Sadly, we have another chapter in the story of Toys R Us closing. Via Ozformers forums and several online articles, we got word that Toys ‘R’ Us goes into administration in Australia.
Kind of an unexpected event, since it seemed Toys “R” Us stores in Australia will continue on the business like other stores in Asia, despite the US main brand closing. This also affects Toys “R” Us partner Babies ‘R’ Us. Here’s a brief quote from an article from Australian site Inside Retail.com
Toys ‘R’ Us Australia and sister brand Babies ‘R’ Us have fallen into voluntary administration, following the collapse of US-based Toys ‘R’ Us Inc.
Insolvency firm McGarthNicol was appointed as the administrators after a bid to purchase the Australian business was withdrawn.
McGarthNicol said in a statement on Monday that all Toys ‘R’ Us Australia stores will continue to trade as options for a potential sale of the standalone Australian business is explored.
44 retail stores and around 700 permanent staff are caught up in the administration.
Toys ‘R’ Us Inc has been seeking to offload its international businesses for several months amid a liquidation process that is seeing more than 700 stores wound down in the US.
Sad news for all Australian fans. There’s also one important matter to remember. While back in February, we reported an upcoming Toys “R” Us online exclusive Masterpiece Shadow Panther. This item was available for pre-order for just 2 weeks until February 25th. Then you would have to be patient until October 2018, when they were supposed to ship it. Will this last Toys “R” Us exclusive get into the hand of Australian collectors? Time will tell. We hope our fellow collectors in Australia would be ready to say good bye to Toys “R” Us after so many years and memories.
AzT
Toys"R"Us Australia on Instagram: “Thanks to all the Toys”R”Us Kids in Australia for 25 years of fun! Don’t ever grow up! #toysrus #toysrusaustralia”
AzT
Toys"R"Us Australia
griffin-of-oz
The store nearest me, the Garden City store is now closed.
This was the final 30 minutes, with a few people walking through one last time, like the viewing of an open coffin at a funeral….
And at 10 to 5pm, it was all closed up and empty…
.
I have to admit that I spent a lot of time and money at this store, and despite the good and the bad, this Toys"R"Us store will be greatly missed by me, as will all of the others around the country that I have visited or purchased from (I have probably been to at least half of the stores in Australia), as they would always be a store I would check out if I came across one in my travels (not to mention, the priority store chain I would look for and visit where ever I was in America, which I will also greatly miss).
.
AzT
Ozformers
AzT
Toys"R"Us Australia
AzT
Toys"R"Us Australia on Instagram: “New Price Cuts! Now save 50-70% storewide during our Closing Down sale! Hurry in today and save on all your favourite brands and items!…”
fschuler
Keep checking…you might find some surprises as they clear out the warehouses. A couple stores near me received boatloads of some decent stuff I ended up getting at a decent discount due to the sheer volume they had received (Pacific Rim, Titans Return Grotusque, etc.). It's a bittersweet situation for sure…while it's nice to find a deal…it's sad to know that the stores are going away…
Sigmalock
I think you're right.
I subsequently went back to my local TRU, and they hadn't even increased the discount, yet most of their transformers stock was gone.
Can't say that there was a lot I was interested in to begin with, but it looks like I may have missed the boat on a couple of things.
Oh well.
fschuler
Keep your eyes peeled. A lot of the "good" stuff disappeared pretty quickly at the U.S. TRUs well before they hit the deep discount levels. So, if there's a TRU-exclusive you've been eyeing, you might want to grab it sooner rather than later.
AzT
Toys"R"Us Australia on Instagram: “FINAL DAYS TO SAVE! The end of the sale is around the corner. Don’t get left out. Hurry in today and save! All stock must go! Don’t miss…”
AzT
Sigmalock
Thanks for the update (keep us posted?)
Yeah, they have that at my local TRU.
The 40% doesn't apply to the transformers (yet); they're only reduced by 15%
Call me a cheapskate, but I think I'll wait until it's something more substantial (at least 30%).
It's just that 15% off TRU's prices doesn't translate into much of a saving (if at all) compared to other non-bankrupt retailers…
AzT
Toys"R"Us Australia on Instagram: “ALL Toys R Us and Babies R Us Stores are closing down! New reductions today! Now save up to 40% off lowest ticketed prices. Party supplies…”
griffin-of-oz
Despite the Brand disappearing from USA, Puerto Rico, England, Australia, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, it should still exist in other countries… but they probably won't operate as a united global entity for things like exclusives and promotions, as they would just end up being separate businesses that just have rights to use the same Brand name in their own country.
(unless there are more branches that need to sell off their operations soon, if they aren't deemed profitable enough without corporate support from the US entity)
RodimusSupreme
Smyth's"R"Us, maybe?
Nevermore
Toys"R"Us Austria still exists and, along with Toys"R"Us Germany and Toys"R"Us Switzerland, has recently been bought by Ireland-based toy giant Smyths, who are now the biggest toy chain in Ireland and the UK. All German, Austrian and Swiss TRU stores are planned to be rebranded as "Smyths" by next year.
RodimusSupreme
Oh of course, how could I be so silly?!
…So, basically, They give you a measly 10% off, but then refuse to take your gift cards and coupons after July 5th, refuse to take back most items, refuse to give you back your money because of their stupid policies that do nothing but steal money from you and put it right into the pocket of banks and investors, and make you have to go through this big hassle to even try to get your money back, even though it's likely a futile effort, because those banks and investors are going to make absolutely sure they get that money is their wallet, and GOD FORBID you actually get your money that you spent returned to you?…
…Yep. Cheap, greedy, money-grubbing corporate slimy scum.
griffin-of-oz
The first week of the closing down sale has Transformers at 10% off… and expect the percentage to increase every week or two like in America.
This was emailed out to people on their mailing list (like VIP members)…
On the first day of the closing down sale at the Garden City store…
Discount signs everywhere, with Transformers being given 10% off to begin with.
.
The same with Playskool (Rescue Bots).
And the Store policies have been updated today as well…
.
.
.
Of note in the new Store Policies, is that gift cards and coupons will not be accepted after July 5th (two weeks time), while you will not be able to exchange or return anything bought from now on (unless it is a faulty item), and if you want a refund from a layby or pre-order that ToysRUs can no longer fulfill, you will need to see if your bank can do a chargeback (if you paid by credit card), or go to a ToysRUs store to get a form to make a claim from the Administrators (which is unlikely to get any money back, as the banks and investors are likely to get all of the money raised from selling off the business and assets).
Also, there is no more price-matching and VIP points now either.
.
AzT
State of play: industry in flux as Toys 'R' Us shuts down
Sigmalock
Note: that's "up to" 30% off i.e. the discount on many [most?] items could be less than that