Doll News Archive: The Santa PANIC List 2001: Dolls and Toys Hard To Find Right Now!
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 with new toys that sell out, and also 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!
Trends Week Of 12/12/01:
I think its safe to say that online prices have not gone haywire for any particular item this Christmas season and will most likely stay stable through Christmas. Although many items are very hard (if not impossible) to find in local stores, items including the Xbox, GameCube, #3 Lingerie Barbie and Harry Potter items are available in large numbers online, and at percentage markups much below what we've seen for past Christmases (notably the 1999 Christmas season where some toys were selling at markups 3 to 10 times their original retail price. See the chart below for all current online auction prices.
DOLLS
*Violet Waters LE Special Appearance
*Lingerie Barbie #3 (Silkstone)
*Bratz Dolls
TOYS
*Microsoft XBox
*Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle Lego
*Harry Potter Hogwarts Express
*Harry Potter Micro Playset
*Nintendo GameCube
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 Bratz dolls) others are considerably more than retail already (Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle in Lego). The prices on some of the Harry Potter items and video game systems could go sky-high in the next few weeks if ample shipments aren't forthcoming to the stores. Last year, prices on the Sony Playstation more than doubled retail about 2 weeks before Christmas. 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 | 11/24/01 WEEK | 12/05/01 WEEK | 12/12/01 WEEK |
| Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle- Lego | $100-$110 | $120-$150 | $120 to $150* |
| Harry Potter Hogwarts Express | $50 to $70 | $60-$75 | $65 to $80 |
| Harry Potter Micro Playset | $40 to $60; over $100 with all connecting sets. | **very hard to find on eBay. | $50 to $75 |
| Violet Waters LE Special Appearance | $180 | $150 | $175-$195 |
| Xbox | $340-$400 | $325-$400 | $340 to $400 |
| Game Cube (Nintendo) | $230-275 | $240-$280 | $240 to $300 |
| Bratz Dolls | $15-$20 | $20-$25 | $19-$25 |
| #3 Lingerie Barbie | $50-$60 | $45 to $55 | $45 to $55 |
*$400 for all 11 related Lego sets including the Hogwarts Express
How I determined these dolls and toys are hot this season:
1. I have checked various e-tailers and online auction houses, including Amazon.com, e-Toys, and eBay.
2. I have monitored media coverage from print and broadcast outlets.
3. I surveyed toy stores and big-box retailers in various Northern California locations. For collectible dolls, I have checked retailers of collectible dolls (FAO Schwarz, doll shops, etc.)
4. I review e-mails I receive for requests where to find these items, and also Forum postings regarding hard to get dolls and toys.
SO, some of these toys are sold out everywhere, and some are only sold out only regionally or at certain retailers, or temporarily with more shipments to come.
Where can you hunt for these dolls and toys? Here is a list of places to start:
--Wal-mart
--Toys-R-Us
--K-mart
--Target
--e-Toys
--Amazon.com
--FAO Schwarz
--Links To Specialty Doll Shops
--Links To Web Doll Shops
--Links to Online Auction Houses
Have you found some of these hard to find dolls and toys for your child this week at regular retail? Are there other toys I should add to this list? If so, please tell us in the Dolls Forum (share WHERE you found them!)
Also share in the Dolls Forum how you feel about these dolls and toys being sold secondary market on eBay and other online auctions right now!
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Denise Van Patten, © 2000. All rights reserved.
