By JENNIFER PALMER
The Oklahoman
Tickle Me Elmo is back this year but will be up against what retailers say are some tough contenders -- furry, electronic hamsters -- in this year's battle of the hot holiday gifts.
Santa will no doubt be hearing many requests for the popular hamsters, called
Zhu Zhu Pets. Toys R Us listed the hamsters on its "2009 Holiday Hot Toy List" released in September.
The Original Tickle Me Elmo, a Toys R Us exclusive, was on the list this year, too.
Lines of parents trying to get their hands on Zhu Zhu Pets have been reported at toy stores since September, and the critters are currently sold out on the Web sites of major retailers Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us.
Retail price for the hamsters, which come in four styles, is around $10. But because of the demand, there are listings on Web sites such as Amazon, eBay and Craigslist for three times that amount and even more for a complete set.
"These are definitely a hot item," said Bob Friedland, a spokesman for Toys R Us.
Also on the hot listOther popular toys this year will be the
Disney Princess:
Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll,
Wii Sports Resort,
Disney Netpal (a netbook computer -
review), and
Little Superstar Jammin' Band Musical Microphone from Fisher Price, Friedland said.
PayPal and eBay are predicting the season's top items to be
Twilight Barbie dolls,
Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle and the
"Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen" DVD, said Beth Strobel, PayPal's online personal shopper.
Adults have another hot item topping their wish lists:
Amazon's Kindle, an electronic reader that lets users download books and newspapers. The newest model of the device sells for $259.
An Amazon spokesperson said Kindle has become "the most wished for, the most gifted and the bestselling product" across millions of items sold on Amazon.com.
Other electronics, such as Apple's iPod Touch and iPhone, Wii game systems, and other techie delights also will be popular this year, retailers say.
Why this year you should buy earlyShoppers waiting for Black Friday sales may miss out on some of the most wanted items.
"In anticipation of weak demand, many retailers scaled back on inventory levels to prevent unplanned markdowns at the end of the season," said Tracy Mullin, president and chief executive of the National Retail Federation. "Once the most popular items are gone, retailers won't have anywhere to get them, so if there was ever a holiday season to buy early, this is it."
