Are Usukis Losing Value?

by Gidget_01, with a little help from her owner, pacific_grrl

The answer is--yes. Skunk Kacheek Gidget_01 reporting for the Neopian Times.

The market for Usuki dolls has seen a

decline. Remember the days when they went for 500-700 for the common dolls and in the thousands for the rare Usukis, such as Teenage Usuki? I remember.

Just yesterday, I paid a visit to my good friend the Shop Wizard. (We met at a Bargain-Hunting Class.) I asked him about how much I could buy a Magical Hair Usuki (my personal favorite) for. The results were astounding. The Usuki dolls were going for only a couple hundred NP! I am an Usuki-lover, so I confess, I splurged.

But why have Usuki dolls lost their value? This reporter had some more investigating to do. I waved goodbye to the Wizard and made the short walk into town to the Usuki Shop. The Blumaroo in charge sat at the front counter twiddling her thumbs.

"Hi, Ms. Blumason!" I said.

She looked up. "Oh, hi Gidget," she responded, "Sales are have been a little... slow lately."

"Yeah, I noticed," I said, "In fact, that's why I'm here. Ms. Blumason, have you any idea exactly why Usukis have lost their popularity?"

"Well," she said, "I think it may be because of the price tag." She held up the price sticker of an Usuki Dream Pool. 2,002 Neopoints. She sighed. "Pets today would rather use their Neopoints on paint brushes and battledome supplies. They don't see the fun in playing with beautiful dolls anymore."

I just nodded and smiled at that point, not informing her that I myself had spent 12,000 NP on a skunk paint brush for myself just a few days ago. I left. The story still was not complete. On to another source. The famous Ms. Usuki herself.

I called and made an appointment. Twenty minutes late, I was strolling up to Ms. Usuki's scenic beachside Neohome. A Chia butler politely bowed me in.

"Are you Gidget_01?" he asked. I replied in the affirmative. "Ms. Usuki will see you now."

I entered the home of the innovative creator of Usuki dolls. Ms. Usuki lounged on a Tiger couch, watching NTV. The Market Report with Neil Kauvoto and Maria Blumaroono was on.

At the sound of my footsteps, Ms. Usuki looked up from the telivision.

"Hi," I said, "I'm Gidget_01. I'm here to see you about the decline in Usuki value." I was nervous and the words spilled out of my mouth. I fidgeted until she told me to take a seat. I sat down in a chair.

"Ah, yes, I noticed that, too," she said, and she spoke about the history of her company and how she was appalled that she couldn't ride its wave of success into her old age, blah blah blah. As she spoke, I stared around at her Neohome. On one wall was a case of Usuki dolls-- every one ever made. even the Geisha Girl, the Ballerina, and the Welsh Usuki. Near the other wall was a marble desk piled high with designs for new dolls. I snapped out of my trance when I realized that she was asked me what I thought about the issue.

"I- I, umm, I agree with you. Completely. Yeah, you're absolutely right," I said. I was sure I had gotten away scot-free there. She smiled and nodded.

"I'm glad you think so!" she said, "I'll market the Mutant Chia Usuki immediately! I'm sure it'll be a big hit with--"

"No!" I interrupted, "No, don't do that. I've changed my mind."

After a little bit of chit-chat about other stuff (our favorite band, Yes Boy Ice Cream, and the whole Usurper ordeal), I felt I had overstayed my welcome, so I left, with no more information than I had had before. The Chia bowed me out and I set off on the long road back home, feeling dejected.

When I got back home to good ol' Cairn Close, Neopia Central, I saw a young Acara in her front yard. She had a Cowgirl Usuki in one hand and a Dream Date Usuki in the other. I watched her play for a moment.

"Do you like Usukis?" I asked her.

"Oh yes, these are my favorite toys in the whole wide world, better than my Fuzzle collection or even my deluxe coloring pencils!"

I smiled and walked he next few blocks home. I dragged myself into my Neohome and plopped down in a beach chair. My brother, Luau_222 the Kau was at home, playing video games.

"Long day?" he asked.

"Long day." I sighed, "Hey Luau, man, I gotta question to ask you."

"What?"

"Why do you think Usuki dolls have lost their value?"

"I dunno," he said, staring hard at the TV screen, "Cuz people don't like 'em anymore. Cuz they want, I dunno, newer, cooler stuff."

I shrugged, and then it hit me. Usukis were "newer, cooler stuff" a while ago. Some other toy will step into the spotlight, and then it will lose its appeal and fall by the wayside. Usukis could be popular again!

"Uh, thanks, bro, I got some typing to do!" I said and hurried off to my bedroom to type up the article you're reading now.