Toy's 'R' Us Frustrations

Which Kmart were you at? I have returned two different things in the past few weeks, at the Kmart on E.10th. The customer service gal has been very rude, not even greeting the customer and has little interaction at all. What has happened to customer service??? As far as toysrus goes, I was there a couple weeks ago, and had to wait nearly 15 minutes for someone to come with a ladder to get a toy down from the top shelves. I could have taken something that was already down, but all the boxes were damaged. I wanted an undamaged item.
1st time mommy to our "princess"

I was on the W side kmart.

We were on a pre-sale list for the X-box 360 when it came out a few years ago. We were number 3 on the list to get one. They said they would call the people on the list, as the systems came in. And the first shipment would be 5 systems. The systems came-NO call. Someone at Toys R Us, had started another list, because they had misplaced the first list. Seriously. Anyhow, I am not one for taking crap...so, since the store was unable to help me, I called their corporate offices and talked to someone there. They scoured the inventory nationwide, and found me one. And shipped it with free shipping. The manager there -if it is who I think it is-is very young. Or at least looks really young. Anyhow, I would say, take matters in your own hands and call the corporate office regarding their sales practices. No one at store level cares about your problem. And a district manager will only care, if their boss knows about the problem, so cut to the chase, and go up the ladder to their corporate office, and make a little noise.

Its funny you mention the items being up to 30- cheaper on line than in store. My sister was here a couple wks ago, and she just was telling me a few items the girls want were just that much cheaper also! My sister did alot of shopping online also. She had even come across one item she got and ended up getting it cuz even with the shipping, it was 20- cheaper than in store! That is just crazy.

I've never been to the Toys 'R Us store here in Sioux Falls, so I can't comment on that, but I just wanted to mention that it is pretty typical for online prices to be significantly different than the prices in "bricks and mortar" stores. This happens almost without exception at the retail store where I work. Websites have completely different overhead costs (no store to heat, cool, keep up, etc. & generally lower labor costs). Online retailers can also recoup some of the discounted pricing in their inflated shipping & handling costs, and often have different suppliers than live stores or are a separate "arm" of the business altogether. There are few retail stores (that I am aware of) who will match their online prices due to these reasons. Shopping online is great because it offers the convenience of shopping from home, but they often discount prices to motivate buyers who can't examine their products first hand before buying, as they can in a live store and to overcome the "wait" factor involved in the necessary shipping time. If you're going to "preshop" to save money, it's often a good idea to shop for the item in the store first, to make sure it's what you want, and then order it online (if it will save you money) if you have the time to wait for shipping. I did that with most of my holiday shopping this year (except those things I bought in the store where I work), and I've had the least stressful shopping season to date! I dealt with very few long lines, parking frenzies, etc. (except when I'm trying to find a parking spot at work!! Ugh!)

I think it says that Sioux City is a piece of crap town and everyone who lives there either shops in Omaha or Sioux Falls. It's amazing any business can make it there....

Carrie's Creations "Cakes, Desserts & so much more!"

In so many ways, you're right. We tried it briefly and found we didn't like it for several different reasons. Just my opinion-don't want to start putting down Sioux City to avoid offending someone that is from there.

It's so funny this was posted...I totally agree about Toys R Us. The more I go there, the less impressed I am..no help, the store is dirty and run down, very disorganized - yuck! After my experiences this year, I don't think I'll return! As far as Sioux City goes, I am from there...about 10 years ago, I would agree, not the best town, but it has greatly improved over the past few years. Especially in the retail area. They have a very nice shopping area now w/ Kohl's, Old Navy, Gordman's etc and also one w/ stores like Ann Taylor Loft, Coldwater Creek, etc. It's very nice and I actually know people from this area who go down there, it's less crowded...

Just to defend Sewer City, I lived in Dakota Dunes for a few years so shopped in Sewer City a lot. As long as you hold your breath for...oh....about 5 to 7 seconds as you pass John Morrell's on I-29, it really isn't that bad. It's easier getting around there (even though the streets are all screwy to me), than it is here. As 80sChild said, it's less crowded. They have pretty much the same stores as we do here, although they have a Red Robin, and we don't, which doesn't make a bit of sense to me.

I use to live in Sioux Falls, and I am now an 'Idiot out Wandering Around' We frequent both Sioux Falls and Sioux City... and personally, when shopping I prefer Sioux City. The newer outdoor mall is much nicer to shop at then the traditional mall. When we do have to go into the mall in SC my husband at least has a place to go as Barnes and Noble and Scheels is a part of the mall. Also.. the 1st wkd in August, the state of Iowa has 'tax-free' shopping on clothing. Groceries are always tax free in the great state of Iowa....so I save more money when shopping at Sam's there. I am hoping that when the Greatland Target (which Sioux City already has!) is built on the East Side of Sioux Falls... that an outdoor area is also built like the shcpping center in Sioux City.
Sandra

Actually I was born in Sioux City. My parents are Hinton and Merrill natives. I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone to defend that it is any sort of a good city. The city planners in the 70's did that town no favors.
Carrie's Creations "Cakes, Desserts & so much more!"

Sure it is a pain to get around in... but once you learn where you are going the shopping experience isn't all that much different.
Sandra

Funny thing is I know where Hinton and Merrill both are. I use to live outside of Hinton when I was in the 1st grade. :)

Totally off topic of this discussion, but I heard that the streets in Sioux City are actually cow or horse trails paved over? Is that true? That would explain why they wind all over the place. I don't think there is such a thing as a square block in that town, at least not in the older parts.
Oh, and I guess I didn't so much care for the fact that there was a Hy Vee grocery store that had armed security guards. It was on Hamilton if I remember right. I think that store has been closed down in the time since I moved up to Tea from Dunes.

I'm not sure about the streets thing..but there is a new Hy-Vee on Hamilton. It's huge and I think I read it's the largest Hy-Vee in Iowa....it's very very nice....S.City is confusing to get around...all those one way streets - yuck. But like another gal said, that outdoor mall is awesome. When you walk around there, you definitely don't feel like you are in S.City. I still can't figure out though how they have a Red Robin but SF doesn't?!

We moved here from Sioux City and I have to admit other then the fact that there are more stores here I love to shop in Sioux City more then at the mall here in town. There I can actually get into the stores I want to and look around without constantly having to run into things because the aisles are not wide enough for my sons stroller. Let alone the nasty looks I get from other shoppers up here when I am in a store with small aisles and I have my son with me in his stroller.. The new outdoor mall in Sioux City is awesome I love the chance to get some fresh air between stores..It is a great town and personally from the people I have met up here it is a heck of a lot friendlier.

Mommy2005

I absolutely loved the new outdoor shopping complex also right near the mall. I only got to use it for about two or three months before we moved, but it was great. Huge, open parking lot and so many great stores, many of which Sioux Falls didn't even have. Also, there isn't any restaurant in S.F. that comes close to Bev's on the River. My husband and I have dined all over the country, and Bev's is amazing! Sioux City has made some major improvements (like the Tyson Events Center-way better than the SF arena), but does still smell when driving by the meat-packing plant. Sioux City's SuperTarget was my dream come true, and I hate having to shop in Sioux Falls' smaller, older one. Aren't we supposed to be getting a new Target soon?

I loved the Target too.. I cant wait for the new one to open since it will be on the east side as we live in Brandon and my future husband works at the east side Menards and I absolutely hate shopping at WalMart.. This way I wont have to drive across town to the Target over there to get the things that I need.. Bev's was awesome we really loved Sweet Fanny's down on historic 4th st as well.. You could smell Morrells all over but you get to the point that you really only notice it when you are by the plant.. It was a great place to live..

Mommy2005

I wonder if these are the reasons why so many fights broke out at Toys R Us the day after Thankgiving.
I guess I've never really had a problem there. I agree that the store is dirty and run down, but people have always been friendly to me, and someone always asks me if I need help whenever I'm in there. I actually go there quite a bit during the non-holiday season because it's close to my work. Diapers aren't as cheap there as they are at Target, but formula was the same price. The thing that did annoy me was that they never knew how to ring up a Good Start formula coupon. A manager had to always come over to help.

I had to return something there the other day, and the young girl behind me needed to return a ZUNE that was bought the day after Thanksgiving. It wouldn't work, and she HAD A RECIEPT. They turned down her return, and said they do not return electronics of any type, and that she would need to contact the ZUNE company. Has Toys R Us turned in to a SWAP MEET? It is pretty much all sales final. I have to wonder if that is really their strict company policy, or the manager's policy. Returns would effect his bonus, based on sales. Hmm. I know when I first started with Victoria Secret, our store wouldn't return bra's, if they fit wrong, or if underwires fell out/defective, etc. That was not the company policy, but the store manager at that locations' policy. Returns effected her bonus. If those same customers called the Victoria Secret Customer service dept. we would then do the return--because we were suppose to have done it all along. Nice business practices, eh?? ( i will say, that when I got my own store to manage, that we DID take returns. If my staff didn't fit a bra correctly, it was the employee's fault.) By the way, did you know that Victoria Secret is suppose to offer every client a Bra fitting?? Never seen that in our SF store. Hmm.

There return policy....AS far as the electronics policy I am not real sure but I was just going to bring the return policy up when I read your post....I actually just read off there website that basically if you don't have a receipt you might as well forget it!!! I think that is a bunch of baloney!!! Seriously what is the big deal...why not just give gift cards then at least the company is not losing any $$...but then Target is about the same way..if you don't have some proof of purchase (receipt, gift receipt or credit card used for purchase) and the amount of the item is more than $20 they wont take it back or even do an item exchange (well that is what I was told tonight when I was returning a gift). The lady informed me that they only allow each person 2 returns per year without receipt....BETTER HANG ON TO THOSE RECEIPTS...

I refuse to buy online from ToysRus as they are toooo high in prices PLUS the shipping seems to be really high! I went to order a Step2 easel online from them until I desided to go to Step2.com and found the easel $10 cheaper plus the shipping at Step2 was 1/2 the cost for shipping from toysrus....I was shocked with that....

I will admit..I have found some GREAT deals from time to time at our local Sioux Falls ToysRus but for the most part I am disappointed by them!

God Bless
God's Grace changes every thing, God's Mercy is all that we need, cause when we're up when we're down God's Love is all around us!

Twice in the last week, I had to exchange something there. The first time, I had the receipt just in front of the purchase I needed to exchange (2 separate transactions)--they were able to take the receipt number and look up the transaction number in front of it, via their computer system, and print off my receipt. All was good. The second exchange, due to a defective toy--I could only find my gift receipt portion of my receipts. They didn't want to refund the money. I asked a manager to look up my regular receipt with the transaction number on the gift receipt, so that she could just refund the money. She told me that they "Couldn't do that"--However SHE is the one a week prior, that did that for my other exchange. (After telling her that, she had another employee look it up, and I was refunded my money. She walked off in a huff. ) Talk about lazy-!! They CAN look up your purchases via their computer system, under their "phone number capture". Especially if you know the date or amount you spent on that purchase. If they tell you they can't, they are lying, and too lazy to do it. I cannot say with 100 percent certainty that they can find everyone's receipts but they have always found mine under my phone number. I would call Toys R Us corp. if they refuse to try to look something for you. They CAN do that.