what's a Zhu Zhu?

[DrPizza]

You make valid points, but I think you are overthinking the issue here. First, always keep in mind that you were once a little child and didn't know the difference between a need and want. All of us were and the vast majority grow to understand the difference. Second, we are talking one day of the year, a day that children and adults get to indulge in their fancies. It is not unreasonable to allow the line to be blurred for that day.

But, I don't agree with blindly indulging the fancies of children. Sure, blur the line a bit on that day, but to spend $50 on an $8 item which isn't going to be played with for more than a couple of days by the majority of kids who receive one? And, don't forget - after you get the zhu zhu, then you need to get all the accessories. They'll all be on a shelf or buried in a toy box in less than 2 months. Why not put that $50 or more toward a much better, higher quality gift that will make the child excited. I'm not saying not to spoil your kids on Christmas, but to at least apply a little thought into what you're purchasing for your kids, since kids are pretty questionable in regard to their own ability to assess how much they actually will play with their new toy.

 

[Homerboy]

You both make good points. I can accept this.

Holy shit... it's a Christmas miracle. I think we're having a civilized debate on ATOT!

 

[Homerboy]

But, I don't agree with blindly indulging the fancies of children. Sure, blur the line a bit on that day, but to spend $50 on an $8 item which isn't going to be played with for more than a couple of days by the majority of kids who receive one? And, don't forget - after you get the zhu zhu, then you need to get all the accessories. They'll all be on a shelf or buried in a toy box in less than 2 months. Why not put that $50 or more toward a much better, higher quality gift that will make the child excited. I'm not saying not to spoil your kids on Christmas, but to at least apply a little thought into what you're purchasing for your kids, since kids are pretty questionable in regard to their own ability to assess how much they actually will play with their new toy.

DrPizza, again, the OP's point was standing inline for hours for the $8 item. I don't see or recall anyone in this thread arguing that spending 600% on any item is EVER a good idea. We're talking about sacrificing a little time in line to make a kid happy on Christmas morning (and possibly extending their belief in Christmas magic too).

I will, and have, as I previously stated spend more than retail on an item, within sane reason, if the situation arises.

 

[chusteczka]

Holy shit... it's a Christmas miracle. I think we're having a civilized debate on ATOT!

I have not attacked anyone.

 

[Modelworks]

You bought THREE?!?! You're ruining those children!!!!

heh,
The thing is I didn't even know they were popular or what they even were. I needed some last minute gifts for my nieces and was looking over the slickdeals forums. Someone posted that walmart online has zhu zhu back in stock for $8 each. I clicked on it because I had no idea WTF a zhu zhu was. I bought them online off the walmart site last week at retail prices, no way would I pay more than retail.

 

[Homerboy]

I have not attacked anyone.

I didn't say you did. That's the beauty of it. It's like a civilized discussion in here... unprecedented in ATOT history.

 

[ebaycj]

"...The only dumbass is a person who dates a single mom..."

FAIL quote of the year.

He just forgot the second half.

"...The only dumbass is a person who dates a single mom... And doesn't wear a condom."

 

[thirdeye]

My sister bought one of these for my almost 3 year old daughter. She loves it, though I can't really say I understand the fascination with them. It's neat but damn the toys and shit for them are expensive!

 

[darkswordsman17]

have you ever owned a hamster or any other pet? i don't now how much hamsters cost these days as I haven't had one since i was in elementary school, but you have to buy a cage for it, then you have to continually buy food and cage bedding for it until it dies. not only that, you have to actually take care of it and if your kid gets bored of it in a month, you're stuck taking care of it.

Yes I have. In fact it was a Christmas present one year. They aren't that expensive, at least you used to be able to buy a kit that'd have a decent cage (no I'm not talking about the giant ones with tubes going everywhere), some food and bedding for like $20. The hamster itself was maybe $5. One of the plastic balls was like $10. They serve as cheap lessons, both for kids and parents. Kids can learn about taking care of them, and parents can find out if their kids are capable of taking care of an animal so it helps when considering a bigger pet like a dog.

I'm not arguing that you shouldn't get your kids what they want, but kids are fairly stupid and so they'll want at least half of everything you show them. If nothing else, see if you can find a higher quality version of what they're wanting. In this case, a real hamster, or maybe a Lego Mindstorms kit so they can make their own version of this would be better, in my opinion at least.

Plus, if consumers stopped buying the cheap throwaway shit, then, maybe they'd stop making so much of it and higher quality stuff would be more prevalent in the market. I hear parents whine about the cheap crappy toys, but then they still go and buy them. Hell, if you buy good quality toys, they can be passed down to your grandchildren.

 

[FoBoT]

i thought you were talking about
Xuxa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuxa
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0579430/

 

[Homerboy]

the ironicness of this is that last night my father in law came over for dinner, and brought 2 Zhu Zhu pets that they bought for our new kittens. HE said the kiosk at the mall had mountains of them several weeks ago.

The other silly part is that the cats were scared to death of them, but my 6 year old daughter's eyes were very, very wide.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

have you ever owned a hamster or any other pet? i don't now how much hamsters cost these days as I haven't had one since i was in elementary school, but you have to buy a cage for it, then you have to continually buy food and cage bedding for it until it dies. not only that, you have to actually take care of it and if your kid gets bored of it in a month, you're stuck taking care of it.

A live animal has to eat? No sheit?

Every child should have the responsibility of an animal at least once, it's also a good way to teach them about how life works and doesn't work.

A robotic mouse in my house? Not bloody likely.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

But, I don't agree with blindly indulging the fancies of children. Sure, blur the line a bit on that day, but to spend $50 on an $8 item which isn't going to be played with for more than a couple of days by the majority of kids who receive one? And, don't forget - after you get the zhu zhu, then you need to get all the accessories. They'll all be on a shelf or buried in a toy box in less than 2 months. Why not put that $50 or more toward a much better, higher quality gift that will make the child excited. I'm not saying not to spoil your kids on Christmas, but to at least apply a little thought into what you're purchasing for your kids, since kids are pretty questionable in regard to their own ability to assess how much they actually will play with their new toy.

I'll have to agree on this too but it's not really an $8 item, you'll find it at walmart for $2 within a month.

WTH happened to proper things that the kids can use all year round? I... i can't believe i just wrote that, goddamit i'm getting old.

 

[alkemyst]

I heard about that on NPR. It's a insanely popular toy that came out of nowhere. Nobody was prepared for the demand, so there weren't enough manufactured, and they're in short supply. They said they're selling for 5 times the retail price on Ebay.

actually some more than 10 times.

 

[alkemyst]

A live animal has to eat? No sheit?

Every child should have the responsibility of an animal at least once, it's also a good way to teach them about how life works and doesn't work.

A robotic mouse in my house? Not bloody likely.

being you'd have to get a woman to help you have a baby, I'd agree.