[Tacis]

Sorry, I NEVER read ANYTHING written by or attributed to a person named "Fonda."

[graycamel]

The "R" in Toys "R" us should be backwards. Can't they find a font that takes care of that problem?

[eno_]

"The Geoffrey stores are flat-out fun — and it's not clear if going to Wal-Mart or Target is fun." So far, the concept seems to be working.

That sounds desperate. If Legos or a GBA game costs a buck less at Wal Mart, guess where I will buy it.

There will be nothing between Wal Mart and boutique shops that sell high end toys like Rokenbok.

[Trust but Verify]

People should not shop at WalMart, period. Once they drive out all competition, look out. Now we see that not only are they impacting food stores, hardware stores, now we see they are trying to drive toys R Us out of business.

What's funniest about this article, however, is the decription of Fond du lac as a 'lakeside resort town'. NOT.

[shuckmaster]

The best Wal-Mart's competitors can hope for this season is that they'll get some of the spillover from Wally World's over packed parking lots...

[Howie66]

Neither Walmart nor Target get a dime of income from me. Not now, not ever.

[ReformedBeckite]

If toys R us and other stores like it is to stay in business they will have to forget about maintaining profit margins through high prices. They got to start thinking of maintaining profit margins by moving large volumes of stuff not by a price ratio. My guess will be toy R us will be history soon. Gimmicks just won't cut it. Just Low prices, not discount cards. double coupon days etc. Low prices is what will keep you in business.

[upchuck]

You linked to the printer friendly version of the article. We DSL/cablemodem impaired FReepers say, "Thank You!!"

[Scenic Sounds]

Did you ever figure out how much Wal-Mart stole from you in that fraudulent "gift card" scheme they were perpetrating on the public?

[Aquinasfan]

and it's not clear if going to Wal-Mart or Target is fun.

No, it's not. And stuff isn't always in stock.

Every Sunday I take my two little girls to the McDonald's play-land and buy a cup of coffee and two juices. That's $4/week more than I usually spend at McDonald's, so maybe this can work.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Toys R Us needs to get its act together. Last Christmas I went looking for a set of "Rook" card. Toys R Us not only didn't have it but they also told me that they couldn't get it for me. I finally found it at Wal-Mart.

I put up with awful service for cheap prices but I am not putting up with awful service for high prices.

[DLfromthedesert]

I don't know if Wal-Mart has stolen Christmas, but if the shoppers I've seen on the News are a representation, the Christmas Spirit certainly needs some tending to.

[Richard Kimball]

Oh, is this the same Toys R Us that said they would pull their toy store out of Times Square if the NRA was allowed to put a store in? Makes me cry.

[tubebender]

The new shop, Geoffrey, named for the company's mascot giraffe, is a multihued, airy warehouse...

With a name like Geoffrey this business is DOA. DUMB DUMB DUMB...

[Old Professer]

Chuck-E-Cheese

[ETERNAL WARMING]

With American wages at an all time low in real terms, I expect Walmart will be the winner. Americans hate their products, but that's what they can afford.

[Xenalyte]

They may not realize it, but the good folks of Fond du Lac, Wis., are participating in a high-stakes shopping experiment courtesy of Toys "R" Us.

What are the apostrophes around the R supposed to signify? The company doesn't do that.

[SamAdams76]

I think Toys R Us is a horrible place for toys. I remember going in there looking for gift for my two sons and would walk about empty-handed almost every time. Nothing but cheap, plastic junk. And the aisles were so narrow and clogged that it was not fun even being in there.

I liked getting my sons things they could build with like erector sets and Legos and those "snap-on" things like "Konnex." One year I got a roller-coaster kit from Konnex that had about 5,000 pieces you had to snap together. That kept my son occupied for weeks. Never find that stuff at Toys R Us. I also got them a Lionel model train set that I had to go to a specialty store for. Forget about finding that in Toys R Us. But if you like getting your kids dart guns with foam darts that last about 20 minutes before they snap and break, or if you like getting your kids a remote controlled car that comes with a battery that lasts about an hour and then you have to stick it in the wall for 12 hours to charge again, then Toys R Us might be the place for you.

[discostu]

Oooh, dueling big box stores. Kind of funny actually. I love how everybody blames WalMart for being smart at business, that's like blaming the lion for being a meat eater people.