Store report: Toys "R" Us
Dresden, Germany
September - November 2017In October I moved from the West to the East of Germany. I finally got a placement at university here! Dresden is a beautiful city with nice people and an impressive history.
About 10 kilometers out of town there's a big mall and today I found out it only takes half an hour by bus to get there. And as a student I can take the public transport services with a ticket for the entire semeser. Especially on Saturdays it's horrible to go to this mall by car - so busy!
Since I live here I went to Toys "R" Us four times so far. TRU Germany by the way is not affected by the collapse of the parent company in the U.S. and Canada. The speaker of Toys "R" Us Germany said business not only stable, it's running well!
So here's what I found when I looked for a flat and some furniture in September:
September 9, 2017:The pegs were full of figures of the new TLJ series. They retail for 14,99€ (~$17.08) here in Germany. I think that's just a bad joke for a 5 POA figure...
Even figures of TFA are still hanging there - by now they're reduced up to 4,98€ (~$5.68). Also RO figures are reduced to 7,00€ (~$7.98)...
It's great to see the Titanium figures return! I especially like the packaging of the 40th Anniversary! There hasn't been much dedication to celebrate it this year...but that's already discussed in another topic. They retail for 27,99€ (~$31.90) here which I think is a tough pill to swallow...
Also Funk's POP! figures are reduced from 12,99€ to 10,00€ (~$11.40).
And there are some of Hasbro's 6" Black Series figures in 40th Anniversary packaging next to both of Toys "R" Us' current exclusive figures: Retail: 34,99€ (~$39.98).
The wave of TBS6 with #42Hera Syndulla - #48 Imperial Stormtrooper was on the shelf.
They also retail for 34,99€ (~$39.98) here.
Luke (Jedi Master) was there in most quantities by far: 9 of him - even a Stormtrooper and Thrawn were there - but I didn't buy them - they're just too expensive.
October 10, 2017:This is how the shelves looked like a month later:
New stuff had arrived and TBS6 figures had to be re-arranged to take less space on the shelf. All the more wanted figures sold by then.
The exclusive Hovertank Pilot was also gone by then same as the Vintage Death Star Trooper.
A Stormtrooper was hidden behind a Commander Gree figure (behind the first Gree on the left - you can see the two accessories of it):
A few more Commander Gree figures had arrived in the meantime...
October 21, 2017:Hasbro's first two Centerpiece Dioramas arrived and retail for 89,99€ (~$102.59).
Also TBS6 figures were reduced by 5€ to 29,98€ (~$34.17). Commander Gree was not reduced - he just stood there by accident.
TBS6 #05 Pricess Leia Organa (Slave Outfit) and #07 Greedo were still hanging there being reduced to 19,97€.
TRU also got the first wave of TBS 3 3/4" figures since they stopped being exclusive to Walmart. They had Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor -Retail: 17,99€ (~$20.50)
October 25, 2017:Four days later nothing had really changed, but I would like to take this occasion as an example for why I haven't bought Hasbro's stuff since 2015:
Talking 5POA:I am just NOT willing to pay 14,99€ (~$17.09) for an action figure of this quality and only 5 points of articulation. Seeing figures hanging on pegs for 2 years is a proof that they're just not selling well. Parents buy them because there're no other classic 3 3/4" figures available here. And kids who got into Star Wars with the release of TFA just don't know any different.
I just don't buy them - not even for 5 bucks...I nostalgically think back of the time when I started collecting in 2005 - ROTS for example was just a great line with big variety. Figures with both super-articulation and reduced articulation and higher play value were available - for a very decdent retail of $5.99!
That day I went deeper into the store. The Star Wars shelves are right at the entrance of this Toys "R" Us store here in Dresden. I was curious if there was more in the back of the store.
In the boys' toys section there were only a few more lightsabers on the pegs. So I looked at the other action toys there and this is what I found:
This set contains 10 action figures, each with 5, 7 or up to 9 POA, one vehicle and tons of accessories for just 19,99€ (~$22.79). As a child you are KING with your pocket money...and parents got the feeling that the product is worth the money they spend.
The only problem that often occurs: It's WAR TOYS...
I actually didn't really pay attention to TRUE HEROES...I guess Sentinel 1 is the current series?
The following pictures speak for themselves - there's not much more to say about it.
Here the price/performance ratio is still good! I am sure these toys are even cheaper in the U.S.!
Hasbro why can't you maintain the value of your action toys, but only raise prices for less value?!
These BIG sets retail for either 49,99€ (~$56.99), 59,99€ (~$68.39) or 24,99€ (~$28.49) and contain vehicles, action figures and accessories - toys that are found in almost every boy's room. What do we get from Hasbro for that money?
November 11, 2017:Toys "R" Us Germany is (as of now) running a 20% discount off ALL Star Wars products (except Top Deals and books). The sale was running from November 6-12, 2017.
Luckily I went online on Friday and found this promotion on toysrus.de - otherwise I would've missed it! So I took the bus to TRU on Saturday and this is what I found:
Hasbro:- TBS6 Black Series (Basic): still reduced to 29,98€ (~$34.17) - 20% discount: 23,98€ (~$27.34)
- TBS6 Centerpiece Diorama Retail: 89,99€ (~$102.59) - 20% discount: 71,99€ (~$82.07)
- TBS6 Commander Gree still sold for 34,99€ - 20% discount: 27,99€ (~$31.91)
- TBS3.75 Titanium figures for 27,99€ (~$31.90) - 20% discount: 22,39€ (~$25.52)
LEGO:Even all LEGO Star Wars sets were reduced by 20% (except Top Deals). One Top Deal for example was the Heavy Assault Walker: 109,99€ (~$125.39)
So this is what I picked up:
- TBS6 Commander Gree for 27,99€ (~$31.91) each
- TBS6 Rey (Jedi Training) and Hera Syndulla for 23,98€ (~$27.34) each
- TBS6 Greedo for 15,97€ (~$18.21)
So I got a total discount of 29,98€ (~$34.17)!
I still didn't pick up Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) due to the lack of accessories. Hasbro really created a great figure, but I won't buy it like that. I rather wait for a later TLJ repack with accessories (hopefully)...
The latest wave of TBS figures had also arrived probably when the sale started last Monday. But they were all gone today. The only proof that they were there was #53 Poe Dameron.
Best regards from Germany!
- Philipp
