Desperately Looking For A LeapPad Explorer Tablet

[momtosam]

Thanks everyone! I *think* I got one. I used that Zoo Alert text message service. Quite a few times I'd get a text that they were in stock and as soon as I'd click the link they were sold out. Once I got all the way done entering my CC information for FAO Schwartz and then it was listed as sold out. I finally placed an order with etoys yesterday only to promptly get a backorder email. BUT today I got a new email from eToys that confirms my order and delivery date so I'm hoping that baby is on its way!

 

[amberjack]

I bought one last week at Books a Million. Everywhere else near me was out and I couldn't find any online that were in stock. Decided to try BAM on a whim and they had 3 on the floor.

 

[Jey12]

That Zoo alert thing really works. I have been able to find and purchase 3 more today for friends. Even better when you're not spending your own money!

 

[Piecey]

That Zoo alert thing really works. I have been able to find and purchase 3 more today for friends. Even better when you're not spending your own money!

Everytime I try they're sold out, yet still show in stock. Very weird.

I already have one (TRU Bundle with Mr Pencil) for my son but am trying for friends.

 

[Jey12]

Everytime I try they're sold out, yet still show in stock. Very weird.

I already have one (TRU Bundle with Mr Pencil) for my son but am trying for friends.

I think it comes down to luck of timing? Last night around 3am I received a text and logged on to find they were on amazon.com and 15 minutes later I was able to add another one for a friend of mine who also happened to be up. Sometimes insomnia has its rewards. During the day today I only had luck with one through amazon and not the other stores that kept showing available. Not sure if amazon just does a better job or my timing with them is better?

 

[Piecey]

I think it comes down to luck of timing? Last night around 3am I received a text and logged on to find they were on amazon.com and 15 minutes later I was able to add another one for a friend of mine who also happened to be up. Sometimes insomnia has its rewards. During the day today I only had luck with one through amazon and not the other stores that kept showing available. Not sure if amazon just does a better job or my timing with them is better?

Maybe. TRU shows in stock, but when I try to buy it won't add to My cart. Really annoying.

 

[Jey12]

Maybe. TRU shows in stock, but when I try to buy it won't add to My cart. Really annoying.

TRU isn't really at my top of places to shop this holiday season. I purchased 2 things on black friday after taking 30 minutes to add them to my cart and check out. It was awful. The next day I get an email saying one of the items has shipped. No big deal, I'm used to items shipping out at different times, or getting 2 emails. Yesterday I get an email saying half of my order has been cancelled. They would credit me back for the items that didn't ship, but when the shipping was adjusted I only ended up receiving $1 off. The one item that was actually on its way once you added the amount of shipping I wasn't saving a thing. I could have went to the store and bought these items and been out of the store in less time than I've dealt with this. Thankfully TRU did credit my shipping completely but I don't think I'll shop on their online site again. So just fair warning if you do ever get your item in your cart and buy it, you still may not receive it. In my case I didn't find that out until 3 days later.

I have received a couple of alerts tonight saying the leap pad was in stock at TRU. Out of curiosity I added the leap pad to my cart and it seemed the site would have let me check out with it. The other site is the leap frog site. They have had a couple of bundles with a really good sale price listed as available tonight, but by the time I got to the site (we're talking seconds) they were gone. My suggestion is to keep an eye on amazon.com, barnes and noble, fao schwartz and etoys sites. The leap pads seem to come available on those site and at least give you a minute or two to get some into your cart.

 

[Colleen27]

Has anyone actually had success using that tracker site? I've been watching it and even clicking on the link within 1sec of when the alert pops the LeapPad is never really available... Either outright out-of-stock or shows available but can't add to cart/check out. ToysRUs supposedly just had the Mr Pencil bundle available for 17min but at no time in that period could it actually be added to cart, and when I looked at the forum on the tracking site apparently this has been the case for KMart, FAO, eToys, and TRU... IOW, the stock availability on most of the sites being tracked is unreliable to the point of useless.

 

[jagruti6]

If your still looking for this try your local target. I have been looking online for a week. My target just got more this morning, they only got 4, 2 pink 2 green. I was there at opening and snagged a pink one. Check online to see if your store got them in this morning. I checked late last night and neither my local one nor the one 45 minutes from here had them. This morning they both do!

 

[Colleen27]

If I had a local Target I don't think I'd be searching so frantically online. Unfortunately, the closest retail area to me is either 30 miles in one direction or 25 in the other, so that's a lot of gas/time to be wasting on the off chance I'll get there before they sell out.

BTW, the tracker is now showing in stock at Kmart but that's a no-go too... Can't check-out with them.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

Has anyone actually had success using that tracker site? I've been watching it and even clicking on the link within 1sec of when the alert pops the LeapPad is never really available... Either outright out-of-stock or shows available but can't add to cart/check out. ToysRUs supposedly just had the Mr Pencil bundle available for 17min but at no time in that period could it actually be added to cart, and when I looked at the forum on the tracking site apparently this has been the case for KMart, FAO, eToys, and TRU... IOW, the stock availability on most of the sites being tracked is unreliable to the point of useless.

Oh yes; I have had luck!! I have gotten 2 in less than 48 hours using z o o l e r t. The only stock availability I have found incorrect has been TRU and Kmart's site. I recieved text alerts around 8pm last night and 3am the night before, and I scored Leappads both time. So I definitely wouldn't say it is useless.

If you get an alert at 3am...GO!! I have gotten alerts and 3am 2 nights in a row and they had them in stock. That seems to be the best time to purchase them. I ordered the first one off of Amazon and the second from FAO. I have found that alerts come out for FAO, Etoys, and TRU at the same time, but make sure to not fool with TRU first. Go directly for Amazon, FAO, or Etoys if they are offering at the same time. I would skip TRU and Kmart altogether as their stocks tend to say in stock when they are not. Hang in there and keep trying. Good luck!!

 

[jagruti6]

I have been using a couple of different tracking sites for this and couple of other things (lalaloopsy silly hair jewel sparkles). But the products are gone in seconds. Very frustrating.

 

[Colleen27]

If you get an alert at 3am...GO!! I have gotten alerts and 3am 2 nights in a row and they had them in stock. That seems to be the best time to purchase them. I ordered the first one off of Amazon and the second from FAO. I have found that alerts come out for FAO, Etoys, and TRU at the same time, but make sure to not fool with TRU first. Go directly for Amazon, FAO, or Etoys if they are offering at the same time. I would skip TRU and Kmart altogether as their stocks tend to say in stock when they are not. Hang in there and keep trying. Good luck!!

Good to know. I don't sleep much, so tonight I'll be on the look out for wee-hours alerts. I'm just glad I already got the one for DD3, since an "iPad" is her big Christmas wish this year! Now I'm just looking for one for my nephew because he & my DD are two of a kind and DH thought it would be cute to get him one too, so if I have to come up with a different gift idea for him I will.

 

[SMLounsbury]

I also use the tracking and holy cow is it frustrating to get all of these alerts that lead to nothing. I did get an etoys notification this morning at 4, placed my order, went back to bed and woke up to find a backorder email. That is what really gets me. Why on earth would you have it on your site if you don't have the inventory? I'm guessing they are expecting a shipment into their warehouse or something. Maybe my Shoprunner shipping prompted the notification because it was supposed to give two day shipping. Maybe even playing with consumers' purchase timing to prevent greedy ebayers. Who knows...

At any rate, I was able to get a green one from Amazon yesterday with standard shipping ($5 extra) instead of SSS. I had one coming through SSS that was cancelled... I have a little girly girl, so I need a pink one too.... Let's hope etoys comes through...

But, if history tells us anything, we'll be able to find these in a couple of weeks when the hysteria dies down. I remember getting zhu zhu pets right before Christmas a few years back.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

But, if history tells us anything, we'll be able to find these in a couple of weeks when the hysteria dies down. I remember getting zhu zhu pets right before Christmas a few years back.[/QUOTE]


I really hope this is the case. There is almost a month before Christmas, so hopefully Leap Frog revs up production and shipping to get these LeapPads out asap. I know how frustrated I was not being able to find one, and the greedy Ebayers are equally, if not more, frustrating. You can't find one on Ebay for less than double the original price. Who cares about the spirit of Christmas when you can turn a nice profit, right?

We were finally able to get a pink one from FAO; they seem to be getting more of the pink than Amazon or anywhere else right now. Hopefully they come through for you soon! Good luck!!

 

[SMLounsbury]

They have the ultimate bundle for boys in stock right now at Leapfrog.com... Not helpful when I have a girl, lol.

 

[tinker&belle]

Has anyone actually had success using that tracker site? I've been watching it and even clicking on the link within 1sec of when the alert pops the LeapPad is never really available... Either outright out-of-stock or shows available but can't add to cart/check out. ToysRUs supposedly just had the Mr Pencil bundle available for 17min but at no time in that period could it actually be added to cart, and when I looked at the forum on the tracking site apparently this has been the case for KMart, FAO, eToys, and TRU... IOW, the stock availability on most of the sites being tracked is unreliable to the point of useless.

The tracker site works well with Barnes and Noble, and I checked when it was amazon and they were in stock. Luckily, mine has arrived for DD and the green one I purchased for my cousin's DS has arrived as well so I am done. It is frustrating to try to find the items, and more frustrating watching the price from 3rd party sellers going up and up and up. I can understand the speculation buying for adults but on a kids' toy it is very irratating.

 

[Piecey]

Has anyone actually had success using that tracker site? I've been watching it and even clicking on the link within 1sec of when the alert pops the LeapPad is never really available... Either outright out-of-stock or shows available but can't add to cart/check out. ToysRUs supposedly just had the Mr Pencil bundle available for 17min but at no time in that period could it actually be added to cart, and when I looked at the forum on the tracking site apparently this has been the case for KMart, FAO, eToys, and TRU... IOW, the stock availability on most of the sites being tracked is unreliable to the point of useless.

This is exactly what is happening to me. And I was up at 3am last night, same thing. Though that was on an iPad which it's possible slowed me down.

Generally though I do better trying to score "giveaways" and freebies and all that on my iPad, the browser connects faster.

So who knows. I'm grateful I have one for my own son but wish I could help others (WAHM) who can't stalk the website all day.

 

[Colleen27]

This is exactly what is happening to me. And I was up at 3am last night, same thing. Though that was on an iPad which it's possible slowed me down.

Generally though I do better trying to score "giveaways" and freebies and all that on my iPad, the browser connects faster.

So who knows. I'm grateful I have one for my own son but wish I could help others (WAHM) who can't stalk the website all day.

Well, I've decided that was less frustrating than this... I now have two $110 holds on my debit card, one for an order that failed (out of stock) according to the confirmation e-mail and another for a successful purchase that is backordered with no estimated ship date available, and the phone rep wouldn't even hazard a guess as to whether the order would be filled before Christmas. In stock alert my foot!

Since I only use the one account for online shopping I have to either wait until the holds drop or transfer more money there before I try again, so I'm taking that as a sign that it just isn't meant to be today.

 

[ccgirl]

Have you checked out the VTech Innotab? I hadn't heard of either until I read this thread. Like you, I could not find the Leappad Explorer stocked anywhere online so I went to my local WalMart. They did not have it instock but gave me a raincheck and said it was very doubtful I would get one before Christmas. I went to Target. They had quite a few of the Innotab's so I got one just in case I didn't score the Leappad. After reading reviews and watching the video's on you tube I am very happy I could not find hte Leappad. The only thing the Leap pad has over Vtech is the camera. Other than that, the VTech innotab seems to be better.

Check it out. Good luck.