'Webkinz' Most Popular Search on eBay

Move over, PS3. Watch out, Wii. One iota, iPod.

In case you hadn't noticed, these long standing faves have recently been dethroned as the most popular search term on eBay, a title now held by none other than Webkinz. Web what? Webkinz are the latest craze for kids and can be described as snugly stuffed toy meets Second Life meets under-bottle-cap code redemption meets online shopping 1.0.

An article on About.com does a nice job explaining Webkinz, but briefly, when kids (or parents) purchase one of many variations of Webkinz toys on eBay or at an offline store, it contains a tag with a distinctive code which is input at Webkinz.com. The code let's a child "adopt" the virtual pet, and redeem virtual currency points for food, water and other fun items for pets to live in comfort within the Webkinz world.

Once kids input the code, they have a full year to play with the pet online. Not a bad option for junior who keeps asking for a puppy for an upcoming birthday -- no potty training, no shedding and no ugly lawsuits from the your postal carrier.

Some of more popular Webkinz toys on eBay include the Horse (3,300 sold over the last two weeks), Polar Bear (2,400), Chihuahua (2,300), Golden Retriever and Dalmatian (about 2,100 each), while the Black Lab is on the move, up 60 percent over the last two weeks.