Toys That Get Played With

“Buy it Now” Prices for 50 Top Toys [Part 2]

November 4, 2011 By Angie 12 Comments

Here’s the second part of our “Buy Price” list. You can see the first part (and read more about what this is) here.

The first price is the list price and the second is the recommended “buy” price. The “buy” price is based on sales price histories.

Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends Batcave [$57.99 / $46]
LeapFrog Tag Reader [$39.99 / $27]
Leapster Explorer [$69.99 / $52]
LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet [$99.99 / $70]
Vtech InnoTab Interactive Learning Tablet [$79.99 / $56]
Vtech MobiGo [$59.99 / $44]
Fisher-Price iXL [$82.99 / $50] Currently at “Buy Price”!
Tonka TS4000 Steel Dump Truck [$31.99 / $20]
Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Starter Set [$31.99 / $23]
Barbie Pink 3-Story Dream Townhouse [$159.99 / $130]
LEGO Ultimate Building Set – 405 Pieces [$29.99/ $24]
Plasma Car [$69.95 / $48]
Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 32 piece set [$77.32 / $45]
Hex Bug Nano Starter Set [$17.99 / $10]
Insect Lore Butterfly Pavillion [$29.99 / $16]
Littlest Pet Shop Littlest Pet Shop Treehouse Playset [$39.99 / $28] Currently at “Buy Price”!
KRE-O Transformers – BUMBLEBEE [$27.99 / $20] Currently at “Buy Price”!
Lalaloopsy Treehouse Playset [$39.99 / $28]
FurReal Friends Cookie Puppy (My Playful Pup) [$64.99 / $40]
Squinkies Palace Surprise Playset [$16.99 / $12]
Fisher-Price TRIO King’s Castle [$74.99 / $38]
Melissa & Doug 60 Piece Land of Dinosaurs Jigsaw Puzzle [$18.34 / $7]
Razor A Kick Scooter [$44.99 / $24]
ThinkFun Rush Hour Jr. [$17.99 / $10]
Polly Pocket Adventure Jet [$39.99 / $28]
Bakugan Dragonoid Destroyer [$41.99 / $29]

Think any of these “Buy” prices are out of line? Let me know!

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Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Toys, Toys That Get Played With

“Buy it Now’ Prices for 50 Top Toys [Part 1]

November 3, 2011 By Angie 19 Comments

We’ve talked about which toys have proven track records, what they all have in common, and how the “hottest” new toys of this holiday season measure up. (Whew!)

The next step? Figure out the “Buy Price” for the toys on the lists. Typically, you can expect toys to go to about 40% off list price around the holidays. Not all of them will, though. Some will only go as low as about 25% off, and the hottest toys may have such a high demand that they don’t go on sale much at all. Tracking past sales and price histories allow us to estimate the price a smart shopper should pay for these toys. Could the price go lower? Sure. Whether you wait to see if it does depends on your tolerance for risk.

So here we go, starting with toys for the littlest kids. I’ll be breaking the post into two parts due the the amount of info I’ll be dishing up here.

The first price is the list price and the second is the recommended “buy” price.

Playskool Busy Ball Popper ($22.99 / $17)
Elefun Poppin’ Park Busy Ball Popper ($34.99 / $25) Currently at “Buy” price!
FP Laugh & Learn Learning Kitchen ($44.99 / $30)
FP Laugh & Learn Fun with Friends Table ($49.99 / $38)
LeapFrog Learn and Groove Table ($44.99 / $34)
Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube ($24.99 / $14.50)
Vtech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker ($37.99 / $28) Currently at “Buy” price!
LeapFrog My Pal Scout / Violet ($19.99 / $15)
FP Laugh & Learn Say Please Tea Set ($18.99 / $11)
LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Alphabet Set ($21.99 / $13)
Megabloks 80pc Lrg Mega Bloks Bag ($24.99 / $13)
Leapfrog Tag Jr. ($34.99 / $20)
GeoTrax Transportation System Remote Control Timbertown Railway ( $59.99 / $39.99) Currently at “Buy” price!
LEGO Duplo Basic Bricks (80 Pcs.) ($19.99 / $18)
FP My First Dollhouse ($37.99 / $29.99 )
FP Loving Family Grand Doll House ($79.99 / $58)
FP Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo ($49.99 / $34.88) Currently at “Buy” price!
Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart ($69.99 / $39)
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Dance And Play Puppy ($39.99 / $25)
Manhattan toy Baby Stella Doll ($31.99 / $20)
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary Car ($54.99 / $36)
Kidkraft Retro Kitchen and Refrigerator in Pink ($199.99 / $115)
Step2 Neat & Tidy Cottage ($199.99 / $139)
Playskool Chuck My Talking Truck ($39.99 / $24)
Corolle Umbrella Doll Stroller ($29.99 / $20)

Think any of these “Buy” prices are out of line? Let me know!

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Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2011: 5 to 6 Years

October 28, 2011 By Angie 1 Comment

Welcome to the 2011 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the toys on the list have proven track records among Baby Cheapskate readers when it comes to appeal and longevity. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Kids 5 to 6 Years Old:

Art Supplies, especially drawing and painting
Imaginext Play Sets and Playmobil Sets
Trucks and Cars of any kind (Tonka, Hot Wheels, etc.)
LeapFrog Leapster Explorer
Barbie and Barbie accessories
Board Games (Zingo, Trouble, etc.)
Lego, Magna Tiles and other building toys
Tranformers, Bakugan, Pokemon, other similar toys
Bike
Hex Bugs
Polly Pocket sets, Squinkies sets
Insect Lore Butterfly Pavillion

Related:

Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Toys, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2011: 4 to 5 Years

October 27, 2011 By Angie 2 Comments

Most Loved Toys for Kids 4 to 5 Years Old:

Art Supplies, especially drawing and painting
Imaginext Play Sets and Playmobil Sets
Trucks and Cars of any kind (Tonka, Hot Wheels, etc.)
Learning Systems: LeapFrog Tag Reader,, Leapster Explorer, Vtech MobiGo, Fisher-Price iXL
My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop and Polly Pocket sets
Simple Board Games (Candyland, Zingo, etc.)
Lego
GeoTrax Sets
Dress Up Clothes, Costumes
Floor Jigsaw Puzzles
Plasma Car, Strider Bike, Bike (w/ training wheels), other riding toys

Related:

Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Toys, Toys That Get Played With Tagged With: HolidayPlanning

Toys That Get Played With 2011: 3 to 4 Years

October 27, 2011 By Angie 9 Comments

Welcome to the 2011 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The twelve toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the toys on the list have proven track records. Hundreds of Baby Cheapskate readers have responded to more than half a dozen polls posted thrice yearly over the course of three years about which holiday toys their kids are still playing with. I’ve pored through the responses to compile this list. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Preschoolers 3 to 4 years old:

LeapFrog Tag Jr., Tag Reader, or Vtech MobiGo
Art Supplies (crayons, Play Doh, etc.)
Imaginext Play Sets
My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop sets
Hot Wheels Cars, Sets
Duplo / Lego
Fisher Price DoodlePro
Fisher-Price Trio
Dress Up Clothes, Costumes
Trains / Train Table, GeoTrax Sets
Musical Instruments
Floor Jigsaw Puzzles
Play Kitchen and play food
Plasma Car, Strider Bike, other riding toys

Related:

Filed Under: Toys, Toys That Get Played With Tagged With: HolidayPlanning

Toys That Get Played With 2011: 25 to 36 Months

October 26, 2011 By Angie Leave a Comment

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the 12 toys on the list have proven track records. Hundreds of Baby Cheapskate readers have responded to more than half a dozen polls posted thrice yearly over the course of three years about which holiday toys their kids are still playing with. I’ve pored through the responses to compile this list. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Toddlers 25 months to 36 months: