Toy guns that discharge water-absorbing beads are topping the Christmas wish lists of many children this year.
Several toy sellers on High Street, San Fernando, said the gel gun was one of the hottest selling toys this year. There are various brands, including the Gel Ball Blaster or Gel Orbeez, with prices ranging from $200 to $800.
Some business owners said even before they got Christmas stocks, people were visiting their stores in search of the toy gun.
However, according to an international report, doctors advised that while the beads are not poisonous, they can cause a problem if a lot are swallowed since they expand in water. It is also advised that safety glasses be worn when playing with the toy to prevent eye damage.
Shenelle Mitchell, a sales representative at Jay’s Toy Box on St James Street echoed those warnings: “Orbeez guns are automatic but there are those that you can shoot for yourself. Just make sure you wear protection.”
Another sales representative, Messiah Jaikaran, said sales have been good. He said people are also buying ride-ons and bicycles but while some shoppers are careful about how they spend, others are not.
“Honestly, people just spending. I just dealt with a customer, he spent $12,500 on a gas ATV,” Jaikaran said.
At the Christmas Flea Market, sales representative Chelsea Rampersad said sales have been “really good,” but not as good as last year.
“As the days go by it is getting better and better,” she said. “Our most selling stuff are our bikes, our gel blasters, our remote control cars. We have a wide variety of those, we have a wide variety of dollies as well. We have a huge sale on drones. We have all different types of drones, so you all can come and check us out.”
Some shoppers said they were satisfied with the prices while others felt the toys were too expensive. One woman said she had to buy for ten children and was looking for affordable but good quality toys, which was proving to be a difficult and time-consuming task.
Another customer, Keisha Griffith-Shah, who was shopping with her nine-month-old baby boy, was satisfied with the prices.
“So far so good, the prices are good, not too bad,” she said.
Street vendors were out in their numbers yesterday offering various goods, including mats, slippers, clothes, toys, fruits, perfumes, jewelry and other items for sale on their cots on the pavement and on the side of the road.
While shoppers were bustling along the streets and in and out of stores, there was a high presence of police officers on mobile and foot patrols.