Did you stand in line for the new “T.M.X. Elmo?” It hit the shelves Tuesday and now many of those same shelves are bare. While this latest Elmo may not be causing as much mayhem as the Original Cabbage Patch Dolls (I was about 12-years-old when they first came out and I was pushed down by a woman three times my height and age at a JCPenney in Hawaii because I was standing in front of the doll that she wanted), there is a major buzz about his highly anticipated unveiling nonetheless.
Retail analysts predict “T.M.X. Elmo” (T.M.X. stands for “Tickle Me Extreme”) will be a popular toy this Christmas, but judging by all the news reports I have been seeing, it seems the little guy is ending up in the hands of youngsters long before Santa Claus is due in town.
So what makes this Elmo so darn irresistible? After all, he retails for $40, twice as much as the original “Tickle Me Elmo,” which debuted in 1996. But, unlike his predecessor, this updated version of the red and furry Sesame Street character not only laughs but now he slaps his knee, falls to the floor and even rolls over. And, what parent doesn’t want Elmo splitting his spleen on their carpet? (Wink, wink.) Honestly, I wanted to get one for my two-year-old daughter, but she is deathly afraid of the thing. Though she must be in the minority because this morning I heard that our local toy store had sold all 20 of their “T.M.X. Elmo” toys in just three hours.
My neighbor got to the store too late to buy one for her granddaughter, but was assured by the store manager that a new shipment would be arriving in two weeks. She was also given the chance to put her name on a waiting list. I told her she should do so immediately. After all, she is now competing with people who are buying the dolls just so they can resell them on the Internet. Two hours ago I found a “T.M.X. Elmo” on Ebay for $150. Now, that’s crazy!
Do you have a “T.M.X. Elmo?” Are you happy with your purchase?