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Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 10/19/2012
It's not even Halloween, but some of the hottest toys of the 2012 holiday season are already in short supply.
That might sound impossible in late October, but it is possible this year because of pre-orders and layaway. That requires stores to lock away some of their hottest items, or reserve the first 200 that will be showing up next month.
Early Layaway To Blame
No sooner did Toys R Us release its list of the hottest toys this year and kicked off an early layaway program, shoppers began putting them away on layaway, according to CNN/Money. That means they are already getting hard to find in some stores.
Some of the top toys on layaway, that may soon be hard to find:
-The Leap Pad 2 Explorer tablet for young children.
- The Furby: Yes, it's back this year, though at $55 instead of the original $30 back in the 1990s.
-The Power Wheels dune racer.
- Monster High dolls.
- Air Hogs remote control assault helicopter.
- And Little People Disney Princess Palace.
Kids Tablet, New Nintendo Red Hot
Meantime, two items not yet on sale -- the Tabeo tablet for kids and Nintendo's Wii U video console -- are already sold out in presale at Toys R Us.
The good news: Pre-orders and layaway means you can guarantee you get the hot toy you want.
The bad news: If you wait, it may be even harder than usual to find these this year. So if you want one for your children? Buy it now, don't wait.
As always don't waste your money.
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Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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A veteran reporter and two-time Emmy Award winner, John is our Don't Waste Your Money consumer reporter.
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