Customer Reviews

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster 2 Pack - Num Nums & Pipsqueak

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I bought this hamster toy and all its accessories for my 4 year old grand daughter. She was very excited about the toy and I thought it was a very clever toy. However, within minutes of playing with it she was pinched severely by the hamster's wheels when she picked it up and put it on her hand (just like the child in the advertisement is doing). I put the toy on my hand to see how it happened. I was shocked at how hard it pinched and would not release the skin. I had to pull the toy off me hard. The wheels spin fast and change direction randomly. It's fine on the floor if you don't pick it up. However, that's not how this toy is advertised. It is supposed to be a "pet". What child isn't going to pick up their pet hamster during play? It gets even worse. The following day, the hamster's wheels caught the child's hair and started climbing up fast to her scalp. Again, not releasing. She was screaming in pain and fear. The only thing that prevented her scalp from being cut and needing emergency treatment was that I was closely supervising her and able to get my fingers between her scalp and the wheels. She lost a clump of hair and was traumatized by it.
I've spent the last week trying to return the hamster and all its accessories that I bought through Amazon. The manufacturer was contacted, but although expressed concern does not want to take the hamster back directly and feels the warning in the instructions is sufficient. BUYER BEWARE. This is a danger and should be pulled from the market.

Terrible purchase - one of the two toys was broken within an hour of arriving and both officially no longer worked within a few days. I should have returned these but 'time is of the essence' - not really worth the effort for shipping and cost to do so. I certainly would not recommend this purchase.

I got up early and was able to get Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters at WalMart. So glad because I know they are selling out stores because I've been calling everywhere.

Anyway, my kids have been playing with them all day. And then hair got wrapped around the little wheel and I thought one had broke so I spent forever trying to get the hair off -- but that's not what was making an additional squealing noise and making the wheels stop turning.

The little Zhu Zhu pets hamsters just needed new batteries. They came with 2 AAA batteries from the manufacturer -- and I'm sure they weren't in the store that long so that little hands could've worn out the batteries thru the "try me" window.

They must've just come with batteries not as good as the ones I changed them into. Because I just popped in some Duracel or whatever batteries -- and now the Zhu Zhu Pets run even faster than when we first bought them this morning.

My children are playing with them as I write.

Now we want all the Zhu Zhu pets in the collection -- and the accessories. Maybe by Christmas or before...

i bought these for my kids at wal mart, they played with them for 2 days then never touched again, the hampsters were never played with rough, were never dropped, or thrown but they hardly ever will move, they just make noises now. do not waste your money esp at these prices, NO WAY R THEY WORTH IT!!!!

A commentary before the low-down on the Zhu-Zhu's.

I'm a loyal Amazon customer who buys every variety of product almost exclusively here. This is because after obsessively shopping the web and brick-and-mortar stores, rarely do I find more than a couple of percent difference in price between Amazon and the rest of the world. Factoring in the free, two-day shipping, the convenience, Amazon's excellent (independently rated) customer service, and the comfort associated with purchasing from a trusted source that stands behind what they sell, it's a no-brainer to shop here versus anyplace else. Even more, with Amazon's packaging policies, it's very green, made even greener by virtue of home delivery versus a bunch of individuals in their individual cars driving to a retail location to buy their wares. Yes, I love Amazon. But seeing the prices that they are getting for these Zhu-Zhu Pets makes me love them a lot less and has given me pause.

I bought a couple of Zhu-Zhu's at a CVS Pharmacy here in upstate NY at up to 80% less than the Amazon prices the of last two weeks. I bought more on Ebay for 40% less than Amazon's price today. CVS has the items for $9.99, as does Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, and others. Yes, it's the hot toy of the season. Yes, it flies off the shelves as soon as it comes in. Yes, people living in the hinterlands may not have easy access to places selling the Zhu-Zhu's at MSRP. Still, for a company like Amazon, which seems more principled than most, and, moreover, seems genuinely concerned about "customer experience," it aopears that Amazon is being plainly opportunistic and engaging in price gouging. The onus may be on the consumer to do their homework; let the buyer beware, because the merchant will take what the traffic will bear. Yet, considering those who don't have easy access to this merchandise at its normal and fair selling price, Amazon is diminishing their reputation with its unfair pricing of these items. (Or by the sellers it is allowing to sell the item under Amazon's banner.)

The above is especially egregious considering the item, pro and con.

PRO.
1. Very cute and amusing. KIds seem to instantly take to it.
2. It's novel.
3. For $9.99, it's a very special stocking-stuffer.

CON
1. It is poorly made and in all likelihood will break or fall apart quickly.
2. It doesn't do all that much and its charm will likely wear off quickly.
3. The accessories associated with it are expensive, similarly poorly made like the pets are, and, they're somewhat cheap and unattractive-looking.
4. Not that this matters all that much, but unlike some toys--even those that provide some fun and brain stimulation when you take them apart and reassemble them--this toy has no educational value. This is not a requirement for a fun, enjoyable toy, but it's something to consider if you're spending $40-$60 on it.

Were it not part of a fad, and supported by lots of TV advertising, it's unlikely that a shopper finding these on a store shelf would give them a second look. People are getting into fist-fights over these things, though, according to news reports and the manager at my local CVS. Recall the Beenie Baby fad of a few years ago. People were selling "limited edition" BB's for hundreds of dollars on Ebay. Now, they go for a few dollars and are sold ubiquitously, from convenience stores to upscale toy stores. No big deal are these things, and it's likely that next year a Zhu=Zhu can be had for a song.

To sum up, for $9.99, these toys are amusing and clever and junky and will likely make kids ages 4-8 happy for a little while. For forty to sixty dollars, they are scandalously overpriced and not worth it. If this is a must-have Christmas item for your child or loved one, making them happy knows no price. We all know how desirable the item of the moment is to our kids. But, if you're concerned about value, or you don't particularly care about going with the herd, spend no more than MSRP on this toy--or choose something else instead.

How can Amazon sell these Hamster for $118.00 for 2 when they can be purchased at Walmart for $8.00 a piece?

Great toy. Grandson loves them. Yes, maybe I could have got them somewhere else for less money, but it was worth it to me with my schedule to just buy them and have them delivered! I don't have time to go to multiple Wal-Mart stores. Supply and demand, the American way!

2 out of 3 of these pets did not work...wheels didn't turn and my little sisters gift was no good for xmas and even late, after waiting 5 weeks

My daughter was very happy with these ZZ pets!
Amazon was very easy to deal with and shipping was quick.

Love these toys! Great idea. No mess. We cant have pets due to allergies and these are great! Plus they dont bite or stink! Kids love them. Sometimes they wander off if not in their cage so make sure you keep and eye on them until they shut off! Really fun. We like the sounds too.