NonStop Chatter

I first noticed Webkinz a year or so ago at a Hallmark store. Just saw them in a store and had to laugh at the idea of having a toy combined with a virtual pet online. Had to admit for getting children’s hearts it was probably a brilliant move.

Apparently so. Webkinz are extremely popular right now. I’m grateful my oldest hasn’t heard of them yet. Each pet comes with a code so that you can log into the Webkinz site to care for your new virtual pet. And of course the site offers games and ways to earn virtual cash to buy things for your virtual pet.

What really strikes me as brilliant is that only the first year of Webkinz website membership is included in the purchase of the pet. After that you have to pay or adopt a new pet to extend your membership another year.

They’re clever in many ways. They retire pets often, so that there are always new ones for kids to want. Rather like how Beanie Babies went.

Webkinz can be bought at a variety of stores, such as Hallmark and drug stores, but Amazon also carries them. Even if you aren’t buying them for your kids it can be fun watching the craze.

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