[worry]

That's brutal.

[Slow Ben]

Sorry Cause. That sucks bud.

[Nicodimas]

https://www.cbsnews....loses-for-good/

This

[Una]

Nicodimas, on 30 June 2018 - 06:30 AM, said:

https://www.cbsnews....loses-for-good/

This

If it makes you feel any better, the Canadian arm got bought by a Canadian holding company, so they are going to keep running under the Toy R Us banner. They're running ads on the radio about how they are "Here to stay!" and now "100% Canadian-owned!" You could always visit if you really wanted to.

I guess I didn't have to rush over and redeem all those gift cards after all, but my kid got a big kid bike out of it, so it's all good.

Their toys are crap though. Cheap China-made plastic stuff that breaks the first time you use it. That's why I still had so many gift cards left over. I couldn't find anything worth buying. The baby stuff was ok, but overpriced, as all baby stuff is. One would hope that the change would allow them to be more nimble and switch gears into selling stuff that isn't crap, but I'm not holding my breath.

This post has been edited by Una: 30 June 2018 - 08:17 AM

[Abyss]

Una, on 30 June 2018 - 08:16 AM, said:

...

Their toys are crap though. Cheap China-made plastic stuff that breaks the first time you use it. That's why I still had so many gift cards left over. I couldn't find anything worth buying. The baby stuff was ok, but overpriced, as all baby stuff is. One would hope that the change would allow them to be more nimble and switch gears into selling stuff that isn't crap, but I'm not holding my breath.

You do know t'r'u doesn't actually make 99% of the toys they sell?
If you don't want fisher-price or little tykes or the latest pj paw peppa movie tie in merchandise, you're kind of shopping in the wrong store.

[Una]

Abyss, on 30 June 2018 - 09:14 AM, said:

Una, on 30 June 2018 - 08:16 AM, said:

...

Their toys are crap though. Cheap China-made plastic stuff that breaks the first time you use it. That's why I still had so many gift cards left over. I couldn't find anything worth buying. The baby stuff was ok, but overpriced, as all baby stuff is. One would hope that the change would allow them to be more nimble and switch gears into selling stuff that isn't crap, but I'm not holding my breath.

You do know t'r'u doesn't actually make 99% of the toys they sell?
If you don't want fisher-price or little tykes or the latest pj paw peppa movie tie in merchandise, you're kind of shopping in the wrong store.

I know. That's why I couldn't find anything worth buying. I tried once to buy a teddy bear. A teddy bear! And everything they had was ugly, misshapen, and about the same level of quality as the stuff you would win at a carnival. I can't give that to someone's kid as a gift! I ended up going to Build-A-Bear workshop and getting their base model bear for $8. Not bad, as long as you don't buy the clothes (I was making my own teddy bear clothes).I am surprised they managed to stay in business for as long as they did because Toys R Us is nothing but disappointment. Most of the time, I end up going to Kaboodles or some other boutiquey store in my neighbourhood whose name escapes me at the moment. Smaller store, higher yield, and frankly the prices aren't that different. All's I'm saying is that I am hoping whoever does the purchasing for these stores is able to make some better decisions, or they won't be here for long either. It's a very bad sign when someone goes in WANTING to spend money and has to walk out empty-handed because they don't stock anything worth buying. Freaking Chapters is easier to buy toys at these days.

[Abyss]

Una, on 02 July 2018 - 02:34 AM, said:

... Freaking Chapters is easier to buy toys at these days.

Chapters’ kids section is frikkin amazing.

[Lady Bliss]

Una, on 02 July 2018 - 02:34 AM, said:

Abyss, on 30 June 2018 - 09:14 AM, said:

Una, on 30 June 2018 - 08:16 AM, said:

...

Their toys are crap though. Cheap China-made plastic stuff that breaks the first time you use it. That's why I still had so many gift cards left over. I couldn't find anything worth buying. The baby stuff was ok, but overpriced, as all baby stuff is. One would hope that the change would allow them to be more nimble and switch gears into selling stuff that isn't crap, but I'm not holding my breath.

You do know t'r'u doesn't actually make 99% of the toys they sell?
If you don't want fisher-price or little tykes or the latest pj paw peppa movie tie in merchandise, you're kind of shopping in the wrong store.

I know. That's why I couldn't find anything worth buying. I tried once to buy a teddy bear. A teddy bear! And everything they had was ugly, misshapen, and about the same level of quality as the stuff you would win at a carnival. I can't give that to someone's kid as a gift! I ended up going to Build-A-Bear workshop and getting their base model bear for $8. Not bad, as long as you don't buy the clothes (I was making my own teddy bear clothes).I am surprised they managed to stay in business for as long as they did because Toys R Us is nothing but disappointment. Most of the time, I end up going to Kaboodles or some other boutiquey store in my neighbourhood whose name escapes me at the moment. Smaller store, higher yield, and frankly the prices aren't that different. All's I'm saying is that I am hoping whoever does the purchasing for these stores is able to make some better decisions, or they won't be here for long either. It's a very bad sign when someone goes in WANTING to spend money and has to walk out empty-handed because they don't stock anything worth buying. Freaking Chapters is easier to buy toys at these days.

Wow... that's a lot of hate for a toy store... I never had a problem with going there. It was an easy place to pick up birthday presents.

[Lady Bliss]

I don’t want to do this, but I’ve decided to look for a job outside of California. It’s just not sustainable for my family to pay for this high cost of living. That means I’ll also probably be leaving the Fed, which I really love. Le sigh.

[amphibian]

Lady Bliss, on 02 July 2018 - 11:14 PM, said:

I don’t want to do this, but I’ve decided to look for a job outside of California. It’s just not sustainable for my family to pay for this high cost of living. That means I’ll also probably be leaving the Fed, which I really love. Le sigh.

You may be able to find a lateral move to a cheaper state like Virginia or one of the other states that have a Fed Reserve Bank. If that's the Fed you're talking about.

[Morgoth]

Briar King, on 03 July 2018 - 04:15 AM, said:

I just wanna get sloppy drunk right now. 1 beer ought to do the job right?

I don't feel like driving to the store to buy it though.

Maybe if you try to stand on your head and drink it through a straw?

[Lady Bliss]

amphibian, on 03 July 2018 - 12:00 AM, said:

Lady Bliss, on 02 July 2018 - 11:14 PM, said:

I don’t want to do this, but I’ve decided to look for a job outside of California. It’s just not sustainable for my family to pay for this high cost of living. That means I’ll also probably be leaving the Fed, which I really love. Le sigh.

You may be able to find a lateral move to a cheaper state like Virginia or one of the other states that have a Fed Reserve Bank. If that's the Fed you're talking about.

Yeah, I’ve been looking into that. No positions open atm.

[Lady Bliss]

Lady Bliss, on 03 July 2018 - 12:17 PM, said:

amphibian, on 03 July 2018 - 12:00 AM, said:

Lady Bliss, on 02 July 2018 - 11:14 PM, said:

I don’t want to do this, but I’ve decided to look for a job outside of California. It’s just not sustainable for my family to pay for this high cost of living. That means I’ll also probably be leaving the Fed, which I really love. Le sigh.

You may be able to find a lateral move to a cheaper state like Virginia or one of the other states that have a Fed Reserve Bank. If that's the Fed you're talking about.

Yeah, I’ve been looking into that. No positions open atm.

We’ll surprise surprise... I have an interview Monday for a position in Richmond. Wish me luck!

[amphibian]

Kick banker butt.

[QuickTidal]

Ugh, househunting in the current housing market in the GTA is completely SOUL-DESTROYING.

I'm seriously considering moving province. This is insane. Literally towns a full hour outside of Toronto are going for TWICE what they are worth. I can't bring myself to accept paying that much for a house that's not remotely worth it. The problem is pushing further out that that is not an option with my wife's job.

[Mentalist]

QuickTidal, on 05 July 2018 - 03:29 PM, said:

Ugh, househunting in the current housing market in the GTA is completely SOUL-DESTROYING.

I'm seriously considering moving province. This is insane. Literally towns a full hour outside of Toronto are going for TWICE what they are worth. I can't bring myself to accept paying that much for a house that's not remotely worth it. The problem is pushing further out that that is not an option with my wife's job.

Yeah, the market's brutal right now. I'm not expecting it to get much better soon.

[Abyss]

Mentalist, on 05 July 2018 - 04:26 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 05 July 2018 - 03:29 PM, said:

Ugh, househunting in the current housing market in the GTA is completely SOUL-DESTROYING.

I'm seriously considering moving province. This is insane. Literally towns a full hour outside of Toronto are going for TWICE what they are worth. I can't bring myself to accept paying that much for a house that's not remotely worth it. The problem is pushing further out that that is not an option with my wife's job.

Yeah, the market's brutal right now. I'm not expecting it to get much better soon.

I know a few people who have gone thru this nonsense recently. All bought further away than they wanted, spent more than they wanted/probably should have(ffs, is 'Vaugh' even a place? $1mil+ for fucking Brampton? Oshawa???). I really sympathize w you, TO real estate is so fucked, it's sick. Great city, too bad no one can afford to live there.

[QuickTidal]

Mentalist, on 05 July 2018 - 04:26 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 05 July 2018 - 03:29 PM, said:

Ugh, househunting in the current housing market in the GTA is completely SOUL-DESTROYING.

I'm seriously considering moving province. This is insane. Literally towns a full hour outside of Toronto are going for TWICE what they are worth. I can't bring myself to accept paying that much for a house that's not remotely worth it. The problem is pushing further out that that is not an option with my wife's job.

Yeah, the market's brutal right now. I'm not expecting it to get much better soon.

I'm worried it won't get better ever, and we will just have to suck up long commutes to work. Which pisses me off. My sister and brother in law started with their first house in the mid-90's and over the years have been able to flip/trade up/move a few times, and are now in a mil+ lakefront home...all because that first townhouse they were in for starters (a new build) was around 200K and they could easily afford it. Meanwhile in 2018 even half a million can't get you very much. I'm so dejected by this whole process.

[amphibian]

I think if you're in that bad a housing situation, you have to consider a transfer to another and cheaper city elsewhere if possible. Yeah, you'd lose some with the new jobs, but you'd save time and money on the commute and the house. Probably childcare too.

I know you're certainly talking it out with your partner, so hopefully you both can decide what you're willing to put up with.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 05 July 2018 - 05:26 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 05 July 2018 - 04:26 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 05 July 2018 - 03:29 PM, said:

Ugh, househunting in the current housing market in the GTA is completely SOUL-DESTROYING.

I'm seriously considering moving province. This is insane. Literally towns a full hour outside of Toronto are going for TWICE what they are worth. I can't bring myself to accept paying that much for a house that's not remotely worth it. The problem is pushing further out that that is not an option with my wife's job.

Yeah, the market's brutal right now. I'm not expecting it to get much better soon.

I know a few people who have gone thru this nonsense recently. All bought further away than they wanted, spent more than they wanted/probably should have(ffs, is 'Vaugh' even a place? $1mil+ for fucking Brampton? Oshawa???). I really sympathize w you, TO real estate is so fucked, it's sick. Great city, too bad no one can afford to live there.

Yep. It's terrible. like 800SqFt condos packed in like sardines are going for like 400k. It's nonsense.

amphibian, on 05 July 2018 - 06:56 PM, said:

I think if you're in that bad a housing situation, you have to consider a transfer to another and cheaper city elsewhere if possible. Yeah, you'd lose some with the new jobs, but you'd save time and money on the commute and the house. Probably childcare too.

I know you're certainly talking it out with your partner, so hopefully you both can decide what you're willing to put up with.

Yeah, we have been weighing all our options and seeing how far we can push out from the city/our jobs...it's just really hard and we are both feeling depressed about it. Thanks for the support.

The only upside is that daycare is exponentially cheaper as soon as you're in the burbs and the further out you go, the better it gets.