Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

By Harlan Levy

The Hanukkah Barbie

When my wife saw a story in the Jewish parenting website Kveller about a new Barbie doll called Hanukkah Barbie released at the end of September, she immediately wanted three of them for our three granddaughters for Hanukkah (Dec. 4-12).

You can buy the doll — which features her in a blue sweatshirt with a large menorah on the front, which lights up — online through the Mattel Official Shop for $27.49, she learned, However, it frequently sells out at major retailers like Target and Walmart, the site said.

No kidding.

In fact, there are no Hanukkah Barbies at Mattel, Target, or Walmart, because someone or several someones looking to make a quick buck had immediately bought up the entire stock.

However, they were available on eBay for up to $345 (at last check) and other sites for a variety of prices hitting the $200s and $300s — in other words, a nice Hanukkah present for the few sellers who had cornered the market.

Also, there were mixed reactions to the doll, to say the least. Some criticized the ʼʼhook noseʼʼ of the doll, although we have several Barbies at home, and I do not see a nose thatʼs different from theirs.

The doll has “slightly different facial features from what weʼve seen before”, some griped, although, again, I donʼt see that.

Regardless, under a post on X and on Instagram people debated the way the doll’s nose looks. Some said thereʼs nothing wrong with it. Others showed photos of other Barbies and how the Hanukkah Barbie’s nose takes up more of her face. (Thatʼs ridiculous). Some X users said the freckles are what they take issue with the most.

“They changed THE NOSE on the Hanukkah Barbie, guys. She’s gorgeous but…this is weird, right?” someone posted on X.

CafeMom had a whole negative commentary on the poor doll.

Another critic added, “I don’t think she has a big nose. Her face is cute. I’d be angrier that the outfit is hideous and makes her look frumpy and chubby.”

On Instagram, some claimed that the Hanukkah Barbie has a down-turned hook at the tip (another delusion).

“Is the big nose in the room with us?” a user commented in an Instagram post about the doll.

Someone responded to that comment with, “I didn’t think it was that big.”

“That’s a big nose???”one commenter said, “Anything smaller would be a paper cutter.”

Okay, the whole blow-up is just much too much, I think. And it points out one stereotype of a certain group of people I hate to recognize and is almost too comical to mention — the habitual complainer. Whatever happens, some people I know always have an annoying complaint. They just can’t give it a rest.

So, will my wife shell out big bucks for three Hanukkah Barbies? Definitely not. Too much of a ripoff.

Apple Pay Scam

Last week I received a text message from (681) 598-9442 stating, “Activity flagged for review: $531.06 Apple Pay transaction.” The message said that payment activity warranted quick verification. “If unfamiliar: Securely investigate the transaction through Apple’s official support at 1-833-626-5728.”

Acting on my suspicion, the first thing I did was call Apple and speak with Tyler.

Tyler said that the text was an obvious scam and that if I had called the number it would have indicated that my phone number was valid, leading to follow-up scam calls.

Now you know.

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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