R Exclusive ... ToysRUs has grown and changed
Written: Mar 31, 2005 (Updated Mar 31, 2005)
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If you enter www.toysrus.com into your web browser it will take you to Amazon's website. When this merger first began I was disappointed but have since found that it is a terrific idea. We have been purchasing from ToysRus online for awhile and like it more each year. It was our favorite spot this past birthday and holiday season.
Finding items online is very easy. There are tabs on the front page that allows you to search by age, brand, category, characters, differently abled, girls, boys, holiday, learning toys, video games, and the toy outlet.
I go directly to the toy outlet because that is where the biggest deals are. The toy outlet is pretty much the clearance center for toys. I have bought things 80% off in this section. These are usually the flop toys though, things that have low ratings from customers because they are lousy toys however when you are getting the item 80% off the toy looks a lot better. This Christmas I got the girls a $30 remote control toy for $6 and they just loved it and it still works fine.
ToyRUs recently rolled out a new idea called R exclusive. These are toys that can only be found at ToysRUs either because ToysRUs makes them or they have a special agreement with retailers so only ToysRUs can sell their products. The page is sorted by brands, items, or categories.
If you know a child that has it all or you just want some extra coolness points you can purchase an item that has been personalized. You can browse by category or occasion. There is actually more choices than I would have thought. There are lots of ideas such as clothes, furniture, toys, picture frames, toys, bedroom decorations, watches, and more. I have a personalized $30 Barbie picked out. She says 20 phrases like your child's name and birth date. The doll is dressed in a party gown and comes in a gift box. There is an option to add a personalized card with the purchase. Personalized by Toys R Us can be found under the Specialty Stores tab.
There is a Differently Abled Kids section that has filtered out the toys that fit in categories that you may be looking for such as auditory, fine motor skills, language, etc. They also have an online guide that explains the benefits of the toys. Toys have been evaluated for benefits by the National Lekotek Center and the United Parents' Syndicate on Disabilities.
The Wish List is another nice feature. We use the wish list for our kids during the holidays. Sometimes they get gifts they already have and or don't want and returns become a hassle when the buyer lives out of town. The wish list solves those problems.
We also use this to prioritize what the kids want. For some reason every toy they see on the site they say they want. I say add it to the wish list and when they're done surfing they weed down the list to things they actually do want.
ToysRus is connected to Amazon so if you want to throw in a blender and a man's shirt you can. They all go in the same shopping cart, paid for in one payment, and all shipped from one store. It makes things so simple.
Shipping is handled though Amazon. One of the important things when purchasing for a gift is keeping it a secret. The items arrive in a brown Amazon box so the kids never have a clue that there are toys inside. For some reason I never get an order all in one box. If I order 3 items they will come in 2 or 3 boxes however only one shipping fee is charged.
They always have free shipping deals around the holidays which will sweeten any deal. There is a flat fee for shipping depending on what type of item it is. Standard shipping for toys is $3.99 plus .85 per pound. Amazon chooses the shipping method so part of your order may come UPS and the other half USPS.
Also, the buyer can have items shipped to an address that is different from their billing address. Some websites do not allow that for security purposes however Amazon does which makes it easy to send a toy directly to the recipient if buying an item as a gift.
Purchases are charged to your credit card by Amazon. You will receive an email when the item ships and you can log onto you Amazon account and see the status of your orders. I still have access to my invoices from 2001.
Returns are easy! The item can be returned within 30 days through the mail or to a local ToysRUs store. Some things can not be returned once they are opened such as video games, movies, software, and so forth.
The only drawback for me is that the site is so large so it takes a lot of patience to browse it. The search features are good and there are tabs that break down the categories easily but it still takes work finding a good present.
Another thing that irritates me is that you have to check out to see how much shipping will be.
Company Information
Website: www.toysrus.com
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, MasterMoney, Diner's Club, Checks, Amazon gift certificates, and ToysRUs Gift Cards
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Toys
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About the Author
Location: Nashville, TN
Reviews written: 778
Trusted by: 196 members
About Me: I <3 Mickey Mouse.
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