How to Score the Top Toys This Holiday Season Guaranteed!

Picture this...

It was December 1st last year. A first time mom is searching frantically for the latest, greatest new toy on the market. Only this toy was sold out everywhere. She was now picturing her 2 1/2 year’s face on Christmas morning crumbling when Santa failed in bringing her an ‘IPad’.

This was my story and the little girl was my older daughter. I had an IPad 2, which she loved to play kids apps. But she also kept asking to get her own. Then, I saw an advertisement for a toy called a “LeapPad". For all intents and purposes, this was a children’s version of an IPad made by the company LeapFrog.

Was I successful in finding the LeapPad?

Well if you continue to read this whole article, I you will find out. I also guarantee that you will be able to find and purchase the 'Hot Toy' you are looking for this holiday season.

But back to my earlier hot toy quest. I searched for about a week with little to no success. I called every Toys R Us, Target and Walmart in a 50 mile radius. I got the response, "Sorry we don’t have any in stock, try back though".

I sat weighing my choices at this point. Then, I started to search online. I, also hit the same brick wall that it was out of stock. But online, vendors were selling them for double the retail price on EBay, Amazon and even Craigslist. I refused to pay over $200 or more for a toy that retailed for $99, because even the $99 was pushing it in my humble estimation.

So, then I googled searched, "Hot Holiday Toys". A website came up called Zoolert. I had never heard of this website before. However, decided that I had nothing to lose and clicked on it. Well Zoolert, turned out to be a free toy tracking site.

How does Zoolert Work?

They send phone and e-mail alerts when the hard to find toy is in stock online. If you keep your computer on, you could also be alerted by sound clip that the toy in question was in stock in real time too. So, I thought what not try it. I had nothing to lose.

Did Zoolert Work for Me?

Well to my surprise, I scored a Green LeapPad on the second day that I was signed up. But I have a little girl and she is obsessed with pink and purple. By the way, the LeapPad came in two colors green and pink.

So even though I bought the green, I secretly kept the search alive for the pink. I thought if I could get the pink, I would just sell the green on EBay for what it cost me $99. See I wasn’t trying to make a profit like some people.

All Is Well That Ends Well...

Well about four days later, I did manage to buy the pink one when I got another alert from Zoolert that the pink LeapPad was available through Amazon for the retail price of $99. I paid and patiently tracked my shipment. When I finally had the Pink LeapPad in my possession and made sure it worked properly, then I listed the Green LeapPad on EBay for $99. It was sold in a mere 2 hours.

Christmas morning came and went. But the look on my little girl’s face said it all. She still plays with her LeapPad. We also purchased a newer version for her younger sister. So now, both girls have their own ‘IPad’!!

Here are the Top 15 Holiday Toys for 2016 on Toys R Us and the ones to look for below:

1. PJ Masks Headquarter Play Set
2. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar
3. Little Tikes Light 'n Go 3-in-1 Activity Walker
4. Paw Patrol Zoomer Marshall
5. Shopkins Tall Mall Storage Case
6. Little Live Pets Snuggles My Dream Puppy
7. Hatchimals
8. DreamWorks Trolls Hug Time Poppy
9. Num Noms Lip Gloss Truck
10. SelfieMic Music Set - Black or Pink
11. NERF N-Strike Elite TerraScout RC Drone Blaster
12. Sky Viper v2400 HD Streaming Drone with FPV Headset
13. Power Wheels 12-volt Wild Thing
14. Star Wars InteracTech Stormtrooper
15. Pokémon Z-Ring Set

The list changes yearly. So check back, as I will update each holiday season.

Also in the past, Toys R Us is has done a pay it forward service where they guarantee that you will get the hot toy you are aiming to purchase if you do the following:

• Check out their list below & print it.
• Bring this list to your local store's Guest Services desk
• Then reserve your hot toy with a 20% deposit down

From this, they are guaranteeing that you will get the hottest toys, but if you reserve in store only, thru Halloween.

So, feel free to check out both Zoolert and Toys R Us through the holiday season now.

Janine is a freelance writer, website designer and mom of two. You can checkout her profile and more of her family related articles here.

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