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Original poster

To think Smiggle is ridiculous....

79 replies

Gingersay · 04/08/2021 16:46

Back to school shopping with my dc today, youngest dd is just on the cusp of being to old but we ended up having a look in smiggle and bought a few things very over priced bits and pieces.
While in the queue to pay I couldn't believe the money people were spending on stationary, first woman 2 wee girls came to £166 and a man with a boy about 7 £98, obviously it's their money and none of my business but I think I would be sick if I spent that on pens and pencils!! Am I just old and miserable.....

OP posts:
Kettletoaster · 04/08/2021 18:43

I’ve managed to convince my 8 year old DD that shems too old for Smiggle now. She had a bag from there last year for school. Cost £40 and fell apart. Appalling quality and am not buting from there again!

fiveminutebreak · 04/08/2021 18:53

I've only been in the shop once and realised, despite a few people I know raving about it, it's a pile of overpriced pointless tat! Grin

BiBabbles · 04/08/2021 19:09

YANBU - as others said, it's terrible quality too.

They had a big sale back in May and I bought some bits for my DDs for Children's Day (1st of June) including pens and a new backpack that DD2 wanted and by July the bag was looking awful and the fidget pen was out with no way to refill and just ugh. Thankfully they've taken it as a lesson learned.

GetTaeFuck · 04/08/2021 19:12

Just the smell makes me boak when I walk past.

However, DDs were given gift cards around 4 years ago, they chose a rucksack each. Still going strong (although neither use them now - I do though Blush )

MazDazzle · 04/08/2021 19:13

At my kids’ school they aren’t allowed to bring their own pencil cases or stationery. It saves us a small fortune!

RainyDay2020 · 04/08/2021 19:18

It’s crazy, my sons school actually banned them and said everyone had to have plain school colour or clear pencil cases.

Before the ‘no smiggle or branded stuff’ rule, I remember one Mum crowing at the school gates that she had spent almost £150 on Smiggle stuff for her kids - she wasn’t pleased when some other Mums just laughed in her face rather than being impressed! Grin

whatthejiggeries · 04/08/2021 19:19

I have to admit I've dropped a couple of hundred in there. Bloody ridiculous

Waveafterwaveslowlydrifting · 04/08/2021 19:22

StationEry

Wait for the sales. I paid £12 for a bundle including a matching rucksack, lunchbag, drinks bottle and pencil case. Stocking fillers were pennies.

The Smiggle phase didn't last long in our house. Hype is now trendy.

I am not, because I say 'trendy Grin

WellTidy · 04/08/2021 19:29

It was a thing when DS was in primary school to have things from there. The sales are excellent, so I’d buy then. Thankfully none of the kids were set on having the latest patterns or designs!

Wintercoffee · 04/08/2021 19:30

It’s definitely a status symbol for parents and popular amongst children. Can imagine in schools you’re “uncool”’or your parents are too “poor” to not afford it. I think it does seem substantial quality, albeit a bit tacky designs. Outrageously expensive though!

GameSetMatch · 04/08/2021 19:38

Yes, I took my son in yesterday without looking at prices I said ‘yes chose any you want, of course you can have a matching water bottle’ I nearly had a breakdown at the till £27.50 for 1 lunch box and 1 water bottle!

CatsArePeople · 04/08/2021 19:39

I'm glad they closed down near me. It's shite. Cute though.

Confrontayshunme · 04/08/2021 19:40

My daughter had an allergic reaction to some smelly bracelet plus pencil thing we bought on sale, so thankfully she can just say she is allergic and avoid the need for a Smiggle bag, bottle and lunch box.

Anoisagusaris · 04/08/2021 19:41

Their sales are amazing though - can get stuff really cheaply. Would never buy it full price.

Chickoletta · 04/08/2021 19:43

DD’s bought lots from Smigglw over the past couple of years with her own money and we’ve never had an issue with quality. The sales are really good - I often fill up the present drawer with half price bits and pieces.

Lockdownbear · 04/08/2021 19:48

I'm another who thinks it looks good but poor quality.
I bought a bundle for about £50, the bag was replaced after one term and the replacement barely lasted 3 terms.

katplva · 04/08/2021 19:50

I wouldn’t buy much there but my DD loves it! The section with small stationery bits is usually good for her pocket money - 5 items for £5. It’s not to my taste but it is marketed well at younger kids.

80Dodgeballs · 04/08/2021 19:55

I never buy anything full price in there. Bought half price bags from there and they lasted all 4 years of junior school. Not bad, I'd say.

80Dodgeballs · 04/08/2021 19:55

They always have some kind of deal on.

ChocolateCakeYum · 04/08/2021 19:59

Hate their stuff, it’s over priced tat.

Ds is going into year 3 and for the first time needs his own equipment. Thankfully all his stationary has to be from a provided list and it’s all cheap and cheerful bits I can pick up anywhere.

itsgettingwierd · 04/08/2021 20:07

@nettytree

I bought my daughter a back pack in Claires. Broke in 2 weeks, so took it back. The assistant said it was because we had put things in it. Begrudgingly changed it.
That reminds me of when mother are tried to say the reason my stroller wheels had worn away after 2 weeks was because I'd obviously been pushing ds too much in it Confused

I also got my refund eventually!

AliceMcK · 04/08/2021 20:10

My DH use to take my DDs, they would regularly come home with bits after Ged taken them out. He would tell me o it was inky £2 etc… then one day I went, never fucking again! £12 for a pencil case, I found the same one in home bargains for £4 it just didn’t have the Smiggle logo.

Recessed · 04/08/2021 20:16

I was here for the first time at the weekend on the recommendation of a friend as I wanted to get DD sorted for starting school in September (I should have known to avoid as she has daftly expensive taste and jumps on every "trend").

There was no prices on anything but I did t think much of it as how bad could it be? I genuinely said "what?!" At the till when the sales assistant put through our items. A school bag, lunch box, pencil case and a key ring - €75! I should have put some stuff back but I was too embarrassed to do it so I just paid and left. I looked at the receipt to figure out what the hell had gone wrong. £30 for a bento box?!!! Thirty bloody pound for a sparkly piece of plastic that will barely fit a sandwich in never mind anything else! I really really should have returned it... I'm an idiot. Anyway in answer to your question - YANBU never again!

DroopyClematis · 04/08/2021 20:16

My school should ( in my opinion) have banned Smiggle.
Children in our Primary school do not need any stationery.
There is a central pot configuration , on each table, which has writing pencils, pens, rulers , rubbers and colouring pencils.

Yet... parents seem to think that children need an A4 fold out pencil case , that folds out to three compartments ( which expands over tho pupils' individual space on their tables) so that there was no room for these pencil cases nor for their exercise books.
Children would be told that their vast pencil cases would have to sit on a shelf at the back of the classroom.
Cue tears.

Similarly, they would have bulky 'suitcases' of pencils and other irrelevant paraphernalia that wouldn't fit in their desk trays.

Add to that, the almost addictive sniffing of rubbers and pencils during lesson time...

These things are a nightmare.
Let's not forget how the children, who don't have these stupid things, feel , as their parents can't afford them....

LatteLoverLovesLattes · 04/08/2021 20:24

That's a blast from the past!!

I'm surprised they've survived lockdown(s).