WHAT ARE WEBKINZ?
If you have children I’m sure you have heard of Webkinz. These adorable stuffed toys have their own virtual world and are on the minds and in the hearts of nearly every child in the US. This toy is a hybrid, as it can be played with in the physical and virtual world.
Those who sell Webkinz, will tell you they can’t keep their shelves stocked, that’s just how popular they are. Any advertisement for these cuddly, virtual, toys will not be a guarantee they will be there when you place an order. Most of us have seen the beanie baby craze come and go, and remember the Tickle Me Elmo disaster, know that a purchase for any occasion (birthday, Christmas) will need to be thought of far in advance.
Each of the Webkinz comes to you with an access code that can be used on webkinz.com. This site has a virtual world where kids are able to interact with their Webkinz pet’s personality. The Webkinz site gets more than a million visitors every month, with the average user staying two or more hours. This site also allows children to shop virtual stores with KinzCash, answer Webkinz trivia questions, play games with other users, and chat with other children in a room called KinzChat. This site is perfectly safe for children 6 years and up because there is no personal information exchanged. KinzChat doesn’t allow children to type answers, they have 900 preset phrases that can be chosen to chat with others.
The Webkinz line features more than 40 toys, ranging anywhere from soft frogs to cuddly bears. There are also over 20 Lil’Kinz, which are the younger siblings of the Webkinz pets. Webkinz also offer a line of accessories with Webkinz in mind, and the site will give 2000 KinzCash each time a pet is registered.
These little wonders have already won their creator a few awards. The Toy Industry Association named Webkinz the year’s best toy sold through specialty retailers. Webkinz was also awarded the iParenting Media Award, which honors products for outstanding achievement in the children-juvenile marketplace.
Webkinz may have started out small but it has grown into a huge phenomenon. I can see it becoming bigger than the beanie baby craze, and that’s really saying something. As long as there is a demand for Webkinz, they will keep getting more and more popular. In addition, each Webkinz is retired after a time. This makes the demand for the toy greater and drives up the price, as everyone scrambles to find one to buy. Hm… I think I know what my next stock investment will be.
Now that you know what Webkinz are, I dare you to visit a site that sells these little wonders, and not adopt one for a child you know or even for yourself. This toy is an excellent choice for parents who want to bring young children into the information age. 6 is quite young to become computer savvy, but the sooner they start, the faster they will become accustomed to the proper use of a computer and the internet.
WHERE TO FIND WEBKINZ
Webkinz has become one of the biggest toy sensations and can be found on the internet or in specialty shops in the real world. Toy Wiz is an online store that offers current and retired Webkinz. For instance they have:
- Webkinz Black Lab– regular price $59.99– sale price $53.99
- Webkinz Cheeky Cat– regular price $209.99– sale price $188.99
- Webkinz Cheeky Dog– regular price $619.99– sale price $557.99
- Webkinz GENERATION TAG Cocker Spaniel– regular price– $259.99– sale price– $233.99
- Webkinz Striped Alley Cat– regular price $19.99– sale price– $17.99
- Webkinz White Poodle– regular price $19.99– sale price– $17.99
- Lil’Kinz Basset Hound– regular price $399.99– sale price– $359.99
- Lil’Kinz Hippo– regular price $199.99– sale price– $179.99
- Lil’Kinz Black Bear– regular price $149.99– sale price $134.99
- Lil’Kinz St. Bernard– regular price $499.99– sale price $449.99
- Lil’Kinz White Poodle– regular price $17.99– sale price $16.19– and many more.
I only recently learned about Webkinz recently, and find this a fascinating idea. I really never got into the Beanie Baby craze, or the battles over Tickle Me Elmo. Frankly, if I thought a toy was too expensive it was something my son could do without, he had enough toys and never had to play with sticks and rocks (unless he wanted to). I am amazed at the lengths parents will go to, to get a certain item that their child feels they need to have. I know it comes from love and needing to give, but still…
I did find most of the Webkinz reasonably priced, the high priced Webkinz are the toys that have been officially retired, and the only way to get them is from someone who has them already– no more will be made. This creates a demand and the price will skyrocket. I guess it is human nature to desperately want what we can’t have.
I like the idea of the Webkinz Website. With computers everywhere and this being the information age, I believe the younger a child is introduced to a computer the better off he will be. This site teaches children how to interact with their virtual Webkinz and allows them to use their imagination to create a space of their own. Nearly every job today, requires computer literacy. I have friends I have known for years who are completely intimidated by the computer and will not even attempt to use it.
For the most part, I believe Webkinz are a terrific idea for kids, and even some adults. I am leaning toward buying a few myself to keep as an investment for a time in the near future when they will be retired. After all, a great many adults were into Beanie Baby collecting and profited well if I remember correctly.
Check out Webkinz and see just how great they are. The Lil’Kinz are even cuter, but they retire too. My advice is to anyone thinking about giving Webkinz as Christmas gift– start shopping now.
WHERE CAN I FIND DEALS ON WEBKINZ?
Are you looking for deals on Webkinz? Since they are so popular and unique you won’t find too many places that will give you a deep discount. However, I found some internet stores that do sell some of their Webkinz and Lil’Kinz for less.
Where can you find deals on Webkinz? The answer is:
- Kimmyshop internet store carries quite a few Webkinz, some of them on sale.
- Amazon has both new and used Webkinz and Lil’Kinz. These are sold through several internet stores and you will find many of them on sale.
- The Ebay auction site has over 14,000 Webkinz and Webkinz accessories at auction. Since this is an auction site, you may be able to get them for less. You also have an opportunity to purchase the Webkinz at a set price if the seller has a ‘Buy It Now’ policy. You should really watch out for the shipping and handling, each seller sets the amount for each item. You may end up paying more for the toy in the long run.
- Halfmania is offering the Webkinz Panda for half price. It isn’t clear whether there is more than one for sale. The regular price on the Panda is $19.99.
- Cmstore has Webkinz and Lil’Kinz at a reasonable price. They also have retired pets, and accessories for your pets. This site does not have them in stock, but you can pre-order.
- 3.shopping has a few deals on Webkinz, through various internet stores.
- Hometeams is a site where you will find Webkinz at a very reasonable price. If you spend more than $40 you will get free shipping within the US.
- Pokeorder features Webkinz and Lil’Kinz, as low as $13.99. They offer free shipping on orders over $40, within the US.
- At the everafterstore, You will receive 10% off at the checkout, and a free Happy Bubbles Necklace with your Webkinz, Lil’Kinz, clothing for Webkinz and Lil’Kinz, or Webkinz Jewelry purchase.
Webkinz have become very popular since their birth in 2005. The best thing about Webkinz and Lil’Kinz is the fact that you can register them online and they will become a virtual pet. Now you can have two pets for the price of one. Each pet comes with a special ID that allows the owner to log onto the Webkinz website and build a virtual reality for their pet’s virtual counterpart. They are able to design a virtual room for this virtual pet, themselves.
Registering and interacting with this virtual pet does not occur without certain responsibilities. Even virtual pets need food and attention, this is taken care of when the owner earns KinzCash to buy necessities for their virtual pet. Each user is given 2000 KinzCash and more can be earned by playing games and participating in other activities on the Webkinz site.
Webkinz have become so popular that it can be very difficult to find the one you want. While several stores, online and offline, sell Webkinz and Lil’Kinz they sell out quickly. It looks like Webkinz have taken over the roll that, at one time, belonged to Beanie Babies when it comes to popularity.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO FIND WEBKINZ ACCESSORIES?
There are many places to find Webkinz accessories. The first place to look would probably be the Webkinz website, since these things can be purchased with KinzCash. KinzCash can be earned on the site by playing games and taking quizzes. A child will also be able to earn KinzCash interacting with others on the site.
There are other internet stores where you will find Webkinz accessories. I have listed a few of the sites that offer Webkinz accessories.
- At Webkinz-Pets-Online, you will find Webkinz and a few Webkinz accessories.
- Toy Wiz is another internet store that feature Webkinz accessories. They sell Webkinz toys, trading cards in different quantities and quality, toys, and gifts. Some of the trading card packs contain a web card that can be used to register a virtual pet on the website, without buying the pet.
- VirPets is a site where you will find Webkinz accessories, such as sleeping bags for $5, And Webkinz clothes for $7.99. Check them out for other accessories.
- Lindzs has a large selection of Webkinz accessories to choose from. They offer Webkinz cosmetics, back packs, purses, jewelry, and trading cards.
- Wackyplanet sells Webkinz and Webkinz accessories, and they offer free shipping on any Webkinz order of $75 or more.
- Jeannieshouse offers Webkinz backpacks and purses for $10.50 each.
- Thebookcellercafe sells Webkinz knapsacks and purses for $12.99 each.
- Mastermindtoys has Webkinz purses and knapsacks at various prices.
- Flamingice offers many Webkinz accessories at a reasonable price.
- Ebay has many Webkinz Accessories up for auction.
- Secret-hearts sells carriers and purses.
- Customstorybooks offers Webkinz purses, collars and bracelets.
- Strawberrycentral has Webkinz accessories; trading cards; jewelry; clothes; purses and backpacks; perfume and lip gloss, and mouse pads.
- Crystalpineapple has knapsacks, purses, and clothing for Webkinz. If you buy from this internet store and the item happens to be out of stock, your item will be shipped to you as soon as they arrive. This is an official Webkinz store that is trying to keep Webkinz toys in stock.
- BuddyDudz and Webkinz Wallapalooza is an Ebay store that sells Webkinz clothes for $7.99.
- Chckerberries has a variety of Webkinz accessories at a reasonable price.
- Gustoniangifts has clothes that will fit Webkinz, but do not have the Webkinz brand name.
All of these internet stores have Webkinz related items, with the exception of Checkerberries that offer clothes that will fit Webkinz, but not Webkinz clothes. There are several stores that carry Webkinz accessories. Webkinz website is, of course, the leader in Webkinz toys and accessories, and they can be purchased with KinzCash that can be earned by playing games and participating in other activities.
You should do a little research as the prices for the same items vary from store to store. Offline stores like Hallmark and other specialty stores carry Webkinz and Webkinz related items.
THE WEBKINZ CRAZE
It has been a while since the last toy craze, I believe it was the Tickle Me Elmo toy that sparked the last one. Before that the Beanie Babies craze was in full swing and collecting was fun and often quite lucrative. The newest is the Webkinz craze. It is hard to predict how long the Webkinz craze will continue. The Beanie Babies craze seemed to bottom out overnight, leaving serious investment collectors holding a lot of toys that were suddenly not worth a hill of beans.
Since these stuffed toys also offer a one year membership to each child that registers a new Webkinz or Lil’Kinz toy on the Webkinz website, their popularity may hang tough in the long run. The Webkinz site promises to add new and exciting activities on a regular basis. I believe if they do keep the website interesting, the Webkinz craze will last a good, long time. One thing is for certain, kids need a stimulating reason to continue on with an activity, most of them have a shorter attention span.
The Webkinz website offers many different activities for kids, and a chance to earn KinzCash that is used to keep their virtual pet happy and healthy by purchasing different items for them at the Webkinz store. I believe the KinzCash can be used to purchase other Webkinz at the store. Any child with access to a home computer is a likely candidate to be a Webkinz pet owner. This is the reason I believe the Webkinz craze will last longer than the toy manias of the past. I think the Webkinz craze could last quite a few years.
Ganz, the makers of Webkinz, have very clever marketing strategies in place. First of all the idea that a subscription to the website will only last one year, and then another Webkinz must be registered, which will extend the subscription for another year, and so on. This assures future sales of the toy because the child will not want to give up the subscription and most parents will comply. The second ingenious marketing strategy is the fact that all Webkinz are retired after a certain time. This creates a huge demand, and a scramble to get that particular toy. This drives the price of the toy through the roof, check out some of the high prices on Ebay if you want to see just how much they are going for. We may be in for some bloody battles among parents as they fight for that elusive toy which is, of course, the only one their child thinks they need.
Not only are kids of elementary school age crazy about Webkinz, but more often kids in their teens are into these cuddly stuffed toys with a virtual side. Right now the Webkinz Clydesdale is not readily available, not because he is retired, but because his debut has been delayed. This also causes a scramble and a flood of pre-orders to assure the ownership of the toy.
I think that Webkinz are a great toy for kids, not only does it teach responsibility, but it will allow younger children to learn how to use a computer and the internet. In this information age, it is essential to know these things to eventually get a decent job and a head-start couldn’t hurt.
Many parents have voiced a concern over letting their children participate in an online chat. The Webkinz website has strict precautions in place when it comes to that. Younger children are not allowed to type an answer in chat, they need to choose one of 900 pre-designed phrases in a drop down menu. No personal identification is asked for, so there is no way to find out anything about another. Older children are allowed to type when chatting, but must use those words that are predetermined in the website dictionary.
GREAT THINGS ABOUT WEBKINZ
Webkinz are small stuffed animals that were introduced by the Ganz gift company in 2005. Each one has a special code of their own which allows the owner to go to the internet site, Webkinz World, and adopt a virtual version of their toy. Once they have created the virtual pet, they are able to interact with it. There are also younger brothers and sisters of the Webkinz called Lil’Kinz. These stuffed toys are even smaller than the Webkinz, but are made on the same order.
These toys are reminiscent of Beanie Babies, as each one is manufactured for a time and then retired. This drives the price up and will make it more difficult to get them. The retired Webkinz include: the unicorn, gray and white cat, the cheeky dog, and the cheeky cat. More than two million Webkinz have been sold to retailers, and another million to registered users of the Webkinz site.
When a Webkinz is adopted each child is given a room on the website, a food item, a balloon to welcome them, 2000 in KinzCash, and a piece of furniture for their virtual counter-pet. KinzCash is a version of virtual currency. Each virtual pet has certain levels of health, happiness, and hunger that decrease as a child spends time with them. These levels can be increased by exercising, bathing, feeding, and playing with the pet. If these levels become too low, the pet will need to take special medicine that can be bought at the virtual clinic. Game play on the site consists of making and spending KinzCash. To earn KinzCash you can play games, and answer quizzes. Once earned, the KinzCash can be used to purchase items for the virtual pet, to keep them happy and well. Once a user registers a pet, they are allowed to use the website free for one year. After the year is up, they must register a new pet to extend the play for another year.
Some parents have been concerned that the chat system being unsafe for children. There are strict rules in place for users, with restrictions on the way messages are sent, and a dictionary put in place to prevent any unsavory words from appearing on the chat. Younger users need to use a drop down menu with at least 900 pre set phrases that can be clicked on as an answer to others the chat room. They will not be able to type on the system at all. Parents who have concerns can take an animated tour of the Webkinz website.
Kids will have a ball taking care of their virtual pet. From customizing the room it will live in to buying food, clothes and furniture for your pet, and even buy other Webkinz pets at the Webkinz store. There are several games to play and stories to read, and the people at Webkinz World have promised to keep adding new activities to the site so they will never be bored.
This is one of the brightest ideas for children, to date. It gives them focus, and teaches them responsibility. Even if they are young, they will be able to use the computer like the older kids do. I think Webkinz are a great idea.
A FEW TIPS ON BUYING WEBKINZ ON EBAY.
As with anywhere you would buy Webkinz, you need to check out the ‘Buy Now’ price (if there is one). Ebay is an auction site so you will be able to visit Ebay and type in Webkinz. You will see all of the Webkinz up for auction, how many bids have been made and how long the auction has before it is over. I have a few tips on buying Webkinz on Ebay.
Before you will be allowed to bid you must register. Make sure you understand the way Ebay works. They have several information pages you should read through to make sure you know the bidding procedure. It isn’t complicated, but you will need to know the basics. They also provide a tutorial on how to sell on Ebay, which is highly informative.
Another tip on buying Webkinz on Ebay, is that you will need to be aware of how much the seller is asking for shipping and handling. No matter how big a deal you get on your Webkinz, if the shipping and handling is too steep you will not come out ahead.
There is also the fact that some sellers have a reserve price for their merchandise. This price is what they are asking for the item, if the bidding does not reach or go over this price, the item will not be sold. Sometimes these prices are a bit high. You will need to decide whether it will be worth it to bid on this item once you have counted all the costs.
The next tip on buying Webkinz on Ebay has to do with the seller. If you want to know how reputable the seller is you can look at reviews other customers have written on delivery, customer service, quality of product, and over all reputation. It is a good idea to do this with any Ebay seller you plan on being involved with. If there are no reviews written about a seller, that is not necessarily a bad thing. They may have just started selling on Ebay and have not built up a customer reputation yet, or there have been no negative consequences. Some sellers have very positive feedback from satisfied customers. But you should be aware that there are a few scams out there, Ebay tries to control this, but there are times when a disreputable person will sell on Ebay. A complaint to Ebay will take care of that in short order, and they will be banned from ever using the site again.
Here are some of the Webkinz available on Ebay.
- New Webkinz Pink Poodle W/Sealed Code– Super Cute– 2 bids– price $1.04– shipping and handling– $7.00– time left on auction 1 hr. 28 min.
- New Webkinz Koala Bear NWT, hard to find, rare– 4 bids– price $12– shipping and handling $6.50– seller uses PayPal only– time left on auction 1 hr. 28 min.
- New Pug Webkinz Dog Ganz Mint With Sealed Tags– 2 bids $6.25– shipping and handling $6.99– time left 1 hr. 29 min.
Note that this is just an example of what to expect when you look on Ebay for Webkinz. It was taken from the site when this was written and probably not be there when you search.
Webkinz are very popular and you may be able to get a great deal on a Webkinz. The shipping and handling on this Ebay is probably not more than on an internet store. I hope this article has been of help to those who want to shop on Ebay for Webkinz.
HOW TO COLLECT WEBKINZ WITHOUT GOING BROKE?
Webkinz are all the rage, these soft, cuddly, plush toys have taken over our kids! Of course this is not an unusual phenomenon. Those of us who remember Beanie Babies and Tickle Me Elmo, are not too surprised. We have seen them come and go, the toy fads. There were even fights over Tickle Me Elmo. Parents who wanted to give their child the animated toy were not about to let someone else get the precious cargo if they could help it.
Webkinz usually have a reasonable price tag, they cost from $10 and up. The most expensive Webkinz are those that have been retired. This means the Webkinz manufacturer, Ganz, will no longer be making that particular toy. This drives the price of the retired Webkinz through the roof as parents and collectors frantically search for the elusive toy. Some retired Webkinz already have a price on their head of more than $500.
You can collect Webkinz without going broke if you stick with non-retired Webkinz. There are several online stores that offer Webkinz, Lil’Kinz, and accessories for the stuffed toys. Collecting Webkinz can be fun for kids and lucrative for adult collectors, so nobody wants to pay an arm and a leg for them. To collect Webkinz without going broke, you will need to shop around to get the best prices, and buy them accordingly.
Many internet stores that carry Webkinz and Webkinz related products. Amazon has several Webkinz for sale from different parties.
- 1. Webkinz Chihuahua– New $21.95– 41 used and new from $15.97.
- 2.Webkinz Cheeky monkey– Buy New $19.49, $32.95– 61 used and new from $16.95.
- 3.Webkinz Polar Bear– New $14.95, $35.95– used and new from $14.42.
- 4.Webkinz Trading Card Game, Booster Pack– New $3.99– 18 used and new from $1.48.
- 5.Webkinz Hippo– New $16.95– 58 used and new from $16.49.
- 6.Webkinz Googles the Platypus– New $15.95– 44 used and new from $15.95.
- 7.Webkinz Tree Frog– New $15.95, $30.95– 33 used and new from $14.95.
- 8.Webkinz Koala– New $28.95– used and new from $17.98.
- 9.Webkinz Rabbit– New $15.49– 35 used and new from $14.19.
- 10.Webkinz Black And White Panda Plush– New $23.49– 30 used and new from $22.50.
- 11.Webkinz Beige Pug– New $15.99– 48 used and new from $12.88.
- 12.Webkinz Pug– New $11.99– used and new from $11.99.
- 13.Webkinz Golden Retriever– New $20.95– 32 used and new from $16.99.
- 14.Webkinz Lion– New $21.75– 34 used and new from $16.89.
- 15.Webkinz Pig– New $17.95– 38 used and new from $15.95.
This is a sampling of a only a few of the Webkinz to be found on Amazon. You can go to Amazon and be able to compare prices to get the best deal. Another place to find and compare prices on Webkinz is Shopzilla. You can collect Webkinz without going broke by doing a bit of homework and buying at the most reasonable price.
ARE WEBKINZ JUST FOR KIDS?
Webkinz are a highly sophisticated toy designed for children, but I don’t think they are just for kids. Many adults have toy collections (teddy bears, dolls and Beanie Babies) and I don’t see what the difference would be in this instance. While not too many adults will want to participate in the activities of the Webkinz website, the Webkinz are cute and cuddly and appear to be highly collectable.
I can see where many adults may buy some of the Webkinz and Lil’Kinz as an investment, since they are so popular. The starting price for Webkinz is around $10, which will not break anyone, and they would make a great birthday or Christmas gift. If you have a specific Webkinz in mind for gift giving, my suggestion is to shop for the toy early and keep it until the day comes. This way you will be assured of getting the Webkinz you want, as they are so popular, most shelves are emptied as soon as the toys arrive.
When you buy a Webkinz or Lil’Kinz, it comes with a unique ID number that can be used to register your pet on the internet. Once registered, a virtual counterpart of the pet is introduced. Kids are able to interact with their pet virtually, as well as, in the real world. They receive a free membership to the Webkinz site for one year. After the year is up they will need to purchase, and register, a new Webkinz toy to renew the membership for another year. This type of marketing is ingenious, as it assures the sale of Webkinz time and again.
Just like the Beanie Babies, a few years back, Webkinz are retired after a time. This makes them a very high demand product, once retired, the price is driven up and the hunt is on. There is one sure thing about human nature, if a product is in popular demand, the sky is the limit on the price they will pay for that product. Some of the retired Webkinz are going for more than $500 as you read this.
There are over 40 Webkinz available to date, and there is a huge potential for this number to increase. Nearly every school age child has heard about Webkinz and most of them own one or more. There are internet and specialty offline stores that sell Webkinz, some of them offer a discount price on many of the toys. While kids enjoy them, it is the parent who will purchase them nine times out of ten. It is quite frustrating to order a Webkinz toy and find it is out of stock and you will need to wait for it.
No, Webkinz are definitely not just for kids, in fact, I’m on my way to the local Hallmark store to see which one I want to purchase as soon as I finish this article. I think Webkinz will make a great investment in the months and years ahead, and I want to be involved in that.
WHY DO WEBKINZ RETIRE?
Webkinz retire for several reasons, maybe Ganz feels they are too old to carry on and still be popular with kids. They do not want the market to become saturated with too many Webkinz of one kind. Another reason Webkinz retire is that Ganz, the toy maker, is savvy when it comes to marketing. It seems that when a Webkinz retires, and there is no chance for more of this particular Webkinz to be introduced into the market, it becomes a rare and desirable commodity.
For instance Webkinz Cheeky Dog is retired and the top bid for this Webkinz is $800.00 on Ebay. Webkinz Cheeky Cat and Cheeky Monkey have a top bid of $500. Human nature can be quite predictable when it comes to supply and demand. If you think back to Beanie Babies and Tickle Me Elmo you will understand what I’m talking about.
The latest Webkinz to retire were the Gray and White cat, and the unicorn. There has been a prediction by some that the next to retire will be the Brown Horse, Pegasus, Orange and White Cat, St. Bernard, and the Basset hound. This is only a prediction on the part of collectors and/or parents, who are taking into consideration, that these particular Webkinz cannot be ordered by retailers any more. Another source adds the Gray Cat, the Sherbet Bunny, and the Love Puppy.
As I said these are all rumors and speculation so don’t quote anyone on this. There is also a rumor that the new Webkinz about to be introduced are Webkinz Raccoon, Webkinz Black Stallion, Webkinz Husky, Webkinz Black Cat, and the Webkinz Reindeer. These sound like a great new line-up, we will need to wait and see if the rumors are true. The internet store Sweet Be has great prices on Webkinz, retired Webkinz, and pre-orders for Webkinz to come.
I feel that Webkinz will be around for quite some time to come. Because of the unique interface with the Webkinz website, this toy craze could last for quite a while. When a Webkinz owner registers a pet on the internet, they are able to take care of and play with, a virtual counterpart to their Webkinz pet. They are also given a subscription to use the Webkinz site for a year. When the year is up the user will need to purchase and register a new pet to be able to keep their spot on the website for another year. This is a good deal for kids who enjoy interacting with virtual pets and friends on the website and a great deal for Ganz. With over a million users on the website now (and that number is rising), just think of the revenue Ganz will realize when each of those million or more web users buys a new pet.