Hatchimals, The Hot Toy This Holiday Season, But Hard To Find
CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you have not heard of them, it is probably too late to get one for the holidays
Hatchimals are the hot toy this holiday season, but finding one will be a challenge. WBBM's Nancy Harty reports.
"It's sort of like a robotics pet, or artificial intelligence little pet that you hatch out of an egg shell," said Katherine McHenry, Building Blocks Toy Store.
She knew this spring Hatchimals would be big sellers, but did not realize how big. She said her Building Blocks toy stores in Lakeview and Wicker Park sold out within days of what, so far, was her only shipment. She said that was almost a month ago, but customers keep asking for them.
"People telling us that they should be at the top of the list because they are good customers and what not," McHenry said. "Our issue is not that our list is too long, it's just that we don't have the product."
McHenry said she thinks kids interest in the interactive toy is genuine, and not just because the toy is so difficult to find.
CBS 2's Marissa Bailey shopped around to see if any local stores had stock of the Hatchimals and how much it will cost one to successful find one.
Online, Target said the Rosemont location has some in stock. CBS 2 checked out their stock and the shelves were empty. The store was sold out.
Hatchimals retail for $55-99, but retailers and resellers have been listing them for a lot more.
"It's a good value for the $60, if you can find it for $60," said "I think they are selling for $200, $300, $400, $500, $600, if you can find it," said Mary Couzin, Chicago toy expert.
Walmart had them online for almost $300. Montgomery Ward had them for less than $100, if you wanted it in time for Easter.
So what is the big deal with these eggs?
"The children grow with it," Couzin said. "Learn how to nuture. You want to hatch this little baby bird out of its egg, but then you can teach it, you can train it, to teach and dance and move and play games. It's a lot of fun."
CBS 2 asked our toy expert about shopping at smaller toy stores to find them.
When asked if shopping at certain stores on certain dates and maybe getting to know personnel at the store would better one's odds in finding a Hatchimal, Couzin responded, "I do know the owners of some stores want to get to know their customers and will set aside things for their customers."
CBS 2 spoke to one Target location who said to call every morning around 7 a.m. to see if there are any on the truck that day.
Toys "R" Us told CBS 2 they get multiple shipments in each week and have Hatchimals on each load.
K-Mart is sold out and said they do not plan to restock them.
