Ugh, Zhu Zhu Pets

[susykt4]

My kids (like everyone else's apparently) want Zhu Zhu Pets for Christmas. I was hopeful that I might just get lucky if I kept checking every time I went to Wal-Mart, etc. I'd never asked before, but yesterday at Toys R Us I asked the cashier... She said they got a shipment of 50 one day this week but there was a huge line at opening and despite limiting quantities, not everyone in line got one. Wow.

I was in college when the Beanie Baby craze was at its peak. There was a McDonald's at the edge of campus and the local moms would pay me $5 to stand in line and get my 2 Happy Meal limit AND let me keep the food so they could what, hoard dozens of identical Happy Meal beanies? I also was paid to wait in line at a specialty store on campus to purchase "real" Beanie Babies when they were selling them only in limited quantities. LOL. Suckers

I also remember my mom buying every Cabbage Patch Kid she came across when they were at their peak. It was an insane "thrill of the hunt" thing. I was maybe 11 or 12 and had NEVER liked or played with dolls, but suddenly I had a dozen Cabbage Patch Kids. My brothers each had a couple as well

Sorry kids. I refuse to be caught up the toy hamster nonsense. I'll get you some when they're available. Sigh.

 

[Cedarmom]

Ha. After hearing about these things, I went to go see if I could find some yesterday. I went to WalMart/Target/TRU (all in the same complex so I parked and walked to all three). No luck at WM. Target, I found one house, so I bought it for my 3 yo. I then went to TRU. When I asked, the guy said they had gotten a shipment and had a huge line at opening, but were limiting it to 2 each and still had some hampsters. I bought my two. They still had tons, so I called a friend and told her to come if she thought her kids might ask for them this year. She left immediately and by the time she got there, there were only two left. She bought them. lol It was dumb luck that we got some. My kid is going to love them, though. They are *right* up his alley.

I completely understand the frustration over a stupid toy. I helped my sister look for Tickle Me Elmo when it was big. My nephew never did get Elmo.

And now my 3 yo wants to choose some smilies.

 

[susykt4]

Excellent smiley choices Cedarmom's 3 year old!

 

[Nicholfamily5]

HAH! I WORKED at TRU during the Tickle Me Elmo insanity. When the last shipments before Christmas came we were all walked out to our cars by mall security because people were trying to offer us hundreds of dollars to buy them TME's. I'd gladly take the money, except we really didn't have any left. I don't know if people thought we were hiding them in the back just for fun?

I've also been accosted during my break when we had those little egg things? remmber, there was a little digipet like thing and you had to feed it and lay with it to keep it happy? Well TRU gave us each one so we could show people, but one chick HAD to have one, and followed me into the break room and tried to rip it from my belt loop...

Freaking crazy.

 

[DISNEYNV]

Never fear!!!

My DD had to have them too about a month ago. I looked everywhere and didnt find them even though I had no idea they were sought after toys. I then found a huge selection at Walmart about a week after my search just unexpectidely (no one was buying them or waiting in line either) and we bought three hamsters, the fun house, a bed and carrier and a ball. My kids played with them for a few days and now they are sitting under our train table in the playroom untouched! I know alot of people are looking for them for their kids, and I wish I would have bought more of them up at the store knowing now that they are hard to find, but it is just a toy and they will most likely end up under a bed or couch untouched in a few days anyway. They are a really cute toy, they work well even though the tubes and playset are flimsy as anything, but like all the hot, hard to find, Xmas toys are...not worth all the hype!

 

[Spevniak]

my DD4 wants these very badly as well. I have family and friends looking everytime they stop in TRU/Walmart/Target. We have been able to get the ball, car, figure 8 thingy, and i have a three back of hmasters on preorder thru TRU. So it can be doneif you just keep looking at places. We've had the best luck at walmart. Good luck!

 

[RMulieri]

I have no idea what they are or if my 5 yr old wants one We did a list for Santa and it wasn't on it.But now I am intrigued.

 

[DISNEYNV]

They are these little robotic hamsters that move independantly on wheels, squeak and make cute noises and fun sounds. Of course there are lots of accessories involved...a carry case, bed and blanket, ball, wheel, hamster habitat fun house that they move around in and back up (due to a computer chip in the unit), and other add ons for the house. If you put them on the kitchen floor they run around (on their wheels) and back up when they hit the wall or solid surface. The ball is realistic and it moves inside like a real hamster, but the thing keeps flipping over inside and you have to constantly be fixing it upright again so it moves. We also have the surf board that it buzzes around on as well. Like I said...cute, but not worth all the hype.

WAIT TILL THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN STORES!!! DO NOT PAY A FORTUNE FOR THESE THINGS ONLINE...your kids will just forget about them in a few days time after the novelty of the thing runs it's course. That's my two cents from a mom whos five year old HAD to have Zhu Zhu Pets (and we were lucky enough to find them at the store).

 

[RMulieri]

They are these little robotic hamsters that move independantly on wheels, squeak and make cute noises and fun sounds. Of course there are lots of accessories involved...a carry case, bed and blanket, ball, wheel, hamster habitat fun house that they move around in and back up (due to a computer chip in the unit), and other add ons for the house. If you put them on the kitchen floor they run around (on their wheels) and back up when they hit the wall or solid surface. The ball is realistic and it moves inside like a real hamster, but the thing keeps flipping over inside and you have to constantly be fixing it upright again so it moves. We also have the surf board that it buzzes around on as well. Like I said...cute, but not worth all the hype.

WAIT TILL THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN STORES!!! DO NOT PAY A FORTUNE FOR THESE THINGS ONLINE...your kids will just forget about them in a few days time after the novelty of the thing runs it's course. That's my two cents from a mom whos five year old HAD to have Zhu Zhu Pets (and we were lucky enough to find them at the store).

Funny, I asked out loud what the heck these things were , and my 5 yr old told me in detail exactly what they are.So she knows , I guess as a parent I am outta the loop...She also said she didn't want one.She wants the American Girl Bitty Baby Twins instead( they are $95 )

 

[2cutekidz]

This is an "IT" toy for Christmas. It's going to be hard to find and parents are going to be pulling their hair out trying to find one. And an FYI - the accessories don't work unless the hamster is in it. DH bought DD the car figuring she could play with it before she gets the dang hamster. Nope, it only works with a hamster in it!!

 

[coolbeans]

they are cheap too, that doesn't hurt. I bought one weeks ago at Wal-Mart and haven't seen them anywhere since. They also had accessories but now ... NOTHING! oh well.

 

[mjkacmom]

Last week, someone on the Budget board posted a link to a TRU "sale" with hamsters and the whole set-up for $99 - even my gf, who owns a million dollar home, said too rich for her blood (actually, she just wants the little hamsters, and not a bunch of stuff). I pre-ordered 3 hamsters (thanks Budget board) last month, even though my kids haven't asked for them (I've learned to buy the hot toys early, since my kids are known to want them the week before Christmas). Look daily at that board.

 

[jockey]

They are so cute, I got a few and the accessories for my DS

 

[Stitch76]

I think zhuzhu pets are the best gift to share this coming christmas. Its so cute!

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