Everyones seems to be talking about the Waboba Ball, a nifty little water ball that actually bounces on water. Unlike older water toys, this one is not huge, but compact in size and can be seen all over the net. Having just ordered one, I know Waboba Balls can be found. However, finding one locally may not be that easy.
If you want to delight that special someone for a birthday or perhaps give this as a Christmas gift – perhaps if you live in a warm climate or are planning a beach vacation -check below for some information about where to find the Waboba Ball. Who knows? Perhaps it will even become part of future Olympic games someday! Plenty of formerly unacceptable sports have made it into the Olympics.
What does the Waboba ball do and what sets it apart from other water toys?
According to information found on Amazon as well as infomercials across the Web, it is supposed to be the first ball to truly bounce on water. I may be remembering things a bit incorrectly but I always had the distinct impression that the large beach balls I used in swimming pools as a child also bounced on water. But you’d have to see one of the many videos of the Waboba ball in action to get an idea of the difference between the larger beach balls and this new, updated water ball. Beach balls seem huge and cumbersome in comparison to these swift beauties.
If you aren’t convinced and want to see them in action, check out the Waboba site: www.waboba.com You can see people using it and playing games with this on film clips there. It looks like a lot of fun!
Where to find Waboba balls and the choices available:
You might want to start at the main Waboba site, noted above. When you go there, you’ll find three styles to choose from: Vintage, Family and what appears to be the main or regular style of ball. There is a newer version coming out soon so be sure to inquire about that before making your final selection. Because this water toy appears to bounce very quickly, parents might be interested in the Family version which is described as being appropriate for children and isn’t supposed to move as quickly. I’d test it out before giving it to a child, of course….and yes, I’d then hand it over to the child, hopefully, even if I was having fun.
Price: 5 to 6 Euros plus a shipping charge of 6 Euros. Yes, this ball does not come cheap. The site will help you with the appropriate money conversions and payment arrangements. If you live in the United State, you might want to check the exchange rate for American dollars and Euros first.
Pros and cons: you are buying directly from a Waboba website and may get specific answers. The price for that added benefit can be steep, however, when it comes to buying a Waboba ball.
You can also buy Waboba balls at Amazon for birthday or Christmas gifts
To do this, simply go to the Amazon main site at: www.amazon.com and put the appropriate search words, such as Waboba balls, in the form. You’ll see a variety of choices as well as a basic description of the material used to make the Waboba balls, game suggestions, shipping weight (about 7 ounces) and more. Prices vary, depending on which type of ball you want to get. Again, you’ll want to make the selection that is right for your family or birthday or Christmas gift list.
Price: It varies widely, as does shipping but starts at around $8.95. Can you get the newest version? Not necessarily but you can put your name on a mailing list to get first notification when one arrives.
Pros and cons: Having used Amazon many times, they usually ship quickly and if you get on the mailing list, you may be among the first to get any out of stock items. This happened to me last Christmas, having a Kindle book reader before they sold out. I can’t really think of any negatives, unless you don’t check seller feedback. Always check seller feedback before making a purchase. It is similar to checking out a company’s reputation ahead of time or making sure a babysitter comes recommended and with references from parents or other people.
Buy the Waboba Ball from Ebay
As of this writing, there were still some left. Not many, but there was a selection. If any more come on the market, I’d tend to look on Ebay first. Why? Because sellers come from all over the world. When I couldn’t find vintage and original editions of the The Conjurer’s Magazine, created by none other than master magician, Harry Houdini, they were still to be found on Ebay.
Price: Varies widely. As of this writing, they ranged from $5.98 to $9.98 and shipping prices also were all over the place.
Pros and cons: When you can’t find an item, Ebay may be the one place around that has it. This may be the case with Waboba balls. However, shipping rate and seller reputation can vary. Always check those seller feedbacks!
Check Walmart, Target and other local stores for availability
As of this writing, they are not listed at these stores. If they were, I wouldn’t have bought mine from the internet. However, most of the hottest toys around somehow end up making it into local stores one way or another. I’ve even seen items sold on home shopping networks described as being available only through those networks, only to find the exact same product at my local CVS drugstore. So don’t fail to check your stores, especially as it gets closer to Christmas, to see if this item becomes available to a national chain.
Price: obviously, unknown at this time
Pros and cons: I didn’t find any pros as of this writing because they weren’t in stock. However, if they do become available at Target or Walmart or any other local store, you’d be able to get one (possibly) fairly quickly, depending on supply and demand.
Good luck in your quest and consider adding this to your list of birthday or Christmas gift lists. If I find time, I’ll let you know how much we like ours when we give it a test run.
