• Home
• About
• Customer Feedback

Hot Toys for Christmas 2009 October 11, 2009

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

What? The School Holidays are still in their final few hours and we’re already looking towards Christmas?

Yep, if you’re a Trade Me seller, now’s the time to start rolling out your Christmas selling programme — you’ll see the big retailing chains throwing up the tinsel and dusting off those trees even earlier than ever in 2009, as they work hard on offsetting the lousy sales of earlier months and bidding a less than fond farewell to the recession.

And if you’re a Trade Me buyer, now’s the time to start planning your purchases — early bird gets the worm (not just a ‘Sold Out’ sign) at a hopefully healthy discount.

So, as a public service, allow us to tell you about the year’s hottest toys, as designated by US toy megaretailer Toys R Us:

THE TOYS”R”US 2009 HOLIDAY HOT TOY LIST

From Baby’s First Christmas to Big Kids, the Toys”R”Us Holiday Hot Toy List represents the top new toys for 2009 in each age group:

• BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS

3-in-1 Smart Trike from little tikes
From babies to beginning riders, even the tiniest tots will enjoy taking a spin on this adjustable tricycle. Featuring a full metal frame, handle and shade canopy, parents can push their little ones while strolling the neighborhood and then pop out pedals when a child is old enough to ride on their own. Two included seats can be swapped out to accommodate different aged riders, including a harnessed version to keep babies safely strapped in. A storage bucket also lets kids take their favorite treasures along on any neighborhood adventure. No batteries required. Ages 10 to 36 months.

Laugh & LearnLearning Farm from Fisher-Price
Babies and toddlers can have fun on the farm as they learn about animals, the alphabet, counting, opposites, colors and more in this double-sided role-play activity center. The magic begins when little ones open the barn door and crawl through, triggering sing-along songs, lights, music, sounds and fun phrases. In learning mode, kids are introduced to animal names, the sounds they make and the food they eat. While in music mode, a crop of songs will delight even the tiniest tots, with a selection of classics and fresh tunes. 3 “AA” batteries required (not included). Ages 6 to 36 months.

Little Superstar Jammin’ Band Musical Microphone from Fisher-Price
Young tots can get rockin’ with a musical activity center designed to prepare them for their first pretend concert. Filled with instrument play and other fun activities, this working microphone lets toddlers amplify their voices as they sing along to six songs and four karaoke tunes or explore their creativity with “build a song” mode. As budding superstars grow, the microphone can be adjusted from a sit-and-play activity into a toy where kids can stand and dance while proudly showing off their performance. 4 “AA” batteries required (included). Ages 6 to 36 months.

• 13 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS

Color Me a Song from Crayola Beginnings
Combining Picasso and Miles Davis, tots can strike up a band and create their own tunes while exploring their first artistic expressions. Toddlers can exercise their creativity by drawing on a blank sheet of paper with the eight included Crayola Washable Triangular crayons, while the speed of their scribbles determines the pace of the music. The faster kids color, the more the tempo increases, and toddlers can mix sounds from a piano, banjo, trumpet and drum, while switching between different musical styles such as salsa, rock, swing and country. Built-in storage for eight triangular crayons allows kids to take their masterpiece-making-band on road trips. 3 “AA” batteries required (included). Ages 24 months and up.

Little Momm Baby Ah-Choo from Fisher-Price
Baby Ah-Choo sneezes, wheezes and sniffles as kids squeeze her tummy in an attempt to nurse her back to health. Toddlers will love making Baby Ah-Choo “all better” with accessories, such as “a spoonful of medicine” and a thermometer that interact with this baby doll to elicit fun reactions. Featuring over 30 sounds and phrases, such as, “Can I have a tissue?” and “My nose is running,” Baby Ah-Choo comes with a box of tissues and medicine bottle, offering kids everything they need to “cure” the common cold. 3 “AA” batteries required (included). Ages 2 years and up.

Sesame Street The Original Tickle Me Elmo from Fisher-Price
After more than a decade of bringing laughter to kids of all ages, The Original Tickle Me Elmo is back, exclusively at Toys”R”Us. Tickle him once and he’ll giggle. Tickle him twice and he’ll laugh. Tickle him three times and watch him convulse with laughter! This classic toy started a phenomenon when it was first released and still brings smiles to little ones today. When Elmo’s tummy is squeezed, he’ll let kids know, “That tickles!” as he breaks out in laughter. 3 “AA” batteries required (included). Ages 18 months to 4 years.

Tonka CHUCK & FRIENDS CHUCK MY TALKING TRUCK from Playskool
Chuck is a friendly little dump truck with the gift of gab, chatting while he works on his construction projects. With more than 40 phrases, sounds and actions, kids can lift his dump bed, press his roof or push his bumper to hear Chuck say phrases such as, “Time to find some dirt!” Chuck is fully interactive, featuring sound recognition that lets him roll his tires when kids call him. An accompanying storybook, “Get to Work,” lets kids explore Chuck’s world, which includes his construction vehicle friends. 3 “C” batteries required (included). Ages 2 years and up.

• 2 TO 4 YEARS

Disney-Pixar Toy Story Interactive Buddies Talking Action Figures from Thinkway
Buzz Lightyear and Woody are back from their owner Andy’s toy box, and just like in the movies, they banter and bicker like real pals. With this Toys”R”Us exclusive, kids can choose between three different interactive modes to hear these buddies speak individually or with each other, using their actual voices from the movies. Between Buzz and Woody, the duo can say over 100 phrases, including lines from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, along with additional buddy interactions. 3 “AA” batteries and 3 “AAA” batteries required (not included). Ages 4 years and up.

Disney Princess: Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll from Mattel
Stepping out of this holiday season’s highly-anticipated animated theatrical release from Disney Studios, The Princess and the Frog, Princess Tiana is ready to find her prince, even if she has to kiss a frog or two first. Dressed to regal perfection, Tiana is a vision of loveliness with a tiara, necklace and blue ball gown adorned with firefly lights that sparkle and shine. She’s accompanied by the frog prince, who desperately yearns for a kiss to transform him back into a man. When girls bring the frog up to Tiana for a kiss, she will turn her head away and say one of the phrases from the movie. The fourth time the frog is brought up to her, Tiana finally agrees to kiss the prince. 3 “button cell” batteries required (included). Ages 4 years and up.

Imaginext Dragon World Fortress from Fisher-Price
With action at every turn, this fortress world allows kids to open gates, make lightning crackle, and unleash a powerful dragon with a fierce roar. Two medieval-themed action figures activate all of the castle’s secret abilities, including a launching cannon to ward off intruders and a boulder that can be released down the dragon’s tail to attack invaders. With fantastic accessories and battle sound effects, kids will believe they’ve been transported to the age of swords and sorcery. 3 “AA” batteries required (included). Ages 3 to 8 years.

Paperoni Deluxe Studio from Spin Master
With a dash of imagination and this Deluxe Studio, young artisans can create 3D artwork using tiny, colorful paper rolls. This mess-free set lets kids devise and craft animals, friendly faces and more using a child-friendly cutter that helps them effortlessly cut Paperoni paper rolls into six different lengths with the turn of a dial and the push of a lever. Offering additional depth to every work of art, crafty kids can design dozens of creations with 600 1/2-inch Paperoni pieces, 32 9-1/2-inch Paperoni pieces, one 2D self-adhesive template, one 3D template, Tweezers, eight gems and additional embellishments. No batteries required. Ages 4 years and up.

SCATTERPILLAR SCRAMBLE from Hasbro Games
Preschoolers can challenge their friends in a race to climb to the top of a giant Scaterpillar as it dances and grooves to its favorite music. As kids move their marbles, one at a time, into the Scatterpillar’s hands, it squiggles and squirms, dropping marbles and setting players back. The first player to get all eight marbles to the top wins. 3 “AA” batteries required (not included). Ages 4 years and up.

Text & Learn from LeapFrog
Because we all want our littlies to learn to get addicted to crackberries from an early age! Little learners can explore in a grown-up way by mimicking how mom and dad use their Blackberries with this oversized version that provides educational fun through three different modes. Whether exchanging text messages with their puppy pal Scout or checking Scout’s planner to see his weekly schedule in pretend browser mode, toddlers will learn the basics of communicating while using a real keyboard. Additionally, children can match letters, identify shapes, learn letter names and more. 3 “AA” batteries required (included). Ages 3 years and up.

• 5 TO 7 YEARS

BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS NEW VESTROIA Maxus Helios 7 in 1 from Spin Master
Fans of Bakugan Battle Brawlers beware – the Maxus Helios Mega Bakugan has arrived This ultimate fighter is formed by connecting seven different Bakugan marbles: Helios, Scraper, Klawgor, Foxbat, Fencer, Leefram and Spindle. Maxus Helios can battle as one united force, or individually, to give kids a variety of combat options to help them excel in Bakugan, which combines trading card game play with collectible marbles. No batteries required. Ages 5 years and up.

Barbie Fashionista doll collection from Mattel
Decked out in the best outfits, shoes and accessories, this collection of fashion-forward Barbie dolls each feature their own distinct fashion personality, including Glam, Cutie, Girly, Wild, Sassy and Artsy. With 12 points of articulation, these Barbie dolls can bend their elbows, twist their wrists, bend at the waist and roll their heads, allowing them to pose over 100 different ways. Each doll comes complete with one stylish outfit, and endless possibilities, for hours of fun. No batteries required. Ages 3 years and up. Each doll sold separately.

Battle Strikers Turbo Tops Tournament Set from MEGA Bloks
Battle Strikers Turbo Tops put a new spin on battling tops by letting kids launch without ripcords or pull strings, while offering unprecedented control. Kids rev up the handheld turbo launcher, which reaches speeds of 6000 RPM, and release their Striker top into the battle arena to compete against an opponent. Once the Battle Strikers are launched, kids can direct their tops with the flick of a fingertip through a magnetic controller that fits over two fingers. With 16 types of Strikers to collect, players can mix and match components to customize as they prepare for battle. The 17-piece Tournament Set includes two Turbo Launchers, two magnetic Controllers, two exclusive Strikers and one Battle Arena. 6 “AA” batteries required (not included). Ages 6 years and up.

ChixOs Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft from Spin Master
The ChixOs Design-A-Luxury Loft offers the perfect space for an amazing party, but the fun can’t begin before kids decorate their stylin’ pad. To prepare for the festivities, kids can dress and style three ChixOs dolls from 243 possible choices of mix and match body parts, then give them a dusting of glitter for the finishing touch. Junior interior designers can also decorate the loft by building 3D furniture and accessories when they join PixOs with water to create couches, tables or anything imaginable. No batteries required. Ages 4 years and up.

Egyptian Pyramid from playmobil
Kids can bring home one of the seven wonders of the world with the Egyptian Pyramid, available exclusively at Toys”R”Us. Featuring a 14-inch high pyramid, which kids can construct, young architects will be able to assemble tricks and ambushes with removable plastic walls, a collapsible staircase, chute, scorpion trap, secret treasure chamber and trapdoor with slide. Now, children have everything they need to help the Pharaoh safeguard his jewels against treasure hunters. No batteries required. Ages 5 years and up.

Harumika RUNWAY SHOWSTOPPER SET from Bandai
Future designers create fantastic fashions by folding fabric over a dress mannequin and locking the swatches in place. Once a new dress is formed, kids can capture images of their garment with an included USB camera before uploading them to the Harumika website where their styles can join an online fashion show. The set comes with everything needed to design runway perfect couture, including a pink dress form mannequin, stylus tool, several rolls of foldable fabric, accessories, rhinestones, stickers and two Harumika charms that hold special codes that unlock exclusive content on www.harumika.com. Even the handle on the display case offers fashion forward opportunities, transforming into a bracelet. No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up.

Matchbox Rocky the Robot Truck from Mattel
This hard-working, interactive dump truck is ready to roll with sensors, motorized movements and 100 phrases. Quickly becoming any child’s best friend, Rocky tells jokes, dances and flashes his headlights as he speaks. With a rugged design and a full-tilting bed, kids can even use Rocky for construction projects like loading up, moving out, hauling and dumping. When the work is done, Rocky even sleeps and snores. 4 “C” batteries required (included). Ages 3 years and up.

Moxie Girlz Jammaz dolls from MGA Entertainment
Breaking into the fashion doll scene, Moxie Girlz are ready to help empower girls to express themselves with courage, determination and energy. Since there’s no better place for kids to have fun than at a rock-themed slumber party, all dolls in the Jammaz line, Lexa, Avery, Sasha and Sophina, come decked out in their favorite pajamas with accessories guaranteed to help show off their inner rock stars. A wig, heart-shaped guitar, microphone, tiara and glasses complete the transformation from doll to pop princess. No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up. Each doll sold separately.

NERF N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35 from Hasbro
Ready to take on any dart challenge, this NERF blaster has the capacity to hold up to 35 NERF darts at once, ensuring kids will have a blast long before ever needing to reload. Providing versatility, the NERF RAIDER can instantly switch from “single” fire mode to launch one dart at a time or “slam” fire mode to unleash a rapid stream of 35 darts. A removable stock and Tactical Rail System complete the package, allowing players to customize their blaster for every scenario. As an added bonus, the NERF RAIDER features a collapsible stock and a drum magazine that can be used with additional NERF products. No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Clone Turbo Tank from Hasbro
When the Clone Army protects Jedi during a rescue mission or helps overcome an attack from the Separatist Droid Army, the Clone Turbo Tank is part of the action. This heavily armed and armored ten-wheel vehicle features a Tank Gunner action figure, cannon pods with firing missiles, a rotating gunner station, doors that can open and close, a removable command center and room for an entire squadron of Clone Troopers. To help the troops chase escaping droids, an included Speeder Bike can launch into action from the rear of the vehicle. Lights, sounds and Clone Trooper phrases complete the battle scenario for kids who are playing “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” 3 “AA” batteries required (not included). Ages 4 and up.

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN CONSTRUCTICON DEVASTATOR from Hasbro
Kids can take control of the ultimate weapon in the evil DECEPTICON army with this monstrous TRANSFORMERS action figure that can be built by combining six different construction vehicles known as the CONSTRUCTICONS. Before converting into DEVASTATOR, children can pretend they’re waiting to ambush the heroic AUTOBOTS at a construction site with these Robots in Disguise, including LONGHAUL, MIXMASTER, SCAVENGER, RAMPAGE, SCRAPPER, and HIGHTOWER. After changing into its ultimate form, DEVASTATOR can unleash its weapons with lights and sounds that bring the excitement of this summer’s blockbuster film TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen to life. 2 “AA” batteries required (included). Ages 5 years and up.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster from Cepia
These adorable, furry, interactive hamsters double as the perfect family pet and a best friend. With five hamsters to choose from, kids can select one that reflects their personality, including Patches, the flower-lover; Chunk, a laid-back surfer; Pipsqueak, a tiny titan of power; Mr. Squiggles, who loves to explore; or Num Nums, who loves to eat. With more than 40 different sound effects and artificial intelligence, these pets will dart around the house, play in hamster tubes, run on wheels and more. Zhu Zhu Pets also make fun sound effects, such as toilet-flushing, teeth-brushing sounds and sleeping noises. 2 “AAA” batteries required (included). Ages 4 years and up. Each hamster sold separately.

• 8 TO 11 YEARS

Barbie b-nails digital nail printer from Mattel
Young fashionistas can glam it up like Barbie with a spa-like manicure in the comfort of their own home. This new digital nail printer allows girls to select designs from over 1,000 available images or upload their own creations from their computer. Whether using the printer to add decals over polish or directly onto a nail, young manicurists can place their fingernail into the printer after using scaling and sizing tools to select the perfect style. Printing takes only a few seconds and the designs last for days. No batteries required. Ages 8 years and up.

Disney Netpal from ASUS
Available in Princess Pink and Magic Blue, this Disney-themed netbook computer was designed with Internet safety in mind, allowing parents to create a web-safe computing environment for their kids with more than two dozen parental controls. Once kids turn on the netbook, they’re logged on to the Disney Desktop, an intuitive software program that offers simple operation for children, along with easy access to the Disney web browser, which is preloaded with several kid-friendly websites. The Disney Desktop also comes with a “gadget tray” with icons for easy access to applications and a collection of 15 widgets, including a stopwatch and a digital memo pad. Rugged and durable, this has a spill-proof keyboard and a 16GB SSD drive that can withstand bumps. A preinstalled card allows the Disney Netpal to access networks wirelessly. 1 “4200mAh Polymer” internal rechargeable battery is required (included). Ages 6 years and up.

EyeClops Mini Projector from JAKKS Pacific
Children can create their own big screen entertainment with this pint-sized projector that can display an image up to 60-inches when connected to a DVD player, multimedia player, video game console or other video device. Once kids plug the unit into the A/V jacks of any home entertainment device, they can turn their ceiling into an arcade, the side of their house into an outdoor movie theater or the seat in front of them into a TV screen. Children can also take their big-screen experience on the road by plugging the projector into an outlet with an AC adaptor while inside or powering it with an included battery pack while outdoors. 4 “D” batteries required (not included). Ages 8 years and up.

Fast Lane JLX OVER DRIVE RADIO CONTROL ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE from Toys”R”Us
Remote control drivers can take the wheel of the ultimate R/C experience with this miniature ATV that reaches scale speeds of 225 MPH, performs awesome stunts with self-propelled flipping action tires and has the ability to drive on almost any terrain, including land, water or snow. Kids can even take this Toys”R”Us exclusive to the air with a ramp-assisted jump that can propel the JLX more than 6 feet. The JLX features a recyclable Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack, offering a longer battery life with each charge. 1 “9V” battery and 1 “12V” rechargeable Ni-Mh battery required (included). Ages 8 years and up.

Liv from Spin Master
This new collection of dolls, designed to look like real teenagers, merges the world of fashion play with an online community. Using a code provided with each doll, children can peer into the daily routine of the Liv girls, Daniela, Sophie, Katie and Alexis, when they visit www.livworld.com, which offers daily diary entries, virtual closets filled with fashions, webisodes, games and more. Beyond offering a real teen perspective, each Liv doll comes with realistic glass-like eyes, 14 points of articulation for greater poseability and wigs that allow children to switch their doll’s hairstyle or color easily. No batteries required. Ages 5 years and up. Each doll sold separately.

Mindflex from Mattel
Mindflex challenges players to test their mind-over-matter skills by levitating a soft foam ball in order to move it through an obstacle course, using only the power of their mind. Kids just strap on the included headset that contains sensors for the forehead and earlobes to measure their brainwave activity. With deep concentration, the ball rises on a stream of air, and when the mind relaxes the ball begins to descend. Players must master these mental maneuvers to guide the ball through an obstacle course that they design from hundreds of interchangeable combinations. Up to three friends can challenge each other with five unique game modes, including multiplayer games, to prove who is the most accurate mental warrior. 4 “C” batteries and 3 “AAA” batteries required (not included). Ages 8 years and up.

Star Wars Fan’s Choice Anniversary Edition Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser from LEGO Systems, Inc.
Modeled after scenes from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, this 789-piece construction set contains enough pieces to build the classic Mon Calamari Star Cruiser’s command deck, briefing room and repair hangar. Developed after it was voted by fans as the most sought after Star Wars spacecraft never before produced as a LEGO model, this massive set also comes with an A-wing fighter that kids can build, featuring an opening cockpit, rear doors and two flick missiles. Six mini figures, including Admiral Ackbar, a Mon Calamari soldier, Mon Mothma, General Lando Calrissian, General Madine and an A-wing Pilot let builders take control of the ship by directing Admiral Ackbar on his command seat to plan an attack on the Empire with the Death Star hologram. No batteries required. Ages 9 – 14 years.

• FOR BIG KIDS

Bakugan Battle Brawlers from Activision
Now video game players can heed the “call to brawl” with the first Bakugan game developed for Xbox 360, PlayStation3, PlayStation2, Wii and Nintendo DS. Taking control of their favorite Bakugan characters from the animated series, players can participate in intense battles and create their own Bakugan Battle Brawler in an environment featuring cartoon quality graphics and multiplayer combat. No batteries required. Rated “E” for “Everyone.” Video game systems sold separately.

DSi from Nintendo
Building on the popular Nintendo DS platform, this updated system combines the fun of handheld gaming consoles with the ability to take pictures and search the Internet. Available in black, blue or pink, the Nintendo DSioffers dual-screen, touch-sensitive play, and comes with a stylus to help control in-game action. Users can play any of the hundreds of existing DS titles or grow their gaming library with Nintendo DSi-specific titles and downloadable DSiWare content, including games and applications. The sleek, folding design easily fits in a hand or pocket, so users can listen to music as they walk down the street, get directions to the nearest restaurant or snap pictures they can edit, send to friends or upload to Facebook. One “lithium ion” rechargeable battery required (included). Ages 6 years and up.

Reader Pocket Edition from Sony
With the capacity to store approximately 350 standard eBooks in a device that can easily fit into a pocket, this Reader lets anyone flip open their favorite books in the car, on a plane, at a restaurant or even in a library. Sporting a five-inch electronic display, and available in a variety of colors such as navy blue and rose, this device offers clear and crisp pages for easy readability. Users can also take the Reader on all of their trips, long and short, with up to two weeks of reading enjoyment on a single battery charge. The Reader comes equipped with a USB cable that can connect to a computer to download books from a variety of online sources, as well as public libraries across the country. One “lithium ion” rechargeable battery required (included). Ages 12 years and up.

Wii Sports Resort from Nintendo
This sequel to the popular Wii Sports takes the action out of the console and onto a virtual island resort, filled with a dozen fun activities. Using the Wii Remote and Nunckuk controllers, players can take control of their Mii characters to compete against the computer or their friends in archery, basketball, bowling, golf, table tennis, fencing, air sports, canoeing, cycling, Frisbee, power cruising and wakeboarding. Adding to the challenge, Wii Sports Resort comes with one Wii MotionPlus accessory that attaches to the base of a Wii Remote, enhancing players’ precision by recognizing the slightest twist or turn of the Wii Remote. No batteries required. Rated “E” for “Everyone.” Wii system sold separately.

A couple of final observations from TOYS R US:

• There is no ONE hot toy for every child – While attention may be paid to one specific hot toy each year, that item is not necessarily appropriate for every child. The hottest toy for a five-year-old girl may not appear on an eight-year-old boy’s wish list. The age and interests of a child are key factors in determining the perfect gift.

• Quality AND Value matter – Value has two components: what consumers pay for an item and what they get for that price. Toys that last for years to come and provide open-ended play are among the most sought-after items during the holiday season.

CHRISTMAS DOWN UNDER

From what we understand, most of the above goodies will be available in New Zealand. For those that are not — Trade Me sellers, you know an opportunity when you see one! Happy trading and a Ho Ho Ho to you!

What are the hottest selling categories on Trade Me? July 11, 2009

Trade Me is a glorious bazaar stuffed full each week with more than 1.3 million items, any one of which would surely look absolutely fabulous on your mantelpiece, in your garage or draped over your shoulders.

And yet, despite the inherent appeal of the items listed on sale, they don’t always sell — at least not right away. In fact, on average only one in four auctions on Trade Me ends in a sale.

Has that ratio changed, especially in these recessionary times?

Not much. If we examine the figures for the most recent month available, June 2009, we find that 23% of auctions closed successfully. In comparison, 22% of auctions in June 2008 were similarly successful; while 24% of June 2007’s auctions resulted in a sale.

Of course, some product categories are more popular than others. If we rank Trade Me’s various sections in terms of popularity, here’s what we find:

• 41% of items listed in Mobile phones sold successfully in June 2009 (was 38% in June 2008)
• 37% Baby gear (was 33%)
• 29% Home & living (27%)
• 27% Electronics & photography (23%)
• 26% Toys & models (26%)
• 25% Sports (25%)
• 25% Building & renovation (24%)
• 23% Gaming (23%)
• 23% Health & beauty (21%)
• 22% Computers (19%)
• 20% Antiques & collectables (20%)
• 20% DVDs & movies (18%)
• 20% Music & instruments (21%)
• 19% Clothing (18%)
• 19% Jewellery & watches (17%)
• 18% Crafts (18%)
• 18% Pottery & glass (17%)
• 17% Art (15%)
• 17% Books (17%)
• 17% Business, farming & industry (24%)

If we drill down even deeper, to Trade Me’s sub-categories, we find much more dramatic results. These were the Top Ten best-selling product types on Trade Me for June 2009:

1. 66% Baby Walkers (59% in June 2008)
2. 66% Telecom mobile phones (64%)
3. 65% iPods (not listed separately in June 2008) 
4. 61% Concert tickets (57%)
5. 59% Baby Monitors (not listed separately last year)
6. 55% Laundry items (47%)
7. 54% Sports event tickets (58%)
8. 52% Heating & cooling (40%)
9. 50% Baby Bouncers & jolly jumpers (44%)
10. 45% Tattoos (not listed separately last year)

And those categories that improved most (in terms of sell-through rate) between June 2008 and June 2009?

• Up 65% GPS devices (were 23%, now 38%)
• Up 61% Trampolines (were 18%, now 29%)
• Up 60% Pottery & ceramics (were 10%, now 16%) 
• Up 58% Baby Car seats (were 19%, now 30%)
• Up 55% Domain names (were 11%, now 17%)

And those that fell furthest?

• Down 40% Crafts: Transfers (were 20%, now 12%)
• Down 40% Music DVDs (were 15%, now 9%)
• Down 50% Flags (were 26%, now 13%)
• Down 50% Businesses for sale (were 8%, now 4%)

And the very worst performer of all?

Carbon credits. This time last year, they enjoyed a sell-through rate of 71%. In June 2009 there were NO sales. Clearly an idea whose time has come – and gone.

What's Hot On Trade Me 23 January 2008 January 23, 2008

A pleasant change in the Top Ten Hottest Products On Trade Me this week – only one bike/car makes the list. As for the the other nine slots? See for yourself (we’ve included the headline with each listing so you can see how they tried to attract bidders):

10. New TaylorMade R7 CGBMax 3-SW Graph FreeShiping $1
For this Brand New TaylorMade R7 CGB MAX Irons set (9 clubs), $530 is the top bid, the auction has attracted 128 bids and 878 pageviews.

9. Toshiba 61″ huge Rear Projection TV 
A self-explanatory listing, this auction closed at $945 after attracting 128 bids and 1641 pageviews.

8. Chen Hanwei Miyamoto Mushashi Daito $1
RRP $1299 – one only [this listing included a subheading]
If you have to ask what this is, then you’re just not a potential buyer. According to the listing details, Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most famous swordmaster in Japanese history, was well above average height and Hanwei’s classic rendition of his Daito (long sword) reflects the impressive length of the original and features the legendary double-ring iron tsuba.

Current pricing (from a $1 start): $205  129 bids and 783 pageviews.

7. New Black Leather Lounge Suite
No Gallery image on this listing, so you have to click through for more details. The text of the listing, in its entirety: “This suite consists of a three seater & Two seater plus one chair.Very comfortable suite..Be quick to have for christmas”

Actually, there’s no rush now — you have eleven months. Current bidding stands at $900 (but the reserve still hasn’t been met). 131 bids so far and 1319 pageviews.

6. Food Trailer
This trailer has been used as part of a baked potato business, for carting and storing appliances, potatoes etc [Note: This listing is for the trailer only -- see the photo above] Bidding stands at $3,551,  with 131 bids and 2133 pageviews. 

5. A BEST BUY++ Conn M20 Alto Sax – USA made 1990
This saxophone “was my mothers and she loved this sax. Has not been used at all in last 5 years and only occassionally before that so is in excellent condition.”
$425 to date, from 136 bids and 184 pageviews.

4. Kestrel 20
This Trailer sailer is [so the listing description tells us] ideal for the beginner and is ready to go. The trailer has a road worthy and the out board was just serviced recently. The out board is a johnson 6HP. This yacht has a VHF radio fitted and comes with lots of extras. ie life jackets extra sails ect

Lots of questions and answers on this auction, currently up to $1,500 with 138 bids and 2041 pageviews.

3. Bmw BMW R1200RT 2005 
Bidding for this damaged motorbike currently stands at $4,110, with 165 bids and 4746 pageviews.

2. 07 SEIKO DAYTONA F1 RACER CHRONO SND701 $1RES
Bidding for this Monster Watch stands at $280 after 165 bids and 457 pageviews.

And, in the top slot:

1. Luxury 3 Person Infrared Sauna $1 Reserve
New Year Big 3 Person Sauna $1 Reserve [this listing also included a subheading, but then wasted the investment by saying almost exactly the same thing]

“Enjoy all the benefits of an Far infrared sauna in the privacy of your own home and get on track to a revitalized, healthy lifestyle.”

This sauna started life at $1 Reserve and is currently sitting at $360. What’s really unusual is that the item has attracted 202 bids despite only achieving 72 pageviews. How is that possible? Essentially we’re seeing a bidding war between one bidder’s reasonably high Autobid and a determined bidder who has been nibbling away in small increments, losing every time and then making a new bid (until finally getting to the top of the heap).

As readers of TRADE ME SUCCESS SECRETS will note, this is the worst possible bidding strategy (for the buyer) but fabulous news for the seller!

Top Searches From December 2007 January 16, 2008

What was everyone looking for on Trade Me in the lead-up to Christmas (and in the post-Christmas crush)?

All kinds of everything, but the Top 15 most-searched-for items in Trade Me for December 2007 were:

15 Harley
14 $1 reserve (new)
13 Kayak
12 Trampolines
11 Puppies
10 Louis Vuitton (new) 
9 Wedding
8 PSP
7 Transformers
6 PS3
5 Billabong
4 Unwanted (new)
3 Tents
2 Playboy clothing
1 iPod 

What's Hot On Trade Me – 16 January 2008 January 16, 2008

Two-wheeled contrivances are in again.  We’ve come a long way since Pierre Lallement whipped up a velocipede (also known as a boneshaker) in France in 1763.

These days you can choose from utility bicycles, mountain bicycles, racing bicycles, touring bicycles, cruiser bicycles, BMX bicycles, tandems, recumbents, lowriders, tall bikes, fixed gear and folding models. And those are just the human-powered variety. There’s a seemingly endless variety of motorised contrivances as well. And it’s to those that we now turn, as we note (with a hint of surprise) that four of the ten most popular items on Trade Me this week are motorised two-wheelers.

• In the Number One slot (most popular of all items currently for sale on Trade Me), boasting 2182 pageviews, 327 bids and a current selling price of $2610, it’s the Vespa PX 200 2003 scooter. On offer from Landcars, this sporty little number is well-described, very professionally presented (smart photos and useful description) and obviously a popular model. If you want to list your own vehicle for sale, you could do worse than to follow this example.
• Second most popular bike (and third most popular item on Trade Me overall): the Yamaha YZ450F 2004 dirt bike, proud recipient of 1468 pageviews, 201 bids and a pricetag currently hovering at $4810. Of particular note with this listing: the 17 photos (you can have up to 20 as part of the listing price) which capture most every important aspect of this good-lookin’ machine. Photos do matter.
• Third bike on the block (and in sixth place overall), the Honda Dio 1996, another scooter, is brmm-brmm-ing along with 1470 ardent viewers, 153 bids and an accumulated dollar value of $725.
• Fourth motorbike of the top Ten (seventh overall): a BMW R1200RT 2005 cruiser, on offer as part of “the original Star Insurance $1 Damaged Motorcycle & Wreck Auction”. This motorised steed started its second life at $1 and is now purring along at $1510 after attracting 2593 pageviews and 148 bids.

The remaining six of the Top Ten hottest auctions on Trade Me at this moment include three cars, a carport and a carpet — and (just to spoil the symmetry) an Ibanez electric guitar.

So why do vehicles (whether of the two or four wheeled variety) feature so strongly at the top of the Hot Auctions category? Because auctions are ranked based on numbers of bids. Given that Trade Me sets minimum ‘next bid’ prices that range from 50 cents (for values under $20) to $100 (values over $25,000), only high-inherent-value items are likely to attract enough bidders to rank near the top of the list. Motor vehicles are the most obvious prospects, especially on those auctions that start life at $1. 

The Hot Auctions category is a good place to hang out if you want to see what’s selling on Trade Me. Just don’t get caught up in a bidding war, okay?

List #6: 2007's Most Popular Out-Of-Print Books January 9, 2008

According to Anirvan Chatterjee, founder of book search engine BookFinder.com, “From 98 to 99 percent of all books ever published are now out-of-print, so they don’t show up in traditional bestseller lists. Without big marketing budgets behind them, these books have been getting buzz the old-fashioned way: reader word of mouth.”

BookFinder.com to the rescue, with its annual list (now in its fifth year) of the top ten most sought after (but out-of-print) bestsellers of 2007:
 
10. Dear and Glorious Physician (1959) by Taylor Caldwell; novel based on the life of Saint Luke.
9. One Way Up (1964) by John F. Straubel; history of helicopters and vertically rising aircraft.
8. Aran Knitting (1997) by Alice Starmore; history and how-to about the Irish technique.
7. Raven: The Untold Story of the Reverend Jim Jones and his People (1982) by Tim Reiterman; chronicles the inner workings which allowed the Peoples Temple to flourish.
6. The Principles of Knitting (1988) by June Hemmons Hiatt; ultimate indispensable hand knitting resource.
5. The Lion’s Paw (1946) by Robb White; enduring children’s adventure story.
4. Promise Me Tomorrow (1984) by Nora Roberts; early novel that the bestselling romance novelist refuses to reprint.
3. Sex (1992) by Madonna; the pop icon’s book of erotic photos, a perennial favorite.
2. Football Scouting Methods (1962) by Steve Belichick; legendary college football scout’s playbook, used by coaches and players.
1. Once a Runner (1978) by John L. Parker, Jr.; cult classic distance running novel (long-awaited sequel, Again to Carthage, just released in November).

Top Of The Shops, December 2007 January 9, 2008

The numbers are in and we have a winner!

According to those fine folk at Nielsen//NetRatings and their NZ Market Intelligence research, these were the top 10 websites in the Shopping category for December 2007:

• At Number 10, nzpost.co.nz/goshopping, which attracted 9,409 unique browsers across the month, looking for postage and packaging details.
• Number 9, mags4gifts.co.nz, Fairfax Magazines’ subscriptions-as-Christmas-gifts promotional site, 12,826 browsers.
• Number 8, interflora.co.nz appealed to 20,322 who like the thought of saying it with flowers.
• Number 7, smokecds.com, luring in 30,777 music lovers to this smokin’ music store.
• Number 6, torpedo7.co.nz, 46,051 extreme sport fanatics, on yer bike.
• Number 5, 1-day.co.nz, torpedo7’s one-day-deals site, lured 64,923 punters.
• Number 4, 121,564 visitors decided they’d like to sellmefree.co.nz.
• Number 3, designerexposure.com drew 192,909 in search of a little bit of luxury.
• Number 2, all that marketing drove 303,234 to ferrit.co.nz.

And, at Number 1, still champion after all these years, trademe.co.nz with a mere 3,532,434 unique browsers, more than eleven times the traffic of the Number 2 slot. Trade Me, take a bow.

List #5: Google's 2007 What's Hot, What's Not January 5, 2008

If you happen to operate a rather popular search engine — the sort of place where kazillions of people stop by every day, say — you could get a pretty good feeling for what’s hot (and what’s not) by noting what people are looking for and tracking how that changes from day to day and from week to week. You could if you’re Google, for example.

Google does indeed capture such info, and reports on it regularly through its Zeitgeist pages. We’ll let you explore those pages for yourself, but we thought we’d take a few electrons of your time to share with you Google’s report on 2007 — those search enquiries that rose in popularity the most during the year (and those that dropped like a stone).

First, the losers (or, as Google more delicately describes them, the “fastest falling” queries from around the world:

10. mp3
9. shakira
8. sudoku
7. webdetente
6. xanga
5. kazaa
4. rebelde*
3. fifa
2. mozart
1. world cup*

*Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Those marked with an asterisk appeared amongst the Fastest Risers in 2006.

And the hottest of the hot in 2007? Stand well back or prepare to be scorched by:

10. club penguin
9. hi5
8. second life
7. ebuddy
6. youtube
5. webkinz
4. dailymotion
3. facebook
2. badoo
1. iphone

List #4: The Top Movies Of 2007 January 5, 2008

The lists go on — our continuing mission, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go, yadda yadda, and also to provide guidance for Trade Me buyers and sellers in 2008. This time round, our topic is movies. Lights, cameras, action, quiet on the set, send the striking writers out of the room, it’s time to relive the celluloid sensations of 2007. First up, the hot picks from TVNZ for best flicks of the year (subjectively speaking). Full details here.

Oh say, have you seen:

10 – Atonement
First up is this British romantic-tragedy, with Keira Knightly “acting up a storm when her romance to James McAvoy (also seen in The King of Scotland) is turned on its head after he is accused of a crime he did not commit.”

9 – Hairspray
John Travolta in a fat suit playing the role made famous by drag diva extraordinaire Divine should have signalled disaster. Instead this remake of John Waters’ 1988 campy classic proved to be a critical and commercial hit.

8 – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
You can’t keep Captain Jack Sparrow down as Johnny Depp swashbuckled his way into the chart. The third, and supposed final film of the series, picks up exactly where Dead Man’s Chest left off as our heroic captain fights off all sorts of nasties. Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom also return, as do pretty much everyone that has appeared in the movies so far.

7 – Knocked Up
Every year a small comedy, featuring modest celebrities and a handful of expletives, seems to cut loose from the pack and deliver huge numbers at the box office – this year it was Knocked Up.

6 – Die Hard 4.0
Yippe-kay-ay as Bruce Willis dusts off his singlet and sets about saving world yet again in the blockbuster Die Hard 4.0.
 
5 – The Lives of Others
This German-language movie about the life of a secret police agent in East Berlin before the fall of the wall packed out art house cinemas around the world and took the Oscar for Best Foreign Language movie.

4 – Eagle vs Shark
Taika Waititi’s charming Kiwi comedy about two misfits trying to find love proved a hit with audiences around the globe. As the film’s tagline opines, “Finding love was never so… Awkward”.

3 – 300
Gerard Butler shouted up a storm as the leader of the Spartans who must battle overwhelming odds against wave-after-wave of Persian attack. A huge body count (585 according to the Internet Movie Database), lashes of blood and graphic violence brought in the masses and a relatively cheap Hollywood movie ($65 million to make) turned into a huge blockbuster with takings in access of $200 million.

2 – The Bourne Ultimatum
You would think baddies around the world would know by now – don’t mess with Jason Bourne!! The fast pace never let up for the 115 minutes of running time as Jason is chased, and chases, around worldwide locations including Morocco, Italy and an unforgettable sequence at London’s Waterloo station.

1 – Transformers
And so to TVNZ’s pick for number one film, narrowly beating Mr Bourne by just a single vote. Transformers (robots in disguise) take out the top spot as the year’s best movie, as voted by you and the team at tvnz.co.nz.

Turning a children’s cartoon into one of the biggest blockbusters of the year was no mean feat and credit where credits due to one Michael Bay. The director, who is reviled by critics for his over-the-top style of bombastic action (see Bad Boys 1 and 2, Armageddon, Pearl Harbour etc), bounced back after turning in his first true turkey with The Island two years ago.

But the nature of Transformers, which pits two warring robot clans against each other on little ole Earth, suited Bay’s style perfectly. Throw in scorching hot actor Shia LaBoeuf and a whole heap of special effects and just sit back and watch the fireworks!

NZ’s Most Popular Movies — By The Numbers 
Well, that’s what the people say. The actual NZ box office results tell a slightly different story. The top 20 titles for calendar year 2007 (box office take shown for each movie):

20 Knocked Up $1,260,229
19 Rush Hour 3 $1,362,618
18 Miss Potter $1,391,383
17 Ocean’s Thirteen $1,396,154
16 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer $1,420,316
15 Live Free or Die Hard $1,432,389
14 Stomp the Yard $1,468,746
13 Wild Hogs $1,553,813
12 Amazing Grace $1,667,980
11 300 $1,848,409
10 Shrek the Third $1,982,622
9 Hairspray $1,991,518
8 Ratatouille $2,294,439
7 Mr. Bean’s Holiday $2,353,233
6 The Bourne Ultimatum $2,559,711
5 Spider-Man 3 $2,759,554
4 The Simpsons Movie $3,303,450
3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $4,024,957
2 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $4,714,947
1 Transformers $5,274,014 

• RSS Feed Subscribe

• FREE NEWSLETTER

  Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, for the latest tips and advice on buying and selling on Trade Me. NB We will never share your details with anyone.

  E-mail:
  

  Subscribe
  Unsubscribe

• Community

  Already a member?
  Login
  
  Login using Facebook:
  
  Last visitors

  

  view more...
  Powered by Trade Me Success Secrets - The Book

• Blogroll

  • FREE EBOOK: An Introduction To Trade Me For Beginners
  • Now Tweeting: @TradeMeSecrets
  • Read about TRADE ME SUCCESS SECRETS (Second Edition) and look inside the book.
  • You can purchase the Second Edition of the book TRADE ME SUCCESS SECRETS on Trade Me, under member ID SuccessSecrets

• Recent Posts

  • Brand New Online Course: Advanced Selling On Trade Me
  • Feedback Etiquette
  • Making An Offer They Can’t Refuse
  • Actually It Is All About You
  • The Rule of 25
  • Selling on Trade Me: Business or Hobby?
  • How To Create Eye-Catching Listings
  • Pay Now Credit Card Limit Increase

• Archives

  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • November 2008
  • May 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007

• Categories

  • auctions
  • best-paid jobs
  • Bestsellers
  • billmelater
  • Blu-Ray
  • books
  • box office
  • cars
  • charity auction
  • Christmas
  • cinema
  • classical
  • david beckham
  • eBay
  • ecommerce
  • edmond hillary
  • edmund hilary
  • edmund hillary
  • employment
  • facebook
  • film
  • games consoles
  • gifts
  • Google
  • HD DVD
  • jobhunting
  • jobs
  • magna carta
  • make money online
  • mobile
  • Mother's Day
  • motorbikes
  • movies
  • mum
  • music
  • new zealand
  • nintendo ds
  • nintendo wii
  • out of work
  • pago
  • passenger vehicles
  • paymate
  • paynow
  • property
  • ps2
  • ps3
  • psp
  • recession
  • recruitment
  • regifting
  • scooters
  • sir ed
  • sir edmond
  • sir edmund
  • sir edmund hillary
  • success secrets
  • top ten
  • top twenty
  • toys
  • trade me
  • trade me business
  • trade me jobs
  • trade me motors
  • trade me property
  • trademe
  • training
  • Twitter
  • Uncategorized
  • unwanted gift
  • what's hot
  • worst-paid jobs
  • xbox360
  • zeitgeist

• Feeds

• Full
• Comments