Talk:Toys "R" Us

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Toys Portal
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Toys, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to articles on Toys on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Toys "R" Us article.
Article policies

Contents

[edit] Irony?

A few times in the article, the word "ironically" appears. Ironically, the company had just opened its first mainland Chinese... Ironically, the chain has just entered the mainland Chinese market... I fail to see, exactly, how this is ironic. It's merely coincidental, if you ask me. Nevermind being mildly redundant. 64.91.86.214 02:38, 19 January 2007 (UTC)SeraphicMaster@gmail.com

[edit] Public or private?

The corporate infobox lists Toys R Us as a privately-held company. However, it's in a category indicating that it's public (Category:Companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange). Which is correct?--Myles Long/cDc 17:28, 2 August 2005 (UTC)

Toys "R" Us used to be a public company until last year. 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence on <http://www4.toysrus.com/about> says "Toys "R" Us, Inc. operated as a public company from 1978 until July 2005." JRodz15 08:25, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I don't wanna grow up…

I'm a Toys "R" Us kid… Is that a slogan, or just a jingle? It's what I think of when I think of slogans, but since it wasn't already in there, I wasn't sure where to add it. Seems like a sucessful slogan if it's still in my head. —Fitch 09:02, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Many youthful adults such as Geoff Shively have adopted the name Geoffrey Giraffe to embrace the idea of not growing up in conventional "old fashioned" terms. These youthful and healthy adults remain playful, happy, and creative while maintaining a productive adult life.

[edit] "Toys R Us Strike" section

It needs a major overhaul. I'd clean it up myself but I wouldn't know where to start!

I wrote a new section and might add some more, after i verified some sources. S4ndp4pper 22:38 (UTC), 19 february 2006

[edit] Backwards R

How is the backwards R typed?? Georgia guy 02:02, 16 December 2005 I tried to figure it out- but gave up- they type it as the backwards r in their emails, Toys "я" Us (UTC)

The character "Я" can be found in the character map (start->programs->accessories->system tools->character map) under some fonts. One confirmed font it is found in is Times New Roman. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.242.94.19 (talk • contribs)
SGML numeric character reference &#1071; produces Я and &#1103; produces я. (In Soviet Russia, Toys "Я" you!) --Damian Yerrick (☎) 02:58, 2 July 2006 (UTC)
Per Template:Lang, I used the {{script}} and {{transl}} templates to support systems that do not natively support Cyrillic. Before, a UI (User Agent) would read them in Russian, because I did not know how to support the script rather than the language. This article supports the script, because we are discussing the Cyrillic letter, not its use in a foreign language. For more information, please see the template pages. Thank you. Taric25 (talk) 08:02, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] RRRRR

Why is the R in "Toys R us" backwards??

Well it catches your attention because it is unusual and appeals to a parent becasue it typifies the infant attempting to write by copying what adults have written. All pleasing to the parent.

Should the R in the article be backwards or forwards? Their corp site has it forwards outside of the logo--67.160.146.193 03:37, 9 September 2005 (UTC)
It seems pretty dumb. Toysrus.co.uk has as its title 'Toysrus'. So why does wikipedia need to be different?

What does the "R" Us part mean, anyway? — JIP | Talk 4 July 2005 05:00 (UTC)

It's pronounced as "Toys are Us", in other word "We are toys". -- user:Zanimum

[edit] much ado about "Я"

I propose we move this article to "toys "Я" Us". I think it makes sense. as far as I knwo it's the name of the company, no? skizzno logic3.1 03:43, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

I agree. 60.224.48.152 05:04, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

  • Agree pfahlstrom 22:38, 2 April 2006 (UTC) → change to Disagree because the company only uses it in the logo. —pfahlstrom 20:48, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
I disagree. The company is called Toys "R" Us on its website. The use of the backwards Latin 'R' is a stylistic choice, it's not meant to be a Cyrillic 'Я'. --Arteitle 17:04, 13 May 2006 (UTC)
  • Strong disagree. We should not go too far to represent brands' logos in text. -- Renesis13 01:22, 20 July 2006 (UTC)
  • Stronger Agree. It's funny, distinctive, and something you can do on the internet. Besides, we have the quotation marks, which are equally superfluous.
  • Strong Agree per above. -AMK152 00:36, 10 September 2006 (UTC)
    • You honestly think the purpose of an encyclopedia is to be "funny" and "distinctive"? Not to mention they could do this in print hundreds of years before it could be done on the Internet. – flamurai (t) 03:05, 30 October 2006 (UTC)
  • Agree We have articles like We ♥ Katamari and we also have articles that include letters not used in English alphabet (Milo Đukanović for example).--Fox Mccloud 20:30, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
    • Letters not in the English alphabet does not apply here. It's not a technical issue; it's stylistic. The same debate goes on at We ♥ Katamari... there is no consensus on this issue. – flamurai (t) 03:05, 30 October 2006 (UTC)
  • Strongly Disagree: This goes directly against what is said in the Wikipedia manual of style. Quote:
Follow standard English text formatting and capitalization rules even if the trademark owner encourages special treatment
fraggle 17:08, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
  • Strong Disagree: Why would we change it on account of the logo? The only purpose of the "Я" is to draw in attention, like how on lemon aid stands on television. It makes it look "cute," but the name of the main company and of the store is "Toys "R" Us." The logo is not in the situation. Like how on the Kmart logo, there is a K, and then a kmart under in the logo. Does that mean we should move it to Kkmart? No. Look, people: Toys "Я" Us is only the logo, Toys "R" Us is the name of the store AND company! It's like moving Wal-Mart to Wal*Mart. It serves no purpose! So just, PLEASE, understand this! --RandehMann 02:35, 17 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Issues over moving to 'Toys "Я" Us'

I think that moving the article from Toys "R" Us to Toys "Я" Us was not a good idea, since the company is called 'Toys "R" Us' on its website and in print, and more importantly, just because the Cyrillic 'Ya' resembles a backwards 'R' doesn't mean it can be substituted for the 'R' in the name. It's a different character from a different alphabet with a completely different pronunciation, and the company is definitely not called 'Toys "Ya" Us', which is what the article now reads. --Arteitle 02:49, 21 May 2006 (UTC)

I think you should add a section to this article that includes the answer to the question "How do we know that this backwards R cannot possible be Faux Cyrillic??" Georgia guy 13:34, 21 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reversed R

I've moved the page to "Toys "R" Us" as requested on this page --Dtcdthingy 21:53, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Page title

This article title appears to change about once every 4 months or so. Any questions about its future?? Georgia guy 22:04, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Leave it as "R". People who are trying to go directly to the article wont be typing "Я". Remy B 06:04, 26 May 2006 (UTC)
That's the beauty of the Redirect ....(Complain)(Let us to it pell-mell) 08:47, 5 July 2006 (UTC)
The backwards R is part of the logo, but the actual name of the store is Toys "R" Us(with a regular R). TJ Spyke 00:16, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
...as can be shown by... Georgia guy 00:19, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
Go to the TRU website and see for yourself. They also never use the backwards R other than in the logo. TJ Spyke 00:49, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
It's all a moot point anyway. The Wikipedia manual of style says to use normal text formatting rules even when the trademark owner encourages special treatment. fraggle 17:11, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Worker's Conditions Biased?

The section for Working Conditions seems to have a very negative bias. Might want to clean that up to a more neutral position...

Update: Put up the POV tag

  • I did a Google search, and found nothing noteworthy or unusual about working conditions within Toys R Us. As such, I went ahead and removed the paragraph entirely. -- MisterHand 22:48, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Copyrighted" Theme Song...

Quick question about the status of TRU's theme song... How does the copyright on the theme song effect the ability of having it included here on Wiki vs. the fact that all the slogans and mottos are copyrighted as well - should these slogans be removed as well? What is the determining factor here?

[edit] Imaginarium

Imaginarium is a spanish company, that operates stores in several countries. Toys'R'Us may have entered into a partnership with them, but they certainly do not own the brand.

[edit] Sources and Foreign section

I've changed most of the sources over to the <ref>{{cite news}}</ref> format, excluding the ones regarding the Sweeden strike, as I cannot read the websites and thus cannot fill out the cite news or cite web templates. Someone else please do so.

Secondly, an idea for the "Countries / regions with Toys "R" Us stores" section... convert to a table. Have three columns: country, date first opened, and number of stores (if necessary, add a "As of year foo" qualifier) -- saberwyn 23:58, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

As far as I know, Toys "R" Us do not operate in Ireland. They do not currently have any stores here, and to the best of my knowledge, they have never operated here. -- lostcarpark 05:06, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

As of August 2007, Toys "R" Us have opened their first stores in Derry City/Londonderry and Sprucefield, Lisburn, both in Northern Ireland. However as Northern Ireland is part of the UK, they still do not have any stores in the Republic of Ireland. --Lostcarpark 09:53, 18 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Blues Brothers cameo

You should add its cameo in the Blues Brothers and how it was put "permanetly" in the Dixie Square Mall until the sign was taken down in November of 2006. It was actually a very major part in the movie because that's where they crashed while a man was trying to buy Muppet dolls. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.110.197.20 (talk) 22:14, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Lawsuits vs. other "R" Us companies

I seem to recall a number of years ago hearing on the news about Toys "R" Us filing a ridiculous number of lawsuits against any companies they could find who were using '"R" Us' as part of their name. I think the result was that other companies could use the phrase, but not if they used a backwards "R". Tell me I'm not imagining this. I was surprised to see no reference to the incident on the page... --Lurlock 05:49, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism

The "Beginnings" section of "History" at the beginning of the article has been vandalized. I have removed the offending text. Below is the vandalized text, with the removed material struck-out:

Charles Lazarus initially started Toys "R" Us (LTD) in Washington, DC during the post-war baby boom era in 1948 as a baby furniture retailer known as "Children's Supermart". Its first location was at 2461 18th St, NW, where the nightclub, Madam's Organ Blues Bar is currently located. Lazarus began receiving requests from customers for baby toys. After adding babies to be sold to hungry people, he got requests for more mature toys. Eventually, the focus of the store changed and Toys "R" Us became the evil corrupt company we know today that sells unborn babies to be fed to pigs on the Brooksby Farm in Beverly. The company headquarters is located in HELL Wayne, New Jersey.

Ericdn 02:56, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

When fixing vandalism, it's best to revert or undo the offending edits. In the case of the vandalism described above, the vandal removed some legitimate text while vandalising. I have restored the legitimate text. Graham87 14:14, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Revenue citation needed

What is the source for the revenue figure provided in the box? A citation is needed here. Would someone (like the person who originally made the entry) please cite the source. Thanks. W.C. 23:54, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Haunted

One of these is haunted. See Haunted locations, Re.:US. 205.240.146.37 (talk) 20:36, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] R zone

The "R" Zone is much like its own store in that it also has security gates; in some branches, customers must purchase their items at the checkout within the "R" Zone. This idea was brought up in a boardroom meeting in 2005 by 2 ex-executives then Jordin Johanson and Robert Tennant. After Rzone was introduced Toys R us profits rose 130% marking it as one of the biggest successes of the company.

There were R Zones in Phoenix, Arizona Toys R Us' in 2000-2001. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.172.93.170 (talk) 00:13, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Franchise

Do you know if is there any public information regardind a Franchise for Toys'R'Us ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.117.32.31 (talk) 13:41, 11 May 2008 (UTC)