farmer impulse and both Kingdoms impulses from TRU for far less than it would have cost to go to Shop @ Home (shipping would have been expensive even for small items)

[The Green Brick Giant]

I hate TRU for real reasons like they are sexist pigs. I can't have my backpack in the store, but women can have a purse 10 times bigger? megabluck TRU.

[Darth Jar Jar]

I hate TRU for real reasons like they are sexist pigs. I can't have my backpack in the store, but women can have a purse 10 times bigger? megabluck TRU.

Why can't you have your backpack in the store

[FinalFeature]

Why can't you have your backpack in the store

They probably think that you'll steal something and put it in your backpack.

LegoGalactus

[Darth Jar Jar]

They probably think that you'll steal something and put it in your backpack.

LegoGalactus

Oh thats kinda reasonable but wouldn't the alarm things just go off?

[Nightshroud99]

I don't see what the problem is...

[Tyrant]

Oh thats kinda reasonable but wouldn't the alarm things just go off?

If there is no magnetic tag (either because the item never had one or because it was removed) then they won't. Those things are far from fool proof. I had one go off as I was walking through it on my into a store. I assumed it was because at that very moment I got a text meessage, but who knows.

[voltio]

Keep in mind that TRU isn't really competing with discounters like Walmart, Target, etc. on price alone, but rather on selection and convenience as well. A specialty retailer like TRU usually needs to charge higher margins to justify the wider assortment it provides at its brick and mortar stores. Managing a diverse inventory eats into profits, hence the higher prices.

True, it is a bit aggravating to see "sale" items marked down to Shop at Home MSRP, but many consumers are willing to make the price-to-convenience tradeoff. Perhaps some of TRU's customer base is willing to pay a bit more in exchange for the added convenience of finding all their toy needs under one roof, as opposed to visiting multiple big-box stores and web retailers.

[fred67]

Keep in mind that TRU isn't really competing with discounters like Walmart, Target, etc. on price alone, but rather on selection and convenience as well. A specialty retailer like TRU usually needs to charge higher margins to justify the wider assortment it provides at its brick and mortar stores. Managing a diverse inventory eats into profits, hence the higher prices.

True, it is a bit aggravating to see "sale" items marked down to Shop at Home MSRP, but many consumers are willing to make the price-to-convenience tradeoff. Perhaps some of TRU's customer base is willing to pay a bit more in exchange for the added convenience of finding all their toy needs under one roof, as opposed to visiting multiple big-box stores and web retailers.

The problem is not that they overcharge, it's the blatantly misleading email.

[Scorpio]

The problem is not that they overcharge, it's the blatantly misleading email.

I agree that it is misleading but the BOGO50 is nice for part packs like Creator sets. I haven't paid full price for a Creator set in almost a year. Another good thing about Creator sets is they are almost always MSRP. I take what they give. You just have to read the fine print and see if it is worth going to the store or online to buy stuff.

Edited November 19, 2010 by DHCP1121

[escortmad79]

If there is no magnetic tag (either because the item never had one or because it was removed) then they won't. Those things are far from fool proof. I had one go off as I was walking through it on my into a store. I assumed it was because at that very moment I got a text meessage, but who knows.

It's not just to do with any tags, the alarm is set off by the barcodes if they're not scanned at the checkout properly too

[Modulex Guy]

I hate TRU for real reasons like they are sexist pigs. I can't have my backpack in the store, but women can have a purse 10 times bigger? megabluck TRU.

Just leave it at the customer service counter.

I have done this quite a bit when I ride my bike to stores, I just tell them I rode my bike here, have my pack, and ask politely if I can leave it here until I am done shopping.

If you're polite it should be no problem.