And we thought we were jumping the gun…
Last Tuesday Toys R Us released its annual “Holiday Hot Toy List.” Actually, they seem to have released two separate lists, one with their Top 15 toys, and another one with those 15 plus 21 others. (Here’s the whole list here on their site: http://www.toysrus.com/hottoys. The top 15 are at the top, and the other 21 are down below the fold.) Which seems like some idea Marketing thought was brilliant but is actually confusing. Why not a “top 10″ list instead of 15, and why 21 extras instead of 20? I wonder what politics go into which toys get included on the list and which don’t.
I was all set to go on a rant about how they released the list on the last day of summer and what is wrong with people?, but then I was stopped short by this little number:
The “I Am T-Pain Mic”
The blurb from the TRU press release gives this description of it:
“Aspiring musicians and those who just want to have fun can sound like a pro with the push of a button thanks to the voice modification technology found in this microphone using the T-Pain Effect™, the singing style made famous by the world renown musician T-Pain. Boasting three minutes of recording time and the ability to transfer clips to a computer to share online with friends, kids can even layer their own voice into tracks found in their personal music collection. The Mic comes with a built-in speaker, a headphone jack, volume control and more, allowing users to break out a beat whenever they’re in the groove. 3 “AAA” batteries required (included). Ages 7 years and up.”
Want.
Who could possibly not want to sound like T-Pain? You can keep all your Monster High Fearleaders and LeapPad stuff–voice modification is where it’s at. With my I Am T-Pain Mic it’s going to be a “Computer Love” fantasy around here non-stop.
But back to the list. If you want to read the descriptions of all 36 items, go to the official press release and scroll down to the bottom, where they have them separated by age category.
Thoughts? Do you like the toys on the list? Will this list influence your buying habits? Is it too early even to think about it? Will anything ever compare to Cabbage Patch Kids? (See also: Get off my lawn.)
Written by Magda (Christmased.com‘s Head Elf), who doesn’t want anything else from the Hot Toy List except that microphone.
Love it! I’m going on the hunt early to get the really good stuff. Buy early and stash it, that’s my motto.
It is hard to be ‘secret agent man’ with all the stuff in the stores screaming CHRISTMAS though.
Why does everyone forget Jesus was a jew?
Now I want the T-Pain Mike too … and I’m all done Christmas shopping.
Yes, I want this. I can force my husband to sing “I’m on a Boat” 24/7 with me now. Hell, I can force the kids to sing it with me. If I’m a really lucky girl Andy Samberg will come sing with me and my T-Pain mic. Hells yes.
We already are plush Angry Bird owners, and I really wouldn’t buy any of the other “hot” items for my children. My kids have no idea what wonders await them behind the glorious doors at the TRU store. Mwa hahahahahahahaha.
Since Diapers.com delivers toys to my doorstep for free (overnight) and now YoYo does the same (20% off your first order) I refuse to brave the lines at TRU. I worked at TRU during high school & I honestly have panic attacks just driving by TRU stores.
Does anyone remember the 800 page Sears Wish Book?
When I was a kid, Christmas season began when the Sears catalog came in the mail!
Oh yes! The Christmas Wish book. Loved it. And yes, it was the sign for us kids that the Christmas season was beginning.
Ooohhh I have so much angst about Xmas; great topic.
For TRU…I do shop there from time to time, but I have had trouble getting past the pink and blue aisles. I really can’t. I agree that kids do differentiate their play along gender lines. But I really don’t believe we have to organize the stores that way. So I am heartened that their toy list is not divided up into pink and blue and that their press release uses gender-neutral language like “Calling all future fashion designers” and not “GIRLS LOOK HERE.”
Go TRU. And I agree, the mike is cool.
TRU stresses me out. I don’t shop there unless it’s an emergency. (Full disclosure: I love Amazon Prime and take full advantage of it for Christmas shopping).
That said, I probably won’t buy any of the toys on the list. My girls are into legos, American Girl dolls, books and all things Disney, so we’ll focus gift giving in those areas, with little things from our local toy store (flash lights with their names on them, perhaps, etc.).
We are actually going to Disney a couple weeks before Christmas (for a wedding), which will be nice, because they have lots of special events around the holidays. One of my favorites is at Epcot, where each country area has a storyteller that talks about the traditions in that country. At any rate, because of the cost of the trip, we likely won’t spend as much this year anyway.
Well, that list will pretty much be my ‘don’t buy this’ list.* Not because I necessarily have anything against the toys, but, while DS is still little, I’m trying to keep the plastic to a minimum (says the girl who loved Fabulous Fred as a kid…and yes, I’m dating myself). And, full disclosure, I work in merchandising and product development, so, my standards of what I’m looking for in a toy are high. I generally want to try to find unique gifts, so I’ll stay away from Toys’r'Us etc. Not to mention I can’t stand crowds.
In terms of what politics go into the top toy list, you can bet that it’s a combination of what they actually find cool, what merchandise they need to move because it’s been in the warehouse too long (or they bought too much of it), and what products they’ve purchased a lot of stock of because they think they are the ‘next big thing’ at the right price, based on their research and analysis.
*OK, I may have to go back on my word. Just saw the Angry Birds plushes. DS is obsessed with ‘Angrys Birds’. Nah, I won’t buy them (I try to stay away from branded merch), but I may try to make my own!
My girls are a big old for most things in TRU now, but even when they weren’t I avoided it — too big, too noisy and overstimulating, and too much plastic. I lived in Pennsylvania about a mile from the original Zany Brainy, and I still mourn the selling of that wonderfully amazing, quirky store to the soulless group of FAO Schwarz, who then proceeded to turn it into a weak plastic pink and blue imitation TRU. Sigh.
TRU is at the mall, therefore, I only go there when necessary (like we want to have a lot of selection on inexpensive bikes). I think we’ve gone maybe 5 or 6 times in my kids’ life. I use amazon for buying everything (food, spare garage door remotes, toys, books, curtains, car seats, cell phone accessories, etc.).
Also, I don’t know what a T-Pain effect is, so I feel either old or lame or both. I’m guessing it’s not like a Doppler effect or a Bernouli effect, though.
ha, carrie! imagine a mic that came with bernouli effect – sing and you can fly! though my personal fave is leidenfrost effect. just for the name alone, it’s in the lead. but, yeah, i don’t know what it is, either.
Thanks for the share!
Nancy.R
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