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Child Item

smyths toys â‚¬10 0ff â‚¬50 spend cancelled for 2020

OmegaGene

so this is not a bargain alert but bargain related and more of a heads up for parents like me that rely on smyths vouchers every year for Christmas, they have decided to scrap the €10 0ff €50 spend 2020 to reduce footfall in store, they are promising discounts but i think that is nonsense.
this offer has proved very good over the years for me and others i know and keeps customers returning throughout the year, i think it is a big mistake to cencel it and surely they could have done it online, with the current exchange rate Amazon wlll work out cheaper.

Mods feels free to move if this is out of line

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van_beano

SteM wrote: »

But during the pandemic Switch prices went up everywhere, not just in Smyths - there was an issue of supply and demand.

Negative, the price of new Switches did not rise officially with Nintendo. The 2nd hand switch market did rise though with those wishing to cash in on the supply and demand issues.

In fact, Smyths raised their prices by €10 a couple of days before restocking occurred early last month after being out of stock for so long, the official Nintendo store prices stayed the same. Smyths knew there was a pent up demand for the console and cashed in, fair enough it's a business and it needs to make profits but I don't believe they require any sympathy from people that they lost money during the lockdown as they were still functioning online and I'm sure they had the staff on PUP.

On the flip side and as a good example of good PR, IKEA lost money during the lockdown, when they opened back up business was thriving and they returned the Governments pandemic payments as they felt it wouldn't be fair to take it. That's good PR by IKEA.

Doodah7

van_beano wrote: »

I'm obsessing with Nintendo as that's the current market that I am purchasing in so that's my point of reference for a factual discussion.

I don't know the pricing of the other items other than Lego which is also overpriced in Smyth compared to online.

Do you not find that this is a bit of PR blunder by Smyths? Could this not be seen as being slightly opportunistic in a pandemic?

So one product out of literally thousands and you are doing them down. How do you know that their supplier didn't increase their supply price outside of Nintendo? Correct!! You don't!

If only there were other stores that sold Nintendo products. Oh wait...

van_beano

Doodah7 wrote: »

So one product out of literally thousands and you are doing them down. How do you know that their supplier didn't increase their supply price outside of Nintendo? Correct!! You don't!

If only there were other stores that sold Nintendo products. Oh wait...

Nintendo wouldn't allow suppliers to artificially increase the prices, I'm sure Nintendo, like Apple, have strict code of practices in place when pricing their products. May be slight leeway on pricing with the permission from these companies hence the increase that Smyths did.

Smyths also give the information of their suppliers of the Switch as Nintendo on their website so I would presume they buy their stock directly from Nintendo.

There are plenty of stores selling Nintendo products, didn't say there wasn't but this is a Smyths thread so no point talking about Argos, Littlewoods, Harvey Norman and the likes.

As I said, I know about 2 lines of products in Smyths that are in my current purchasing categories and both of which they are price gouging. If I was a betting man I would suggest that the many other lines of products available are similarly overpriced. They are hardly just targeting me.

uli84

If they are using Covid as excuse i will happily shop elsewhere

JDxtra

The sense of entitlement here is unreal. Most retailers are struggling to stay afloat. There is no obligation on any retailer to offer a discount or promotion that was offered in previous years.

In fact, it makes complete sense for Smyths to not run any €10 off promotion.

In store, there would be carnage - hoards of parents filling trolleys or queuing outside. Online, their delivery teams would not be able to cope with a huge increase in orders over a short period.

Fair play to Smyths for being sensible. Hopefully they can survive and our kids (and future kids) will still have a toy shop to visit.

van_beano

No sense of entitlement here, people are trying to be smart with their funds.

People don't like being ripped off for no good reason and blaming Covid is not a good enough reason for a store that has been functioning in some capacity during the last 6 months. Within this thread someone remarked how packed Smyths were the other day they went in, I mentioned the queues they had during their click and collect time.

From what I can see, with the amount of Government grants afforded to businesses including Smyths during the lockdown and the visible footfall in the shops, it is clear to see they aren't struggling. They are just getting greedy.

But... all will be forgiven when they give thousands of euros of toys to the Late Late Toy Show / Childrens hospitals in Nov/Dec. Some craic if they stopped that.

JDxtra

Looks to me like Smyths Ireland are in line with the Irish RRP for the Nintendo Switch. Don't see any pricing issue here to be honest, pricing probably set by Nintendo.

€329.99 @ Smyths Ireland
€329.99 @ Game Stop
€334.46 @ Argos Ireland

£279.99 @ Amazon (was also £299.99 recently)
£279.99 @ Argos UK
£279.99 @ Nintendo UK
£279.99 @ Smyths UK

Ush1

JDxtra wrote: »

Looks to me like Smyths Ireland are in line with the Irish RRP for the Nintendo Switch. Don't see any pricing issue here to be honest, pricing probably set by Nintendo.

€329.99 @ Smyths Ireland
€329.99 @ Game Stop
€334.46 @ Argos Ireland

£279.99 @ Amazon (was also £299.99 recently)
£279.99 @ Argos UK
£279.99 @ Nintendo UK
£279.99 @ Smyths UK

Smyths is 340 with a game which seems the best deal to me.

van_beano

I was on about the Switch Lite as opposed to the normal Switch and how I saved €26 getting in on Amazon last week as opposed to getting it in Smyths.

Grey Switch Lite
€239.99 on Smyths (was €229.99 at the start of August)
£194.59 in Amazon on the 17/09/19 which worked out as approx. €214 on Revolut at an exchange rate of 91p

A substantial saving considering it was shipped from the UK to my front door for free delivery.

The £279.99 works out at €305 on Revolut, still a saving to be made shopping online.

Pacifico

van_beano wrote: »

No sense of entitlement here, people are trying to be smart with their funds.

People don't like being ripped off for no good reason and blaming Covid is not a good enough reason for a store that has been functioning in some capacity during the last 6 months. Within this thread someone remarked how packed Smyths were the other day they went in, I mentioned the queues they had during their click and collect time.

From what I can see, with the amount of Government grants afforded to businesses including Smyths during the lockdown and the visible footfall in the shops, it is clear to see they aren't struggling. They are just getting greedy.

But... all will be forgiven when they give thousands of euros of toys to the Late Late Toy Show / Childrens hospitals in Nov/Dec. Some craic if they stopped that.

How are people being ripped off? They are not running a promotion...

JDxtra

van_beano wrote: »

I was on about the Switch Lite as opposed to the normal Switch and how I saved €26 getting in on Amazon last week as opposed to getting it in Smyths.

Yes, regarding Switch Lite I agree this is overpriced in Smyths Ireland by €10. Probably should be closer to €210 really. It's €245.93 in Argos, whatever planet those guys are on. #boycottargos anyone?

bigpink

OmegaGene wrote: »

so this is not a bargain alert but bargain related and more of a heads up for parents like me that rely on smyths vouchers every year for Christmas, they have decided to scrap the €10 0ff €50 spend 2020 to reduce footfall in store, they are promising discounts but i think that is nonsense.
this offer has proved very good over the years for me and others i know and keeps customers returning throughout the year, i think it is a big mistake to cencel it and surely they could have done it online, with the current exchange rate Amazon wlll work out cheaper.

Mods feels free to move if this is out of line

You rely on Symths vouchers?

fdevine

People will generally buy from wherever is cheaspest or most convenient. I really don't see why people are losing their sh1t so much over this

My reading of it must be different to some but has anyone noticed the pertinent points?

......to reduce footfall in store - this should be applauded not condemned. Smyths during this promotion is generally a f'king warzone

.....they are promising discounts - judge them on what discounts materialise, not on the perceived injustice of a pseudo 20% off €50

Most people, me included, tend to buy more than required/intended in order to get the discount. Sure, we feel great getting a discount but alot of the time it's false economy

If people are really hard up and relying on a €10 off €50 maybe buy 20% less and spend wherever is cheapest

Argos clearance and Mr. Bezos have me sorted but I'd have been avoiding Smyths like the plague regardless

rob316

van_beano wrote: »

I was on about the Switch Lite as opposed to the normal Switch and how I saved €26 getting in on Amazon last week as opposed to getting it in Smyths.

Grey Switch Lite
€239.99 on Smyths (was €229.99 at the start of August)
£194.59 in Amazon on the 17/09/19 which worked out as approx. €214 on Revolut at an exchange rate of 91p

A substantial saving considering it was shipped from the UK to my front door for free delivery.

The £279.99 works out at €305 on Revolut, still a saving to be made shopping online.

Ya but your talking about the saving from the exchange rate. A retailer isn't going to keep changing the prices to reflect a rapidly changing exchange rate. When the RRP was set by Nintendo it was set against the exchange rate then.

The new PS5 pricing reflects this £450/€500

GBX

Still waiting on the bargain ..

rob316

van_beano wrote: »

No sense of entitlement here, people are trying to be smart with their funds.

People don't like being ripped off for no good reason and blaming Covid is not a good enough reason for a store that has been functioning in some capacity during the last 6 months. Within this thread someone remarked how packed Smyths were the other day they went in, I mentioned the queues they had during their click and collect time.

From what I can see, with the amount of Government grants afforded to businesses including Smyths during the lockdown and the visible footfall in the shops, it is clear to see they aren't struggling. They are just getting greedy.

But... all will be forgiven when they give thousands of euros of toys to the Late Late Toy Show / Childrens hospitals in Nov/Dec. Some craic if they stopped that.

Are you for real? Smyths for one wouldn't have qualified for any government grants, at best the wage subsidy scheme.
Shops are 100% struggling, many are holding on hoping Christmas will take them out of the red. My retail shop got a whopping €4k in grants after been closed for 3 months, while business is down 30% now on last year. Ya we're really greedy.

RGARDINR

Just wondering in regards the 2% Vat rate reduced I see argos did implement it but smyths didn't. Argos had prices reduced on lots of their toys even lego website did for Ireland. Could Smyths of as well? I think should of been done online only this year 10 off 50. Probably one of the few places doing great in this covid era. When kids were not goi g out parents were ordering a lot for kids at home from their site. Made a killing they have. Fair enough they say that their delivery wouldn't keep up, just say delivery times instead of 1 to 3 days are 10 to 15 days until they clear their online orders.

utyh2ikcq9z76b

rob316 wrote: »

Are you for real? Smyths for one wouldn't have qualified for any government grants, at best the wage subsidy scheme.
Shops are 100% struggling, many are holding on hoping Christmas will take them out of the red. My retail shop got a whopping €4k in grants after been closed for 3 months, while business is down 30% now on last year. Ya we're really greedy.

I actually think Smyth's had a bit of a boom, all the skateboards, bike, garden games etc sold really well during lockdown. Loads of kids out of school needing stuff to do

Gru

i am conflicted on this topic because i love Smyths, but as has repeatedly been pointed out, Smyths did great business during covid, everything we were looking to buy during lockdown was sold out or out of stock, we had to buy elsewhere.

i understand they don't want hoards of people rushing their stores but they could have ran it safely via a voucher system (like it was in the original years of the offer) where each household registered online gets 4 €10 off €50 spend vouchers, make them valid for 2 months and you avoid the queues.

every year people complain they raise their prices before the promotion, and while certain promotions end (5-10% off board games for example) Lego generally stayed the same so the 20% off that was a godsend to parents (and lego lovers)

they also have a tendency to mess up a lot too though, e.g right now they advertise "20% off selected Lego sets" on their main page, not "upto 20%" as we so often see...yet when you click on the link, no 20% off lego comes up there are various percentages but not one i could see meets the 20% advertised, so i see how people get annoyed with that.

Smyths Lego offer

[Deleted User]

Gru wrote: »

i am conflicted on this topic because i love Smyths, but as has repeatedly been pointed out, Smyths did great business during covid, everything we were looking to buy during lockdown was sold out or out of stock, we had to buy elsewhere.

That doesn't mean they did great business, it just means they didn't get more stock when they ran out of their current stock like they usually would. Argos currently has most of their items out of stock but Argos are certainly not doing as well as they were pre-covid.

Gru

Deleted User wrote: »

That doesn't mean they did great business, it just means they didn't get more stock when they ran out of their current stock like they usually would. Argos currently has most of their items out of stock but Argos are certainly not doing as well as they were pre-covid.

Considering in previous years their summer stock was never sold out (speaking of my local smyths here)and usually reduced to clear, yet this year they could re-arrange for Christmas without having to move stock (shelves were emptied by the selling out during the summer so no reductions needed) i think you can safely assume the money was continuously rolling in,

other shops relied on staff in branches packaging up stock to send it out to meet online demand, Smyths were to able shut off their website sales such was the high demand, they didn't even need to resort to bringing staff into stores to package up stock, they just clean sold it all out, and they stopped their free delivery making money from that too,

people forget this is a company that bought toy's r us and paid 80 million for it, they came to be in 1986 and traded through recessions including the big one in 2009-2012 while running this promotion and offering free delivery.

i can't see them "losing" money anytime soon, especially with Christmas coming, and material goods being the modern name of the game, so i can see how it just reeks of "taking advantage of the situation" to some people...

And as for the Irish thing, i can see also how people can be annoyed, when Smyths in their Uk stores run pre-orders for consoles, Fun event days, Free Lego events, and all of these are "UK only" and never run in Irish stores, they cannot on one hand claim to be Irish and "local" because it suits them, but ignore the irish market for their pre-orders, promo's and events...

[Deleted User]

Gru wrote: »

Considering in previous years their summer stock was never sold out (speaking of my local smyths here)and usually reduced to clear, yet this year they could re-arrange for Christmas without having to move stock (shelves were emptied by the selling out during the summer so no reductions needed) i think you can safely assume the money was continuously rolling in

You certainly cannot safely assume that based on what you just said.

[Deleted User]

I'll always choose an Irish shop if prices aren't too far apart.

This year will be even more important for them. Next year could be a bad thing year for the country. Global recession could well be on the cards.

Nyum Nyum

OmegaGene wrote: »

I spent €400 on a few toys two weeks ago and compared every price to amazon and Argos and saved €160 and I was working from a specific list rather than selecting amazon bargains
I always use smyths but with the € for £ at the moment and using Revolut it’s a big difference

I just got a Revolut card - so it's better to pay in £ at the moment then on Amazon, etc.?

Seve OB

Amazing how some people seem to know how well companies are doing. Must be a few accountants on here spilling the beans haha.

ted1

Personally I find Smyths the cheapest for kids toys. Would recommend them.

I did buy some stuff in a November sale ( mighty jet and mighty tower (paw patrol)). Kept the recipet on my pocket. Saw the stuff for cheaper in Late December, bought it on the spot and returned it on the spot with the old receipt.

Best way to guarantee to get they popular toys.

ted1

Nyum Nyum wrote: »

I just got a Revolut card - so it's better to pay in £ at the moment then on Amazon, etc.?

Always.

utyh2ikcq9z76b

6 wrote: »

I'll always choose an Irish shop if prices aren't too far apart.

This year will be even more important for them. Next year could be a bad thing year for the country. Global recession could well be on the cards.

They are basically middle men for chinese production and a few mega corporations

Gru

6 wrote: »

I'll always choose an Irish shop if prices aren't too far apart.

This year will be even more important for them. Next year could be a bad thing year for the country. Global recession could well be on the cards.

well if you want Irish owned Toy shops you could find your local Toymaster (they are independently owned toy shops) or Art & Hobby is another Irish shop who occasionally do sales on toys (they sold Lego Mario sets at the lowest they've been so far)

and both would also be supporting local employment along with irish products and irish shops.

[Deleted User]

Gru wrote: »

well if you want Irish owned Toy shops you could find your local Toymaster (they are independently owned toy shops) or Art & Hobby is another Irish shop who occasionally do sales on toys (they sold Lego Mario sets at the lowest they've been so far)

and both would also be supporting local employment along with irish products and irish shops.

Yeah, would actually go even more local than Smyths tbh. Depends on the present.