Every year there is that one special toy that sells out, then becomes even more desired because it is so hard to get. Story of our lives right? The harder it becomes to get something, the more we tend to fight for it!
As I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I noticed so many speckled eggs, I wondered if it was Easter. Talk about the price of eggs, huh? Naturally, curiosity got the best of me so i decided to look up what was so special about the Hatchimal that made people want to pay up to 6 times retail ($300) for it. Based on what I have seen online, you are essentially buying a Furby that hatches from an egg in about 30 minutes, if your child taps the crap out of it. Your child's new virtual pet talks and interacts until it gets boring, then goes gremlin and gets thrown into the closet or under the bed. All $300 forgotten about.
It's the most wonderful time of the year on social media especially. This is the time of year when entrepreneur-hearted people buy out all of the hot items then post them for sale on yard sale sites for 6 times the cost. Is it supply and demand or selfish? What happens next? Well, silly, you have hundreds of angry people commenting, cussing, and posting comments of why these people are so evil and horrible. These mobsters often use profanity to tell them how wrong what they are doing is. Then, you always have the people that say things like, "I will give you the retail price." I guess they forgot to add, "even though you may have waited in the freezing rain for 4 hours, while i stayed home in my warm bed dreaming of how I was going to get a Hatchimal."
I was one of these people that thought, "Wow that is crappy" but then my husband reminded me that some people make a living that way and if others are willing to pay for it instead of waiting until after Christmas, who cares? Plus, realistically, let's talk about how much it probably cost to make these toys then the markup the stores sell them for. Not much of a difference there, right?
Thankfully, none of my children have even mentioned the Hatchimal. We used to be all about extravagant and high priced gifts for Christmas but then we realized our kids were starting to starting the path to spoiled brats. Not a road we wanted to take. My husband and I decided to do the five gift rule: something to do, something to wear, something to read, something they want, something they need. We also set a $150 limit for each of our children, this includes their new clothes.
So, your child wants to hatch their Christmas present, but Hatchimals are no where to be found. What are your options?Get up early on restock days at Toys R Us, wait in line starting at 4 am for 1 ticket per person to pay before 11 am. Pay someone much more who did all of the waiting and searching for you, don't complain. Buy a Furby, spray paint it, and paper machete it. Leave them a cutesy letter from Santa stating why they didn't have enough to get one but shall be getting one once his elves get caught back up. Get a different freaking toy. Give them chicken eggs and wait for a real and eventually extremely tasty surprise! If none of those sound that great to you, you can always sign up for the hundred of give always and contests that people like myself are running to give one away for free!
So far, I have seen many companies, boutiques, and photographers advertising chances to win a hatchimal, get entered!
Check out the following:
-farmer's insurance
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1179784982102374&id=188978311183051
-Pirates and Pigtails
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1036684669744689/permalink/1200963619983459/
-Yes We coupon! https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1216736575081194&id=110774785677384
-Scallywag's children's nursery
-Penny Pinchin' Mom
-Argos
-Today's Take
-Couponista Queen
-TODAY Parents