ALDI has announced restrictions on how many Kevin the Carrot plush toys shoppers can buy due to high demand this festive season.
Shoppers are rushing to purchase stuffed characters from this year’s Christmas ad including Katie, Kevin and Humbug.
This year they cost £3.99 each – or, you can buy a My Pal Kevin the Carrot toy with extendable arms and legs for £9.99.
In previous years a two-purchase rule has been applied so to maintain fairness with customers and avoid disappointment.
And customers are furious as Aldi announced the limit has returned to every store across the UK this year.
A spokesperson confirmed to The Sun: “We are limiting purchases to two products per customer in store to allow as many people as possible a chance to buy them.”
This is due to the Kevin the Carrot toys being a keen fan-favourite each year since they first appeared in a Christmas ad in 2016.
Indeed, the plushies are already selling out quickly, with many people taking to Facebook to complain of empty shelves.
One person wrote: “No small Kevin or Katie at the Kirkcaldy Fife store, managed to get a big Katie for our little Carrot fan.”
Another said: “Anyone seen the squishies? Went to mine this morning as supposed to be out today but none at my store.”
Many were angry about the rush to buy, with one user complaining: “Grr! I missed it again!”
Meanwhile, some shoppers were outraged by the limit, explaining how they feel restricted by the rule.
One person wrote on Facebook: “There’s a set of three humbugs but you can only have two per person – I was so angry, as I have three kids.”
The user added that the decision from Aldi was “so wrong” and that shoppers should “be wary”.
Meanwhile, others have taken to the social media platform to share their excitement over the launch.
One delighted shopper posted an image of her plushy and wrote: “Love these, managed to get some for my kids this morning.”
And another person wrote: “We’ve got ours!”
A third person said: “I’m on my way to Aldi now!”
The Kevin the Carrot plushy toy range is part of an entire character-themed Specialbuys launch, starting today.
Shoppers can also get their hands on Christmas Tree Plush Decorations for £2.99 based on the Kevin, Katie and Humbug characters.
Or there are Kevin and Katie Christmas Pyjamas up for grabs for £5.99 while a Kevin-themed book is selling for £2.99.
You can find your nearest Aldi store by using the retailer’s branch locator on its website.
You can also use the Aldi website to browse the full list of Specialbuys and see what is set to arrive soon.
WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy.
For reduced items – when shops open
Red sticker items are rare at Aldi’s 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found – if you’re quick.
A spokesman for the supermarket said: “All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates.”
That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens.
Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store’s times by using the supermarket’s online shop finder tool.
For Specialbuys – Thursdays and Sundays
Specialbuys are Aldi’s weekly collection of items that it doesn’t normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools.
New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals.
For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store’s opening time.
Remember: once they’re gone, they’re gone, so if there’s something you really want, visit as early as possible
Specialbuys are weekly offers on a specific range of products curated by Aldi.
For example, on Sunday (November 17) the supermarket is set to unveil a Festive Home range for customers.
They are a great way to keep track of the cheapest deals – however you should always remember to still compare between websites.
Comparison sites like Trolley can help you browse item prices across a range of supermarkets and make sure you’re getting the best bargain.
This includes Clubcard and Nectar Card deals so you get a full scope of how much you could be spending.
When shopping on individual websites it also helps to select “search by” and “lowest price first”.
Keep in mind that prices are constantly changing day-to-day due to demand and season, so downloading the app of your regular supermarket can help you keep track.
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