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Are 鈥榯oy touts鈥� pricing us out of must-have Christmas presents?

Furbies. Buzz Lightyear. Teletubbies. .

These are just a few examples of the must-have toys of years gone by that parents would have scrambled to secure, or face the disappointed faces of their children on Christmas morning.

2019 is no exception; another round of essential toys are ready for snapping up by eager parents.

Increased demand for such toys has seen a rise in so called ‘toy touts’: people who buy up the must-have toys before listing them on online auction sites at vastly inflated prices.

Mornings with Stephen Jardine asked journalist Jane Bradley if the combination of increased demand for – and limited availability of – these heavily marketed toys is making a trip to the touts unavoidable for parents.

Don鈥檛 bow down to the 鈥榯oy touts鈥�

Jane explained that parents are better informed nowadays about what the must-have toys are going to be.

“They come out so much earlier, so people are more aware of the thing that people are going to be wanting. This means that the toy touts have got the time to stock up on the must-have toys before listing them on auction sites when peak demand hits.”

A contribution from a 大象传媒 Radio Scotland listener echoed Jane’s sentiment:-

“We’re all prey to rampant consumerism; don’t make it any worse by buying toys at inflated prices.”

Jane agreed and argued that, just because toys are on sale for that kind of money, doesn’t mean people have to buy them.

Christmas presents itself

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