ALDI customers are furious that sold-out Kevin the Carrot toys are for sale online for almost 17 times their original price.
The supermarket chain made the toy available online yesterday (sun) but stocks of the £2.99 toy quickly sold out.
It now appears that some customers are cashing in by selling their toys online for up to £50.
Disappointed parents who spent all day trying to get their hands on the toys took to the supermarket’s Facebook page to vent their frustration calling it “disgusting”.
The row has erupted even though new stocks of Kevin and his companion, Katie, will be sold in store from this Thursday.
At the beginning of the month (NOV 10) Aldi confirmed that they would be limiting the sale of the toy carrots to two per customer in an attempt to stop customers cashing in on eBay.
The Kevin and Katie toys were on sale for £2.99 each, and an accompanying Christmas story book was also on sale for the same price, with sales supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust.
However, the company’s tactic seems to have failed as the toys were already up for sale within an hour of being released.
One picture shows a pair of Kevin and Katie toys sitting on a wooden floor with a skirting board in the background, and bidding is already up to £22.50.
Aldi customers flooded the supermarket’s Facebook page to vent their frustration and disappointment.
Nyomi Bithell, from Neath, Neath Port Talbot, posted a screenshot of the Kevin, Katie and book set on sale on Ebay for £50. She added the caption: “So the set is on eBay selling for £50???? Disgusting when they are for charity and I couldn’t get through online to buy them for my children.”
Carrieanne Ryan said: “Okay, so it appears that your releasing so many of each Kevin and Katie at a time, and the book also. Is this really necessary? You’ve had customers trying for hours today to buy them, yet by 10 am this morning there were items for sale on ebay already?
“Some not far from where your head office is situated! This is absolutely disgusting considering they are for charity and they are being sold for profit before general release to the public.”
Michelle Milward added: “I’ve been trying to get on your app since 10am this morning (Sunday 19th) to order Kevin and Katie for my kids but couldn’t get on as the system was down finally got on at 3.15pm to find they’re sold out. But they’re all over eBay again shocker. So much for charity. Disgusting.”
Chris Martin: “Been refreshing every five minutes and getting the same message since 10am. Well played Aldi, nice tidy profit for some soulless idiots on eBay now I guess.
“Some people genuinely wanted them for their children (like myself) where as I’m sure it’s those that have probably lost out.”
An Aldi spokeswoman said: “Due to unprecedented demand for our Katie and Kevin soft toys our website experienced issues for a number of hours on Sunday. The website is now up and running again and whilst our soft toys quickly sold out online, they will be available in stores on Thursday 23rd November.”
In 2016 Aldi customers hit out after Kevin the carrot toys snapped up by customers and posted on the charity site within hours.
The toy, which was to benefit Barnardo’s, sold out within half an hour as the dolls value rocketed.
Some stores were only receiving supplies of 30 dolls, and shoppers were left fuming after sellers tried to snap up £30 for the doll.
