What are Webkinz?
Released in 2005 by the Ganz corportation, Webkinz pets are stuffed animals similar to the popular Ty Beanie Babies of the late 90’s; where they differ is in their interactivity. Unlike other plush toys, Webkinz are built for the internet age, incorporating an online element (Webkinz World) that allows owners to “adopt” a virtual version of their specific pet that they can then play and interact with online.
Short supply, extreme demand.
As Webkinz collectors are faced with such high demand and short supply, it is often very difficult to find and buy Webkinz at retail stores. Fortunately, we live in the internet age and these products can be found and bought online with relative ease. However, online retailers know that Webkinz are in short supply and thus, many increase their prices to compensate. Adding to this general short supply is the marketing scheme modeled after beanie babies; the eventual retirement of certain pets which also increases their buying price (see “Cheeky Dog”).
Where is the best place to buy Webkinz?
That depends. As with any online purchase, the practice to follow is careful research about the product you want to buy and its average retail price. To find the retail price, I often use Amazon.com and Google’s Product Search feature. Once I have the retail price (the top price you’d be willing to pay), I head over to eBay to see what I can find there, using the retail price (plus shipping and taxes if applicable) as my bid ceiling. After all, why bid more than what you can get easily through Amazon.
How does eBay work exactly?
Ebay is an online auction site that allows anyone (including retailers) to sell anything they want. One of the top sellers currently on eBay is Webkinz. Once on eBay, all you need to do is type in the term “Webkinz” in the search box to see all the listings. These listings can be sorted by various parameters such as price and auction ending time. There are several types of listings on eBay. Auctions or “Buy It Now”. In auctions, you place your top bid and that’s it. You wait till the auction ends (displayed in listing) and if you win you follow the detailed instructions provided by eBay. In “Buy it Now” listings, the sellers lists a price and you buy it at that price. Simple! For more detailed instructions, please visit eBay’s bidding and selling tutorials.
Tips for buying Webkinz on eBay:
- Know your bid ceiling (retail price plus shipping and tax) and don’t bid over this price. You’re trying to find the best deal right?
- Be aware of the seller’s shipping charge and adjust your bid accordingly. Although eBay is cracking down on the practice of over charging shipping, some still do it.
- Some auctions have a “reserve” price. This is an undisclosed minimum price that the seller is willing to sell for. Be wary of these auctions as sometimes the seller’s asking price is too high. You can still enter your top bid but if afterward you are the top bidder and the auction say’s “reserve not met”, walk away.
- Try to buy from reputable sellers. You can check a seller’s rating by observing the number next to their name (number of sales) and the percent positive number. You can also click on the number to get specific comments from buyers and pinpoint the exact issues with those that gave the seller a negative rating.
- Watch
the auction or your email. If you win the item, pay as soon as you can to ensure you get positive feedback from the seller. Plus, you’ll receive the item that much quicker especially if you get payment to them before the post office / shipping stores close.
- Signup with PayPal for the easiest transaction possible. If not comfortable with this, send a cashier’s check (if seller accepts them of course) not a personal check. However, be aware that you a required to send the money first and that sending a check by mail will delay shipment.
- If you reside outside the US, send the seller an email to make sure they will ship internationally.
- Have any question at all or need clarification, send the seller an email before placing your bid.
This article was provided by the World of Webkinz an online resource for all things Webkinz (news, information, discussion, and marketplace). Visit WoW’s useful eBay and Amazon marketplaces to do the comparison shopping described in this article.
Tags: amazon, best deal, buy webkinz, ebay, information, low price, online shopping, webkinz, world