That was some kind of crazy.

[zallia]

So, the Monster High dolls have been a kind of high and low thing since tanz_fanatika got hers early. Amazon, TRU and etoys has the Cleo/Deuce giftset up for a little while, though not in stock, so since Amazon was $5 cheaper and free 2-day shipping, I ordered and they would ship when they came in stock. Recently, TRU/etoys (etoys seems to be some weird TRU mirror site that I haven't quite figured out yet) listed the 4 individual girls, but didn't have them in stock and you couldn't pre-order. Today, word got out that they were hitting the shelves in certain stores finally, even though Mattel kept going pushing the date back from the end of May all the way til July.

SO. Since I have no TRU, I was waffling between getting the Cleo/Deuce giftset, since TRU had theirs in stock, but Amazon still didn't and even though I wanted the other dolls first, at least it would be something to tide me over. They now had free shipping for orders $49 or over too, so I found a clearance Moxie and a couple of other things and then started debating.

I asked George his opinion and while sending the links, realized they had Draculaura and Frankie suddenly in stock!! So I was like OMG must buy before they pull them again!! So deciding to wait on the set again, I ordered them and the moxie and then realized they were sending to my house, which boo, but I can live with.

I'm stuck out at desk so I keep checking to see if the other 2 show up and indeed, like 10 minutes later, there they are! AND in that 10 minutes, TRU has also dropped the $49 free shipping and just has the $100 one. Aaaagh. Etoys has free shipping for $69 or more, so after waffling between 8 different combinations between 3 stores, 2 already placed orders and various amounts of shipping, I finally just cancelled everything and ordered ALL the dolls from TRU since they're in league with ebates. Which that dang site was down most of the time, so I couldn't even go through there on the first order.

SO!! That was way too difficult a time just to get 6 plastic dolls! But! At least I don't have to obsess about them anymore and can just leisurely wait for the rest of the releases. The only problem now is that having them in my house, I'm going to get the theme song stuck in my head every time I look at them! 

Comments

[wyrmis.livejournal.com]

Remember my comment about trying to piece together the hobby from your accounts? Hah...no...this one lost me. But, well, I did get the whole thing about prices in flux. I think. In a similar news, I like the Doctor Who novels, printed in the UK. Amazon.com will list them, but not always carry them (eventually they will get them, it might be a bit). They are cheaper (at least to start) from Amazon.co.uk, but that takes a bit and/or shipping is high, depending on numerous factors. Some third-party sellers will get them, but they get them after A.co.uk and they charge about as much to ship. Turns out, now, that local bookstores are getting them, single copies, and full cover price.

So, my options tend to boil down

*Order from Amazon and wait.
*Order from Amazon.co.uk, get them for cheaper but pay more for postage, and wait for 1 week to 1 month for shipping.
*Wait to see if a local bookstore gets them, and pay full price.
*Wait until a good third-party seller gets them, and both wait and pay shipping and sometimes pay more.

For the three coming out this summer, I'm going to order them Amazon.com and just wait. See how that works for me.

[zallia.livejournal.com]

See, you do understand! It was less about the dolls than just trying to decide the best way to go about buying them. Just trying to guess at all the unknown factors or which would be the best course of action. I'm hoping they don't like show up at Target tomorrow on sale or something. :P But, yup, it sounds like you have a very similar shopping conundrum!

[tanz-fanatika.livejournal.com]

Oh, the dolls are worth the hassle. Trust me!

Freaky chic and fly, Monster High, where student bodies lie!

[eskaline.livejournal.com]

I was just looking at these the other day. I kinda want a Frankie, she's my fave at this point. Or perhaps Lagoona Blue. My sis is fond of Draculaura, though perhaps mostly for her name.

[zallia.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure which is my favorite, yet. I'm hoping one of the dolls will just catch me and I'll be able to choose. I like Draculaura in the cartoons, but her doll looks so awkward with that mouth full of teeth!

[missmollymayhem.livejournal.com]

When i first saw that gift set I thought they were Bratz dolls! LOL
Is Monster High a new movie or smething?

[zallia.livejournal.com]

I think they're going to be much better than Bratz dolls! They are making new ones, though, that kind of weird me out with their exaggerated features.

It's a mass...thing that Mattel is doing. They've been releasing webisodes online which are really cute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqo8WiYzkAA

and that I hope they expand on, there's the dolls and then other toys like a Fearbook(planner), tattoo roller, iCoffin(electronic device), rag dolls and probably other stuff. They comissioned YA author Lisi Harrison to write a book, which Lori has obtained an ARC of so hopefully we'll get to find out how it actually relates to what we've seen of the franchise thus far AND there's been a lot of talk of a musical movie which I think is animated. *takes breath*