Even although the Zhu Zhu hamsters were only launched in August 2009, they have very quickly become a roaring success. Kids up and down the country are going nuts for these cute and furry robot hamsters which use artificial intelligence to interact with the kids, their surroundings and even other Zhu Zhu pets.
Over and above the fact that these robotic hamsters are small, furry and cute, children really love the interactivity. The five hamsters - Mr. Squiggles, Chunk, Pipsqueak, Patches and Num Nums - have a total of forty different sounds which they emit when given the right cue. For instance, when they enter into the bathroom of their hamster habitat, they emit tooth brushing noises. When they go into their little hamster bedroom then they produce snoring noises.
Unfortunately for consumers, many retailers decided to work with relatively low stock levels this year. It's a decision which is based partly on the fact that last year's stock levels were too high - many retailers had to drop prices considerably to clear their shelves - and partly due to the current economic outlook.
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.
A lot of retailers have now cottoned on to the fact that they got it wrong and are now trying to increase stock levels on an urgent basis. However, since the large majority of toys are made in the Far East nowadays, delivery usually involves a sea voyage of a few weeks. There's no guarantee that new stock will arrive prior to Christmas.
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.
If you don't want to pay inflated prices for the latest fad, then you might want to consider more traditional gifts this Christmas. Classic traditional toys such as Lego, Scrabble, Monopoly and Hornby Dublo train sets are classics for a reason. They are always a welcome addition to any child's toy box and they will most likely still be in use and giving enjoyment long after this year's craze is forgotten. - 30320
Over and above the fact that these robotic hamsters are small, furry and cute, children really love the interactivity. The five hamsters - Mr. Squiggles, Chunk, Pipsqueak, Patches and Num Nums - have a total of forty different sounds which they emit when given the right cue. For instance, when they enter into the bathroom of their hamster habitat, they emit tooth brushing noises. When they go into their little hamster bedroom then they produce snoring noises.
Unfortunately for consumers, many retailers decided to work with relatively low stock levels this year. It's a decision which is based partly on the fact that last year's stock levels were too high - many retailers had to drop prices considerably to clear their shelves - and partly due to the current economic outlook.
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.
A lot of retailers have now cottoned on to the fact that they got it wrong and are now trying to increase stock levels on an urgent basis. However, since the large majority of toys are made in the Far East nowadays, delivery usually involves a sea voyage of a few weeks. There's no guarantee that new stock will arrive prior to Christmas.
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.
If you don't want to pay inflated prices for the latest fad, then you might want to consider more traditional gifts this Christmas. Classic traditional toys such as Lego, Scrabble, Monopoly and Hornby Dublo train sets are classics for a reason. They are always a welcome addition to any child's toy box and they will most likely still be in use and giving enjoyment long after this year's craze is forgotten. - 30320
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Find out if the Zhu Zhu Pets are still available - or check out the most traditional gift of all - a Hornby Dublo train set.
