This holiday season the hot toy on the market worldwide is the Zhu Zhu Toy Hamster. This toy, as a few before, like Tickle-me-Elmo, Furbys, and Cabbage Patch Kids, came out of nowhere and became the hot seller almost strictly by word-of-mouth among the best judges of toys on the planet: kids. Kids are the ones who recognized this relatively simple toy as being fun and fascinating.
The problem for moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends, is that the demand for Zhu Zhu Toys has been significantly higher than the production and shipping capacity of the toymaker. Simply put, there are just not enough of the Zhu Zhu to go around this holiday season. What this scarcity has created is an online auction market where Zhu Zhu are being sold well above the $10 to $12 retail price. Some enterprising folks who scooped up Zhu Zhu when they arrived in stores, have been selling them on auction sites for as much as $60.
Our simple advice to people that still want the Zhu Zhu before the holidays is to do some online research and make some phone calls to retailers that might carry the toys. Start early. Don't wait until the last minute to get out and try and purchase one of these toys - they simply will not be there on Christmas Eve. If you want to avoid some insane rush, we recommend getting out to a store mid-week and trying to get there off-hours. If they do not have the Zhu Zhu on the shelves, ask a clerk - a shipping or inventory clerk if possible - when they will get the next shipment in, and when they would stock the Zhu Zhu. Be specific. It will do you no good to beat around the bush. Also, see if the store has a waiting list, and if they do, get on it. Some stores may have waiting lists, and a new shipment will be spoken for and will never make it to the shelves.
Online retailers may be your best bet, and most will have some kind of priority shipping in place during the holidays. Established online retailers will likely not try and increase prices due to higher than expected demand, so online is still the best way to go for Zhu Zhu or other highly sought after toys. As noted before, auction sites are another option, but the price of the toys on those sites will probably be significantly higher than at an online retail store specializing in toys, or at a brick-and-mortar store. Before you hit the streets in search of the perfect Zhu Zhu, we recommend that you browse several online stores and make notes of type of Zhu Zhu and shipping costs. Some online retailers are waiving shipping fees and some are not. If you decide to try your luck at the stores in your town, go armed with the research you have done, and you will know if you have a good deal. As they say, knowledge is power - even when shopping for a Zhu Zhu.
With a little planning you get an effective search started for a Zhu Zhu and not pay too much. Do some research ahead of time and you can get what you want while avoiding the inflated prices on some of the auction sites.
Learn more about why kids are in love with Zhu Zhu Pets, and how to get one this holiday season.
The magnificent Zhu Zhu Pets Princess Castle
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