Bloody jellycat teabag

[Teasforfears]

AIBU to be completely done with the Jellycat teabag madness? Honestly, who knew a small stuffed teabag could cause such chaos. The minute they come out, they’re gone – poof – straight into the hands of people who don’t even like them, just want to flog them on Vinted for triple the price.

I wouldn’t even care normally, but my daughter has been utterly brainwashed by this Jellycat cult and now apparently her collection will be incomplete without a pretend teabag. Meanwhile, I’m sat ringing around and scanning social media like a mug while Janice from Kent is selling 5 of them for 65 quid a pop.

And don’t even get me started on the Aldi wooden toys. Blink and you’ve missed them – unless, of course, you want to buy them off someone online who’s decided they’re now luxury limited editions.

Can we not just let kids have toys without turning it into a side hustle? It’s a cuddly teabag, not gold bullion.

As we said…lots of things can provide joy. Please stop judging!

These images sum up why I love Jellys. Some may call me sad, but they make me smile so much, especially when my life is chaotic and full of turmoil.

Great. Now I want one! 😆

I seem to be in the vast majority.. but for me it's time to teach your daughter not to be suckered into trends, and fooled by scarcity. Teach her now, and hopefully she won't be pray for them for the rest of her life.

Jelly cat is awful though. Pure greed. I walk through our local shops cuddly toy section and there are all different brands, all different brands. Jelly cat is 4x the price of anything else, and 10x harder to find. Even compared to other high quality well made toys. Why? Because they know that people will see scarcity and price and equate it with desire and value.

14 is old enough for this to be a great critical thinking moment, of questioning why she wants it so much, and what it will actually add to her life. Also she should be old enough to accept that something is sold out, and to be able to understand that paying scalpers is not a great ethical decision.

(Awaiting the replies that this is joyless and heartless etc... you can have a lot of joy and fun, not at the call of a company that is exploiting teenagers fear of being left out, and scalpers looking to profit off desperate parents )

So would you happily bu knock off designs?

I've seen plenty that are 99% identical. They would do everything that your pictures say. Same weight, same feel, same eyes, same cute designs etc.

Equally most cuddly toys would do all of the things you mentioned, because none of that is exclusive to jellycat toys.

The branding, quality through pricing, and fake scarcity strategies are though...

Also for judging the ethics of a company like this... What is that company doing when a product sells out?

If that company increases the amount, and make sure there is more for their next product = ethical

If the company keeps the volume low, actually reducing even more restricted items as their popularity grows = exploiting the fear of missing out and being left behind in mostly younger people.

We have a number of the amuseables, had for quite sometime before they got hyped up to the extent they are now. I also have an amazingly soft large octopus - I bought 2 years ago as I love the feel
if it.

that said I have kind of gone off them as a company recently. The prices have gone up significantly and are now quite ridiculous for a small one.

they also withdrew the licence to stock them from quite a few of the smaller shops I believe which upset a lot of people.

Oh come on. 14 year olds don’t like them because they are cuddly toys, they like them because of the brand hype. It’s definitely not the same thing 🤣

I don't see the problem with a 14 year old liking plushes, my son is 17 he still loves his toys, he does have autism which may or may not be why, but I encourage it because I don't want him growing up before he's ready, for Christmas and birthdays he gets the toys he collects. Also, with Jelly kats they can be sold on when she's bored of them, usually for far more that was paid in the first place.

JC are beautiful toys. DD9 still cuddles her doggy at night, which she has had since she was born. She has several others and recently talked her grandma into buying her thr croissant.

Let people enjoy things. I hope you find Steepy OP, you have some mumsnetters searching for you now.

Does it matter? Whether it’s brand hype or because they are cuddly toys they are still a relatively innocent thing to want. I’d far rather buy a jellycat for my DDs than say drunk elephant skincare that will wreck their skin, or have them hankering after something that is too grown up for them. It’s good to have a trend that is age appropriate and it’s unpleasant for people to sneer at a 14 year old child because they follow a trend.

Good grief, what a load of meanies on this thread!

Really hope you find one OP!

NJLX2021 If made by a reputable company, then yes I would. I have seen some recently I have been rather fond of, but I already had the same design made by JC.

Thank you, that makes me feel better 😂 I just bought one for DD on the tiktok shop, it was quite exciting 😂I kind of want one too now

I work in a shop that sells jellycats, they fly out the door. I'll check for you tomorrow @Teasforfears

Its mostly 20+ year old buying the jellycats, not teenagers!!

I know, my 9 year old loves the bunnies and they sell out so quickly too 😡

Beware ebay.
I bought one, it was a fake.
Did get my money back, though.

I'm remembering the 90s beanie baby madness...
Oh, and tulip bulbs in the Netherlands c1600.
People are such idiots.

14?! What happened to drinking cider in a park?

Genuinely love this reference to the tulip panic. Peak Mumsnet for me.

What horrible, sneery people are on this thread!

I hope you/your daughter find the teabag. I want one now as well!

It's just TY Beanies all over again. I thought folk learned their lesson.

Just for everyone saying about the price of the teabag is insane, we spent 35 quid last night on a dominoes pizza and a bottle of wine as a treat. That’s gone, I have stomach ache and nothing nice to sit on my shelf to show for my money 😆

Ultimately a thing is worth what folk are prepared to pay for it!

Dominos pizzas are expensive, but my goodness, they're worth it at the time however much you regret it the next day 😆