Hatchimals cause holiday headaches for Corner Brook mom, and lots of others

'Tisthe month before Christmas, and parents worldwide are already stressed out about finding this year's hottest holiday toy Hatchimals.

The buzzworthy toy starts out as an egg and eventually hatches once it's been played with enough. Its final form is a fuzzy, colourfulanimal requiringlove and attention from its child owner.

• Hatchimals have parents scrambling weeks before Christmas

Trouble is the coveted hatchimal is hard to find this holiday season. Just ask Traci Park, who lives in Corner Brook.

"Ikindabrushed it off," said Park, who has come up empty in her search."I just figured it was another toy, I could get it closer to Christmas. Joke's on me, I guess."

Park first heard of Hatchimalsin early October when her five-year-old daughter, Karma, excitedly told her about it. She's now trying to get her hands on two of the toys.

According to theHatchimalwebsitethe company is having a hard time meeting the demandand expects not to until early in the new year.

That's not helping parents much this Christmas.

Hot off the shelves: Hatchimals

8 years ago

Duration 0:21

Parents are scrambling to get their hands on one of the hatching egg toys before Christmas. Demand is so high that the eggs are going for hundreds - and even thousands - of dollars online.

Due to the popularity of the toy, and the small shipments that retailers are receiving, Park believes that store employees aren't allowed to tell the public when a shipment comes into the store.

She's been checking Walmart for weeks now.

"Seven o'clock, I'd get up and get the baby ready and walk up there every morning," she said."[I've]kinda died down now. I only check like three times a week."

Reselling like golden eggs online

Where there's a hot ticket item, there's often a reseller trying to cash in and such is the case this season.

While the toy's retail price is listed at $79.97 at Walmart, Hatchimals are reselling on eBayfor $199 on the low end, and as much as $73,686.24 withan extra$49.97 for shipping.

As much Park wouldlike to surprise her children with the toy, she won't give in and spend that kind of money.

Park is still hoping to get her hands on a pair ofHatchimals for Christmas, but she's already started to prepare her kids in the eventshe can't.

"I think they're going to be a little bit upset, but they'll be all right I mean there's other toys out there."