Is it true that there is a big shortage of toys this year?

[Anon778833]

Which ones? I can't see much evidence of this right now.

Long story short, anything that's imported will be impacted by this.

I guess the toy/Christmas angle is a good one for press to focus on. And I can't agree more that we need less tat in the world but as a country we rely on imports for food, medicine and so much more.

@memberofthewedding

Children get far too many toys anyway.

Satsumas in a stocking it is, then 🙃

@memberofthewedding

Children get far too many toys anyway.

I agree but what will happen is that well off parents will be able to get their child just as many toys, whereas those living paycheck to paycheck (who can't afford to buy early or at increased prices) will be unable to buy any.

@HungryHippo11 you've hit the nail on the head.

Satsumas in stockings may not even be an option OP - they're imported after all and don't have a long shelf life.

Hopefully people might be encouraged to buy secondhand toys. Appreciate it doesn’t work if your child wants the latest version of something but all the Paw Patrol/Lego/playmobil we have is from Facebook or gumtree. I give it a wash and it’s fine.

As an aside I have noticed this year that Mumsnet are promoting sustainable toys like Grimms.

Satsumas in stockings may not even be an option OP - they're imported after all and don't have a long shelf life.

🤣 good point.

I've got an old coal bunker filled with coal...I might have to break out the orange paint!

Hmm, a new business selling stunt satsumas could be on my horizon.

I think it would be lovely if all this made us go back to basics. Much better for environment. I got a lot second hand last year (mine are small) but could have cried when I went to PILs and saw all the unnecessary plastic.

@Marlena1

I think it would be lovely if all this made us go back to basics. Much better for environment. I got a lot second hand last year (mine are small) but could have cried when I went to PILs and saw all the unnecessary plastic.

Agree, I don't mind plastic toys in general - it's just the cheap stuff that I know will break within two minutes or that has no real play value. It's a waste of the giver's time and money, my time in building it and then my time in appeasing a small child upset that it won't stay together or has snapped and can't be fixed. And it always seems to be big stuff that can't be stored easily!

Hope not again, I'm still waiting for my Cabbage Patch doll.

No shortage of actual toys but quite possibly shortage of hauliers to get them on the shelves.

Brexit eh. That said I could believe this is a scare tactic by the toy retailers not based on fact at all.

I have been stockpiling small gifts for birthday presents as parties start up again, but they may well be turned into Xmas presents and stocking fillers for my own children now!

I read the article that said there will be shortages but your not going to find an empty toy shop. It just might be that the most popular toys are hard to get hold of but isn’t that always the case?

My son really wants something called squeaky. It’s apparently a balloon dinosaur. I can’t see it being hugely popular but I’m debating buying it just in case. I’ve never even seen one