by Robin Fiedler
Here we go! The countdown to Black Friday, and toys are one of the major factors. Toys R Us, Wal*mart, and Target are strategizing for our toy dollars, and on this Thursday and Friday, shoppers will be competing against each other to score the best deals. 
Toys are predicted to reign supreme for the 2009 holiday with a slight increase in sales. NRF's holiday survey shows "42.2 percent of consumers plan to purchase toys this year, up slightly from 41.6 percent last year." It makes sense because if we buy any gifts, we buy a few toys for the kids.
The NRF survey reports that the top toy for girls is Barbie, while video games are tops for boys. Video games are also #4 for girls. Generic dolls are #2 for girls, and generic cars and trucks for boys are #4 and #6 respectively. Besides generic video games, in the top 10 for both genders are Nintendo DS and Wii. "According to NRF's 2009 Top Toys survey, . . .old favorites like Barbie and Transformers remain popular, but new additions from Bakugan and Zhu Zhu pets have also emerged as favorites."
Toys R US announced it will open at midnight on Thanksgiving, and the first 100 shoppers will receive tickets to purchase a Zhu Zhu pet. If you're online , "100 unadvertised 'mystery' deals that day that will be unveiled at 12:01 a.m.," according to CNNMoney. Then over to Wal*mart and Target before the 5am sales kick in to check inventory on doorbusters.
Which retailer for which toy? It may just come down to which one has them in stock, which we won't know until the momentous day.
- Toys R Us seems to have the largest selection of Barbies, but Wal*mart is advertising the Barbie Princess Doll for $5 and Barbie Beach doll for $9.
- Nintendo DS/DS Lite/DSi seem available at all three, Wal*mart (Lite $98), Toys R Us, and Target.
- The Wii Console System for $199 are at Wal*mart and Toys R Us online.
- Anything Bakugan is at Toys R Us and Target.
- Finally the fateful Zhu Zhu pets are out of stock. Will Toys R Us have them as promised?
Now we just need a surrogate shopper to visit each of the retailers for us on the big shopping day because shelves will empty quickly. Here's a quote from Wal*mart's Black Friday Ad: "All items in this advertisement are available in limited quantities. Sorry, no rain checks." Once the limited quantities are gone, and limited can mean only a few at each store, then tough luck!
Don't set yourself and the kids up for disappointment. If the hot toys are gone, have a back-up toy list, such as the generic dolls, cars, trucks that all kids enjoy seeing under the tree. Expect Wal*mart to monopolize on its 100 toys for $10 and video games from $7 to $25.
Whether online or in line, start at Toys R Us at midnight. Then, make your way over to Wal*Mart or Target for the 5 am sales. Go loaded with ammunition by having a print ad for each one of the retailers' Black Friday ads. Know which items you are ready willing and able to buy and if the price differs, flash the competitors' ad and ask for a price match.
Resources
Grannis, Kathy. "Though Electronics Remain Popular Low-Priced Toys are Tops This Holiday Season." National Retail Federation. 20 Nov. 2009.
Yousuf, Hibah. "Toys R Us to Open at Midnight on Thanksgiving." CNNMoney. 20 Nov. 2009
COUPON TIME
Whether toys are on your Black Friday wish list or you're shopping for other items, start here at the Black Friday Coupons page for info on the best deals!
