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Why Traditional Toys Make Better Christmas Gifts |
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Written by Henry Davidson
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Thursday, 03 December 2009 09:10 |
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Although the Zhu Zhu pets were only released in August of this year, they have become a runaway success already. Children nationwide have gone crazy for the cute little motorized hamsters that incorporate artificial intelligence which lets them interact with their environment, the other Zhu Zhu hamsters and the kids who are playing with them.
by HenryDavidson
Although the Zhu Zhu pets were only released in August of this year, they have become a runaway success already. Children nationwide have gone crazy for the cute little motorized hamsters that incorporate artificial intelligence which lets them interact with their environment, the other Zhu Zhu hamsters and the kids who are playing with them.
As well as the fact that the hamsters are furry and cute, children really seem to adore the interactive nature of this toy. The gang of five Zhu Zhu hamsters - Pipsqueak, Chunk, Mr. Squiggles, Patches and Num Nums - have a collection of forty different sounds which they use when given the appropriate external stimulus. If, for instance, they enter their hamster bedroom, they start to snore. If they go into the bathroom in their hamster fun house then they make toothbrushing noises - etc.
However, many retailers have quite deliberately set stock levels of toys in general at relatively low volumes this year. This is partly due to the current economic climate and partly due to the fact that stock levels were too high last year. A lot of retailers had to offer hefty price reductions in order to clear their shelves.
It's perfectly understandable that this decision was made - but looking at sales figures thus far, it does look as if the retailers may have misjudged the mood of consumers. Popular toys like the Zhu Zhu pets and Mattel's Mindflex game are flying off the shelves. Supply is lagging demand and it's fast becoming extremely difficult to locate these toys in stores. The closer we get to Christmas, the worse this will become.
Having realised their mistake, a lot of retailers are now frantically trying to arrange for new stock. However, the vast majority of toys are made in China these days. That means that delivery usually includes a sea journey of around a month or so. Arranging for new stocks in time for Christmas may be impossible in some cases.
As a result of the under supply, you can now find Zhu Zhu hamsters selling for over $ 150 on eBay. That's an order of magnitude higher than the official price - and prices might well rise even further as we get closer to Christmas. It's a great deal of money to pay for a kid's toy which, although the current "must have" toy - may well be old hat in a few month's time.
You might be well advised to think about giving a more traditional toy this year - especially if value for money is important to you. Classics such as Scrabble, Monopoly, Lego and Hornby Dublo train sets are long term favorites for good reason. They always make a welcome addition to any youngster's toy collection and will still be in use and being enjoyed for years to come.
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See if the Zhu Zhu Pets are still available - or check out the most traditional gift of all - a Hornby Dublo train set. |
