Toy wars

Toys R Us threw down the gauntlet when it announced this fall it was opening 350 “temporary stores” in malls throughout the country and inside its sister chain of Babies R Us stores nationwide to gain market share since the demise of KBToys last year. The nation’s second biggest toy retailer, Wal-mart, parried by announcing it was expanding a $10 toy promotion to 100 items, up from 10 items last year.
And so it began: Toy Wars 2009. And the galaxy was not far far away by any means but right in everybody’s backyard.
This year’s Holy Grail toy is Cepia Inc.’s Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters. Who knew an $8 fake rodent that makes noises and moves around would generate such fervor. According to endless media reports on the subject, Toys R Us and Wal-mart literally cannot keep  Zhu Zhus on their shelves, selling out of them before they even make it out of the boxes. Apparently this toy is going for big bucks on e-Bay. As of Tuesday evening, someone was hawking a set of four hamsters, blanket and carrier for a cool $169.99. One hamster by its lonesome was listed for $59.99. Far be it for me to pass judgement on anybody who would pay exorbitant prices for something to put a smile on a child’s face. I cannot criticize such folks because I could be one of them someday.