Buying for underprivleged family and need advice on Beyblades...

[scottmel]

Every year I sponsor a small family who I don't think would have much otherwise. This year's family is an 9 year old boy who is being raised by his grandma.

I got him a large star wars lego set that was on sale for 60 and a wrestling ring and 2 wrestlers that he wanted. So I feel confident in my choices here and I feel like the gifts are nice!

Beyblades was also asked for along iwth a DS game. I got a Beyblades DS game and he asked for an "electric beyblade". Well I got the kind with the gun for 24.99 and the regular electric one for around 10. I am concerned that I am on the wrong traxk on the beyblades. I dont' want to OVERSPEND on them as I feel like what I did on the legos and wrestling was good - so do you think the ELECTRONIC beyblade is for the gun one or should I return that and get a few of the spinning electronic ones for about the same price? I am clueless on them. I don't think he has a big collection by any means but is the gun thing overpriced and not that worth it?? I guess I am wanting to know which beyblade is NEWER? Better? Thanks!

 

[Mickey527]

My grandson is 6 and Beyblades are his favorite toy. they are meant for ages 8 and up but he can use them.
He had the gun and he had alot of trouble using it so we took it back. The pull rip cords are much easier for him to use and they come with the beyblade.
He also has one of the electronic tops that light up. He can't spin that one as well because of the weight. the smaller tops are better. the tornado tops are also heavier and he can't get the spin strong enough to make it spin for a long time.
the lightweight tops are better for a younger child and you can buy two for the price of one electronic or tornado.
the fighting ring is expensive. We used a plastic box a bit bigger than a shoebox for a few weeks but the fighting ring works so much better. I would make sure to get one of those. They are very cheaply made but worth it.
My grandson plays with his every day and loves to compete with anyone who will play with him.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My son just had to have one of the guns for the Beyblades (he's 10). He got it at WDW in the Japan store. It has been laying in a drawer since we got home - I don't even think he's used it. I'm sure the boy would be happy with a couple of the regular Beyblades especially with the Lego set and wrestlers.

 

[Swimalie]

My 6 year old also loves Beyblades. He's asked for the gun thing but I have a feel it will also sit in a drawer. I would go for a 2-pack or a good single one with the ripper. I believe Target has them on sale this week (or was it Toys R Us?)

 

[Callymum]

My son loved these and it was about the different types, they have faster bits and different edgings etc.
I think having a couple of the different type normal ones will be better and easier to use when out and about at school etc.

And well done that is a lovely thing to do at Xmas time, you will definitely get your wings. 

 

[happydisneyfamily]

My son has asked for the one with the guns but when it came time to really decide, he chose the ones with the ripper and a stadium. This way when he plays against someone or on his own, the stadium will contain the bey blades and then they can battle.

 

[CarrieR]

I would do the less expensive electric ones, a couple of "regular" ones with ripstick and a stadium. I got my nanny boys a lightweight stadium last year -- it seemed extremely cheap and flimsy, and I thought it would be destroyed within two weeks. I think it was $10 or so? Despite being stepped in multiple times and a bit cracked on the bottom edges, that thing was still kicking when I left them in early September! It was a place to contain their Beys and kept them from being skittered all over the floor, lol.

 

[Branabb]

Electric Beyblade can be a few different things, but most common it means the IR control and Electro Battlers. Those are the trendy ones at the moment. I bought both for my son some time ago, and he was thoroughly disappointed in the IR control as were his friends who had them. I would recommend avoiding the IR control since it basically doesn't work correctly and smaller kids struggle to spin the top fast enough with it.

The Electro Battlers display the spin speed. There are also some others that simply flash lights and make sounds (I forget their name). Either of these will be fun for the kid. Much more than using the "gun". If you have the gun already and can't/don't want to return it, it isn't the end of the world. He will surely be ecstatic when he sees it. He just may find it unusable.

Note: As another poster mentioned, the electric ones don't spin as long as the smaller ones, but if he is 9 it shouldn't be a big problem.

 

[QueenDoOver]

I would just add that my costco has a great package deal that comes with 4 of the smaller beyblades, the stadium and a few other doodads. It was like $30, as I recall. My son got the IR remote control beyblade for his birthday and is not playing with it much, although he usually only plays when friends are over to battle with.

 

[Jedana]

Gotta have a Bey stadium--if they use the beys on concrete, it tears up the toys--and they leave scratches on wood.

DS loves his beys--mostly the rip ones. He got 2 electronic ones for birthday, and hardly uses them. Also, a "beylocker" is a good thing, so they can keep them put up neatly. Just make sure you get at least one with a rip stick--the cheaper ones are just the beys, no ripper.

 

[chuckabone]

My ds 9 has about 40 beyblades, he lives and breaths for them! I would go with the regular bey's and a stadium, as pp said, you do not want to battle on wood or concrete. He has the big electronic ones, but loves the smaller tops with rip cords the best. The 2 pack with ripcords are fairly cheap. The holder for the belt cord is awesome, he is always ready to battle. We have found that instead of the beylocker, we use a tackle box with removable/adjustable compartments. I have to laugh when I go to a store because I always am on the look out for the new ones. My ds will rip em all apart and rebuild. Next year we are going to do the beyblade tournaments. What a awesome thing you are doing for this family. BTW, I do get alot of his bey's online. They are usually cheaper even with the shipping but sometimes they take a bit as they come from overseas.