image courtesy: kidzsite.net
Where to Buy Hatchimals
The season’s hottest, and hardest to find toy will be available at Toys R Us stores nationwide this weekend. According to CNBC, who spoke directly with Toys R Us, select stores nationwide are receiving shipments of Hatchimals as we speak. The toys will appear on shelves when Toys R Us stores open on Sunday, December 4, 2016. This coincides with the launch of the Toys R Us Great Big Christmas Sale, which lasts December 4-10.
Most stores open at 8 am and the company expects toys to sell out quickly even though buyers are limited to one toy each.
The Hatchimal Phenomenon
Since before the holiday season “officially” started last weekend, Hatchimals have been one of the hardest toys for parents to find. Despite retail advertisements offering the toys for anywhere from $48-$60, no one has actually had them in stock nationally since mid-October. Stores are receiving individual shipments, but often of small numbers (6-10 units each). Furthermore, consumers who have successfully found the toys often report waiting outside for stores to open.
This scarcity has led to a number of unauthorized resales and online price hikes. This has only accelerated as the holiday buying season gains speed. eBay sellers specifically offer the toy for anywhere from $150 to $600 individually. Lots of Hatchimals, however, and especially those containing rare and hard-to-find species, sell for well over $1,000.
Finding Your Hatchimal
The deal website BFads.net first broke the Hatichmal story December 1st. They posted it after viewing an Instagram video of employees in a Santa Cruz, California store who confirmed the arrival of the coveted toy at their location. The video has since disappeared.
However, previews of the Toys R Us Great Big Christmas Sale ad confirm that the toys will be available. The advertised price is $69.99. The Toys R Us website also confirms this price and availability. They state simply that:
Our stores are expecting new shipments, and this item will soon be on the shelves in a Toys”R”Us near you, while supplies last. Please visit your local store!
For now, desperate parents and grandparents will just have to wait and see. Successful Hatchimal buyers suggest checking the Toys R Us website early Sunday for the report on your local store and getting there before doors open. Many stores are using a ticket system (similar to Black Friday wrist bands) to ensure that the toys are really distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Finally, other retailers, such as Target and Walmart, also state they are getting periodic shipments. Experts advise using a similar strategy of checking online inventory early, usually around 6am, before venturing out.
Other Hot Toys May Also Surface
In addition to Hatchimals, BFads.net also reports that the NES Mini will also appear on select Toys R Us shelves this weekend. The Nintendo Classic Edition Mini NES, retailing for $59.99, has been another elusive Christmas gift this season.
Though not as hard to find as Hatchimals, the NES Mini is also part of the Great Big Christmas Sale ad. As a result, select stores expect to carry the console this Sunday. Consumers may want to use similar tactics to check with their local stores before venturing out before 8am, however.