Toys"R"Us® Gives Customers Compelling Reasons To Shop Early This Holiday Season With Comprehensive Package Of Programs

WAYNE, N.J., Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced it is offering its customers a number of compelling reasons to shop early this holiday season with a comprehensive package of valuable incentives designed to alleviate the stress of the last-minute hunt for gifts, including:

• The company's approximately 35 million Rewards"R"Us^® loyalty program members have the opportunity to earn 10% back, up to $100, on qualifying toy purchases through October 31. Better yet, these earnings will be delivered via an e-gift card in November – with no exclusions – in time to complete their holiday shopping.
• Back by popular demand, FREE layaway will be offered through December 15 with no upfront service fee and no minimum purchase requirement. New this year, after an order is created in-store, subsequent payments can be made online at Toysrus.com.  
• A series of new pricing initiatives, including the recently announced expansion of Price Match Guarantee, showcases the values Toys"R"Us offers its customers daily on key items, removing any doubt that they're getting a great deal.
• A new extended return policy allows customers to shop with even more confidence now for their holiday purchases, knowing they can make returns through January 25.

"Consumer insights have told us that parents want to shop early to ensure they're securing the gifts that will top their kids' wish lists, while helping to avoid the panic and stress that often comes with last-minute holiday shopping," said Peter Reiner, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Toys"R"Us, U.S. "And so, we're providing a comprehensive package of valuable benefits that helps our customers do just that, while giving them additional confidence that they are getting not only fantastic prices at Toys"R"Us, but also an incentive that puts extra money in their hands to complete their shopping for any unexpected gift needs."

Rewards"R"Us Customers Get 10% Back on Toy Purchases through October 31 with e-Gift Card Delivered in Time for Holiday Shopping

Beginning this week through October 31, members of the company's Rewards"R"Us loyalty program can earn up to $100 to spend on upcoming holiday purchases when they shop at Toys"R"Us, receiving 10% back on all in-store and online toy purchases^* during this period.  Participants will receive an e-gift card for their earned amount via e-mail on November 15 or 16, allowing them to use the gift card to continue their holiday shopping.  The e-gift card can be used in-store or online through January 25, with no exclusions on the items that can be purchased. 

Joining Rewards"R"Us is free and easy, and can be done at Toysrus.com/myrewards. Additional details on this holiday offering are available at Toysrus.com/shopnow.

Free Layaway – Back by Popular Demand, Plus Online Payments Now Available

Toys"R"Us will again offer free layaway with no upfront service fee for the 2013 holiday season. In 2012, Toys"R"Us was the first retailer to introduce free layaway, and thousands of customers took advantage of this program. Customers who use layaway and are Rewards"R"Us members can also earn 10% back on their layaway purchases. Once paid in full, 10% of the total value of the layaway order will be provided on an e-gift card sent via e-mail soon thereafter. 

Toys"R"Us customers utilize layaway for a variety of purposes, from securing the must-have gifts of the holiday season early to making a series of flexible payments over time, or even hiding big gifts at a local store rather than the basement or garage.

A deposit of at least 10% of the total price of the order, plus all applicable taxes are due when the merchandise is put on layaway. Subsequent payments can be made at any time, but must be made bi-monthly as follows: 30% within 15 days; 40% within 30 days; 50% within 45 days; 60% within 60 days; 70% within 75 days; and the total price of the order must be paid by December 15.

New for 2013, customers who begin a layaway order at any Toys"R"Us or Babies"R"Us store will have the ability to make subsequent payments online at Toysrus.com or Babiesrus.com beginning later this fall. The ability to pay online will make the company's layaway program more convenient for those who don't live near a Toys"R"Us store location, as well as parents and gift-givers on-the-go during the busy holiday season.

To make a payment online, customers can log-in to their account on Toysrus.com or Babiesrus.com, or simply visit the layaway page on Toysrus.com to check the status of their order using the layaway number on the bottom of their receipt. Both the customer's in-store receipt and layaway account online will indicate the dates by which additional payments are due, as well as the required payment amounts. Payment can be made via any method currently accepted online.

For more information, please visit Toysrus.com/shopnow.

New Pricing Initiatives Clearly Articulate Company's Savings Story, Inspire Greater Consumer Confidence in Value Offerings

This fall, Toys"R"Us is implementing a series of new pricing initiatives that will create additional savings opportunities for its customers and clearly communicate the company's value offerings.  Key items will now be marked "Hot Price Every Day," eliminating any doubt that customers are getting a great deal whenever they choose to shop.  In addition, the company recently rolled out a "Red Hot Deal" program, which regularly offers unbeatable savings on select items.  Providing compelling sales and value-added offerings at key junctures throughout the holidays also remains an important part of the company's strategic pricing and promotional plans.

Among these initiatives is the company's recently enhanced "Price Match Guarantee" on items available in its Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores nationwide, which now includes selected online retailer pricing. This strengthens its ongoing policy of matching competitors' in-store pricing on identical items. As part of this enhancement, Toys"R"Us now matches online pricing from Walmart.com, Target.com, BestBuy.com, Sears.com, Kmart.com, buybuyBaby.com, Meijer.com, FredMeyer.com, diapers.com, BabyDepot.com and Amazon.com^** on in-store purchases of identical items.

Shop Early with Confidence with Extended Return Policy

Customers who want to start their holiday shopping early can do so worry-free knowing that Toys"R"Us will offer an extended return policy after Christmas through January 25.  During this period, returns accompanied by a sales or gift receipt or online packing slip will be accepted, regardless of whether or not the item was purchased within the company's general 90-day window for returns^***. 

Additional information on the company's extended return period is available at Toysrus.com/shopnow.

For all the latest news about the 2013 Holiday Season at Toys"R"Us, visit "R" Holiday Press Room at http://www.toysrusinc.com/press-room/2013-r-holiday-press-room.

About Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 877 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 685 international stores and over 170 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys"R"Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.

SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.