Topic: ToysRUs and price increases (Read 4273 times)

napseeker · « **on:** January 27, 2022, 12:43:29 PM »

I thought we should start a dedicated thread to discuss the new, jaw-dropping price increases seen for toys across the board at ToysRUs.

I went to my TRU today since I had to do a return before the Jan 31st deadline. It's definitely just about every collectible toy going up in price, the Hot Wheels are now $2 each, the Voyager-class Transformers that were $40 pre-pandemic are now $50.

One interesting thing I noticed today is that the employees were jamming all the SW, Marvel and Transformers into one aisle whereas they normally occupy 3 aisles. I asked him why they were squeezing all the toys into such a tight space and he told me that TRU will now be selling books! So they are making aisle space for a LOT more books.

His boss had told him that the reason is because books are higher margin. Okay, but I'm not going into a TRU to buy books, I can go to other book stores including Amazon and get them for 50% off, so we'll see how smart that strategy is... perhaps they realize that if 6-inch figures are jumping to $43, no one will be buying much toys and they're switching over to selling books???

It feels like this new owner is just trying to replicate the Sunrise Records strategy for overcharging on collectibles and hoping collectors (suckers) will still pay these insane prices. If Walmart, Amazon and Gamestop are able to hold off on their price increases, then TRU is dead in Canada. It won't survive the pandemic. Although the owner could still make money if the business fails, by selling the land that they own for some of their stores and turning it into condos...

edit: oh, please free to join in and confirm if you are seeing the same thing happening at your local TRU (toys being squeezed into smaller spaces, to make room for books).

TRU = "Tomes" are Us

Darth Woo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2022, 01:05:41 PM »

Yeah. It's crazy. I only usually ever buy anything at TRU because it's an exclusive. I bought my Rogue One Baze from them though because for some reason, one store had him priced at $23 instead of $34 when he was first released. Even the shelf tag specifically for Baze had him for $23. They corrected that a few days later though...haha.

Canadian Jedi · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2022, 02:05:16 PM »

My thoughts were that the new ownership at TRU is increasing prices. New management is going to mean a different type of TRU store. Hopefully they be able to find a product mix that gives them the margins they need to be financially successful. But Bricks and Mortar stores are probably going to end. The next Generation of Parents are going to be more against plastic toys and the affects the production of them have on the planet. Lego is working on a new formula for the bricks that will be environmentally friendly, so if they figure it out they will be King of the Hill in terms of toys. Hasbro best policy would be to forget retail and start focusing on selling direct with multiple warehouses like Amazon has and just keep all the margins themselves. The manufactures are , excuse the pun, toying around with direct sales through Haslab and Pulse, but they need to fully commit and focus on getting supply consistently to the market. What I would like to see is Hasbro buy out Mattel and create one large Toy company and one large direct supply chain. Lego has proven that a manufacturer can have a very strong direct supply chain and a retail chain and be very successful. Lego has a strong online store, direct mall stores and retail chain and they do very well.

Eradicator · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2022, 05:03:30 PM »

I am going to make a larger effort to be really picky on my 6" figures moving forward. The price increases definitely suck. I wonder if some of it is temporary with the crazy costs manufacturers are having to pay for materials and shipping. However, like with most things once prices go up they tend to stay that way.

skywalker1973 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2022, 03:47:02 PM »

Based on everything we've seen since POTF-95, prices have always, usually gradually, increased over time. I shudder to imagine but it's almost inevitable the day these 2022 prices will seem reasonable or even sound like a bargain, compared to pricing we'll be seeing 2 to 3 years from now.

That's assuming the pricing doesn't kill the Hasbro side of the hobby altogether but i think it will carry on. More likely Hasbro just make their releases more limited, less frequent and more expensive for the collectors who haven't tapped out or narrowed their focus to a minimal subset of what's being offered. $50 standard black series and $35 standard vintage collection figures, coming soon to a preorder near you.

Darth Woo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2022, 04:24:45 PM »

Seems to be a Hasbro thing. I collect Power Rangers Lightning Collection and those went up to $36.99 as well.

However, the MOTU stuff seems to have stayed at the same price though and those are from Mattel

Wedge1021 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2022, 09:35:25 PM »

Quote from: Darth Woo on February 08, 2022, 04:24:45 PM

Seems to be a Hasbro thing. I collect Power Rangers Lightning Collection and those went up to $36.99 as well.

However, the MOTU stuff seems to have stayed at the same price though and those are from Mattel

I thought that too at first, so I thought to check some other things. One company that you can always count on to have consistent pricing across their retail partners as well as their own website is Lego. So I checked and sure enough, TRU's prices were about 5% up from the MSRP. That was a couple weeks ago. They seem to have been adjusted again, to be only $1 above MSRP for most sets, though a few of the pricier sets are more than that.

General Brashin · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2022, 08:38:49 PM »

Last Thursday the local TRU put out 6 BS Force FX Elite Darksabers priced at 459.99 which is 60 more than what Gamestop is asking so I thought good luck selling them but when I checked today there was only 1 left.

There is supposedly at least one Darksaber available at a local Gamestop although I did not check directly to verify.

skywalker1973 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2022, 11:20:44 PM »

Yeesh, people really need to shop around even just a little if those darksabers went for $460. When I bought one mid December it was $323 at walmart.ca and even now it's $380 over there. I know even $323 is alot of money but $460 is ridiculous.

Ookk · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2022, 12:02:50 PM »

The TRU website has the Credit Collection Greef Karga up... for 49.99!!!

old man ben · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2022, 12:53:41 PM »

OUCH!

Darth Woo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2022, 01:09:07 PM »

Quote from: Ookk on February 17, 2022, 12:02:50 PM

The TRU website has the Credit Collection Greef Karga up... for 49.99!!!

Yeah, just saw that...haha.

napseeker · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2022, 01:11:13 PM »

When an obvious pegwarmer (Greef) is going for $50 and a lazily-repainted wookie figure is being sold for $43, you know someone in corporate has completely lost touch with the customer base...

Then again, Hasbro knows that these high prices will cost them sales according to this article:

https://toynewsi.com/278-41796

Darth Cujo · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2022, 03:13:51 PM »

I know I'm buying less, or even importing from US retailers. Even with goofy shipping from the US it is becoming cheaper to import since the prices aren't going up as quickly there than at TRU. or I'll try and order from canadian specialty shops.

Problem with small specialty shops is paying up front. With these beyond ridiculous pre-order windows, they are asking us to tie up money for a year. And at that point if the business goes under we have no recourse with our credit card companies. At least if I preorder from a US shop, I can cancel 9 months later and don't need to worry about asking for money back.

napseeker · « **Reply #14 on:** April 19, 2022, 02:19:46 PM »

Another price hike from Hasbro coming mid-year, what a shocker!!!

https://torontosun.com/business/money-news/hasbro-plans-to-further-hike-prices-of-toys-warns-of-100m-russia-hit

Just how much more does Hasbro think they can push toy collectors? They're going to drive the small local comic shops and toy retailers out of business since people are going to cut back. It's unsustainable. Hasbro wants to maintain its profits so the CEO and the board can get rich off their stock options, but the ones who are paying for their payday are the customers.

(credit to sixshot1981 for pointing out the article)

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