Jackpot!

INSTEAD of one "pixie pod," got a key. (I had gotten one earlier, but with less of a bonus.) The key unlocked five:



Received two charms candy and then three W100 coins.

[insert wicked laugh here]

OOOPS! Look what turned up on a Charms Forest search this morning!



Complete with wicked laugh. Better luck next time!

[Update: 8/15. There she is again!]

Vanished!

WE found more charms yesterday and I had enough to get a special gift, a fountain.

When I went to put it into my room, a message popped up saying that Webkinz World had to go down for maintenance, and when I clicked okay it kicked me out. However, I could get back into the application immediately.

But my fountain is nowhere to be seen.

Apparently then I had to e-mail Ganz to get it replaced. I hear they are not responding to these requests like they used to and are brusquely telling people not to share their passwords. But this didn't disappear while I was logged off; it vanished while I was online manipulating it.

They haven't responded and it looks like I will have to call them. Joy.

How Charming!

I was in the throes of a nap this afternoon when my cell rang. I had slept very badly last night and was using a free hour between laundry and floor washing to catch a few more winks, so I didn't answer it.

When I did finally check my message, it was from Love Street. They said they would call me if the Webkinz charms came in. The proprietor was apologetic. About an hour after she called me, a woman had come in, seen the charms and bought three of every one she had. There were very few left. I asked her to save me three and tossed on some clothes and zipped over there.

These are quite attractive little charms considering they are being mass-produced for a website. Trifari sold charms off and on over the years and they were equally solid (not to mention more expensive and this was almost thirty years ago!). The Webkinz ones are of a silver polished pot-metal on the back and are enameled on the front. Instead of just a link to fasten it on a bracelet, they come with a little clip so they can be used on zipper pulls and other items of that sort.

I purchased a golden retriever, a white terrier, and the chihuahua, which I'd asked her to save for me, and also the monkey. I left the panda and a Wacky Zingoz behind. There were only about four left. I suspect the woman who made the big haul is going to sell the extras on e-Bay. They are selling for phenomenal amounts there.

The charms come with codes and gain you access to something called the Charms Forest. Once in the forest you can pick one of four paths and hunt for virtual charms and gifts, which you get by clicking on a fairy who either gives you a fairy pod or a key. The gifts can be as small as charms candy, which you can feed to your pet, to sap, which apparently is the booby prize, and as big as little pieces of furniture and even a charms tree. The deeper you can go into the forest, the more you can collect, and the better prizes you get.

My first charms prize was a charm candy. At least Pablito liked it.

Charming Webkinz

THE new animals, toiletries, costumes, and bookmarks aren't enough for Ganz. They will also be releasing a set of charms soon. One of the reasons for Ganz to be doing a major update of the Webkinz site tomorrow is to add something called the Charms Forest.

The charms you buy are just what they sound like: charm bracelet figurines that cost about $3.00 each. You can also buy a bracelet for them and a necklace; the necklace tops out in expense at $7.95. I have heard some complaints about the cost, but as someone who used to work in a jewelry factory, I can tell you that $3 for an enameled charm and $4 for a chain necklace is pretty inexpensive. Anyway, each of the charms comes with a code. You need only one charm and one code to access the Charms Forest, featuring more of what looks like the good and bad fairies from the Tulip Trouble game. Every six hours you can search one patch of the Charms Forest to find virtual charms or even prizes. The more charms you purchase, the further you can go into the Forest, but one will get you in.