The Santa PANIC List 2000: Dolls and Toys Hard To Find Right Now!
Just available: The Santa PANIC List 2001
NEWS FLASH: If you want to see how much these toys and dolls cost NOW, in 2001, just scroll to the end of this article. Try to remember this if you absolutely don't need one of the toys or dolls listed on the 2001 Panic List before Christmas (I know; not much help if you have a child waiting for one...)
Every year, somehow it happens. We KNOW that certain toys will be in short supply for the holidays, and that we should do our toy shopping early. But, somehow come the holiday season, we take out Suzy or Sam's crumpled list to Santa from our pocket at Toys R US, and their number ONE heart's desire is nowhere to be found!
Here is my list of dolls and toys already difficult to find both at regular retail outlets AND at the Internet toy stores this holiday season. I have started the list early this year, so that parents and collectors will have a heads-up on dolls and toys in short supply. Below the list, I have a chart which shows what these dolls and toys are selling for right now on eBay, the online auction house, and how their prices have changed since last week. This chart will be updated weekly so that pricing trends (and scarcity) can be tracked. Have a Happy Holidays, and best of luck if any of these dolls or toys are on YOUR shopping list!
eBay Prices
A quick survey of final sales on eBay
running for several weeks gives you an idea of how hard to get these toys are at
this time at retail. Some of these dolls and toys are still close to
retail (the Barbie Fashion Models; the Lego Soccer) others are more than double
retain (Madra Black Widow) and the prices on the Sony Playstation II are, as
anticipated, sky-high. The Barbie Volkswagen is joining our list at double
or more its retail value of approximately $22. Diva Starz also
enters the list ad double retail. In the weeks to come, we will follow the
prices of these items on eBay and other online auction houses. We will
also update this list as other dolls and toys become hot and/or hard to find.
Some toys may drop off this list if anticipated shortages do not develop, and
others will join this list if electronic chip shortages, etc. DO come to
fruition. The following prices
are from actual auctions that closed in the last two days, where the items sold (no
reserve or over reserve):
| DOLL OR TOY | 11/30/00 WEEK | 12/07/00 WEEK | 11/01 |
| Barbie Volkswagen Beetle | -- | $42 to $70** | $20 to $30 for last year, common colors** |
| Diva Starz Doll | -- | $43 to $52 | $15 to $20 (should have waited!) |
| Madra Black Widow | $225-$325 | $255 to $325 | $150-$200 |
| Madra Highland Fling Outfit | $59-$71 | $50 to $71 | $20-$30 |
| Dancin Debbi NEW | $50 | $50 | $22 to $40 |
| Fashion Model Barbies (basic model) | $40 to $60 (brun. higher than blonde) | $40 to $70 (brun. higher than blonde) | $130 to 150 (interest is VERY high in these sold-out dolls; last year, the Christmas prices were actually a bargain! |
| Sony Playstation II | $600 to $650 (!!) | $500 to $780 | $250 to $300 (so, if you can WAIT for the Xbox or the Game Cube.... |
| Harry Potter Trivia Game | $25 to $40 | $25 to $40 | $10 to $20 |
| American Girl: Kitt Kitredge | -- | $200 to $400 | none on eBay; dolls now available at regular retail from the Pleasant Company. |
UPDATE 12/16/00--I have two words for you this week: Lower Prices! Prices for almost every item on the list have declined from the week of 12/7. Even the Sony Playstation II has dropped dramatically this week--down to the $400 to $480 range after several weeks WELL over $500. Even the Barbie Volkswagen (THE hot doll item this season) has drifted to the $30 to $40 range, since there has been a GLUT of eBay sellers to meet the demand of all the parents who cannot beat the eBay sellers to the store. Another factor in the decreasing eBay prices is that Christmas and Hanukah are rapidly approaching--there is barely time to order a doll or toy on eBay and get it by Christmas (IF you are going to do this, BTW, I would order by this Wednesday AT THE ABSOLUTE LATEST if you can use a credit card and arrange priority or quick (expensive) UPS shipping).
ONE new toy emerged this week in short supply and selling for 200% of retail--the Kitt Kitredge doll from American Girl. The doll is now selling in the $200 range, as she is sold out from the factory.
12/16/00 TRENDS IN PRICING: As mentioned above, most prices have, again, trended DOWNWARD in eBay auctions in the last two weeks (see chart below). It seems the glut of eBay sellers has truly helped to keep prices down, which HAS meant GOOD things for parents this Christmas season (last year, prices for certain hot toys exceeded 100-500% markups on price!). However, this is still NOT the case if you are looking for a Sony Playstation II-- this item remains impossible to find, although as Christmas approaches and more and more parents give up getting the toy in time for Christmas, the prices are drifting downward. For collectors, one trend upward in prices continues to be the sold-out Fashion Model (Lingerie) Barbies--these dolls continue to increase in price, and I predict they will continue to increase AFTER Christmas, unlike most of the toys on this list which are aimed at children.
DOLLS
*Barbie Volkswagen
*Diva Starz
*Madra Black Widow
Doll
*Madra Highland Fling Outfit
*Amazing Ally Cheerleader Outfit
*Fashion Model Blond and Brunette, Lingerie Model
*Dancin' Debbi
TOYS
*Sony Playstation
*Harry Potter Trivia Game
*Lego Soccer Set
**Higher prices are for the rarer, BLUE Volkswagen model.
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Denise Van Patten, © 2000. All rights reserved.
