Updating our continuing Toys R Us Canada coverage, there is good news for our fellow Transformers collectors in the provinces: a new website launch coinciding with Geoffrey’s Birthday Bash is scheduled for the first week of September and two new stores will open in 2020.
While the new locations are not known at this time, according to Vice-President of Marketing, Public Relations and Omni-Channel Innovation Frank Juhasz, they will not be in major markets like Toronto. These stores will be larger than the 10,000 square foot Toybox concept which debuted in late 2018, yet aligned with the smaller venue vision of outgoing President Melanie Teed-Murch who is resigning effective September 27th to start a new job.
May the new website and stores be as successful as Melanie’s future endeavors and Toys R Us Canada’s search for its new leader. Remember to join in the discussion on the 2005 boards!
Scowly Prowl
The older one was worse, IMO. Too small fonts, terrible pictures, and generally disorganized item lists, it was useful for pricing, and that's about it.
justiceg
Surprisingly, most analytics on these things indicate that the bounce rate for stuff like what you describe above is much lower than you'd think.
RKillian
How much data do they get from customers that get frustrated with the clunky interface and don't buy anything or, worse, never come back? Metrics are great and all but they're worthless if you don't measure the right ones or don't understand what they're saying.
justiceg
No, these retail executives decide they want something that allows them to measure and capture a lot of user data. Very very few large retail outlets use custom builds anymore.
SPLIT LIP
You can’t even search “Transformers” without getting a metric fuckload of unrelated shit.
RKillian
Oh look, it's the same awful Shopify theme as everybody else!
Actually, it looks like the same shovelware that GameStop just switched to, right down to the lousy filters along the left side that don't really help and infuriating lack of proper paging.
Do these retail executives have a monthly meeting and decide they're all going to hire the same low quality 3rd world body shop or what?
DesertDog
My ass they're complete. Just logged in to check the tracking on my Omega Supreme and nearly all of my account info is gone, including my order history. I can't even track it by order number. Hopefully it's temporary but I'm only giving them until noon tomorrow to get their shit together.
SPLIT LIP
And the new site sucks ass! Woohoo!
AzT
Site renovations complete Toy Store For All Your Needs | Toys R Us Canada
AzT
http://www.ToysRUs.ca
maveric002
Waiting for that TRU comeback in the States.
RNSrobot
Yeah, I grabbed one for a friend. They've only hit once. Jetfire hit once too. Hoping to find a reflector box soon.
Hoffman
They're not clinging to life, they're actually performing quite well.
BigRC83
We've seen many iconic retail stores close this decade.
VicRav
It sounds like your store at least has Wave 2. My local store is still firmly stuck on Wave 1. However about a week ago they had a couple packs of the Micromasters 10 pack, which was something new at least, but not something I am collecting.
RNSrobot
I'm happy to hear this news, i just wish hasbro's distribution wasn't so piss poor.
My Tru is FULL of siege stock. In theory that's great but it's a sea of shockwave, Soundwave, starscream, megatron, hound, prowl, chromia… They haven't really gone past wave 1 battlemasters or micromasters but they aren't selling. Walmart is a little bit ahead but the new stuff is a trickle while every store is overloaded with those firesdrives and autobot sports car patrols. I also blame the higher prices for gutting sales.
Tru doesn't live or die by transformers and other departments are certainly more important… But it's a bummer.
CautionLowSign
We are so lucky to still have TRU up here. Couldn't imagine relying only on Walmart/EB games for toys.
Wyldmaxx
Huzzah for Canada but I miss being a Toy's R Us kid in the US.
CyberDragon10K
It's nice that they're stubbornly clinging to life up here. Just wish there was more stock that I was interested in whenever I pass by. I think I've only picked up a Fire Drive on clearance for $5 CAD or so before taxes thus far…
Hypixler
I dont live in Canada, but hooray for Toys R Us!