Thread 3 - The one with the unhinged crab 🦀

[Reastie]

I certainly don't want an unhinged crab for Christmas

This post is a work in process and if you have any links you’d like to share or would be good to add then please do let me know. The general consensus for the thread is to share any bargainous links, ideas and/or discount codes or information. No affiliate links (is that the right word?) And any referral links to the separate thread linked below. This is a warm, friendly, kind and cosy corner of mn filled with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate - let’s keep it that way!

If you have any referral links then please post on this thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5212180-bargain-referrals-thread-7 and share around the joy/referral perks.

if you have Blue light card you get another 20% off at Regatta. It usually gives 15% off but it’s boosted to 20% just now.

also, if you sign up to their free rewards thing you’ll get free delivery.

Brill bargains on regatta! Thank you.

I do have an account with them so got the free delivery. Autumn15 wouldn’t work for me but managed to find a code for 12% off

Does anybody have any recommendations for a Thomas the tank engine train set for a toddler? (Will be 3 in Feb). DS has recently discovered a love of Thomas, specifically the classic Ringo Starr version. We bought him a Brio first train set last Christmas which he completely ignored until around a month ago and is now obsessed with!
There seems to be so many different versions / brands (trackmaster, Tomy, brio, others) and I’m a bit overwhelmed! I know very little about train sets 🫣 Broadly prefer something wooden or diecast to plastic I think, and the classic style Thomas faces. Happy to grab a vintage or secondhand set if a discontinued set is likely to be better quality. Grateful if any of you lovely MNetters can give me a steer or recommendation!

Think it might just be on certain items. I got a fleece for DH and one for DD as her year's turn at forest school is in Winter this year- both with the extra 15%

@sparkleghost stick with the brio, my kids are coming up on 4 and 7 and they still love it! There's loads of cheaper compatible bits at most major supermarkets, and im pretty sure I spotted a thomas set somewhere recently - must have been argos, asda or john lewis. We have loads of track from charity shops and a very kind poster on this thread a few years back posted me 20kg of tracks and sets! I do also recommend the remote control trains, lidl do them anually in the run up to Xmas for £10 or similar.

Theres also a mini thomas train advent (and a brio advent) if you want to go that way :)

Has anybody used this company before? Their trustpilot reviews are very bad.

Apologies, just realised I'm not the only person to have spotted this! Was about to put a large order in but not sure what to do now.

FABULOUS! Thank you so much. I do love his little Brio set, it’s such lovely quality & has the added sentimentality of being his first set! An add on Thomas set would be ideal so I’ll scout that out. I will definitely check out the advent calendar too! Thanks so much again 💕

Thanks for Regatta tip!! Got two fleeces for DH and DD for under £20

@sparkleghost definitely stick with brio! I bought a bulk lot of vintage Thomas trains on marketplace which he absolutely adored. Thomas minis are also really fun to collect (and don't take up much space!) - but I wouldn't bother with any of the mini's track!

This Regatta code gave me 12% discount on top of free delivery for signing up.

AFVCUK12

I have a code for 20% off full price items at Ohh Deer. I ‘won’ it on my Vodafone rewards but won’t use it, if it’s any use to anyone.

V20-163U5FI2

Does anyone recall if Apple iPads or pencils are ever on offer? I need to buy now really to spread the cost but will be gutted (and feel an absolute fool) if they’re reduced for Black Friday. All Google tells me is that the Apple Store itself doesn’t tend to reduce anything, but their prices aren’t very competitive anyway

I would avoid. I placed an order without checking trustpilot too 😩. There is also a Facebook page which has comments from many people who have not received orders over the last few weeks.

I feel really bad now

I used them in the past and all was good but didnt think tk check reviews or anything more recent

Judt saw a good deal and went for it 😭

Apple’s student deal this year is a free pencil with every iPad Air. We were in store about 10 days ago and they said it was running for a couple of more weeks. Teachers also get the same deal as students.

Thank you I’ll see if it’s available online too

Don’t feel bad!

It does look like the company was fulfilling orders regularly up until around a couple of months, negative reviews only started very recently. Maybe it will all be fine x

Ah @Sideorderofchips. You did it in good faith. Lots of us have done similar x Maybe get your post deleted so no one else orders x

Some good reduced one-off magazines here. Delivery is included in the prices too. I have used them before to buy DD7 a taylor swift fan pack and my dad a football special.

Oh no!
That's me caught out ☹️

@Sideorderofchips aww, hey, try not to feel too bad (although I understand why you do, but you don't need to 💐.) From reading back through the reviews, it seems they used to be good but have gone downhill rapidly. You posted in good faith and if you had a good experience prior, ofcourse you'd trust them again.

It's probably been a good time to act as a reminder that everyone is responsible for their own purchases and needs to do their own due diligence before jumping on to a bargain though. Hopefully anyone who ordered will be able to get their money back, if it comes to it x

Keeping everything crossed that we do get our orders!

I've reported my post so it can be removed

@Stepsdown ohhh, how did you pay? I think I read that you're more likely to get a refund if it was through PayPal... not sure how it would work with other payments but someone might have a better idea x