Toys R Us Drama

Last week Jemma got a birthday coupon from Geoffrey the giraffe. Toys R Us’ Geoffrey. He had invited us to visit the store and save $5 off any $25 purchase. Being the thrifty mama I am we decided to put this coupon to use with an old return credit I had hanging out in my wallet. Boom – practically FREE.

I was going to type out a calmer version of our Toys R Us experience – but, truly, the version I emailed my mom after we got home is by far the funniest. Take note, I was a little dramatic about the whole thing, but the essence is true :)

So, I went to Toys R Us today with a coupon to get something for Jem for her birthday. It was awful!!! Everything is MADE IN CHINA and is plastic and $30-40 for something that looks like it will fall apart or be at Goodwill by next summer. I was so annoyed. I went in looking for this wood food set – fruits and veggies that velcro together so you can pretend cut it. It was in their ad, but of course, there wasn’t even a spot on the shelf for it. I even asked for help. He said I could get the dessert set, as he couldn’t find any veggies. Um, no thank you. We eat healthy around here. (Or at least pretend too). Then I got even more miffed because everything is either boy or girl. Like the signs are even blue or pink. Blue ones are for cars, legos, and the like and the pink are dolls, kitchen, and all things “only girl”. Nothing is wooden or cloth, everything is plastic. In the kitchen aisle there is even a deluxe McDonald’s set – you know, so your 3 year old can start craving Big Macs before they can even pronounce the ingredient list. I considered a Cabbage Patch – which I don’t think are evil, but they were expensive and not normal Cabbage Patch dolls, they were deluxe ones, not what I remember.

So – all that to say, poor Jem ended up with new sippy cups and training panties with her birthday coupon.

Mind you, I also had to wait at the cashier for 10 minutes before anyone noticed I was ready to pay. Then the girl from returns yelled to me “Are you going to buy something?” I yelled back, “I’m trying too, but no one is here!” It was a bad, bad trip.
The dreaded “pink only” aisle – Jemma being unamused – McDonald’s play set, yuck

Dripping with drama as you can tell. But seriously, Toys R Us is not what I remember it to be. Now that my credit is all gone I don’t think we’ll be visiting much more.

I’m going to start checking out Etsy for nifty handmade toys and I’ve gotten pretty good at scoping out garage sales and eBay for favorites like Haba and Plan.

Where do you get your littles toys? What are your favorite brands/types?

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Comments

  2. Carey Penn says

    I totally feel your pain! Between last Christmas and my daughter's recent birthday, I've decided our local toy shop is definitely the way to go! It seemed a little more spendy at first, until I realized I'm buying toys there that all three of my kids will play with as they grow.

  3. Alicia Crenshaw says

    When my oldest was little, we'd hit Toys R Us for an hour or so for button-pushing time. He would play with the toys, push all of the electronic button-y toys, go nuts… then, on the way out, I'd let him pick out some stickers to take home. There's nothing I'd ever want to go there for beside the entertainment for an afternoon value. We've never even taken Little Guy to one of those stores.

  4. says

    I have picked up some GREAT toys at stores that cater to educators and teachers. Lakeshore is a brand that I like. There toys are made for class rooms and stand up the test of time. Their play food set – while not wood – is made of food safe rubber and can be washed din the dishwasher. Our library's set is sanitized once a week and has been entertaining kids for about 4 years. It is more money but if you are having multiple children, I am sure it will make up for it in use.I also watch for sets on sites like Zulily and Totsy – Melissa ans Doug are on there a lot.