Has The Hudson Valley Gone Stupid For Stanley?

It looks like the next big thing has hit the Hudson Valley, and just as it is everywhere else, the latest must have item is making people act a little crazy.

Now, as someone who grew up a really big hockey fan, the phrase 'Stanley Cup' means something very different to me than it does to the people that have been going absolutely nuts lately. My Stanley Cup is much bigger, usually holds champagne, and has a richer history than the infamous Stanley Cup of today.

Quest for the cup has a whole new meaning these days.

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The Stanley That's Sweeping The Nation

Now unless you've been living in the dark for a while, and especially oblivious to what's been going on these past few days, Stanley Cups are THE it item, the must have accessory, the latest status trend.

People have been thirsty for these hot commodity items for quite some time, but these past few days, have gone absolutely wild trying to get their hands on some new release Stanley x Starbucks viral tumbler. Videos have been circulating all over social media and on news sources across the country of the chaotic behavior of people that are trying to ensure that they stay hydrated (because that's the reason they need them, right?)

The Valentine's Day tumbler, which was released this week in both pink and red, was flying off shelves before Target employees could even get them on. News outlets were reporting people were lined up as early as 4am to get one of these cups, and as you can see in the video above, complete chaos and mayhem was breaking out with people almost causing stampedes and running through the store with an armful of cups...which by the way had a limit of two per customer.

Things have become so incredibly out of control that the cups are currently being sold on sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace at absurd prices, yes, our own neighbors and community members are now scalping mugs.

While the specific Stanley x Starbucks limited release retails for $49.95 in store, those who haven't been able to get them are now paying hundreds of dollars...for a cup.

To make things worse, there's even a toddler version of the Stanley that is completely SOLD OUT at the moment on Amazon, as the masses are wild enough to ensure their babies have unlocked the latest status level with their accessories. eBay does have these kiddie cups available with prices ranging between $28 and $45.

There was even a woman in this 'Stanley Tumbler Obsession' Facebook group that was recommended to me for some reason, that shared her story of getting one that 'was dinged and had no straw' discounted to only $10...it's damaged and missing a piece, but hey, it's a Stanley!

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Full transparency, I really don't care about having this cup, and i'm certainly not going to spend $49.95 to keep my drink cold, never mind $200. I cringe looking at my kitchen cabinets with all the reusable mugs we've accumulated over the years, and can't believe I paid more than $20 for that black Disney World one on the left (but it is super cute, right?).

My eight year old daughter left for school this past Tuesday, the first day following winter break, equipped with her brand new personalized Little Mermaid water bottle that she received as a Christmas gift, happy as can be. She got off the bus Tuesday afternoon in a much different place, going on and on about how there were so many kids on the bus and at school making comments about her new cup and the fact that it wasn't a Stanley...seriously?

We aren't a family that is brand driven, but picking on a 3rd grader because she doesn't have a $50 status indicator cup...please. By the way, with the number of reusable water bottles that I see in the school's lost and found on a regular basis combined with the fact that these Stanley's will not fit in the standard backpack side pocket, and can't even be thrown inside a backpack because of the way the lids/straws/tops are situated...nope, no thanks.

I guess my mind works differently than others here in the Hudson Valley, and globally, but there's no way i'm waiting in line at 4am and jumping over people and counters for a $50 cup. If we're talking about waiting outside in the cold back in the days of in-person Ticketmaster locations though, let me grab my jacket and sneakers, see you in line...

As I mentioned, this Stanley is more my speed.