I am just venting a bit. Why do people buy up children's toys at Christmas, inflate the price ridiculously high, and make those of us who can't afford an expensive toy not be able to afford what should be affordable for our kids??

I am so frustrated. My daughter has a short list, and all she wanted most were a few stuffed animals that should be twelve or thirteen dollars each. Since they are popular animals, people have bought all of them up, and all I can find are 40 and 50 dollar ones on eBay. They did the same thing when my older two kids likes those Beanie Babies. It makes me so mad! You can't blame people for wanting to make money, but I sure wish they would leave children's toys alone!

That is a horrible markup!!!

What are the specific ones she wants? Maybe someone on the board can find them in their state for you. I would be willing to try.

I agree it is so wrong they are kids toys now look at the money we spent on beanies are worth nothing don't they get it??

Maybe it's the manufacturers only producing a limited number of a certain item that is the problem?

Yeah, we do a very subdued gift-giving thing over here. I refuse to be held hostage by big box stores. It's really disgusting how they play on people's emotions.

Have you looked at the price for the 'toys' from "Toy Story"? And people are frantic because they can't get them...out of stock or back ordered.....I agree, greed at the expense of groceries, utilities, basic necessities.

Don't forget to be mad at the parents who facilitate it by purchasing at those prices. What the market will bear is the phrase.

Honoring greed circa 1958:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5IXlfJSEi4

It's all a gimmick. they plan those shortages and have a wharehouse full....remember the cabbage patch craze? wommen were beating each other up for those...oh lord.

I think I might have found what you are looking for check your pm.

Yes. I knew a woman who worked at KMart and got her arm broken because women were shoving her down to get Cabbage Patch Dolls.

the retail-industrial-marketing complex PLANS these shortages and "Must-have" toys - it is up to parents to explain this to kids. You don't have to give in. Explain that after Christmas the prices will go down and they can get 2 toys instead of one.
Ask them if they remember what toys they were clamoring for two years ago and if they still have and want those toys.

I always hope the people that buy up the wanted items in large quantities and then sell them at high prices on e-stores get stuck with them. I hope the kids change their minds and don't want that item anymore and someone is stuck with 100 of them. Greed has always been around but it seems the internet has increased peoples need to prey on others. Oh, and this is Christmas--peace on earth and goodwill to men; how much will you pay me????
(Sorry-hoarding and then inflating prices is one of my major pet peeves!! Didn't mean to get on my soapbox)

Retailers never know and most items are bought months in advance, then if you have a popular item can be out of stock with ad printed months in advance, or will have an item that flops and then dosen't sell, or trendy item or person falls in disfavor with public and can't give away.
Retailers just never know, mostly speculation.
Have never figured out the aggressive shopper, chances are the world won't stop spinning if little one dosen't get what whey want.

I don't think that it hurts to be honest with your children. Explain that the item just isn't available but you will do your best to get them something they will enjoy for Christmas. There's no reason why the longed for item can't show up for Valentine's Day or Easter when it is available again. I know some parents won't agree with me but I think kids need to know that sometimes we just don't get everything we want as soon as we want it. Patience and compromise are good skills for children to learn.

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Oh, yes, I remember the Cabbage Patch kids. There really was a shortage of them when my grandkids were little. We waited in the rain and wind for the store to open, they only got 50 each week, but all were the same price and you got the first one they grabbed behind the counter. I paid for the one I got each week, and stood around with other folks saying "I have a black haired boy, I'm hunting for a blonde girl" (Like my granddaughter) and we would simply trade 'kids'. Did that each week till the GKids were satisfied, then had to hunt for more for DD's friend's kids.
They couldn't find them in Texas at that time.

Yip -- happened with the Cabbage Patch kids. Daughter wanted one, couldn't find one for less than $100.00 ------ she didn't get one, and she survived....Now she (who is 36 now) thinks they're ugly!!! LOL

It's because of this that I give my grandkids a gift card that they can spend after xmas during the sales and such. It sad people but them up and allow them to sella t high prices. I do remember the cabbage patch dolls. My DD had most of them adn the animals. What a mess we went thru. Even black fridays are ridiculous. I went last year with my daughters and at Toys r us the lines went up and down the aisles to get out of the store. SO sad. Good post.

Luckily for me, my daughter is old enough to understand the situation. She was very understanding, but also dissapointed that people hoard toys. If I find her one that will be great to surprise her, but if I don't, I do hope that the hoarders get stuck with them for a long, long time. If parents stop putting up with it, maybe it will stop the whole process.

What kind of toy are you looking for? I would be MORE than willing to check locally for you. I have been in that situation and my kids WERE NOT old enough to understand! They understand you don't get everything you want, but they don't understand I couldn't get it just because I was not going to pay double or tripple what the product was org. going for.

think how many "collectors" are stuck with worthless Beanie Babies - they all thought they were going to get rich off them :-D

I personally think it's just greed.

Think how many beanie collectors feel like total idiots because they paid $1500.00 for a two dollar toy.

Last year my Sister hadthe same problem with the Zhuzhu hamsters...now they are all over, but we really searched last year for one, lol!

I have bought Beanie Babies for 50 cents at the local thrift store.

I remember the cabbage patch kids and the big lines to get my daughter a specific Care Bear...lord!

the people who made Cabbage Patch kids were smart - if you remember they had very short arms (the dolls I mean). So you could not buy regular baby clothes for them, you had to buy special cabbage clothes.
I remember doing a craft fair back in the 80's, next to a lady who was doing a landslide business selling the clothes, while my beautiful quilts were largely unsold. :-(

What about the "tickle me elmo"? I had bought one at regular price when they first came out and then everyone went crazy for them. I had offers of tons of money for it and had only one. My niece still has it and at 14 she still loves it!! At christmas time...people were paying up to $500 or more....totally insane if you ask me!!

More recently, when the Wii's first came out, and were back ordered people were selling them on Ebay for insane amounts...go figure.