What's the Big Deal With Go Go Hamster Pets?

 The UK Toy Retailers Association called it right when they announced their predictions for the top toys for Christmas 2009. Go Go Hamsters were on their list and, sure enough, they are now incredibly hard to get hold of.

You can still find these toys to buy. But, unless you're quick enough to snatch up a Chunk, Num Nums, Mr Squiggles or Pipsqueak when shops re-stock, you may not be able to get them at their RRP (£9.99). Independent sellers on Amazon are selling them for around £40-50, eBay auctions are reaching silly money and even shops that aren't trying to take the mickey too much are making a lovely profit at £24.99.

So, what is the fuss all about?

This isn't just about the fact that these interactive hamsters look to be good fun. They may have personalities of their own and do cute stuff to make you play with them and when they interact with their accessories. They may be being marketed as a way of getting kids to understand about pet-keeping responsibility without having to practice on a living animal.

Really though these pets are selling out for three reasons:

• They seem cheap for what you get (more on that later).
• Some kids ARE buzzing about them.
• Parents have rushed to buy them because they were predicted to be popular, thereby making them a sell-out.

So, getting hold of the hamster(s) your kid wants plus an accessory or two can be a real headache right now.

 One of the main reasons parents are so interested in these toys is price. Each Go Go Hamster can do a range of cute stuff. They interact with you. They're actually quite advanced as toys go but they retail at just £9.99 per hamster.

The manufacturer could probably charge more but they've been quite canny here. A great electronic Christmas gift for less than a tenner looks great. But, to be honest, I can't see any parent being able to stop there. The marketing behind Go Go Hamsters is mind-blowingly effective.

There are four hamsters here. Each has its own name and personality. Most kids will want more than one. Some will ask for all four (and will get them). But, there's more.....

As well as producing Go Go Hamsters the company also markets a range of play accessories for them (like balls, cars and playhouses). The hamsters might be cute as they interact with you. But, even a kid will realise that that can get boring really quickly. You really want to make your hamster a star, you'll give it a house, a ball, a car, a run.....

So, chances are your litle darlings will want accessories as well. What looked to start out as a £9.99 good deal could well get more expensive. Clever or what?!

 There may be parents who can't get their hands on a Go Go Hamster toy. Some may refuse to pay inflated prices; others may not be able to afford to pay them. Unless UK stocks are boosted there could be some disappointed kids out there come Christmas. So, how can you handle that?

To be honest, the worst thing you can do is to let your kid expect to unwrap a Go Go Hamster toy on Christmas Day. If this is what they really want, you'll ruin the whole day for everybody. Probably far better to be upfront and to tell them not to expect one or that you couldn't get one. Gives you a chance to get the moaning out of the way before Christmas!