MOUNT VERNON — Looking for that special gift your child or grandchild just has to have this Christmas may be testing your patience and your wallet this season. Many children and teens have very specific ideas about what they want under the tree, and some of this year’s most popular gifts are quite pricey.
After many shoppers were disappointed last Christmas when trying to find a Nintendo Wii video game console, the item remains one of the hottest sellers this year. Many parents are turning to the Internet to find the popular game, which flies off local store shelves when they arrive in stock. The basic console retails for between $250 and $300.
Brenda Walker of Mount Vernon said she regrets not having purchased a Wii for her teenage son earlier this year, when they could be found more easily. Disappointed earlier this week to find Wal-Mart and other local stores without any in stock, Walker said she would be looking online to see if any could be found.
Finding the elusive game can be a hit or miss proposition, with many online retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon having them in stock briefly, depending on the day.
Amazon limits the number of Wii systems which can be purchased by consumers when they do arrive in stock, because of mass purchasing and reselling on auction sites such as eBay.
The Wii Fit and pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board, which measure Body Mass Index and combine fun with fitness, are very hot sellers this Christmas.
For anyone unable to find these items in stock at local stores or online, special notifications through e-mail and texting are available to those gift buyers who sign up online through sites such as Amazon.
Cell phones are one of the other most popular gifts for teens this Christmas, and a little easier to find than some of the popular video games for which teens are clamoring. But choosing a phone, a carrier, and a use package can be a confusing experience for parents.
Prepaid or contract? Internet or no Internet? How about camera or blue tooth capability? Choosing a cell phone for your child or teen will involve many choices.
One tip is to choose the provider before the phone is chosen.
Researching which mobile network has the best coverage in a particular area, and which offers the best packages for what the phone will be used for, are important considerations.
Finding a knowledgeable sales person who will help the shopper consider all options can be helpful. Consumer Reports and online help sites offer comparisons which can shed light on which plan may be right for individual consumers.
How much time will the child be allowed to spend on the phone? Will it be just for emergencies, or for social use? How much can you afford to budget for your teen’s cell phone use? Choosing a plan which includes the usage you plan to allow as well as some flexibility can be a good idea.
Choosing the right phone within the plan selected is the next step. It is important to consider what the phone will be used for. Internet, photos, music, text messaging, or strictly phone calls? Any additional options will likely add to the price of the phone. Basic phones can be purchased inexpensively, and many are free with a service contract. Fancier models with all the bells and whistles could cost hundreds of dollars.
If the price of the phone is more than you would want to give up to replace it if it becomes lost or damaged, looking into insurance for repairs or replacement can sometimes be cost effective.
For those parents whose children are not begging for video games or cell phones, one of the other hottest selling gifts this Christmas is for younger children. Elmo Live, the latest interactive toy to feature the lovable Sesame Street character, is flying off store shelves, but can still usually be found with a little looking.
Unlike Tickle Me Elmo which caused some toy store riots years ago, plenty of the Elmo Live dolls are available online. Elmo Live is costlier than his predecessor though, at around $60.
