to think shops should do something to stop this (but not sure what!)

[wineoclocktimeyet]

A friend went to the Next sale last week (one of the items she wanted was some trainers for her son). She was 5th in the queue, infront of her were a couple.

When the doors opened, the couple went into the children's department and basically 'swept' items into the big bags Next had given out to the queue (like Ikea bags). The man went to the boys trainers shelf and put at least 20-25 pairs of trainers/shoes in his bag.

My friend, who was just behind him, asked him if that was fair and if he had a pair of size 10's. He replied, in good accented English (this is relevant later) that she could have them for £10 - (the sale price tag was £5 so she would have ended up paying £15 for them). She, quite rightly, told him to take a hike.

She noticed that the woman was doing the same and had a huge bag of items, both boys and girls and of all ages - she could hardly lift it. My friend estimated that between the 2 of them, they must have had at between 150-200 items of clothes or shoes.

My friend cornered one of the Managers and told him what had happened with the shoes, when he went to talk to the man, he (the man) suddenly seemed not to be able to speak English and there was alot of shrugging. The Manager said this wasnt the first time he had seen this but legally there was nothing he could do.

I assume most of the items will appear on ebay and I dont think anyone would begrudge people buying the odd item to make a profit, but these 2 were taking the piss.

As the title says, AIBU to think shops should have something in place to stop this?

Well, legally the shop doesn't have to sell the merchandise to anyone, but it is a shop so they probably don't mind who buys it as long as they get the cash!

I have seen this in M&S too, with groups of ladies preventing other people getting close by strategic positioning. I suppose the only thing the shop could do would be to limit the number of items each person could buy, but why would they, if they want to get rid of the stuff. The whole thing leaves me cold and would rather not buy in these kinds of frenzied sales. I don't think it should or could be stopped though, just hope the bulk buyers pay taxes on items they sell on.

It is a bit unfair.
I am sure supermarkets have offers where you can only buy so many of 1 product.
But I think usually alcohol.

don't a lot of shops, Next included, offer sale previews to folk on their mailing lists. I think you can generally only add things to an online shopping basket one at a time.

i know a couple who took one of everything in the relevant size (toddler girls) and said they were taking it all home and would decide what they wanted and bring back what they didn't later so they didn't get slowed down by choosing in the shop just in case they missed something. Good idea really but my DD is same size and there was nothing left so i was a bit miffed really, but hey ho they were there first.

Thinking about it after I was relieved because Next stuff is overpriced tat and Asda full price stuff is better quality and usually nicer than Next sale!

Oh dear, you're expecting capitalism to be fair and honourable, and it just isn't. :(
Yes, it's unfair to other shoppers that the greedy couple get scores of shoes at £5 a pair; but it's even more unfair that the shoe-maker will have been paid about a quid to make them... And that the shop can sell them at that rock-bottom price and still make a profit :(

I feel nothing but sorry for them - seriously, how much profit is there to be made in a £5 pair of Next shoes?

I don't blame your friend for saying something. people are so greedy. why couldn't the man let her have a pair.

perhaps Next should only give out a shopping basket each and not let people do this.

I think the manager was very weak.

I don't see what the issue is - if Next wants to get rid of stuff in a sale, why shouldn't they let someone buy in bulk? If they didn't want to do that they could put a 'one item per customer' warning up, but presumably they (being a shop) actually wanted to sell stuff?

Bit nasty to comment on his accent/English - it's quite likely he was able to speak English when not flustered and when responding to a question he obviously expected to hear when reselling stuff, but not able to follow more complex language.

Why is it taking the piss?

I know people who fly here for the sales, stock up on clothes etc from M&S and take it back to their country to sell.

other countries have such high importation tax, imported stuff is ridiculously expensive. The shop keepers make serious money on buying cheap, selling at full retail cost.

YANBU what a pair of **nts they were obviously ebaying them. As to to what you can do..trust karma

Seriously have any of you worked a next sale? DP has, boxing day was the worst one, up at 4am for open doors at 5, people literally fighting over goods, whole families there. Nightmare. I'm not surprised he did nothing.

Completely out of order and the people doing it are complete low lifes. There is a very good commercial reason for Next and others to prohibit this type of behaviour, as if it became common fewer people would turn up for their sales. You ought to write to Next and complain.

Slightly different but DH went to Morrisons when it opened on Sunday morning. He just wanted some bread rolls.

The lady in front of him had already scooped EVERY SINGLE BREAD ROLL into her trolley by the time he got to the bakery bit. Selfish or what?

I fail to see why people covet the Next merchandise quite so much TBH, but it sounds like these 'customers' didn't care what they got just that they got loads.

I hate this kind of behaviour, it's clearly all going on eBay.
I agree the shop will never do anything at the end of the day they're making a sale but still it annoys me that some people are grabby and greedy enough to do stuff like this, it happens in lots of sales.

yes it does boil down to selfishness. I don't think it was a nasty comment about the grasp of English. I think the man understood perfectly what the manager was saying to him but conveniently played dumb as if to excuse his behaviour.

fancy asking for friend for more money than the shoes were worth. disgusting.

I hate it in sales when a whole gaggle of interrelated people or a family are there. No one else can get a look in. why do they all need to go. Is it a spectator sport.

can't be bothered anymore. my kids are too old now thank goodness but I was lucky and always went to sales alone. my DH wouldn't be able to stand it.

YANBU. We have this in our local supermarket and it's put some of my friends off. Always the same group of women (sometimes with their families) who push and shove to get the reduced items. The store have even put up a notice (been shopping there for three years, this is the first time they've done it) saying they won't reduce stuff further if you pick it up and ask them - you have to wait for the staff member to get to that item, reduce it and put it back on the shelf. One staff member told a friend that she should keep an eye on her basket as they had instances of this group actually taking things out of other people's baskets/trolleys when their backs were turned.

For me, the hassle is not worth it for a few pennies (although I love a bargain ) but I feel awful for the people who really need the discounted food and yet aren't allowed a fair chance thanks to other people's greediness.

It is a very good point that RichTeas is making. It looks bad for Next if they are ok with selling all the stock to 2 people. Yes, write in to the Director of Next and explain your experience.

Yanbu

Well anybody who gets up in the middle of the night to go to a sale is mental.

But that aside, I imagine Next rub their hands with glee when people come and buy hundreds of items of stuff they couldn't flog at once.

Supermarkets limit the amount of special offer food and drink as they still have to honour the offer price even if the shelves are bare - you pay and get a receipt to "cash in" when the stock is replenished.

It pisses me off as well. There was a bag in the orla kiely sale that I wanted but it went out of stock and is now on eBay for full price :(

And I think if a few less people turned up for the Next sale, they'd barely notice it, and the staff would be delighted.

I called in to pick up a belt for DH and witnessed a middle ages woman SCREAMING in the face of a store worker because the fitting rooms were closed. I'm not surprised they were closed, judging by the amount of people in the shop, it would have been like Armageddon in there.