It was a busy day for a Toys R Us store in the Woodlands. The company’s liquidation sales started Friday and customers were eager to cash in on the deals.
“Today, I’m going to try to get her a couple of presents for her birthday coming up in August, a couple of Christmas gifts,” said Woodlands resident Stacy Xaysongkhim, who was shopping with her 3 year old.
Before doors even opened, shoppers lined up outside the store hoping to cash in on the 30% off sale.
Spring resident Nicole Urps told KHOU she bought a few things that she worried might be out of stock in a few days: “A Nintendo switch and I have an Easter basket for my son.”
The store’s deals are running from 10 to 30% off. Today kicks off the much anticipated price-slashings that customers around the country thought would start Thursday.
There were so much confusion, many stores like one in West Houston, posted signs apologizing for the delay.
Many shoppers say they’re just hoping to use up gifts cards and other rewards, before they become useless in a few weeks.
“We’re trying to use up what we have before we lose ‘em, so to speak,” said Daniel Galik of Spring. His family has a $150 gift card and a baby on the way.
Sister store Babies-R-Us is the third most popular place in the country for registries. Their “endless earnings” program – which offers 10% cash back in the form of a gift card – is a big draw for expectant moms. Customers are now being urged to use whatever they’ve earned before April 20.
Last week, the popular chain said it was planning to sell of close all 735 stores, after 70 years of business. It has been struggling for years with billions of debt and competition from e-commerce.
Woodlands resident Izzy French is thrilled she got to spend her 8th birthday shopping the aisles, perhaps for the last time.
“It’s Toy-R-Us. It has every toy in the universe!,” she told KHOU.
Her mom Denise added, “It’s very sad they’re closing. That’s just the way it is.”
Experts expect sales to become steeper in the coming weeks, before stores close in June. All sales are final.
The company says it is still looking for a buyer for its on-line operations.