Here's how much people are paying for the hottest sold-out Christmas gifts
It's a tale older than "Jingle All the Way": The frazzled buyer who will do anything -- anything -- to get her hands on the impossible-to-find gift of the Christmas shopping season. This year, with high demand meeting low supply, there are multiple impossible-to-find gifts -- and, yes, multiple frazzled buyers.
Here are the six gifts of the 2021 holiday season that have repeatedly, if not consistently, produced "out of stock" messages for us at Amazon, Walmart and other top retailers -- and the prices that über-dedicated shoppers have been willing to pay for them from third-party marketplaces such as eBay and StockX. We're talking a list of Christmas' most in-demand toys and electronic goodies: the Sony PlayStation 5, Microsoft's Xbox Series X; the Nintendo Switch OLED Model; the Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron; WowWee's Got2Glow Fairy Finder; and, Squishmallows plush toys.
Because paying list price (or below) is kinder to your wallet than surrendering to a marked-up price, we've included "check stock" buttons below for each item. This way, you can check on potential restocks at Amazon, Walmart and the like. The buttons are worth clicking. We're happy to report we actually did find some of these usually sold-out gifts in stock. Your luck may vary -- and we hope for the better.
PlayStation 5
Like the Xbox Series X and Switch OLED, the PS5 has faced production challenges stemming from the worldwide microchip shortage. As we've outlined, finding a PS5 in stock and at list price ($400 for the digital edition; $500 for the Blu-ray console) requires patience and perseverance. In other words, click, click and re-click those "check stock now" buttons -- and increase the chance you'll catch Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy or GameStop in the midst of a restock.
If time's an issue, but money's less of one, then know this: That when we last looked, the Blu-ray PS5 console was available, and selling, on average, for $786 at StockX. A survey of sold listings on eBay found similar receipts. On StockX, the digital PS5 was being snapped up for roughly $759.
Another PS5 option: Register with Sony's PlayStation.com, and take your place in line for the next restock. When your turn comes around, you'll be sent a link. (Please note, there's no timeline on how long you'll have to wait for your turn to come around.)
Xbox Series X
Like the PS5, the Xbox Series X was released in fall 2020. And like the PS5, the next-generation gaming system has been difficult to find from day one.
The Microsoft console lists for $500. On StockX, when we last looked, the average sale price (for the 10 most recent purchases) was $680. On eBay, it was $776. The eBay price was higher, in part, because buyers were picking up consoles that had been bundled with extra controllers.
At the major retailers, meanwhile, we mostly encountered empty shelves. (Use below the "check stock now" buttons to poke around the current inventory.) One thing: We qualified our previous statement because we did find Xbox Series X systems at Walmart and Best Buy -- as part of the Xbox All Access package.
At both Walmart and Best Buy, the Xbox All Access package, which includes an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, costs $34.99 a month for 24 months. That comes to $840 at the end of the term. The downside: $840 is significantly more than $500. The upside: No upfront costs, plus, oh, yeah, an Xbox Series X. The first step, if you go this route, is to see if you rate as a qualified buyer. And for what it's worth, when we were on the Best Buy site, it appeared that the All Access package was only available via in-store pickup.
Xbox All Access with Xbox Series X (Walmart), $34.99/mo. for 24 months
Xbox All Access with Xbox Series X (Best Buy), $34.99/mo. for 24 months
Nintendo Switch OLED Model
Released in October, this upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch features an upgraded OLED screen, hence the name. The device lists at $350, but, oh, by the way, it's virtually impossible to find for that price. (So, please do make good use of the "check stock now" buttons to see if the gaming gods are with you).
At last look, third-party sellers on Walmart were offering the Switch OLED for upwards of $500. On StockX, we reviewed the last 100 sales: The highest sold price was $422; the lowest was $391. At eBay, the Switch OLED averaged a sale price of $441 (over the 10 most recent purchases).
Nintendo Switch OLED Model, $350 MSRP
Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron
The Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron has cast a spell on shoppers. The toy, which lists for $70, has been going in and out of stock since we started monitoring it earlier this fall. The last we checked, it was only available on Amazon and Walmart via third-party sellers -- for almost double the retail tag. On eBay, we saw one recent sale where the purchase price (for a set of three cauldrons) hit $320. On StockX, among recent purchases, the average sale price for a single blue cauldron was $77; $77 was also the average sale price for the pink cauldron.
Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron, $70 MSRP
WowWee Got2Glow Fairy Finder
WowWee's Got2Glow Fairy Finder is another toy that's repeatedly gone out of stock over the last few months. But the last time we checked? In stock -- somewhat. The blue Fairy Finder was available for shipping from Target. The retailer was selling it for $35 -- $5 off the $40 list price. Target's stock was iffier on the pink-colored version of the toy.
Meanwhile, things seemed hopeful for Fairy Finder searchers at Amazon, where the toy was listed as "temporarily" out of stock. The retailer was allowing purchases, and noting charges wouldn't be processed until the retailer had an estimated shipping date.
Got2Glow Fairy Finder by WowWee - Blue (Target), $35 (regularly $40)
Squishmallows
Introduced in 2017, Squishmallows are the most established product on this list. There are hundreds of models to choose from. But after the line became TikTok famous this year, they're not all easy to find right now.
Violet the Octopus, for one, seems to be having a moment. We couldn't find the 16-inch, $40 toy in stock at either Amazon or Target. At Walmart, the plushie was only available from third-party sellers. On StockX, when we last checked, there were 26 sales going back to July. The highest was for a whopping $114; the lowest was for $15. The most recent sales were in the $30-ish range.
For a rundown of Squishmallows that are still in stock this Christmas, check out this ETonline shopping guide. If your heart (or someone on your gift list) is set on Violet, then check out our "check stock" buttons below.
Squishmallows Violet the Octopus, $40 MSRP
