My TRU is closing! WAAAAH!

[GameSlaveGaz]

Some of you may or may not know that Toys R Us is planning on closing 73 locations across the nation. As for Massachusetts (my homeland) there are 3. For a while, I knew from my boss that Cambridge was a definite and did not think for a second that my store, Medford, would be closing. BUT...alas, when I went to pick up my check Friday I was treated to a meeting where our District Manager announced that our store would be closing on or before February 28. I almost screamed "WHAT THE FUCK?!!" becuase Medford is one of the best stores in the district. But I guess we're just not good enough. For all Massachusetts residents and TRU regulars, the closing stores are Medford, Cambridge and South Bay, which wipes out all business in that general area and leaves Woburn, Dedham, and Peabody which are out of the way for most people. I have been saying this for a long time and this further proves it: corporate is purposely running TRU into the ground little by little. I would not be surprised if the company goes under by the end of the decade.
So, if any Massholes (it's OK, I can say it, I'm one too) here are near the Medford, Cambridge or South Bay Toys R Us-es, enjoy liquidation prices. Right now we're at 10% but you know it's going to go higher. Just remember all sales are final. No exchanges PERIOD.
Now, I could opt to be transferred to another TRU, but I am not in the mood to commute to Peabody, Woburn or Dedham 5-6 days a week. And that's a bummer cuz I've been with the company for 4 years and am making a pretty good hourly rate for a part-time cashier. Instead, I have a 90% chance of getting a position at my boyfriend's GameStop, which is just as close to home as TRU. His boss has been begging me to come work for him for almost a year, and now I can take him up on that offer. The only thing stopping me would be if he doesn't have enough hours to put me on. Honestly, I would rather work there than stay w/TRU, because it's strictly video games, and there are a lot more staff there that know what I know or even more about video games unlike the clueless people they'd throw in the RZone to cover a shift.

Well, I'm off to enjoy (note sarcasm) my remaining month and a half of employment with Toys R Us.
I'm hoping some good games are still around when we really hit the big markdowns!

[mikeetler]

I have been saying this for a long time and this further proves it: corporate is purposely running TRU into the ground little by little. I would not be surprised if the company goes under by the end of the decade.

You do realize that's pretty much the idea, right? Once the sale to KKR, Bain Capital & Vernado went through it was obvious what the future was. KKR has been doing this for decades and with an equity firm and real estate developer on board, what would you expect the future of the company to be?

-Mike

[erehwon]

CAG (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80660) has a thread on this with a list of stores they've found to be closing.
It's sad this is happening. I've gotten so good deals from TRU. I hope things go well for the OP.

[joshnickerson]

Sorry to hear about that Gaz. I hope the job at GS goes through.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

but I am not in the mood to commute to Peabody, Woburn or Dedham 5-6 days a week. And that's a bummer cuz I've been with the company for 4 years and am making a pretty good hourly rate for a part-time cashier.

Why don't you see if you could transfer over to the Natick store? It's only about 30 minutes away from Brookline and Dedham.

Anyways, it's too bad they're closing your store and that you're going to lose your job because of it.. though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in buying liquidated games.

[GameSlaveGaz]

Now I'm torn.

If I go to GameStop, they can't pay me what I'm currently earning at TRU ($8.65, which may not look like much but considering I'm technically just a cashier...) I have to start back at minimum wage.

So...I could try to get transferred to another Toys R Us. BUT consider that 3 stores are closing, that could be a lot of people to relocate. Then again, a LOT of my co-workers aren't getting transferred. It might be the same w/the other 2 locations.

BUT do I want to stay w/a company that's slowly but surely going down the shithole?? I mean, I'm only staying in retail until I get my degree and that's no more than another 2 years, so wherever I go it doesn't matter much.

I mean, I'm pretty sick of Toys R Us and the RZone. We get shit for stock compared to other companies. I'm tired of trying to defend my gay-ass inventory. But I have been with them for four years and I'll have to suffer an almost $2 paycut if I go to GameStop.

BUT!!! I already know all the guys at GameStop really well cuz of my boyfriend and we get along very well and it's a much better working atmosphere than at TRU. I was always so stressed out at TRU cuz we didn't have enough RZone-exclusive staff, so they'd throw random people in there to cover a shift and games wouldn't get restocked, the aisles wouldn't be alphabetized, and customers would be disappointed because questions wouldn't be answered. And me being incredible anal retentive and obsessive compulsive and a control freak and perfectionist believed it was up to me to correct everything. So I was constantly putting the entire weight of the RZone on my shoulders. It's amazing I have not been fired in the past 3 holiday shopping Seasons due to breakdowns and outbursts. At GameStop, nearly everyone there knows A LOT about video games, firsthand too. There are a couple girls there that are ditzy but they've caught on. And it's a really tightly-run ship. I have a feeling I will have less anxiety in that store than in Toys R Us. I've seen the other stores' RZones. I would have to do a complete overhaul as soon as I got there (and then have to deal with people who've been there for years bitch that "that's now how we do things here") just to be happy.

And the big thing is commuting. From Medford, every other location is at least 20-30 minutes commute. Think of how much time taken out of my day (where I need it to practice and do homework), how much money spent on gas, and the fact that my Grand Prix has been beaten to death and barely makes it up 93 on a good day. And GameStop is 3 minutes from my house, an astounding 2 minutes less of a commute than to TRU Medford LOL.

So, get sucked into staying with this bastard company another couple years and be stuck commuting 5 days a week for the bigger hourly rate or suck it up, take the $6.75 or $7 an hour, stay close to home, work with a better company, a better group of people and my boyfriend?

Right now I'm leaning towards GameStop, despite the paycut and some other sucky things like no time-and-a-half on Sundays, but I still dunno for sure. But, the position at GameStop is guaranteed, so it's not something I have to take or leave, so I have a little more than a month to decide.

But for now, I must be off to my boyfriend and his brother's band's practice. But first, I gotta get this kitten off my lap (at least he's not sitting on the mouse again)

LOL

[AKay]

I say go where you are happy. But also look at where you wanna be in 2 years. Your going to be done with school.
I used to work at TRU's corporate offices in Paramus and still have some fam that works there and to me it sucked azz and TRU sux azz. They have been very poorly ran for the past 10 years. So that throws out a career at TRU.
I would take the gamespot job it isnt permanent and you have much more going for you. and while at gamespot i would take my time since i have a job and look for a better job that will give you added experience in whatever field you are studying.
That way in 2 years upon graduation you have experience to go along with that degree and can land a Career type job.
Just some sound advice hit me up with a PM if you wanna chat more dont wanna bore the folks on here!
AKay