The ROI Christmas thread

[ShoppingBasket]

Hi,
Due to Brexit things are a bit trickier with ordering online from UK. Not like the good old days!
Thought it a good idea to start one so we don't clog up the other thread with what can and can't be delivered to ROI and what deals we can avail of.
If anyone has any deals they spot in ROI either.

Currently adidas have 35% off if you have Revolut. I ordered bits and it worked perfectly. Free delivery also which also makes me happy!

God damn it I've just received a 35 euro customs bill. I had ordered sports clothes from a sports team direct from their store as don't have it in stock here. I don't know who to be more mad at, customs or my husband for supporting a stupid team
Bargains are slim on the ground this year, hard to catch anything really other than Amazon.

Just checking in so I can read all the ideas on this thread. Re: Amazon, I've had some luck with Amazon Click and Collect and sending the stuff to a post office in the North. It only works for items sold by and dispatched from Amazon rather than Amazon Marketplace AFAIK but means there's more stuff available to buy than in the South. It's a faff to collect it but saves loads on customs and those mysterious ROI price hikes Amazon seems to do on stuff (and the delivery times are like 7 days faster). I also do click and collect with Argos because the .co.uk site has so much more stuff and lots of it seems cheaper.

@PeekabooAtTheZoo can you explain a bit more about those options, how do you go about sending it to a post office in the north, do they hold it for you ? And the click and collect for argos do you just select an argos in the north ?

@ShoppingBasket yes very little bargains for us, the majority of my stuff has been from amazon too, and there is so much choice on the bargain thread

Ooh meant to ask if anyone sees the grinch pyjamas in penneys or the family ones can you let me know, I have been in a few times but they are not there yet, thanks a mill.

Dealz have a few good stocking fillers in at the moment: Fidget popper toys, AmongUs/Minecraft/fortnite figures, smiggle type pencil cases with the pull out bits and calculators, tiny key ring games (monopoly, cluedo), whoopie cushions ,and hot wheels cars. They also have a nice Lego carry case for €11 (some flego included but the case itself could be great for travelling), and a big cardboard colour-in house for €9.
They have small Lego base plates (about 15cm square I’m guessing) that are useful for keeping advent calendar figures together.

@whatwillicallmyself anything at all sheep related. It’s a running joke thing. Thanks for those links.

[quote whatwillicallmyself]@PeekabooAtTheZoo can you explain a bit more about those options, how do you go about sending it to a post office in the north, do they hold it for you ? And the click and collect for argos do you just select an argos in the north ?[/quote]
For Argos I go to the UK site and "check availability in store" then put into the search box an Argos postcode in Newry, Derry or Strabane (I get the postcode from Google maps), select the store that has the item (usually Derry or Newry as they're well-stocked) and put through payment etc like a normal click and collect. You can't do it on anything that says "Home Delivery only", it has to be something you can buy in a store (so no garden sheds or large furniture, arrgh).

For Amazon, I've just checked again and they seem to have changed how to do it all (again). There are post offices and other places (like lockers at supermarkets) that you can send items to. You can look at pickup options at this link though and once you've got your delivery address set to one of their pickup locations in the North, you can buy stuff at UK prices then you just follow Amazon's collection instructions and get your items: www.amazon.co.uk/ulp/view?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I've attached a screenshot for Strabane but you can take your pick of places. I'm not sure how long they hold the items, I think it's a week or two.

This pickup thing doesn't work for everything available on Amazon though and the annoying thing is getting to checkout with something then finding out it won't ship.

A few other shops offer click and collect as well so if a company has stores in the North, it's worth checking their UK website for delivery options (Mothercare used to offer this before they went bust) although some of them won't let you buy stuff with an Irish credit/debit card which I haven't found a way around.

Following on from the thread about whether it's acceptable to decorate your garden, does anyone know any place selling outdoor light-up decorations that are solar powered? Am 39 weeks pregnant and my hips have gone so I can't wander around everywhere looking. Would quite like a light-up reindeer or similar for the front garden for my toddler to see.

@thelegohooverer

Dealz have a few good stocking fillers in at the moment: Fidget popper toys, AmongUs/Minecraft/fortnite figures, smiggle type pencil cases with the pull out bits and calculators, tiny key ring games (monopoly, cluedo), whoopie cushions ,and hot wheels cars. They also have a nice Lego carry case for €11 (some flego included but the case itself could be great for travelling), and a big cardboard colour-in house for €9. They have small Lego base plates (about 15cm square I’m guessing) that are useful for keeping advent calendar figures together.

@whatwillicallmyself anything at all sheep related. It’s a running joke thing. Thanks for those links.

Can I ask what dealz? I was in one in Dublin on Sunday and the shelves were empty

I am looking for Irish produced gifts, I ordered from a website called Irish gifts or something and everything came from mainland uk.

The Celtic & Co gloves being talked about on the main bargain thread can be bought on the Irish site. I got them earlier for €2.82 using code FESTIVE21CV for once it works out cheaper for us Irish shoppers!

Thanks a million @PeekabooAtTheZoo thats very interesting

@Carrie76 can you link to them, when I tyle in gloves the only that come up are for €37

Ahh no they’re saying sold out now

Ah thanks a million anyway, I need to be faster on these threads

I have a Minecraft penny’s oodie/snooze in size s/m if anyone’s looking for one? Thought I’d offer it here before the main thread

@elizabethdraper there’s huge variation between stores. Generally if you look for one that are also “pep&co” they tend to be bigger. Ones in retail parks carry a much bigger range than ones in shopping centres or high streets.

Are there any tips for searching online to help find products in EU and not show UK shops?

craftelier are a Spanish based company that do arts, craft supplies and stock the WeR Memory Keepers range of products. I’ve ordered from them a couple of times without issue. They have some Black Friday offers at the moment

If anyone is interested, I noticed there is an Irish woman on Twitter who is promoting Irish retailers(simply by mentioning the names of the businesses to raise their profiles). She has no affiliation to any of these businesses and is doing it off her own bat.

For anyone on Twitter search for the hashtag #IrishXmasPresents for details.

@PeekabooAtTheZoo this reindeer is coming into Aldi and has a timer on it and they also have timer lights. Not solar powered though.
Home store and more have solar lights not sure what else they have but might be worth a look. Remember though... when they're gone, they're gone!

@PeekabooAtTheZoo genius plan of collecting from NI post offices! Can I ask do you have to let them know a delivery is coming or do you just get it shipped there and go and get it when you receive a delivery notification?

Hi @Carrie76 is that snoodie still available? My ds is minecraft mad and it might be his size - what age do you think itd fit?

@Carrie76 it's like a click and collect type service that the post offices offer, I think Amazon has arranged with them to generally accept their parcels in advance but IDK. I just ordered (after picking a participating post office off the map in the screenshot in my last post) and got a message from Amazon to say it had been delivered. I thought I might need to do more but it just seemed to work.

@Row1n yep it’s still available it size height 128-146 on the label so I’d say 6-10 yrs?

Hi @Carrie76
If Row1n doesn't want the studies I would absolutely love it. My Mam told my son she had seen one weeks ago but she didn't buy it. I went back to that Penny's that evening and of course they were all gone. Would love it of available. In Dublin but happy to pay postage also x

Hi @Carrie76 sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I actually think it might be too small for my lad, he's nearly 11 and tall for his age! Thank you for offering it though!