Child Toys Blog

Finding the hottest gift is not child's play

Early shoppers strip the shelves bare of the new Xbox 360. Grandma might buy a 'pentop' computer. By Andrew Edwards, Daily Pilot It might be best to cross one gift off the kids' holiday gift list already -- either that or get ready to play a real game of patience. Microsoft's new Xbox 360 video game system went on -- and just about off -- the market a week ago. At the Target on Harbor Boulevard, a sign informs customers that the store has already sold out of the consoles, which go for $300 and up. Electronics Boutique and the Circuit City store at Fashion Island were also sold out of the video game system as of Sunday. At Circuit City, store general manager Robbie Claeys said there has been no word on when his store will get another shipment of the scarce video game console. 'There's been nothing from our headquarters,' he said. Those who managed to snag a coveted Xbox 360 from Circuit City had to work fast. 'They had about five minutes to get them,' said Keith Sanders, a manager at the Fashion Island store. In addition to the video game system, Sanders is expecting Apple's iPod to continue to be popular this holiday season. He also sees a lot of demand for Sirius Satellite Radio products. Sirius is soon to be the new on-air home of radio talk show host Howard Stern. Of course, children's gift requests tend to be longer than one item, even if that one item is the pricey and rare Xbox 360. At Puzzle Zoo, a specialty toy store at South Coast Plaza, general manager Debi Tsuchiyama is expecting this season's popular child toys to include standards including Star Wars toys and other movie tie-ins. More unique items that Tsuchiyama's store is banking on include

posted by Eugen @ 11/28/2005 04:53:00 AM