darkSpyro

My 9 year old son is crazy for Skylanders--as many here can understand. He has spent a long time looking to find a chase variant in a store without success---again many can relate to this. We were thinking about buying a purple Eye Brawl, when there are a bunch for sale at semi reasonable prices, and "planting" it in a store for him to find. I know a couple stores that would help us with it so that's not a problem. What does everybody think about this? It is dishonest but hey we told him there was a tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and an Easter Bunny--all so he could have that magical
memorable experience. I was just curious what other parents and kids think about doing this. His birthday is coming up so that'd be a perfect time to do it. Has anybody else ever thought if doing this or done this themselves?

Cute idea.
If you have a few hundred dollars to spend on a birthday gift, and your "help" at the retail store can be truly trusted, then heck, go for it.

Well--I was hoping for a price closer to $100 but wishful thinking I guess--
Thanks for the response

Cool idea. I am sure it would make for a memorable experience provided everything goes according to plan. It would really have to be planned out without fail. My Son is 8 and I think he would somehow catch on to the surprise. I think he would question why you didn't have to go through line to pay for it etc...good luck though. I hope it works out for you like you want.

Cool idea or maybe attach it to a statue or pole and then have him "discover " it on a family walk around the park

_I_ would be worried about it going wrong, like some stranger finding it on the shelves - perhaps even managing to purchase it - before your kid found it. THAT would suck, wow! LOL!

Quote: niceguy1

_I_ would be worried about it going wrong, like some stranger finding it on the shelves - perhaps even managing to purchase it - before your kid found it. THAT would suck, wow! LOL!

Love the general idea and I know how to avoid this. Have an employe plant it there (or a family member) and then you turn the corner to the Skylanders Section and then your son sees it! The only problem is making sure he doesn't see the person plant it on the shelf, which I think won't be to hard...

Good idea!

Neat idea, just the light in my kids eyes when they find a character that they have been looking for, let alone a chase figure. That would be amazing for your child whether it was "planted" or not, they would still be the one "finding it", I say go for it and keep us posted how it goes.

That would be the most epic birthday present ever.

Maybe a night hunt for it?

It could be next to a recorder set to repeat "I've got my Eye on you!", on low volume. Keep him in a box or a bag to make it tough!

#BadIdea

I wonder if this guy did the same thing for his son for Glitter HotHead since it was found in June, well after Glitter HotHeads had been out.
Go to 3:15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULyxlLfRTDc
To me the son did not seem that excited, like he already had him.
Personally, my son got more excited over Polar Whirlwind.

Thank you so much for all the feedback---

Quote: niceguy1

_I_ would be worried about it going wrong, like some stranger finding it on the shelves - perhaps even managing to purchase it - before your kid found it. THAT would suck, wow! LOL!

This, I'd be so paranoid setting that up and making sure nobody else runs in there and grabs it!

I'd likely do it at gamestop because he doesn't know that it's a bad store to get chase figures. I'm friends with the manager so I could drop it off---and call him when we are about to come in and have him put it on the shelf. I would have to purchase something because my son would notice if I didn't pay for it. But I'm not worried about losing it with the managers help. It's a valid point--we would have to be careful-but I feel safe doing it with his help.

Now--to come up with a purple eye brawl---hmmmm
I really appreciate all the posts. Thx

Too risky for my blood...
When I was growing up and collecting Star wars, I would send in the proof of purchases to get those special figures (Remember those?). Anyways, when they would arrive in the mail my mother would get them during her lunch break while I was at school and leave notes around the house (Like a treasure map) leading me closer to the treasure. As a kid that was pretty fun trying to find it, especially trying to do it without looking for all the notes. To me this is safer and also fun for kids. I (My wife included) now do this for my son at Easter time. Makes finding his Easter Basket enjoyable. Of course the notes are left by the Easter Bunny.

Suggestion: Have him pull a "new" case out from behind the counter just as you walk in.

"Oh, aren't you the ones in here always looking for Skylanders? I was just about to put this new case out - you can open it up first and see if there's anything in it you want."

Quote: UncleBob

Suggestion: Have him pull a "new" case out from behind the counter just as you walk in.

"Oh, aren't you the ones in here always looking for Skylanders? I was just about to put this new case out - you can open it up first and see if there's anything in it you want."

Uncle beat me too it. I was going say if you have a trusted person you know in the store have a new box behind the counter with purple eyebrawl in it and after looking at the skylanders walk over to that counter with your son to "ask if they have any other skylanders". The other option is have said employee have a few skylanders with him in a cart that he's restocking from "returns" and have him come over and ask you all which one your looking for and have ur kid look inside the cart etc.

There is many chances of this going wrongly so i would make sure you have someone you trust and do it on a none busy day/time. You should also clear it with security etc as you don't want them thinking you stole said skylander you brought in sealed.
It would seriously suck to have someone else grap this item you own and try to leave with it. So keeping it with the guy behind the counter is a good idea but make sure all the employees know it as you dont need someone else coming over and taking it.

Shelley, I really like your idea about letting him find a variant. Good luck with planting it in the store. I do not think you will have a problem as long as you work with the store to set it up properly. Maybe talk to a store manager about a staffer to be setup in the isle, and set up a camcorder across the isle to record his reaction?

My daughter is four and when we picked the game up at Toys R Us, we let her pick one giant and one regular. She picked up Eye Brawl without hesitation from five of the other giants on the pegs. The only reason she put him back was to get a Scarlet Ninjini (on the day she was released, by sheer luck). When I found out there was a metallic purple variant for him, I thought that would be so cool for her to have, but I doubt I would ever be able to find one.

Thanks again for the feedback and ideas--I like the box behind the counter idea. We have never had that opportunity.
I'll see if I can get it video taped and put here.
First I have go track the figure down--

I like this idea too and my 7yr old son would be very excited, the only problem is he would want to open that sucker up right there and play with it. He doesn't like the idea of not playing with it opened, which I don't blame him cause from his point of view I get that.

I prob am going to find him an e3 hotdog thou, when we got skylanders and he found hotdogs gem in game he wanted one and kept asking me for like 2 months if he were out. Same with Molten.

Abit off topic but what would you all call the bronze hotdog nickname wise. My son calls molten mustard hotdog and the regular ketchup.

Topics "evolve" so no problem there! I've seen it called "E3 Hotdog"" "bronze hotdog" and "color changing Hotdog."
Not sure what the "official" name is.

My son would want to open it too. He normally (with chase variants) wants to keep them in the package and he displays his favorite few at a time. But this one--he has now spotted online--and he wants it so badly. He already said, "mom, if we get that one, I've got to open it!" So, this experience would end with him tearing the eye brawl out of the package. It's a bummer because of the cost but it's the main reason we do this so---we will plan on him opening it.

I talked to our friend who manages a gamestop. He is, "all over making this happen." He said that he will hang on to the next box they get so we can have it behind the counter as suggested here...(thx).
So excited---

The purple Skylanders will probably take months to lower in price. Why not do it with a Flocked Skylander?

Quote: shelly9871

Topics "evolve" so no problem there! I've seen it called "E3 Hotdog"" "bronze hotdog" and "color changing Hotdog."
Not sure what the "official" name is.

My son would want to open it too. He normally (with chase variants) wants to keep them in the package and he displays his favorite few at a time. But this one--he has now spotted online--and he wants it so badly. He already said, "mom, if we get that one, I've got to open it!" So, this experience would end with him tearing the eye brawl out of the package. It's a bummer because of the cost but it's the main reason we do this so---we will plan on him opening it.

I talked to our friend who manages a gamestop. He is, "all over making this happen." He said that he will hang on to the next box they get so we can have it behind the counter as suggested here...(thx).
So excited---

I am so happy this is going to work out for you. Keep us updated!

We already have those. He knows we have them. It's a great suggestion and I wish there was another option. But the eye brawl is "the one". Lol! I'm just going to look look look and hope we are able to get one.
Thanks Zook

This is such an amazing idea wow I bet he would be sooo happy finding that haha sounds like the best bday present

Thanks Gooch and werespyro

Good idea but if he knows that it's not a real...?

Lloyd--what was saying was using a flocked or glitter--a variant that is less expensive, is a good idea. However, I say that I already have them and he knows we have them therefore thats not going to work and we will use the purple eyebrawl. Sorry if I was unclear.

Ya I'm getting a second hotdog for him. I think it would be a neat gift for my son. I may hold it till his half birthday in Aug. Just as a small gift.

Slayer--if you "plant" the hotdog you should get the experience on video. Actually--the reaction regardless of how he gets it would be good to video tape. I'm going to try to tape my son. Out of curiosity--when is your kiddo's birthday? My son's birthday is August 7th.

Well his actual birthday is feb 17th. The video idea is a good idea thou idk if im going to do it in a store, Id prob screw it up lol.

Oops I mis read---I'm doing that a lot lately--but it's his HALF birthday. Lucky kiddo--we don't do half birthdays. Sounds like a fun idea.

I REALLY don't watch their videos as I find them quite annoying, but I think the dad of SkylanderBoyAndGirl often does like treasure hunts... The kids must know stuff is planted by their parents, but they still seem plenty excited to find the Skylanders. And then there's no store involved, no risk (okay, very little risk) of other people finding and getting the figure, no having to get the cooperation of others... I saw one video, back before Ninjini came out, where they found a Ninjini in a field and he edited the video to digitally add a bunch more, I think popping out of the ground, and that was announcing a Ninjiji give-away they had.

(Nothing really against them, of course, I do realize that the antics are aimed at kids the same age as them, I'm not the target audience, LOL!)

Sounds cute. If I had the time/supplies/children to impress, I'd probably make some sort of rock or something and put it in there and include a note from Master Eon with something along the lines of "I've sent this Giant to you Portal Master in hopes that you and he will help out Skylands" etc etc. Heck, include something about a new evil arising an include a preorder form for Swap Force.

LOL niceguy
Ive never seen even one of the Skykids videos. I am just not interested. I read the threads here and that is the extent of my knowledge of them.
My son would be excited to just "get" the eyebrawl variant. But it would be a whole different level of excitement to "find" one after all the time and effort that we have spent "hunting." And, I will say that during all those times when we find nothing--he has never even one time had a melt down of any kind. There have never been tears or anything like that. I think it's because we are having fun "hunting." That and we have been so careful to explain that the odds of finding even one of the "chase" figures are next to nothing... So, I don't think his expectations are very high. I see kids having meltdowns all the time at TRU etc. even at ages of my son (9) and up. It just makes me think how lucky we are to have such a great kid who knows how to enjoy what he has. Don't get me wrong--he can drive us nuts sometimes--as all parents can attest too. He is the KING of NEGOTIATING and argh...it makes me crazy. (of course he got it from us so we are to blame--LOL)
Anyway,,,,,,It'll just be the most exciting thing to him---I'm not sure what he will do. He deserves to find one...I wish all the kiddo's who love Skylanders would have the opportunity to find one. Heck--I want to find one!

Quote: UncleBob

Suggestion: Have him pull a "new" case out from behind the counter just as you walk in.

"Oh, aren't you the ones in here always looking for Skylanders? I was just about to put this new case out - you can open it up first and see if there's anything in it you want."

I like this idea actually.

Yep--I am going with that idea--I already contacted manager. It's the safest and still allows for him to "find" it in an authentic fashion.---thx for idea Uncle Bob.

Anytime.

Can't wait to see the video.

Bonus to manager dude - save two boxes, put the special Eye Brawl in one, but then hand the kid the regular box first - but don't tell Shelly. When the kid opens the box - and no special Eye Brawl - just be all "I don't know what you're talking about..." Then, after Shelly has either passed out or punched you, pull out the second box.

You are bad...lol..mommy would be having a breakdown!!! Lol!

Quote: shelly9871

Oops I mis read---I'm doing that a lot lately--but it's his HALF birthday. Lucky kiddo--we don't do half birthdays. Sounds like a fun idea.

The idea actually started with my wife as her birthday is dec 28th and she hates it cause its right after xmas. So when we started dating i got her roses that 1st yr and a a pink ds the following yr. It extended then to our son cause we figured we could give him something for the school year/winter. Last year he got to pick out a power ranger toy and a sweater for school. So this year it may be the E3 hotdog as Id rather not wait till feb 17th to give him it, besides the fact I already have that gift planed out as he wants a PR Legacy Dragon Dagger, since oddly he loves his samurai and megaforce PR but loves watching shows his mommy, daddy and uncle watched as kids.

I'm going to 1st find one and then chat with my mother in alw as she works for the site store area of walmart, maybe I can get something to workout there if I went this route thou honestly he'd be just as happy to find the mailman coming for a package for him (back around his bday i had gotten him the Japaneses version of the Power Rangers Lightzord as it was a full size toy he can play with as opposed to the American which was like 4inchs tall. We ahd missed the mailman and had to chance him down and he was so excited doing that and getting a lightzord

Hello all:
I bought an eye brawl and have it in hand!
It wasn't cheap but --we decided it was worth it. I put it on the portal and as expected--level 5 and 2100 pts. It looks pretty cool when the eye lights up against the "blurple."
Thanks again for all the ideas--feedback--etc!
Shelly

You still doing the store thing?

Yes we will --closer to his birthday 8/7

Cool! Make sure you do the video, I'll be waiting!

Quote: shelly9871

Hello all:
I bought an eye brawl and have it in hand!
It wasn't cheap but --we decided it was worth it. I put it on the portal and as expected--level 5 and 2100 pts. It looks pretty cool when the eye lights up against the "blurple."
Thanks again for all the ideas--feedback--etc!
Shelly

Cool, can you confirm it comes up as "Special"?

It does come up as "special"
I can try to take a picture.
I'll be home a little later in the day and will post a photo

Here is photo

My son just say that eyebrawl and went "OMG he's purple"

so whats special about the purple eyebrawl?... do get better stats for his speed?...