Alness tot's delight at meerkat toy bargain
A CUDDLY baby meerkat toy which stirred up a frenzy of offers and begging emails from adults when it was put up for sale is now in the loving arms of its new two-year-old owner.
Maryburgh man Tim Clark of Rosshill Drive got caught up in the growing craze for baby Oleg the meerkat after he offered it for £7 on the Buy Swop and Sell Facebook site for Dingwall.
He was quickly inundated with calls and emails from would-be buyers who had lost their hearts to the furry toy.
Tim, who works at the Highland Council/NHS centre at Dochcarty Road in Dingwall, didn’t realise just how much in demand his free gift would be after he received it for taking out health insurance through comparethemarket.com.
Although he stuck to the first deal he made to sell it for £7, Tim says he misjudged its value as it soon became apparent he could have made a tidy sum, as much as £70.
And little Oleg has certainly gone to a good home. He was bought by Jean Tulloch of Alness who has gifted the little meerkat to her two-year-old great-granddaughter Alexandra-Grace.
Alexandra-Grace is a big fan of the Oleg toy but the only one her mother Sandie was able to track down cost £90 on an internet retail shop, so they were delighted when Jean managed to grab the £7 bargain.
Aleksandr Orlov, the animated meerkat with a bizarre Russian accent and “Simples” catchphrase, quickly became a UK TV sensation when he first appeared as the face of the adverts for the price comparison website. Over the years other characters have joined the meerkat family and the latest is the cute baby Oleg.
The toy figures are given free to people like Tim who choose to buy insurance via the website.
“I advertised it for £7 and immediately got a response,” said Tim. “After confirming the sale I was inundated with messages — someone even emailed me at my work email address — offering me double and more and begging to be the person to get the toy.
“One man said his mother had a stroke and cried when she saw it on TV and begged that I sell it to her. Anyway, I stuck to my word and the first lady got it for £7. She said that someone had told her that they would be willing to pay £70 for one. I think I misjudged this one, but stuck to my word.”
After agreeing the sale he continued to get private messages from people begging to be sold the meerkat and offering to give him a better price.
He said that one man explained his wife was obsessed with meerkats and he even sent a photo to Tim of the Oleg meerkat cake she wanted.
The woman who had the stroke also contacted Tim herself, telling him that every time she sees Oleg on the TV she feels like a child again.
Tim was also told by another woman that his Oleg could fetch anything from £35 to £60 on an internet retail website.
However, Tim was happy to deliver the infant meerkat and his adoption certificate to Jean, who gave the toy to Alexandra-Grace.
The toddler’s mother told the Journal: “She really loves the Oleg meerkat since she saw him on TV and goes mad for them, but the only one we could find was for £90 on eBay. They are really popular, but I was shocked they were going for £90.”
She added: “Alexandra-Grace is delighted, she takes him to bed with her every night.”
