
It’s not each and every 12 months that the holiday getaway season consists of a toy craze, but just about every decade or so, just one occurs. Twenty-five several years ago, the Cabbage Patch doll was the ought to-have holiday getaway existing. In 1996, Tickle Me Elmo was such a hot reward that parents received into fist fights in shops and some compensated about $1,000 for the bright pink Muppet that retailed for a mere $28.99.


This 12 months, dad and mom lined up in the wee hours of the morning outside the house of toy retailers, hoping to get their palms on a Zhu Zhu Pet. Also referred to as “Go Go Hamsters” in the United Kingdom, Zhu Zhu Pets are $10 robotic hamsters that are intended to present little ones with the chance to have a “true” pet devoid of the fuss or the muss of a are living animal. 


In early December, the demand from customers for these pretend hamsters far outweighed the demand from customers, and Zhu Zhu Animals marketed on eBay for $40 or more. By the 3rd 7 days of December, on the other hand, they were being significantly much easier to obtain.


Cepia LLC, the exact firm that invented Energy Puff Women Motion figures, made The Zhu Zhu Pet. In Chinese, “Zhu Zhu” implies “tiny pig.” 


There are nine various Zhu Zhus to decide on from: Patches, Chunk, PipSqueak, Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums, Scoodles, Jilly, Nugget and Winkie. Different habitats are offered individually. The hamsters have 3 diverse modes that permit them to scurry all-around like genuine hamsters, make noises and rest.


A 7 days immediately after Christmas, OnMilwaukee.com checked in with a couple moms and dads who bought a Zhu Zhu Pet. Anne Dawidziak acquired one for $10 from a pal for her 4-12 months-outdated daughter.


“My daughter really likes it. She states it’s her very own pet,” claims Dawidziak. “We have a pet dog that is the spouse and children pet, but this is her extremely individual pet. It scurries about and she likes to chase it about.”


Dawidziak claims she likes it, far too. 


“I could do devoid of some of the noises it tends to make, but it is way superior than a genuine hamster,” she says. “It isn’t going to need to have foods, it would not will need to be cleaned up just after and it doesn’t have that funky odor. It could be the best pet.”


Melissa Hansen purchased a Zhu Zhu Pet for her 5-calendar year-outdated daughter, but she got hers from Toys ‘R’ Us in late November when the Zhu Zhu hoopla was at its peak.


“It was difficult to locate then. I termed the store and located out what day they would have some and acquired there when the retail store opened. I was fairly amazed by the line of grandmas waiting around to get them,” says Hansen. “Also there was a lot of complaining about only being able to obtain just one for every buyer, for every working day.”


Hansen suggests while she acquired it for her 5-yr-old daughter, her 2-12 months-old daughter performs with it far more. 


“She chases it all-around and thinks it is really humorous when it operates into her feet,” states Hansen.


Like Dawidziak, Hansen’s only grievance is the bothersome appears it will make.


“Mr. Squiggles can make bizarre barnyard sounds,” claims Hansen. “I feel they’re worth the $10 they retail for. I would by no means experienced compensated the $30 to $60 they were being selling for on eBay, no make any difference how badly my child preferred it.”


Erin LaGunn bought “PipSqueak” for her 3-12 months-old son. She suggests he favored it for about an hour on Xmas morning, but has not compensated any interest to it given that then.


“I by now thought of donating it to Goodwill, but I resolved to hang onto it,” states LaGunn. “It’s one particular of those odd trend toys that I type of respect. Like the Chia Pet or the Pet Rock.”



