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This Year's 'It' Toy: Zhu Zhu Pets

The fake hamsters are selling out quickly in stores

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 21, 2009 4:01 PM CST

(Newser) – The year's "must-have" toy has been crowned. For the uninitiated, Zhu Zhu Pets are electronic hamsters. They typically cost under $10, but stores are selling out quickly and prices are soaring online. Witness the coronation:

  • BusinessWeek: "Remember the Cabbage Patch Kids craze? The Tickle Me Elmo frenzy? Meet their 2009 brethren, Zhu Zhu Pets."

  • ABC News: "The cuddly, on-the-go hamsters who squeak, roll, even drive their own cars, are on their way to becoming the holiday season's 'must-have' toy."
  • New York Times: "The hottest toy this holiday season is not a ticklish red monster. It’s a fake hamster."
  • CBS News: "The hottest holiday toy doesn't come from one of the mega toy makers. It's made by the little St. Louis-based Cepia company."

Zhu Zhu Pets are all the rage.
Zhu Zhu Pets are all the rage.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
Zhu Zhu Pets are all the rage.
Zhu Zhu Pets are all the rage.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
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A news item on the Zhu Zhu hamsters.   (Grab Networks)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
elderban
Nov 23, 2009 12:36 PM CST
It's called "creating a hype". Toy company comes out with toy in short supply, uses news stations to advertise it, and then everyone goes apeshit over trying to find them. I won't be buying any...I don't fall for these yearly marketing schemes. Buy your kids something real, not this materialistic crap that wont even last two months.
JGirl
Nov 22, 2009 11:08 AM CST
more crap that requires NO IMAGINATION on the part of the child.
Jes
Nov 22, 2009 5:46 AM CST
Seeing this kinda makes me want to get this for this little girl I sometimes babysit... But I'll probably get her a book and do an illustration in the front cover again like I did last year.
 

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