Toys R Us liquidation sales begin in metro area
Toys R Us kicked off going-out-of-business sales across the nation Thursday, and shoppers in Oklahoma City turned out to take advantage of discounted merchandise.
The company recently announced plans to sell or close all its U.S. stores, with hundreds of Toys R Us and Babies R Us locations scheduled to close in the coming months. Shoppers at the 2121 NW 138 Street Toys R Us expressed disappointment over the store’s closing.
“It’s sad,” Brenda Culp said. “A lot of times you can’t find stuff at other stores.”
Culp was shopping for her grandchildren Friday during the sale. She sought the popular board game Candy Land, but had been unable to locate it until visiting Toys R Us.
“Candy Land,” Culp said. “You’d think you could find it everywhere.”
Many prices in-store are reduced, but shoppers will have to wait for online discounts. Toys R Us has said in court filings that it is hoping to find a buyer for its e-commerce operations, which means it is likely to hold off on selling off online inventory right away, according to bankruptcy lawyers.
Initial discounts at the store locations range, with many beginning about 10 percent, but customers can expect those discounts to deepen in coming weeks. The company expects to finish liquidating its stores by the end of June, according to court documents, although some locations may close sooner than that. Store furniture and fixtures are also likely to be up for sale.
Shoppers looking for something specific should visit sooner rather than later. Toys R Us isn’t restocking its stores anymore, and a number of vendors say they cut ties with the company weeks, if not months, ago.
All sales are final at the stores. Toys R Us and Babies R Us are accepting gift cards and e-gift cards for another 30 days, but will no longer accept coupons.
Beyond the sales and legal proceedings, some shoppers feel a sentimental loss associated with the store closings.
“It’s been around since we were kids,” Kyli Fitzgerald said. “It’s sad to see it go.”