SOUTH MIAMI, FLA. (WSVN) - Some very satisfied shoppers walked out of a South Florida toy store with their hands on the hottest ticket item of the season: Hatchimals.
Parents, uncles and aunts headed toward their cars in the parking lot of the Toys R Us in South Miami, Sunday morning, relieved that they can finally check the coveted plush creatures off the Christmas list.
“When my daughter sees it, it will be worth it,” said Jennifer Rodriguez.
The purchases, however, did not come easy. Hatchimals have been flying off the shelves, so when shoppers heard this retailer would be selling them early Sunday morning, they got in formation.
“I’ve been here since 9 last night,” Vanessa Guevara, the aunt of a future Hatchimals owner.
Not far from her was Deanna Cuevas, who was shopping for her niece. “I waited here since midnight just to get this. I was sixth in line,” she said.
These shoppers didn’t get any sleep as they stood and waited for hours. “We actually came out of the nightclub and came straight here,” said Kenia Villalta.
The Hatchimals craze has drawn comparisons to that of the Cabbage Patch dolls and Furbies. “It’s such a hot item, and they made so little of them,” said Cuevas.
However, many say stores were a lot more organized this time around. Employees handed out tickets to make sure customers walked out with this hot-for-the-holidays sensation.
The high demand for Hatchimals has resulted in price gouging at several retailers. Some stores have hiked up prices for the toys as much as $20.
More shipments of Hatchimals are expected throughout the holiday season and into the new year.
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