Hello Atencio,
Are you really bothered that Wal*Mart practices decent moral values (that they listen to the concerns of the MAJORITY of their customer base?)
I'm not.
That they don't care for vulgar or voilent video games (packaged or it's content) suits me just fine. If you care for that obsene crap that is part of the package design, there are plenty of other retail venues to find it at.

-Peter

Yes I am when decisions they make influence not only what is sold at WM but sold everywhere. If it was a matter of having to buy the game somewhere else I would not have brought it up but WM because of its clout forced the developer to change the product so I could not buy it anywhere.

WM does carry violent video games. They had no problem selling GTA3. They have no problem selling violent movies. What is wrong with having a policy that asks for I.D.? I have been carded at WM for buying an "R" rated movie so I know that they do it.

By the end of the decade it is forcasted that WM share of dvds could reach 50% of the market. Ever look at the sorry selection they have compared to even say Best Buy? You might not care what they do now but you may well one day when you find it impossible to find a product you want because WM doesn't carry it.

Funny thing is I figured that the store in Peoria, IL (which RARELY gets anything) would be on the chopping block. But I went in there a couple days ago and didn't see any signs of a massive clearance other than the winter items. And I surprisingly found a few things (not JL related, but still, I was surprised)...

Yes I am when decisions they make influence not only what is sold at WM but sold everywhere. If it was a matter of having to buy the game somewhere else I would not have brought it up but WM because of its clout forced the developer to change the product so I could not buy it anywhere.

WM does carry violent video games. They had no problem selling GTA3. They have no problem selling violent movies. What is wrong with having a policy that asks for I.D.? I have been carded at WM for buying an "R" rated movie so I know that they do it.

By the end of the decade it is forcasted that WM share of dvds could reach 50% of the market. Ever look at the sorry selection they have compared to even say Best Buy? You might not care what they do now but you may well one day when you find it impossible to find a product you want because WM doesn't carry it.


You still don't get it. You listen too Carl Levin too much. This isn't Marxism.
This is a free economy.

As the sky is blue Atencio - in a capitalistic free market system, someone will always show up to fill that void. This goes back and beyond to the guy selling melons in the market square. His competition across the way offering a free chicken if you buy his instead.

When the next guy can build a better mousetrap than WalMart, that is where the folks will go.

You make yourself the slave to the retailer.

Supply and demand Atencio, and when the folks demand with their money, they get what they ask for. Always. It an economic certainty.

Big bad Walmart or not.

Good luck on your ID idea. Its a start. However that you can't ask for a ID or proof of citizenship at the polling place to vote but will insist on it at WalMart to purchase stupid mind jello video games like GTA3?...

Glad to see society's priorities are in line...

I'm done with this dead horse.

See you next month.
:wave:

Why is everyone all fired up over WM, thats the only place I can get JLs (not lately) TRU around stinks. Count yourselfs luck that you guys have so many stores and can buy from OLD's at a decent price, I have to pay exchange and other costs. Count your blessings everybody it could be a whole lot worse. Thats all I have to say bout that. :wave:

Bunch of stuff....
-Peter

Peter, as much as I'd love to agree with you, how can people buy something that is not available? How much stuff will people substitute if they can't find what they really want? Before you answer that question, let me point out that I've seen a lot of posts about people buying other products due to the poor distribution of JL product. Wal-Mart is just like the music business, they promote what they want. They control a lot more than you think with who they deal with and how much they buy. Are they evil, no, would they like to put their competition out of business, you betcha, are they constantly plotting to put their competitors out of business, we'd be blind to think they weren't.

Do we have a choice, yes, but how many people will actually make that choice?

Peter, as much as I'd love to agree with you, how can people buy something that is not available? How much stuff will people substitute if they can't find what they really want? Before you answer that question, let me point out that I've seen a lot of posts about people buying other products due to the poor distribution of JL product. Wal-Mart is just like the music business, they promote what they want. They control a lot more than you think with who they deal with and how much they buy. Are they evil, no, would they like to put their competition out of business, you betcha, are they constantly plotting to put their competitors out of business, we'd be blind to think they weren't.

Do we have a choice, yes, but how many people will actually make that choice?

Wyatt,
This is mind numbing...let me try...

Ok. I own a business.

My business promotes what I want (absolutely right!). Again, I own the business.
I promote high end photo-retouching, hyper-real 3D imaging, highly detailed graphic illustrations, concept (art) and cutting edge design. The more that I can heap on my plate to offer my customers, the better for me.

I want to offer as much as I can. And I try to do all I can to destroy my competition because that is my goal. That is why I am in business.
To be #1.

Why is this bad?

If you ran a business Wyatt, would you do everything you could to assure your competition suceeds in shutting you down? Would you plot everyday to do what you could to sabatoge your business growth? Would you give your competition all your trade secrets? As a business owner, why do you care about the welfare of your competition?


You can't socialize businesses Wyatt. You can't dictate what you businesses are to sell, who can sell what and for how much. Its bunk!

Ask the Russians. It doesn't work.


I do not know why you brought up Johnny Lightnings and the continued shortcommings of RC2 (I thought this topic was taboo here also - too negative)? Maybe RC2 practices socialized business methods too. Maybe that is why I (still) can't find them. Maybe RC2 is too worried about what they might do to Jada or Maisto...

:cool:

I heard on the news last night that they are closing TRU stores(not all) and turning them into Babies R Us stores.

Thank god we already have a Babies R Us right across the street from TRU!

I think what it comes down to is the american public has become stupid, lazy and is willing to settle. Will Walmart take advantage of that, oh yeah, that's business. Can we blame walmart and call them eveil? no more then any other big box retailer, they all would do it if they could. WM just has the buying power to make it reality.

It's up to the people to say "I want that toy", instead of "this toy will do." and like I said most people are lazy and will settle. Over 50% of toy business is done at the Christmas season, that means parents and siblings shopping for kids. If they can get a spiderman toy at WM cheaper and while they pick up groceries, they are much more likely to do that then go to TRU looking for "that spiderman toy" that Jr wants. And thus Jr learns to settle too.

Oh and BFK, the people I still know at our TRU have been saying for months they expect ours to be converted into a BRU :( No big box baby stores here so I bet it'll happen.

Wyatt, bunch more stuff
:cool:

Peter,

I did not say it was bad and even said that I don't think they are evil or that their practice is unethical, but implied that consumers prefer not to go to TRU when the only reason they go there was to get toys, while a Supercenter serves all of their needs, toys included.

Also, I said nothing negative about JL, only that some people here complained about their distribution. Quit reading more than I'm writing.

If I say ABC, are you going to think I really meant ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ?

TRU lost my business back years ago when they switched to their new format. Just never find anything I want there, they should go out of business!!!!

Peter,

I did not say it was bad and even said that I don't think they are evil or that their practice is unethical, but implied that consumers prefer not to go to TRU when the only reason they go there was to get toys, while a Supercenter serves all of their needs, toys included.

Also, I said nothing negative about JL, only that some people here complained about their distribution. Quit reading more than I'm writing.

If I say ABC, are you going to think I really meant ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ?

Hello Wyatt,

This is what I read (your quote):

"My point being that Wal-Mart has expanded each area enough to put people like KB and TRU out of business since most people will just go to Wal-Mart to get everything they want. Smart on Wal-Marts part, but eventually, there will be nothing but Wal-Mart and we will be forced to buy what the choose for us to buy. In addition, for every store that Wal-Mart causes to close is less money for people to spend at Wal-Mart."



Regarding "bad", is this what you implied?

Putting KB and TRU out of business? "Forced" to shop at WalMart? (where is the gun at my temple?).

Sounds very bad (less than flattering) to me.

Reads to me like you are making/have made WalMart the villian here simply because of just being customer convieniant, customer efficient and the still the best bargain in town.

Guilty as charged then.

And why you interjected Johnny Lightning (lack of availability) into our conversation here I still don't know. My regard to "negativity" had only to do with why RC2's shortcommings (like their large problem regarding lack of availability) were brought up (by you!) - I understood that this topic was not allowed to be mentioned here as it is too often (and beating a dead horse).

(my last word on this - really)

-Peter

Toys R Us to close 87 locations









JAN. 9 6:36 P.M. ET Toys R Us Inc. will shutter 87 locations in the coming months as part of its reorganization after being taken private last year, but will spare 12 of them by converting the locations into Babies R Us locations.

The closures will cause the privately-held company to record $155 million of restructuring charges, including $45 million for the cost of liquidating the inventory. Some $99 million will be recorded during the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, and $56 million in the first quarter. The announcement was made Monday by Vornado Realty Trust, which bought the company last year in a partnership with private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Bain Capital Partners LLC. It was not known which of the 674 Toys R Us locations in the U.S. were slated to be closed

Sad fact but watch the news for stores closing,I hear good prices all around!! $$$!!!


Nuff said...end of story :p

Камрад Peter, я надеюсь видеть вас снова следующий месяц. ;)

edit: Why do you guys let me do that? You just know I am going to get another thread locked.

Peter (if you are still reading this thread), sometimes I agree with you, and sometimes I don't. I can always expect you to voice your opinion, what ever it happens to be, and that's not always a bad thing.

You may be correct about the "Wal Mart bashing" ban on HT, but in posting your points of view here you seemed to forget the recent "anti-venomous" sticky that was recently added to the board. You seemed to get a little too personal in some of your posts on this thread. Just a little reminder that if you're going to remind others about what they're not supposed to post, please make sure you are doing the same. No offense intended, now go back to neutral corners and come back out when the bell rings.

Ding !!!!

I have been in retail for 30+ years. And no the typical customer does not!! buy what they want but what is available to what seems as the 'best value'. Walmart is a master merchandiser...giving you what they get the best deals on...their displays and a limited variety of items that they know the public wants...at a "fair" price. Notice their increasing prices lately? And every Walmart is not!!! priced the same...depends on competition. In western NY you may pay 20 to 30% higher on some items because the towns they're in have no major competitorthan in eastern NY. This is varifiable. For instance they charge 14 to $15 for a CD compared to $9.99 in Albany because of Circuit City and Best Buy. Hotwheel prices vary...and some get JLs in and some do not. The closest superWMt to me has a worse selection of toys,incl during Christmas, than a non supercenter one just a few miles more from me. ANd if you check closely..WM may have what you want..infrequently, but not regularly. And they do match prices on some things..but if the price at a competitor is too good(or they can't get a deal from the vendor) then the item will be "out of stock" during the sale period. As a retailer I have seen this happen repeatedly for over 20 years in three shopping markets. Remember "fair competition"? free enterprise? antitrust suits to prevent monopolies??
HMMMMM. Doesn't apply to a company bigger than the US government I guess!!!
Just my "informed opinon" If you get the best deals from the manufacturers...you can (or don't have to) pass them on to the consumer. No competition..higher prices.NATURALLY!!!
Oh, I'm not hear to bash Walmart..just to warn of the future . I like being able to find JLs...at a variety of stores..not just one..when "THEY" want to get some in .

Rumor has it that TRU got bought by an investment group. They were waiting until after the holidays to see which stores were more profitable than others and go from there.
I would have done the exact same thing and I figured that would happen anyway.If it wasn`t for their Babies R US stores,most likely TRU would be gone already. Also WM has almost everything you need,so why go anywhere else.I can get groceries,clothes,JL`s[sometimes anyway],household goods,and car products at the same store w/o having to go to 5 different stores.If someone else offered this service I`d definately shop there also. K-mart,Target,Sears,and others saw this coming for years and did nothing about it until it was almost too late.You can also beat WM at it`s own game.Look at the Dollar Tree stores,their target location is beside a WM because most of the time they are cheaper and you can get in & out faster and their business is booming. Also cheap product doesn`t always mean you will do better business.Sams for example caters to get everything as cheaply as possible and most stuff is cheap and made in China.They are struggling for sales compared to Costco which strives to get more expensive product that Sams and their business is doing 3x`s the gross than Sams. Sams fails to realize that the average customer base that shops their is 80k a year and they like better products and name brands which is benefiting Costco. They also have a more dedicated work force since a cashier makes on average of 40k vs sams with 18k . Just my .03[inflation ]

You may be correct about the "Wal Mart bashing" ban on HT, but in posting your points of view here you seemed to forget the recent "anti-venomous" sticky that was recently added to the board. You seemed to get a little too personal in some of your posts on this thread. Just a little reminder that if you're going to remind others about what they're not supposed to post, please make sure you are doing the same. No offense intended, now go back to neutral corners and come back out when the bell rings.

Ding !!!!

Hello Richard,
No, I didn't forget anything (but you might have).
I was calling a falsehood as I see it - and I was well aware of the anti-venumous sticky.
You have mail.

there closing my TRU I found out today , well there making it a babies R US instead, bummer

Found out today ours will stay open for now, also saw the district list for closings, this includes VA and NC but not all of either state. Wish I could be more specific but I'm not exactly sure how the lines are drawn. Anyway the following stores will be closing:

Harrisonburg, VA
Tysons Corner, VA
Raliegh NC
Charlotte, NC

I'll miss the Harrisonburg store, didn't go there much but it was old style, reminded me of the way ours was when I worked there. In fact going there was more like visiting my old store then actually visiting my old store which has been remodeled :)

my local tru said they weren`t closing but that place sure is bare. There are no product in the middle aisles or anything past the registers since christmas.Also the only JL`s they have received since christmas is the rock series of which 11 cars are still there.

The TRU that was A Katrina victim in Biloxi will be closing. It had a about 8 feet (unconfirmed) but most likely. So it was an easy choice !

Found out today ours will stay open for now, also saw the district list for closings, this includes VA and NC but not all of either state. Wish I could be more specific but I'm not exactly sure how the lines are drawn. Anyway the following stores will be closing:

Harrisonburg, VA
Tysons Corner, VA
Raliegh NC
Charlotte, NC

I'll miss the Harrisonburg store, didn't go there much but it was old style, reminded me of the way ours was when I worked there. In fact going there was more like visiting my old store then actually visiting my old store which has been remodeled :)
I`m just wondering.How many stores are in Charlotte?

That I don't know, I just got to see the list because I still know a couple people at the local TRU from when I worked there.

I just started collecting JL last month and now the two TRU stores near me are both closing.

I stopped by both of them this week and I did pick up some cars, but I had hoped to be able to shop at both stores for JL for awhile. :cry:

Signed

Dave "New Collector - Kiss of Death for TRU"

Locations known to be closing:(69/73)

Phoenix, AZ {Arizona Daily Star (http://www.azstarnet.com/business/110623)}
Brea, CA {bizjournals.com (http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/060110/1213471.html?.v=1)}
Merced, CA {Junior; TFW2005 (http://tfw2005.com/boards/showpost1253748-p99.html)}
Orange, CA {Presstelegram.com (http://www.presstelegram.com/business/ci_3389842)}
Redding, CA {Record-Searchlight (http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_local/article/0%2C2232%2CREDD_17533_4376759%2C00.html&cid=0)}
San Diego, CA (Mira Mesa){Presstelegram.com (http://www.presstelegram.com/business/ci_3389842)}
San Francisco, CA (Daly City:Geary Blvd){The Times-Herald (http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_3391935)}
Signal Hill, CA {bizjournals.com (http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/060110/1213471.html?.v=1)}
Valejo, CA {Presstelegram.com (http://www.presstelegram.com/business/ci_3389842)}
Grand Juction, CO {kjct8.com (http://www.kjct8.com/news/readnews.cfm?ID=5347)}
Littleton, CO {CBS4Denver (http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_009122337.html)}
Pueblo, CO {CBS4Denver (http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_009122337.html)}
Coral Springs, FL {Miami Herald (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/13595312.htm)}
Miami, FL (Coral Way){Miami Herald (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/13595312.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_business)}
Tampa, FL (Dale Mabry) {sun-herald.com (http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/011106/bz1.htm?date=011106&story=bz1.htm)}
Vero Beach, FL {Stuart News (http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/business/article/0%2C2541%2CTCP_998_4375697%2C00.html&cid=0)}
Macon, GA {The Telegraph (http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13585338.htm)}
Dubuque, IA {Cedar Rapids Gazette (http://www.crgazette.com/2006/01/09/Home/toys.htm&cid=0)}
Sioux City IA {Sioux City Journal (http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2006/01/10/news_business/local/ca9849e6ddab5b41862570f20013233c.txt&cid=0)}
Indianapolis, IN {IndyStar.com (http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060110/BUSINESS/601100385/1003/BUSINESS)}
Michigan City, IN {Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0601070108jan07,1,6691250.story?coll=chi-business-hed)}
Arlington Heights, IL {Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0601070108jan07,1,6691250.story?coll=chi-business-hed)}
Bourbonnais, IL {Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0601070108jan07,1,6691250.story?coll=chi-business-hed)}
Chicago, IL (Lafayette St.){Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0601070108jan07,1,6691250.story?coll=chi-business-hed)}
Dorchester, IL {Junior; TFW2005 (http://tfw2005.com/boards/showpost1253748-p99.html)}
Lansing, IL {Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0601070108jan07,1,6691250.story?coll=chi-business-hed)}
Owensboro, KY {Evansville Courier & Press (http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/ebj/article/0%2C2578%2CECP_19916_4377156%2C00.html&cid=0)}
Cambridge, MA {Boston Herald (http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=120234)}
Dorchester, MA {Boston Herald (http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=120234)}
Medford, MA {Boston Herald (http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=120234)}
Laurel, MD {Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901960.html)}
Wheaton, MD {The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901960.html?nav=rss_business)}
Battle Creek, MI {Battle Creek Enquirer (http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060110/NEWS01/601100317/1002)}
Holland, MI {WZZM13 News (http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=48995)}
Midland, MI {WZZM13 News (http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=48995)}
Duluth, MN {Duluth News Tribune (http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/business/13585620.htm)}
Bridgeton, MO (St. Louis; 899 Northwest Plaza.){St. Louis Business Journal (http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2006/01/02/daily56.html)}
Kansas City, MO (Bannister&Hillcrest){Gen. Magnus; TFW2005 (http://tfw2005.com/boards/showpost1255002-p114.html)}
Jackson, MS {clarionledger.com (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/NEWS/601110349/1002/NEWS01)}
Charlotte, NC {Charlotte Business Journal (http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2006/01/09/daily19.html)}
Raleigh, NC (Crabtree Valley){Triangle Business Journal (http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2006/01/09/daily16.html)}
Parsippany, NJ {NorthJersey.com (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyOCZmZ2Jl bDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Njg1NTQ4MCZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRU V5eTI=)}
Las Cruces, NM {Silver City Sun-News (http://www.scsun-news.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060110/NEWS01/601100326/1081/SILVERCITY)}
Santa Fe, NM {New Mexico Business Weekly (http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2006/01/09/daily17.html)}
Long Island, NY: {Newsday (http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzbot4578374jan07,0,4366670.story?coll=ny-business-headlines)}
- Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown
- Jericho Turnpike in Commack
- Sunrise Highway in Freeport
Niagara Falls, NY (Williams Road){WGRZ 2 (http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=34413)}
Syracuse, NY (Dewitt){PostStar.com (http://www.poststar.com/story.asp?storyid=206232)}
Akron, OH {Akron Beacon Journal (http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/business/13598561.htm)}
Columbus, OH (Broadstreet){Business First of Columbus (http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/01/09/daily15.html)}
Springdale, OH (Cincinnati){WCPO News (http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/dontwasteyourmoney/107a1a7a.html)}
Springfield, OH {SpringfieldNewsSun.com (http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/01/11/sns0111toysrus.html)}
Albany,OR (1950 14th Ave. S.E.){Albany Democrat-Herald (http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2006/01/07/news/local/sundh02.txt)}
Charleston SC {The State (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/business/13570600.htm)}
Columbia, SC (Two Notch Road Store){The State (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/business/13570600.htm)}
West Ashley, SC (Charleston; 1987 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.){The Post and Courier (http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=63900&section=business)}
Memphis, TN {NotFastEnuff; TFW2005 (http://tfw2005.com/boards/showpost1251984-p42.html)}
Nashville, TN (Antioch;Hickory Hollow Mall){WTVF Channel5 (http://www.newschannel5.com/content/news/16567.asp)}
Brownsville, TX {The Brownsville Herald (http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_more.php?id=68810_0_10_0_M)}
Houston, TX (Greenspoint){Houston Business Journal (http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/01/09/daily15.html)}
Sherman, TX {The Herald Democrat (http://www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2006/01/11/local_news/local_news_in_brief/localnewsinbrief01.txt)}
Texarkana, TX {Texarkana Gazette (http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2006/01/10/local_news/news/news03.txt)}
Harrisonburg, VA {Daily News-Record (http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=2413&CHID=1)}
Hampton, VA {Junior; TFW2005 (http://tfw2005.com/boards/showpost1253748-p99.html)}
Tyson's Corner, VA {The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901960.html?nav=rss_business)}
Bellingham, WA {The Bellingham Herald (http://news.bellinghamherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060109/NEWS03/60109003)}
Federal Way, WA {seattlepi.com (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/255207_bizbriefs11.html?source=rss)}
Fond du Lac, WI {The Capital Times (http://www.madison.com/tct/business/index.php?ntid=68392&ntpid=2)}


Locations that will not reopen after hurricane damage closure last fall:(2/2)

New Orleans, LA (East) {Playthings.com (http://www.playthings.com/article/CA6298181.html)}
Biloxi, MI {Playthings.com (http://www.playthings.com/article/CA6298181.html)}

RI dodged a bullet ....... we only have one TRU to begin with!

(Thanks for the list, Shane)