Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles - Light Brown
by Cepia
Our Price: $12.85
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $7.70 (click here)
Category: Toy
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: CepiaBrand: Zhu Zhu Pets
Model: 86651
Product features:
- Over 40 different sound effects, depending on the environment they encounter!
- Takes 2 AAA batteries, which are included
- Recommended for ages 4 and up
- Zhu Zhu Pets have been featured on Good Morning America, and are the year's HOTTEST toys!
- CAUTION: PLEASE KEEP AWAY FROM HAIR
Toys and Games Reviews of Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles - Light Brown
Customer Review: Pricing of toys--analysis *UPDATE on where to buy retail
Summary: 3 Stars
We had been looking for one of these for our daughter (age 7) since she asked for a real hamster just a week or so ago. I finally found some of the accessories at retail, and decided to try to fight what has been termed here the "price-gouging" of these toys on Amazon by offering them at my cost to other parents. Not so straight-forward as it might sound, as it turns out.
Well...my COST (for example, the medium-sized ($18) accessory) was retail price plus sales tax (=$19.62)
Amazon charges a base fee of $0.99 PLUS 15% of an item's sale price PLUS the shipping allowance (yes, they even take a commission on the shipping charge, which in this case is $5.99) So, Amazon's commission fee is $0.99 + 0.15(23.10 + 5.99) + an additional amount I haven't figured out yet. On this particular sale, Amazon's commission would be $6.88 (as quoted by Amazon on the "sell an item" page).
Wait...it gets better. Due to the high cost of postage, $5.99 doesn't even begin to cover what it costs to mail the item to someone in PA, CT, FL, etc. Actual cost via USPS is $11-13 priority mail, and even more via parcel post (as if that makes any sense)! The least expensive way I could find to ship it was FedEx Ground at $9.04-$9.53 depending on the state.
So, to BREAK EVEN on the purchase and try to get the toy to someone else who can't find one, I would have to sell the medium-size ($18 retail) toy for $35-36! (Twice the retail price)
That was a bit unexpected, since I was convinced these sellers were taking people to the cleaners.
Obviously, most sellers aren't going to go through all the hassle of buying, listing, and shipping for no profit, so I can now see why these crazy toys cost so much via 3rd party sellers on Amazon.
However, at 4-5 times retail, I do believe the pricing becomes more than a bit predatory.
Just wanted to share some insight into the pricing issue.
Yes, Amazon IS to blame, but not for "allowing" the double-size pricing; they actually are the root cause of the problem, because the price charged by sellers must cover not only their acquisition cost but Amazon's more than 15% commission fees as well, and the USPS just adds to the problem with horrendous shipping costs.
Perhaps what we need to do is set up a parents' network where parents can find/swap/sell things for actual acquisition cost without so much overhead that the only one making money is a huge venue site. (Just a thought)
*Since I still have not been able to find this particular toy to BUY it, I gave a median score across the board.
UPDATE: 12.15.09
Finally found one at retail today ($7.99) at Target, which has gone to a very fair ONE-per-customer purchase limit (YAY Target!)
Contact your local Target, and if they have not gone to this new 1-per-customer limit, petition them to do so, as there is still enough time before the blessed event to allow those still searching to be able to acquire one if Target stores adhere to this new limit.
As for the review, we are obviously giving this as a gift for our daughter, but the box has a hole in it so you can press the little guy's nose, and he does make some awfully cute sounds. (Not wanting to wear out the battery we didn't hit the button too many times, but he coos, gurgles, and "purrs" (I think)?).
Description of Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles - Light Brown
Mr. Squiggles is a modern-day Houdini Nurturing mode: hamsters coo and purrElectronic Pets Toys
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