Holiday pet peeve: People scalping Children's toys at Christmas.

[Zemo]

Looks like the cop in the back is trying to tickle his Elmo

That perp is awesome.

[4NDR01D]

do you have kids? I ask because as a parent of preshoolers I like many parents us the myth of Santa as both a behavior modification device ("SANTA doesn't give gifts to bad children") and also to instill the magic of the season (as portrated in countless christmas specials). Spoiling a child isn't usually the issue os much as sheltering them from the reality that sometimes we can't get what we want. not an easy conversation to have with a 5 year old
older kids who don't beleive in santa are easier to disappoint becasue they know it's you buying stuff.

No, I don't have kids, but I fully understand the difficulty in seeing a young one be disappointed in not having "Santa" deliver the toy(s) that they may have had their hearts set on.
But I disagree a bit, I think spoiling is definitely an issue with much of the buying at marked up prices, and I think older kids should be less likely to be disapointed, because once they're older they should be aware that they can't get everything that they want.

[Werewolf]

But I disagree a bit, I think spoiling is definitely an issue with much of the buying at marked up prices, and I think older kids should be less likely to be disapointed, because once they're older they should be aware that they can't get everything that they want.

I disagree, It just an lame excuse people use to try to justify scalping pre-school toys at Christmas. We are not talking about some one just flipping a PS3, IPOD or any other high end consumer electronics. Because let's face it, that isn't going to the same age group as a Elmo or a Zhu Zhu Pet.

This isn't spoiled kids and wealthy parents. It just average families trying to keep the holiday magic alive for their little kids. Again, this isn't about the collector market. Scalping little kid toys at Christmas is really low and there is no way to justify it.

[Werewolf]

I agree, Plus parents should be giving their kid a football or a ball and bat and tell them to go out and play.

Yeah, like the average pre-school girl wants a football and a bat for Christmas.

"Sorry, honey, Santa didn't get you a Zhu Zhu pet like you wanted even though you were a good little girl all year. He got you a football instead."

Yeah, that will work.

[Duncan]

I like to use situations like this to teach the kids the value of money, and how to deal with trade-offs in life. They're 7 and 5, and they get allowances. They're learning how much things cost at retail, they're learning about e-bay, and they go to yard sales and a local chain of used toy stores.

I can pull up some auctions for Zhu Zhu, and then give them the choice - would you rather save for weeks to spend $40 on an over-hyped Zhu Zhu, or do you want to go to the used store and see what they have. Nothing cuts through toy hype like seeing what the same money will buy at yard sale prices.

As far as Santa...we've had a few vague conversations about licensing and trademark infringement, "Yeah, Santa didn't pay to use the name Zhu Zhu, so I doub't he'll be giving you any of those." I probably can't get away with that for much longer.

[toys2cool]

I was 15 when I did the Elmo thing, I sold it to a cop for $100

[kingdom warrior]

I was 15 when I did the Elmo thing, I sold it to a cop for $100

Damn D you ain't right ELMO just heard about that he's bringing the SS posse to beat you down......I'd watch my Back Oscar the grouch fights dirty...lol!

[toys2cool]

Damn D you ain't right ELMO just heard about that he's bringing the SS posse to beat you down......I'd watch my Back Oscar the grouch fights dirty...lol!

lol! I've always felt bad about that, but I really needed the money that year and finding that figure was just pure luck

[kingdom warrior]

lol! I've always felt bad about that, but I really needed the money that year and finding that figure was just pure luck

Yeah I hear you bro....... every time I hear about scalping toys I can't help thinking about the Movie Jingle all the way......That movie still cracks me up...

[jds1911a1]

Yeah, like the average pre-school girl wants a football and a bat for Christmas.

"Sorry, honey, Santa didn't get you a Zhu Zhu pet like you wanted even though you were a good little girl all year. He got you a football instead."

Yeah, that will work.

Right on

[jds1911a1]

No, I don't have kids, but I fully understand the difficulty in seeing a young one be disappointed in not having "Santa" deliver the toy(s) that they may have had their hearts set on.
But I disagree a bit, I think spoiling is definitely an issue with much of the buying at marked up prices, and I think older kids should be less likely to be disapointed, because once they're older they should be aware that they can't get everything that they want.

easy to call it spoiling when it isn't your kid that is disapointed.
I used to think the same way till I had little ones of my own. If or when you have kids I hope you can be as strong in your convicitions when they want something people scalp I know I couldn't

[Toy Talk]

Amen to that. Until you have looked in your own child's eyes and seen them fight back the tears of disappointment, there is no way to truly understand the hurt felt as a parent.
There is a difference between spoiling children and making them happy. Spoiling would be getting them everything they want, and the child not appreciating the effort. Loving your children means making them happy by trying to get them the things you can afford, that they have really wanted; even if that wanted item is a fad.
My wife and I work very hard to save our money. Our children earn allowances for doing housework, in return their allowance is how they buy their own toys during the year. Christmas is different, Christmas is magical. Santa delivers the Christmas presents, so that is the one day out of the year they can ask for presents that their allowances normally do not provide for.
Stretchandro can call it spoiling, but I call it love. No offense intended.

[Adam West]

It isn't spoiling and I completely understand the strong emotional response to not wanting to disappoint.

My youngest is 9 and oldest is 15 so I have been through the whole "must have" toy thing.

I guess being able to look back on it; it really seems silly to me in retrospect that I would spend hours scouring stores for the hard to find "must haves" only to find store shelves empty. Half of the time the scalpers are store employees themselves.

I can only speak for myself in saying that in retrospect, I know in trying not to disappoint, I was really feeding my own emotional needs and not really the emotional needs of my kids.

I still remember the day I stood in line the year the WII came out and watching a near riot break out as 500+ people were trying to purchase maybe 25 WII's allocated to a local Wal-Mart. I was one of the fortunate ones to get one but it is so absurd when I think back to it. My kids don't even play with it anymore and sometimes I look at it gathering dust and think to myself "I can't believe I allowed myself to get caught into the hype"

I know my 15 year old wants a LCD TV for his PS3 and that Target will have a couple of 32" sets for some ridiculous low price on Friday....less than $300 but it really isn't worth it to me. I know there will only be 2 or 3 sets and probably 100 people ready to get into a fistfight for them. It just isn't worth it to me personally and again I'm only speaking for myself.

Once the hype dies down, the product will be available and the scalpers will be on to the next thing.

[4NDR01D]

This year for Christmas I'm going to be hosting a 10 year old boy from my group home. His dad's in jail, and his mom is a drug addict who's not allowed any contact with him. I don't want him to have to spend the day at the group home so I'll take him to my mom's for Christmas morning. I'm not too sure how much money the CAS gives for x-mas presents, but I know it's not very much. Even if it were $200, that really doesn't go very far- maybe a bike and a sweater or something.
When we asked the boys what they really wanted for Christmas, I was surprised by their answer- To go to a resturant where you "sit down".
I'm not trying to sound insensitive when I use the term "spoiling", I'm quite the oposite really. I think most kids are spoiled, myself included. No offence intended or taken.

[Toy Talk]

Very well stated stretchandro and kudos to you for helping out a family in need. During my time in Korea I was fortunate enough to spend Christmas at a local orphanage. The children there got nothing for the holidays. The building they called home was an abandoned school house; overall not horrible, but not great either.

Those children were overjoyed to have someone new to play with. That was the greatest gift they could think of. While spending time away from my family the return gift of being around kids was mutually beneficial I admit.

Christmas is truly about giving and like Adam West (quote before yours) mentioned, getting caught up in the hype is so easy to do; not to mention more self gratifying than appreciated. Still, all-in-all those people who buy up children's toys for a quick buck at the expense of loving parents who may already be having it difficult financially are nothing but vipers.

My life theory is that everyone gets what they deserve in the long run. So let the scalpers of kiddie toys make their quick bucks at the expense of families now, because eventually there will be something they need and money will be tight; that is when karma comes up to bit'em in the rear.