To think smiggle is rubbish??

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

My DD needs a pencil case this year, going into year 2. All summer she has been asking to get the stuff from Smiggle. She's a terrible sleeper and we did a reward chart, with the reward being that she could get one and fill it from there.

She earned it, so yesterday we went and she got a pencil case, water bottle, keyring, pencils that smell like strawberries, toppers, ruler, scissors, rubbers like lollipops, colours, a pen with a Pom Pom on it and a few other things. (£90!!!! Almost had a heart attack)

We left the shop and she wanted to look at her stuff... picked up the pen and the Pom Pom fell off.

Then she tried the soap band ruler, and it had a big scratch in the design all on the inside

So as I was two minutes out, I went back to the shop and showed them that the items were faulty. They refused to give me a refund and said they only do gift vouchers. I'm pretty sure that's not right, said so, and was refused, so got the gift voucher and left.

Today we were getting her stuff ready for school, putting her stuff in the pencil case, and the zip broke. Totally broke off. Ffs.

Also the metal part of the sharpener is not in right so it doesn't sharpen properly.

Now she has to go to school tomorrow without her little pencil case she's been so excited about. Which I know isn't a big deal... but it is to her.

I'm so annoyed. If you're going to charge £5 a pen and ££££ a pencil case, surely you have to make them with a bit of care so they last more than three seconds.

I'm so pissed off.

I just bought a couple of Smuggle backpacks, with loads of pockets and chest strap, for £16 each in their online sale. I am impressed with the quality.

I also agree about the back packs, again got mind in the sale, last year, they have lasted brilliantly.

We'll have to burn strawberry pencils for heat instead

Incense and heat in one item? And they say Smiggle isn't value for money?

I hate Smiggle, it gives me a headache and purse ache. I got my kids to buy their school stationary in The Works this year, massive glittery pencil case £1. Very smug about that.

A y2 child doesnt really need so much stationary, school provide everything they need. Paperchase, Smiths and Tiger are so much cheaper. At least Smiths sell quality brands like Stabilo. The best ever sharpener is by a German brand M+R, its legit amazing.

Never bought anything there, mostly because it's so poorly designed. Not surprised the quality isn't good, either.

We normally whizz straight past and look in good old fashioned paperchase. DS2's lunchbags usually come from there.

She needed stationary... scissors, glue, colours. The school don't have the budget for them and ask us to buy.

YANBU, they're shite

Not at all biased because I work in a rival shop and we've been losing customers to them, not at all...

Oh ok, our school have never asked for us to buy stationary but if they did, i'd stick to good quality basics that id know would last and allow them to create good work.

At the risk of appearing a pedant it's 'stationery'.
And, I have never seen or heard of Smiggle. Is it just a brand or a chain of shops?

I am surprised that they wouldn't refund because the staff in the shops are usually really good (I've had better luck with them than the email helpline, another advent calendar victim here).

DD had a rucksack last year which did last all year (first time in ages, usually has 2 or 3 messenger bags) so she has another one this year. I wonder if it will last as long. She also got a pencil case and picked a zip-up one after her Smiggle pop-out box was banned by her previous teacher because so many other pupils had one and spent the lesson faffing with it rather than working. She was most miffed!

YANBU op...

I call it overpriced crap...

My DS does have a reduced price back pack. good quality and lunch box..same..
He also has a battery powered pencil sharpener which is the best sharpener we have ever had.

He had a watch that fell apart first time he wore it, and lots of pens ran out with little use.

The entertainer do a rip off version something like Smeggle but I bought some smelly pencils for DS but they hardly smelt at all.

Trick is get the pencil case and the token pencils but glue sticks, scissors etc wilko's

Wow, that must be a record. Nearly 90 posts before someone comments on a misspelling.

Usually there's at least two or three within the first ten posts and the thread is derailed by arguments about whether or not it's arsey to mention such a misdemeanor.

The overpriced tat in Smiggle is stationery, people, STATIONERY!

Stationary means not moving. Sorry to be pedantic but aarrrgh.

It is a chain of shops, although available online also. I have seen them in York, Brent Cross, Enfield and St Alban's. They can be recognised by the strong artificial scent, high temperature, cluttered neon coloured displays and hordes of over excited smallchildren.

I think a pencil case is fair enough if it's her heart's desire but I feel it's only fair to warn you that every one of those £5-a-pop pens and strawberry scented felt tips will be gone within the week. Whether lost, borrowed and not returned, dropped and stood on, left behind or just plain pinched from her, they will surely disappear. You'll be sick.

Aintnothing our school also ask us to buy stationery. Last school year I bought 300 exercise books for the school, others did similar.

Sums up Tory Britain - stationery and stationary.

BarbaraofSeville cross post

I was okay with it the first few times but it got too much...

I pointed it out gently a while back...

Sorry couldn't resist. And yes, I know it's probably rude and unnecessary, especially as the meaning is clear. Apologies.

I just googled it and discovered that "Smiggle" is "when a smile meets a giggle".

Now that's rubbish.

Yes you did circumlocutory, much more politely than did I!

Tell them on Twitter- usually gets a fast response

Sorry circumlocutor autocorrect fail.