(Memphis) You probably remember names like Cabbage Patch Dolls, Tickle Me Elmo and Sony Playstation.
These are toys of years past that kids just had to have.
The only difference now is that parents aren’t just competing with other parents for the hot items.
They also have to worry about online resellers.
“They were fighting and it was like a lot of people,” says Shirley Walker who managed to avoid the chaos of Black Friday. “We went last year but we decided not to go this year.”
Little did Walker know, she’d still be fighting to find a holiday favorite.
Walker is searching for two, toy tablets that have been hard to come by, “It’s on both of our kids lists.”
“Everything that they want is hard for me to find,” said shopper Kevin Eldridge.
He chalks it up to being a dad shopping for girls, but sometimes there’s another problem at play, online resellers who clear store shelves then jack up prices.
For example, a Toys “R” Us employee told News Channel 3 resellers are stocking up on certain Wii Skylanders.
They retail for around $15 in the store, but prices are nearly double on eBay.
A customer says they were told the same thing about a particular Winx Club Doll.
At Toys”R”Us.com, Aisha costs $15.99, but you can’t by the doll online.
A quick check on eBay, and we found a bid for almost $30 and it’s even more expensive at Amazon.
A Toys “R” Us spokesperson emailed WREG and said, “I have confirmed that we do limit the quantities of Winx Believix dolls that can be purchased per customer.”
If you’re having a hard time finding a particular toy, experts say if you do need to buy it online, use sites like Price Grabber or My Simon to find the best deal.
Brent Shelton of Fat Wallet takes it a step further, “Our advice is to hang out where the resellers hang out so you have the same information that they do.”
Shelton advises setting “topic alerts” and subscribing to email news to find out about sales or when a deal is mentioned in real-time, “That way, even if you’re not a forum user, or don’t have the time to monitor and participate, you’ll be in the know.”
Another tip is to call the stores first so you don’t waste your time and gas.
“Try more out of the way, smaller stores…that most people might not think of first,” says Edgar Dworsky of Consumer World.
Walker has a “plan B” that will sound familiar to many parents, “I guess we’ll just go with the one we have.”
WREG On Your Side Investigators also contacted Walmart to see if the retailer implements a limit on hot toys.
A representative says they did have limits on certain items during Black Friday, but they depend on suppliers to keep the shelves full.
