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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that home businesses

32 replies

SlummingAngel · 22/02/2021 11:10

That involve chucking a load of supermarket tat in a basket, calling it a "hamper" and slapping a price premium on it is taking the piss?

My local FB pages are full of this right now.

AS an example, on one page has a "relaxation" basket containing bath salts, a candle, a scrub mitt, a face mask, a few other similar bits and some chocolate and they're asking £15 - the contents easily cost less than £10.
It involves even less effort than the "fairy lights in wine bottles" or "badly-drawn Santa plate" efforts that were the previous low.

OP posts:

adventurealice · 22/02/2021 11:12

If people are buying them it’s all good. You’re paying to get a ready to gift present in one go rather than have to buy and package a bunch of stuff yourself. That has value.

elQuintoConyo · 22/02/2021 11:13

Well done you for recognising it's bollocks. Some people have lost jobs and can't find another, how dare they try and make money.

Don't buy it.

Move on.

Star81 · 22/02/2021 11:13

Everything you buy anywhere is sold at a premium to make money. Just don’t buy what you don’t like.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 22/02/2021 11:14

People have always bought stuff, made it look pretty and sold it on for a profit.

Cant blame anyone for trying to make a few extra quid at the minute.

PolarnOPirate · 22/02/2021 11:22

They need food hygiene certificates and inspected kitchens. Guarantee most of them don’t. I certainly wouldn’t buy from them especially at the moment! I do have the above and I’m not trading at the moment due to covid! Hardly essential! But so many food businesses miraculously popping up.

BrookePalomoV · 22/02/2021 11:24

Actually I’d pay £5 for someone to traipse around supermarket putting stuff together for me. Hampers have been a thing for decades.

Hoppinggreen · 22/02/2021 11:26

A lot are and I wouldn’t buy it but people might need the money and are giving it a go
If they don’t get any takers hopefully they will stop before they loose too much money

Racoonworld · 22/02/2021 11:26

I don’t see it’s a problem. It can make nice little gifts and lots of people any get out to supermarkets at the moment or are too busy to do it themselves. In normal times I’d never buy something like this but at the moment, having not been in a supermarket for nearly a year, I would actually.

SnuggyBuggy · 22/02/2021 11:30

I find it hard to believe you can make much money on cheaply packaged tat. However don't the jobcentre sometimes encourage you to start a business? If some cheap chocolate, soap and ribbon gets them off your back I'd be up for it.

Brogues · 22/02/2021 11:30

Depends whether it is Poundland stuff or a few nicer things for me.

fairydustandpixies · 22/02/2021 11:32

Not this again...!

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/02/2021 11:50

Why are you so annoyed by this? Do you expect them to make things then sell at cost or a loss? If other people think they’re worth it what’s it to you?

unmarkedbythat · 22/02/2021 11:53

If you don't want to buy it, don't. If people are happy to pay for it, that's their look out. At least the sellers are having a go at making some money.

Summersun2020 · 22/02/2021 11:55

I’m with you OP! They’re not hampers with “nice” products in, the ones I’ve seen are shitty plastic baskets with big standard brands in. Ie bottle of radox, a dairy milk, bar of Dove soap, a 80p home bargains face mask. Absolute shite and can’t think of a single person who would be happy to receive one.
Hampers should have unusual or premium products in and be presented beautifully

myusernamewastakenbyme · 22/02/2021 11:57

I'm with you Op....its annoying because this 'tat' clogs up my Facebook feed...I don't want to see empty wine bottles filled with fairy lights or naff hampers wrapped in cellophane....its as annoying as the mlm huns posting their vague job ads...all this selling shit should be banned from Facebook.

Devlesko · 22/02/2021 11:59

Good for them, especially if they have lost their job.
The mlm's too, good luck to them. We live in difficult times, and I bet those complaining are well enough off.

TheFuckingDogs · 22/02/2021 12:15

Stop going on Facebook - problem solved!

myusernamewastakenbyme · 22/02/2021 14:49

@Devlesko really??? You think mlm's are a good idea...anyone who is doing an mlm is likely losing money...not a great idea if you're hard up to start with.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 22/02/2021 15:00

Funny how nobody ever describes businesses that sell "posh" hampers as taking the piss

Loads of people happily spend hundreds on hampers from Fortnum and Mason or Selfridges or Harrods. I really can't get worked up by people charging £15 for a hamper on Facebook!

VettiyaIruken · 22/02/2021 15:02

Like anything, they're worth what someone is willing to pay. 🤷‍♀️

speakout · 22/02/2021 15:09

How does this impact you OP?

People are free to buy what they like at a price they think is fair.
Some people may like the idea of hampers, prefer to have the shopping done for them, like the stuff.
People buy all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't- but that's their concern not mine. Live and let live.
Why are you wound up about this?

hatedbytheDailyMail · 22/02/2021 15:11

That involve chucking a load of supermarket tat in a basket, calling it a "hamper" and slapping a price premium on it is taking the piss?

Of course it isn't taking the piss! Either no-one will buy them, and they will stop selling, or people will buy them, and it's an opportunity for the seller.

What is your issue with it?

hatedbytheDailyMail · 22/02/2021 15:13

AS an example, on one page has a "relaxation" basket containing bath salts, a candle, a scrub mitt, a face mask, a few other similar bits and some chocolate and they're asking £15 - the contents easily cost less than £10

You've missed the point. So maybe you can get the stuff for 8 quid. But you still need the box/hamper, the trip to the shop(s), ribbons or some shit to make it look pretty etc. Lot's of people think its easily worth the extra 7 quid to have someone else do the choosing and shopping and arsing about, and they will post it or deliver etc.

notanothertakeaway · 22/02/2021 15:16

Our local cafe sells flapjack for £3, but the ingredients are cheap. Florists sell flowers, but they grow in our garden for free

If people are honest about what they're selling, and there's a market for it, then good for them, I guess. And not everyone has the budget to buy quality products from a posh shop. If cheap toiletries, wrapped with a ribbon, feel like a bit of a treat, then who are we to criticise?

I guess it'sCafes and bakeries use cheap ingredients to make flapjack which tyeh

sneakysnoopysniper · 22/02/2021 15:23

As someone who has sold online for 18+ years (not hampers but vintage and antiques) my view is that no one holds a gun to a customer's head and forces them to buy. Any more they they force me to buy my bits and pieces from Amazon and Ebay. Im a disabled non driver so dont have the resources to go poncing around the shops at the best of times, even pre covid. There are many people who live rural, or who for various reasons dont have the ability, time or leisure to go from shop to shop assembling a "collection". Selling online is tough so good luck to those who can make a few pounds.

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