To be pissed off with resellers? Aldi Yarn Event

[peesoff]

I’ve recently started crocheting, I’m on maternity leave and enjoying teaching myself. I went into Aldi last week to see they had their yarn event on. It’s apparently only on twice a year, once in Spring and once in Autumn. My local Aldi had completely sold out but the Aldi near my mum’s still had some in stock. I’d bought 8 skeins in the hope of making a blanket. I’ve of course ran out, but I’m now seeing it sold on Vinted and EBay for 4 times the cost

It was only £1.29 in store and I’ve seen listings for £20 upwards for 4 skeins on vinted. Yes I should have bought more, but AIBU to think it’s just selfish. It’s obviously not just surplus, they’re buying with the intention to sell on for a ridiculous profit.

I’d never crocheted with a chunky yarn before. I’ve previously used DK for granny squares but I’m enjoying how fast the chunky chenille is building up as I usually abandon my projects I’m finding it a lot easier using a larger hook too. I’ve just found the yarnsmith on offer on wool warehouse so I’ll order some off there. Thanks

There is a separate hell for middlemen.

Yeah, I can't understand what is so magic about Aldi yarn that it can be resold for so very much more than yarn from other suppliers that is plentiful, on sale all the time and at a reasonable price.

Scummy though the concert ticket scalpers are, I can at least see how, if you want to see a certain band at a certain venue when they don't tour very often, your options are far more limited.

It's extremely lucrative to insert yourself in the middle of a supplier and customer and force them to go through you, or otherwise corner the market so they have very little alternative.

Booking.com is just one that springs to mind - everybody managed just well without them (even in the age of online booking; not just talking about 'when we were young'); but they appeared, flooded all the advertising channels and forced themselves into everybody's consciousness.

I read that they take around 20% of each transaction - maybe more actually - so it doesn't take a genius to realise that prices and costs have been increased for everybody across the board so that they can make a fortune for adding an extra layer and questionable value to millions upon millions of everyday transactions.

I think that for 100g, the £1.29 that Aldi charges is reasonable. I’ve not been crocheting for long but I find it okay to work with. I definitely wouldn’t be paying £6 for a skein from a reseller when I can get better quality online for £2.99 or so.

I think they’re probably marketing towards people who’ve run out mid project.

It gets resold as people purchase some, then realise they haven't got enough to finish it so have to pay the inflated prices.

There's reseller groups in fb that sell for cost price plus postage which is obviously much more reasonable.

Stylecraft isn't great since they changed production. Yarnsmiths or Scheepjes are much better Dk imo.

It's a free market.

I heard that stylecraft had gone down in quality, but admittedly I haven't bought any for a few years I have enough to last a lifetime

My friend swears by temu yarn!

I remember the first year they had Kevin the Carrot, they were on eBay for £100, so mean when it was children that wanted them.

Same thing happens with the cosmetics and skincare in Aldi those dupe Benefit micro blade eyebrow pens are always sold out and on eBay.

Join a few knitting/crochet groups on Facebook, there is almost always someone who will have the aldi yarn you want and tbey aren't trying to make profit. I gave up buying it a few years because they moved supplier from Turkey to China and the quality dropped. I wouldn't bother with it.

Also Yarnsmiths which I think is Wool Warehouse's own brand (not 100% sure of that). It's frequently reduced on their website.

I have seen the Aldi yarn but I am trying really hard to only buy what I need for specific projects rather than 'just in case' so I have to dash past. My family try and keep me away from the middle aisle anyway 🤣

I was going to recommend Stylecraft too, @peesoff. And Drops do some lovely yarns that aren’t expensive too. Wool warehouse sells them.

The Aldi yarn cakes I bought were really good value at £1.29 for 100g and they are 80% acrylic and 20% wool. You cannot compare a product which is 100% acrylic as it is not the same!

The 20% wool makes it warmer and nicer to use.