Toys R Us downplaying Pokemon's successes

[ShadowCard]

At the most recent league meeting, a parent told me that Toys R Us stores in the area are downplaying Pokemon's popularity spike. Dispite it being the fastest growing tcg now, as shown at US Nationals, and being #3 in Lycos most searched terms (reported by Pojo.com), parents tell me that Toys R Us is giving away boxes of Pokemon product as if it has no value.
I have also noticed that Toys R Us has had a continuing poor supply of Pokemon products, especially tcg (I get most of my stuff at Target now). What they have is always a couple sets behind the most current. Target, which always has the most recent stuff, is actually having issues in keeping the stock on the shelves while they are overflowing with yugioh and other tcgs.

I am aware that Toys R Us are required to host Yugioh leagues and any other leage that wants to be located at Toys R Us has to run coinciding with the time of the Yugioh league (at least in my area).

Has anyone else noticed this or is it just in my area?

[ShadowCard]

Originally Posted by Venusaur

That sounds bad
But I could use those boxes of Pokemon product

well, not whole boxes. more like boxes full of cards to pick through.

[Metal Master]

Hmm.....yeah, TRU is not the best place to buy packs. I was there the other night, and here's what I found...

They had packs TRR-UF for $4.00.
They had just stocked up recently.
They had TRR and EM Starter Decks.

Has anyone else ever seen the rectangular boxes of cards for $20? When I wasn't playing and just collected(just imagine a 10 year old's collection, when they have little funds), I would get these boxes for Christmas. Inside, they had a starter deck(usually Jungle or Fossil), and about 6 packs. They also added one Japanese one later on, and some of the cards of pokemon(the ones you would move and they would evolve or devolve, they were squarish).

So yeah, Target I've heard is better, but I rarely go there.

[Holy Star]

Originally Posted by Metal Master

Hmm.....yeah, TRU is not the best place to buy packs. I was there the other night, and here's what I found...

They had packs TRR-UF for $4.00.
They had just stocked up recently.
They had TRR and EM Starter Decks.

Has anyone else ever seen the rectangular boxes of cards for $20? When I wasn't playing and just collected(just imagine a 10 year old's collection, when they have little funds), I would get these boxes for Christmas. Inside, they had a starter deck(usually Jungle or Fossil), and about 6 packs. They also added one Japanese one later on, and some of the cards of pokemon(the ones you would move and they would evolve or devolve, they were squarish).

So yeah, Target I've heard is better, but I rarely go there.

I believe they were called Action-Flipz.

And I remember the time I bought a Neo Destiny "Dark" theme deck, and got the box that the theme decks were packaged in. I haven't been to Toys R Us in ages, so I don't know what they sell nowadays. Sounds bad.

There's a CVS around where I live that still sells Ex: Dragon.

[Burninating_Torchic]

its not just toys R us. The majority of places that sell cards(other then specialty shops), I've found, are behind on sets and/or have little quantity. This includes target, gamestop, etc.
Yet they all seem to be up to date on and have tons of Yugioh packs.
When will they learn that Yugioh is becoming less popular and Pokemon is becoming more popular? Tsk, tsk.

[Joe2Cool]

I've noticed most major stores (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Gamestop, EB Games, etc.) are having at least HL - on card packs on sale... usually they're all $3.99 and up. I went to Toys-R-Us once (Just to see what they're selling now) a few weeks ago... and I saw NO TCG game cards of ANY there!! I was all... um... ok. I asked the lady where they were all at and she told me that they were in the back. Toys-R-Us was planning on "downgrading" their store there.

IMO - Poor choice of item to downgrade.

[raikou33]

I never get any of my cards at Toys R Us they are always so over priced and they never have a big selection of packs to choose from. I always get them at walmart or gaming stores, so far those are the cheapest places i see them.

[Angry_Altaria]

At Toys R Us, they were selling a whole big box of packs, but old packs. Some of them were in a different language, and the cover art for it was fake Pokemon.

[Feraligatr]

ShadowCard that is specific to the area. I have seen a similar situation in Cary, NC but just saw the reverse in Charleston, SC where the events coordinator welcomed our league with open arms. Also they have a good selection of Pokemon product there. in Cary, NC it is similar to your area where they generally have very little product.

[shiny squirtle]

Yeah this is becoming annoying. Like a year ago they were pretty up to date on cards and sometimes had events at my local one. Now they rarely have new sets and no events.

[Flaming_Spinach]

At a store I went to a week ago (I think it was Walmart, but I don't really remember), they only had a small selection of Pokemon packs. There were some Fossil packs, some Neo-Genesis packs, and about 50 Gym-Heros packs. After closer inspection, I uncovered a total of 3 packs that were from RS-forward; they were all from Sandstorm. Interesting.

I think it's sad how most stores are stocking up on more and more Yugioh, while Yugioh is falling in popularity and Pokemon is rising.

[Shukuen Shinobi]

While it takes longer for TRUs around here to get stock in, my TRU is pretty up to date on things, untill they run out, then it seems to take forever to get them back in.

Target on the other hand is great. I know when a shipment just came in, as packs fill the shelves, but when they're gone, Yugioh is still hanging there, unbought, along with Teen Titans, Kids Next Door, and Digimon.

I don't even look at the cards at Gamestop anymore, haven't been to a K-mart in a while. Wal-mart's usually pretty decent with their selection too.

It's pretty much just the area of where you live.

TRUs Pokemon items suck regardless, especially with the toys, Target just got a bunch of the new stuff, while TRU is still trying to sell those 2 packs, which now turned into a 4 pack Mega Deal. Way to go TRU.

[SomethingElse]

I can't even remember the last time i've gone to Toys R Us, but their prices are always way too high imo, that's why packs aren't sellin for em

[UzumakiNaruto]

Like to add on to Shukuen's comment about TRU they still are trying to sell Shining Tyred face powder and Johto stuff. I mean we've missed like 2 waves of Pokémon Toys here in Michigan. When Shukuen, InfestedTassadar, and I went to NYC we went to a Wal-Mart in Bufflo NY and they had Wave 2,3 of the Action Figures and yet we didn't have them. We just got the Deoxys Toys Finally and at Target. The 5 Targets by me always have the newest Card sets and usually at $3.29-$3.49. They've always been good with there stock of TCG TRU now sells them for $3.99 a pack and doesn't have the newest ones! I usually go to Target to get my Cards or Meijers. But I've again only seen Target with the newest wave of Action Figures.

[DarkLordSigma]

I too wish popular game stores would reflect Pokemon's revitilization. The two monster games from my area are MTG and YGO, and every store that sells cards sells ONLY those two games. The only store left in the area that keeps up with recent sets is Wal-Mart. Fortunately, they keep packs at $3.27, and their deck tins just went on sale for less than $5 each!

But, despite all this, it still has stamped out my attempts to get my league under way. I've found one local player who hasn't played since the Neo-on days. I havn't found a single player who's up-to-date with current sets and formats, and every attempt to attract new players has failed.

[Rulemaster]

Toys R Us has always had a negative attitude towards Pokemon. They had poorly run leagues back in the day(fossil, team rocket, etc). I wouldn't rely on Toys R US for anything besides video games(which is where I reserved pokemon XD and got the gamecube skins).

[ryanvergel]

It's sad because pokemon has consistency, it's been in the game for a long time, it's very obvious it has a strong base that won't die any time soon. Companies usually go for consistency, guaranteed sales are a GOOD thing, and they should honor their buyers who will consistently buy product, but TRU and other places simply don't act that way.

I think Delta is going to boost everything up even more, this set looks ridiculously fun and exciting.

[Snowball21]

Ok...let's settle this...

First off...I WORK at TRU as a part time job during school. As far as giving away packs, nothing of the sort has happened at mine over the last yr. And if it isn't already know, they only sell blister packs of Pokemon cards(sportscards can be different).

TRU only runs leagues if the company backs them, hence why all run Yu-Gi-Oh leagues. If Nintendo sends them materails, and I presumes pushes for a promotional day or even a full time league, only then will TRU run a Pokemon League; trust me, I have been trying forever.

And as far as going out of business, not gonna happen. TRU's 4Q earnings keep the company going.

[Water Pokemon Master]

Let's go talk to TRUK. Maybe he will know what to do. :o

At my TRU, they sell packs the same prices as everywhere else and have the same stuff. I rarely go to TRU, though, since Target is way closer and that is where my mom always goes anyways.

[Snowball21]

No doubt about it, TRU is expensive on packs. From the MANY TRUs I have been to, I have only seen Pokemon Packs for 3.99; ICK.

[Water Pokemon Master]

That's weird. In all of the TRUs I have been to (a TOOOOON for league), they have always been $3.29.

[ColdFire64]

Toys R US is HORRIBLE these days, and it never used to be this bad. When the Pokemon TCG first came out in the states around 8 years ago, I got into the game at my local Toys R US store since I heard from a friend of mine that they were running leagues there every Saturday morning. I've obviously been playing the game ever since, and back then there were about 90 players at that league. Good old WoTC days right?? Eh.......

Anyways the store that was holding our awesome league at the time ended up closing 5 years ago due to a 10 year project to tear down the local mall and surrounding stores to turn it into a "downtown" area with a movie theatre, shops, condos/living quarters, etc. So 5 years ago, most of who still played the TCG that had methods of transportation to drive to another Toys R US 20 minutes away from us ended up going there. However, even 5 years ago, the signs were bad at this other store. They ended up closing off their break room that they let everyone use and instead grouped everyone together right in the middle of the store entrance in a tight area with no tables or chairs which forced us all to sit on the floor while incoming/outgoing customers trampled over all of us and our cards. The store then announced that Toys R US has broken deals/ties with WoTC and also announced that leagues would no longer be in session.

There were still a few of us from the other league that we've now known eachother for over 2 years, and decided to exchange phone numbers and decided to meet up once a week at a given time to continue to play Pokemon at a very popular game store that had a venue space with tables and chairs to have a capacity of 300 people. The few of us kept meeting up for another year and then got tired of this certain store not carrying enough Pokemon products anymore, including booster packs! So one of the guys that I met up with ended up starting our own league that he could run closer to where we all lived, and this league is currently the league I am operating today ever since I took it over 14 months ago due to the "league founder"'s own business starting to boom and got too busy to keep showing up.

Back on topic, sorry... Even a year ago, POP and Nintendo announced that Toys R US was doing some kind of Pokemon TCG event, where they were going to be having demos for the game. I figured I'd go down there and help demo the game and advertise my league at the same time. This event made me think that Toys R US was starting to run a league of their own again, and went down to the horrible store I once attended league at over 3 years ago, and was angry when I walked into the door and the employees didn't know what I was talking about. There was also a Yu-Gi-Oh league that was going on, and this store was still making people, including parents, sit on the floor. The person running the Yu-Gi-Oh league had the box Nintendo sent them that contained starter kits, picture frames for the 4 promos, etc. I was the only person there that showed up to play Pokemon. The employee there said she was just gonna give me the box of stuff since no one else showed up. I ended up taking the box to my league and used it for prize support at my league and tournaments.

After such another horrible experience at Toys R US I vowed never to go back there again. Even when I went there to help demo the game last year, they didn't have a good selection of Pokemon products in general. I happily and proudly do my business with Target, since they have the best selection of Pokemon products, and since their stores are big, clean, and have friendly staff. If anyone who is thinking about running a league at a big corporation, Target would be the number one choice I would pick. I already have one league of my own and don't really have the time to start up another, but recommend starting a league at your local Super Target (or regular Target) center if any of you are having difficulties finding the venue space to run a league of your own....

Toys R US sucks!!!

[Snowball21]

ColdFire64 - I really don't think it is fair to say that because of one experience.

Here is how the leagues are run for Yu-Gi-Oh. Upper decks sends a sheet on what to do. They have no explanation on how to even play the game, and presume that everyone that shows up knows what they are doing. Basically, the sheet tells you about giving out prize support and about email results of attendence. Not to mention it usually takes 5 weeks to get in league materials, so if they don't send enough the first time, then you will have a very short supply for the upcoming weeks.

TRU, like any store should, makes parents stay with their kids for liabilities issues. Not having enough chairs for parents though is rediculous on TRU's part.

Overall, I am just trying to say don't blame TRU for having poorly run events when they do have them. It's mainly the distributors fault for not leaving information on how to run things to someone who isn't informed on how to run a league/event.

Target is probably the best place to buy Pokemon cards, unless Walmart puts a new set out early as usually; LOL. TRU in no means is a place I buy cards, even with my discount because it is just too expensive.

[FireFighter095ReBorn]

last time i was in toysrus i looked over the pokemon product and they were $4 a pack which was a rip off but then i looked back to see my leauge store sell it for $4.32 which is a little more expensive. I see they dont support pokemon much anymore and thats why i only buy pokemon toys from toysrus. Ill get my cards from a dealer where i run our pokemon leauge because i know he backs the game 100%

[ColdFire64]

Originally Posted by Snowball21

ColdFire64 - I really don't think it is fair to say that because of one experience.

It was more than one experience, I just talked about the most recent experience because my post was getting pretty long as it was.

Let me put it more specific this way:

Ever since we all ended up going to this certain TRU location after our TRU store closed, we had a bad experience each week. Here's a few things to give you the idea:

---The LL was different each week, and there were many timess when we had no LL show up at all to hand badges out which made it a bad experience.

---When you make all the parents and kids sit on the floor with NO TABLES or CHAIRS, then that alone is a bad experience.

---When people don't know what they are doing when it comes to running an event, that makes it a bad experience.

So I guess since we had a bad experience each week at this other store location, it IS fair for me to say: "Toys R US sucks!!!"

I just kept going back each week because I love this game to much to throw it away and quit. Maybe that's my problem along with many others these days. Most of us were willing to put up with a crappy playing environment such as TRU for so long, just because we wanted to get some games in. That was back when I was much younger and was dumb enough to put up with that place. I've aged much since then, and now I don't take crap from anybody, especially from big and stupid bully corporations such as Toys R US.

They don't even care about their customers or their employees! I know people who used to work for TRU and had to put up with a lot of crap, and the employee discounts are terrible from what these people have told me! It amazes me that people can afford to spend outrageous amounts of money on products there that are much cheaper elsewhere. Heck, even Pokemon TCG boosters are $2.50 at most card shops!

Originally Posted by FireFighter095ReBorn

I see they dont support pokemon much anymore and thats why i only buy pokemon toys from toysrus. Ill get my cards from a dealer where i run our pokemon leauge because i know he backs the game 100%

I haven't seen much of any Pokemon product in general at TRU for a LONG time. I'm suprised you say your TRU store still sells such product. I'm glad to see you say that you support your league store, since they do technically have to pay for your venue space, which is why I encourage as many people as possible to purchase cards at your local league. Some leagues don't sell TCG product since they are operated at Libraries, YMCA, etc. However if you are gonna buy toys, do so at Target. They have a much better selection on Pokemon toys than TRU, and have better prices to top it off!