Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aldi wooden toys

66 replies

the7Vabo · 12/10/2024 19:25

I have spent an unproductive day on TikTok and despite wanting to scream at the algorithm I have been subjected to multiple TikToks about the Aldi wooden toy sell-out.

If I have to see one more “those selling on Vinted have robbed poorer parents of their chance to get their child a Christmas present”, or a picture of a huge Aldi toy haul I might delete the app (which would make me more protective!)

What kind of collective consumerist madness is this?! I was in Aldi this evening (in Ireland they didn’t seem to take off here to the same extent), the toys look fine but they are clearly for v young kids, the toy kitchen looks tiny so you’d only get 3 ish years out of them max.
Personally I wouldn’t give a wooden painted toy to a child that puts things in their mouth.

I just hate it. I go into work and all the company can talk about is sustainability and how we have targets to do X & Y by 2050 to save the planet.

Meanwhile people are losing their minds over toys for kids so small they don’t know the difference.

Need a toy kitchen on a budget - Facebook Marketplace, job done.

It’s madness!!

OP posts:
Superworm24 · 12/10/2024 21:24

I don't really understand all the drama. Loads of places sell wooden toys, so why is anyone buying them off scalpers. Surely, if your child asks for a toy kitchen from santa, they don't have a specific one in mind.

EnfysHeulenEira · 12/10/2024 20:58

The woman on there who said she bought so much to resell because her son is autistic is such a horrible person.

Selling Aldi toys at £30 on Vinted is disgraceful

Lemonadeand · 12/10/2024 20:50

I might make the vinted sellers offers that are the exact same price as the original Aldi price, just to troll them.

the7Vabo · 12/10/2024 20:46

Candaceowens · 12/10/2024 20:41

Well I could have made a killing because they were fully stocked in my Aldi, clearly no resellers in my area!

To be honest they all looked a bit dull to me.

I saw them all put together for a surprise for a small toddler and it was pretty cute. But all of it seems excessive still. If nothing else you’d end up with tons of small items around your house

OP posts:
Lemonadeand · 12/10/2024 20:46

Are people really spending £20 on vinted for stuff that was £8 in Aldi? Madness!

I would have liked the £8 wooden birthday cake for my son, but it had sold out. Would rather buy him a £15-20 one from scandiborn or Great Little Trading Company than pay £20 for an Aldi knock off one on Vinted!

I just can’t imagine who is paying that kind of mark up, plus postage.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 12/10/2024 20:46

Snorlaxo · 12/10/2024 20:42

Based on what I’ve seen on SM I think it’s the Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake that’s the most popular item.

Which we bought last year so it’s not even brand new.

the7Vabo · 12/10/2024 20:44

ThinWomansBrain · 12/10/2024 20:43

No one forces you to watch tiktok.
If you don't like it, don't watch it.

That much I get, thanks!

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 12/10/2024 20:43

No one forces you to watch tiktok.
If you don't like it, don't watch it.

Snorlaxo · 12/10/2024 20:42

Based on what I’ve seen on SM I think it’s the Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake that’s the most popular item.

Acsa · 12/10/2024 20:41

Lemonadeand · 12/10/2024 20:39

They only came out on Thursday so you must have been there for the first day.

It was Thursday late afternoon I was there, that makes sense. Some of toys looked good but I wouldn't say they're worth paying over the odds from resellers.

Candaceowens · 12/10/2024 20:41

Well I could have made a killing because they were fully stocked in my Aldi, clearly no resellers in my area!

To be honest they all looked a bit dull to me.

Snorlaxo · 12/10/2024 20:40

My kids are adults and I’ve been getting them those videos too. I watch the Aldi beauty dupe videos so I think that algorithm knows that I’m an Aldi shopper.

Lemonadeand · 12/10/2024 20:39

Acsa · 12/10/2024 19:32

I didn't realise they were so in demand. I was in Aldi a couple of days ago and there were plenty wooden toys, none were sold out and there were quite a few of each one available.

They only came out on Thursday so you must have been there for the first day.

Allswellthatendswelll · 12/10/2024 20:37

It seems to be much more over social media this year with videos of people queuing outside. Proof social media ruins everything.

Last year I got a few nice bits for nieces there and some of stuff is cute. It wasn't sold out though. DS couldn't care less unless it's plastic, noisy and has wheels!

CuteOrangeElephant · 12/10/2024 20:32

I've noticed the same with Bluey toys from build a bear. It's insane behaviour for some polyester and it seems to be the mums driving it, not the kids.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 12/10/2024 20:29

the7Vabo · 12/10/2024 20:26

What is it about this year? Aldi have always done wooden toys.

I remember similar 5/6 years ago (previous child, previous FB group) but perhaps it's a wider selection or something? No idea. Some lovely things there but nothing so special really.

the7Vabo · 12/10/2024 20:26

TheWayTheLightFalls · 12/10/2024 20:23

Yeah, I noticed it too - on my FB mums group people posted their hauls which seemed to be one of fucking everything in the middle aisle. Lovely but way OTT.

What is it about this year? Aldi have always done wooden toys.

OP posts:
the7Vabo · 12/10/2024 20:26

Deadringer · 12/10/2024 20:25

It's nothing new though, I am old enough to remember the Cabbage patch doll hysteria.

Would parents have bought in such volumes though?

OP posts:
Deadringer · 12/10/2024 20:25

It's nothing new though, I am old enough to remember the Cabbage patch doll hysteria.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 12/10/2024 20:23

Yeah, I noticed it too - on my FB mums group people posted their hauls which seemed to be one of fucking everything in the middle aisle. Lovely but way OTT.

TickingAlongNicely · 12/10/2024 20:22

I seem to remember lidl/aldi wrong toys being a thing when mine were little.. . They are 11 and 13 now! We had a wooden meccano style thing, and a port add on to a railway set.

Cheeseismyfavourite · 12/10/2024 20:10

It’s nuts, mums have been totally sucked in by the hype and now believe they need to buy aldi wooden toys to be a good parent.
Aldi should limit the amount people can buy but then there wouldn’t be the buzz if they were easy to get.
Someone I know brought one of everything for their not yet one year old for Christmas. which is ridiculous, as by the time they get presents from family and friends they won’t be able to close their front door. They must have spent £100s
My kids had zero interest in wooden toys they look nice but sadly they liked the plastic noisy type

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 12/10/2024 20:04

SunQueen24 · 12/10/2024 19:45

My personal fave is “need gone today” like being pressured to buy their old shit is going to make me more inclined to do it.

Oh yes! If you’re in that much of a rush, take it to the charity shop!

the7Vabo · 12/10/2024 20:02

AliasGrape · 12/10/2024 19:53

I’ve been seeing the same all over tiktok OP.

I fail to see the hype to be honest, it looks like there was some cute stuff but Aldi is far from the only place to get affordable wooden toys these days. Lidl have theirs going out next week - we got a few bits from there (toy till and a doctors kit) when DD was 2 that are still well used now a few years later. Jacques of London do lovely things at very similar prices to the Aldi toys. Asda do them, and have a sale on at the moment.

Melissa and Doug stuff in easily available on Amazon, and we’ve still got all the prime day deals and Black Friday etc stuff to come, plus there’s often random sales of things like that on Argos.

I think DD would have loved a wooden caterpillar cake to be honest, but they were gone when I popped in at lunchtime and it’s really not the end of the world. I certainly wouldn’t pay over the odds to someone reselling on Vinted.

Edited

There is some cute stuff and I’m not above cute stuff myself.

It’s the mania that’s gets me.

I get hype around an older kids toys, although I also think we as parents have to manage that, but parents becoming hysterical about stuff for two year olds is madness.

And the it’s my only chance to afford something for my 1 year old - the beauty of globalisation, mass consumerism and sweat shops means it definitely isn’t your only chance!

OP posts:
AliasGrape · 12/10/2024 19:53

I’ve been seeing the same all over tiktok OP.

I fail to see the hype to be honest, it looks like there was some cute stuff but Aldi is far from the only place to get affordable wooden toys these days. Lidl have theirs going out next week - we got a few bits from there (toy till and a doctors kit) when DD was 2 that are still well used now a few years later. Jacques of London do lovely things at very similar prices to the Aldi toys. Asda do them, and have a sale on at the moment.

Melissa and Doug stuff in easily available on Amazon, and we’ve still got all the prime day deals and Black Friday etc stuff to come, plus there’s often random sales of things like that on Argos.

I think DD would have loved a wooden caterpillar cake to be honest, but they were gone when I popped in at lunchtime and it’s really not the end of the world. I certainly wouldn’t pay over the odds to someone reselling on Vinted.

Swipe left for the next trending thread