Toys r Us

[tommac]

Man ... so I buy my son a bike for christmas ( from Toys r us) . Today I open up the box and go to put it together. Firstly they didnt provide the star tool that you need for the handlebars + the seat is the wrong seat, it is missing a pad + the back mudguard is bent so that it rubs against the tire.

I call up toysrus and they put me on hold. After about 10 minutes they told me that nobody is in the bike section. I ask to talk to the manager and then they tell me that the manager is too busy to come to the phone .... OK ... this is christmas eve store is busy ... but I figured it would be less time consuming for them then for me to come into the store.

Well I get into the store they want to exchange the bike for the store model which was all beat up and give me $10. I didnt want that. Then they told me that they would take the parts from the old bike and put it on. Again I didnt feel that this was a new bike then ... but they said that they would not give any discount.

After a while i realized that i was not talking to the manager of the store.
I got frustated and told them to keep the bike. i went to the local bike store and bought it. I think the quality is better and it was new and fully assembled.

I noticed that all of the toys at toysrus are mostly junk. I mean cheap plasitc toys made in china. I also didnt think that 90% of the stuff at toys r us would keep the attention of children for more than an hour.

Just a general bad experience at toys r us.

[captain swoop]

I like Toys R Us, they have a good range of Lego, Masses of Scalextric (including the new digital control system), a full range of Dr Who, Star Wars and Primeval merchandise and Harry Potter costumes.

I wouldn't dream of buying a bike there though. I do some serious Mountain Biking and I always go Here (http://www.bikescene.co.uk/) It's just round the corner.

[Buttercup]

Sorry to know it.

We don't have children. Regarding this:

I also didnt think that 90% of the stuff at toys r us would keep the attention of children for more than an hour.

Again, I don't have children, but I often hear parents say things like "it's the simple things they want to play with/get into" - like pots & pans, etc. It's that way with the cat; buy her something, nope. She'd rather bat around a twist-tie or jump/attack a plastic cap. :rolleyes:

Of course I understand a bicycle is different. Not exactly "a toy," imo.

I hope your holiday is very good despite the frustration......

[captain swoop]

Most toys are designed to catch the parents. I know I love Scalextric (http://www.scalextric.com/) and now my sone is old enough we have a big track lol.

Now it uses the same DCC chips and control as the model railways you can have cars switching lanes and even several on the same lane and still have control. So we get proper pit stops, racing lines and overtaking.

[PetersCreek]

I used to be a bicycling enthusiast years ago...both road and mountain biking...and even worked in a bicycle shop for a couple of years to fund my hobby. Bicycles from toy and department stores were our bread and butter.

Folks brought 'em to us brand new because they couldn't assemble or adjust them properly...and to be fair, it wasn't always their fault. Junk bicycles can be a real pain to work with. Then, a few weeks or months later, we'd see 'em again when something broke. I had even waited on some of those folks in the shop before, when they were doing their bicycle shopping. They'd decided our prices were too high and went for the "bargains" at the big box stores only to pay us later for our services. I incorporated those lessons into my sales approach. Sure, you can save some money on a bicycle today...and we'll be happy to fix it for you when it breaks.

[captain swoop]

It's the old 'You get what you pay for'

I am lucky in having one of the best Mountain Bike shops in the North of England a few hundred yards away. WHen it comes to the hight end stuff they are as competative as anyone and their setups are great. It helps when you regularly cycle with their staff up inthe forests behind the town.

[tommac]

I bought from here:

http://jayscyclecenter.com/

The service was great and I almost walked out with a bicycle for my wife also. I would highly recommend them.

[tommac]

Most toys are designed to catch the parents. I know I love Scalextric (http://www.scalextric.com/) and now my sone is old enough we have a big track lol.

Now it uses the same DCC chips and control as the model railways you can have cars switching lanes and even several on the same lane and still have control. So we get proper pit stops, racing lines and overtaking.

what age range are those good for. I used to love racing cars when I was young. I wasnt sure the kids now adays were still into it.

[mugaliens]

I'm sorry to hear that, Tommac!

I'd take it back, then take your son to Wal-Mart, where they do have a decent selection of decent bikes for kids, give him a price limit, and let him select (with some guidance from you) his bike.

I think that would go a long way towards repairing any hurt feelings of his while giving him a sense of ownership about the experience.

Plus - it let's him know, in a way that's real to him, that you care! And that, my friend, is priceless

[chrissy]

what age range are those good for. I used to love racing cars when I was young. I wasnt sure the kids now adays were still into it.

They are good for 4years old - any age.

A link for you Scalextric (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalextric) I love it too, such fun.

[captain swoop]

Any age can play Scalextric, I linked to the manufacturers site. There are SLot Racing Clubs in the UK with big perm tracks up to 8 lanes wide that replicate real circuits. Some of the fanatics evn used to wind their own motor armatures and such to get the best profmance.

[Neverfly]

Toys R Us seem to be losing their market.

With stores like Walmart selling better toys, at low prices- as well as it being one stop shopping... Toys R Us has tough competition. Being specialized and all...
As time has past, Toys R Us has become like K Mart. Quality keeps dropping as they try to salvage profits and customer care is slipping. Additionally, many stores I have visited in the last few years were messy and unkempt.

[Nicolas]

Some of the fanatics evn used to wind their own motor armatures


I've read in another thread that Sherlock Holmes also did this ;)

[captain swoop]

Toys R Us in the UK doesn't stock any of its own lines as far as I can see. I guess the market is different in the UK

[davidlpf]

Toys R Us seem to be losing their market.

With stores like Walmart selling better toys, at low prices- as well as it being one stop shopping... Toys R Us has tough competition. Being specialized and all...
As time has past, Toys R Us has become like K Mart. Quality keeps dropping as they try to salvage profits and customer care is slipping. Additionally, many stores I have visited in the last few years were messy and unkempt.
Well I always thought the toy selection at Walmart kind of limited. But in Fredericton the Toy R Us is the same mall as Walmart so it one stop shoppin too. Also Toy R Us is located right next to the Chapters bookstore so I will probably be headed that way anyway.