ROANOKE (WSLS 10) – How far would you go to buy your child the most popular toy of the holiday season?
For those parents hoping to snag a Hatchimal, it meant camping out in the cold overnight at Toys"R"Us in Roanoke.
After weeks of being out of stock both in stores and online, a limited supply of Hatchimals went on sale at Toys"R"Us locations nationwide Sunday morning at store opening. The Hatchimals supply of around 100 in Roanoke was gone in only minutes.
According to sales associates at Toys"R"Us in Roanoke by Valley View Mall, a line of eager parents were waiting for them as they arrived to work at 6 a.m.
The first customer in line reported getting to the store at midnight. Luckily, the store employees posted signs the night before detailing where the line began.
It was a cold wait as the overnight low temperature in Roanoke remained in the mid-thirties.
Similar reports came from Toys"R"Us locations across the east coast as stock of the hatch-able toys were wiped clean from the shelves.
Toys"R"Us employees continue to be kept busy answering phones from customers asking the same familiar question," Do you have Hatchimals?" More than likely, if you are calling and not in line, the answer is "No." It seems in 2016, similiar to the Furby and Tickle-Me-Elmo craze, the most determined parents who are willing to wait in line, braving harsh conditions and fierce competition will take home the prize.
Sales associates say it's possible stores will receive another shipment before Christmas, but with the popular toy flying off the shelves nationwide, there is no guarantee.
Hatchimals cannot be found regularly online from retailers, but are fetching a price of $150 plus on Ebay from those lucky enough to grab them already in 2016.