FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH/WBAY) — Hatchimals are the breakout toy of the season, literally.
Manufactured by Spin Master, the interactive birdlike toy busts out of its egg and “ages” as kids take care of it, from an infant to a toddler to a little bird-like kid. They’re flying off store shelves.
Now Black Friday ad website bfads.net says it learned Toys R Us will have Hatchimals when stores open Sunday, December 4, at 8 a.m. The ad doesn’t list a price. Bfads.net gave prices of $59.99 or $69.99. The Toys R Us ad includes another hard-to-find item, the Nintendo Classic Mini Edition NES, for $59.99.
Bfads.net says it was tipped off by Toys R Us store employees in Santa Cruz, Calif., and received an advance copy of next week’s sales ad. It says Hatchimals may only be offered at select stores, and employees said there will be a ticketing system to ensure a first-come/first-serve basis for those waiting in line.
The web site says Target stores may also have Hatchimals on Sunday, citing “rumors from trusted sources.”
When they are in stock online, there’s usually only a few and they’re priced high. On Amazon, the toy ranges from $190 to as high as $350. On eBay, one seller offered a single Hatchimal for $600.
“The parents are having a rough time trying to find them,” Celeste Vanderlip, owner of Hobbytown in Fairfield, Connecticut, told WTNH. “Their child really wants that Hatchimal, it’s the gift at the top of their list that they’re looking for.”
For parents looking for Hatchimals, there are some ways to make finding them a bit easier, like Nowinstock.net, Stockinformer.com and Zoolert.com. These websites track retailers’ and will post when stores including Target, Toys R Us and Walmart have Hatchimals and other hot products in stock and ready to ship. We noticed Stockinformer includes smaller retailers and regional stores like Shopko.
Shoppers can also use Fyndly to track Target shipments.
Enter the following DPCI codes along with your zip code and how far you’re willing to drive:
Penguala Pink/Teal: 086-08-0395
Penguala Pink/Red: 086-08-0897
Draggle Blue/Purple: 086-08-0396
Draggle Blue/Green: 086-08-0898
Bearakeet Pink/Black: 086-08-0899
Be sure to call ahead, though. One Target store manager in Connecticut told WTNH Hatchimals are so hot that parents are lining up outside the store for shipments.
“Waited in line yesterday for Target to open and was able to get one of the seven they got in,” said shopper Allison Ondy, adding, “Target seems to be the store that gets daily shipments [but you] have to check their website at 6 a.m., see which stores have limited quantity and then drive there and wait in line to get a ticket to get one.”
Toys R Us is expecting additional shipments throughout the holiday season. Customers are advised to check their website early in the morning.
Walmart told WTNH it expects to have Hatchimals back in stock in time for its Black Friday sale for $48.88. The sale, though, starts at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, and online at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
Spin Master didn’t anticipate the popularity of Hatchimals and has increased production but the toys likely won’t be available until next year.
“The consumer response to Hatchimals has been extraordinary, exceeding all expectations,” the company wrote on its website. “Some of our first shipments have already sold out. While an additional product will hit retail shelves in November, we anticipate this inventory will also sell out quickly. We have increased production and a whole new batch of Hatchimals will be ready to hatch in early 2017.”
The statement continued, “This is a special season and we don’t want anyone to be disappointed, nor do we support inflated prices from non-authorized resellers. We are working on creative solutions to help kids and their parents withstand the wait. In the interim, some retailers are developing pre-sale and/or rain-check programs for redemption in January. We will continue to update with program details as they become available.”