Aldi shoppers outraged to see 'one or two' advertised kids' toys for sale

Aldi customers who lined up for hours across the country were left empty-handed and outraged to learn advertised children’s toys were never available at their local stores, or just one or two were put on the shelves this morning.

Two different electric-powered ride-on toy cars for kids were advertised as part of this week’s Special Buys for $199 each, listed for sale from Saturday.

With the catalogue noting its products would be in limited numbers, keen shoppers nationally queued up from before 6.30am to be the first in line to snap up the ideal kids’ presents.

In hot demand were the 6V ride-on Caterpillar Electric Tractor, and the Mercedes-Benz Electric Car, with each product advertised for $199.

The toy vehicles can reach speeds of up to 4km/h, and come with a radio and working headlights.

However, when the doors finally opened, many customers were left disappointed to find bare shelves.

“While I am not in the habit of being herded into a store like a mob of cattle at 8am, I just travelled around 40 minutes for a special buy of which the store had ONLY 2 which were quickly taken,” one shopper vented on the supermarket giant’s Facebook page Saturday morning.

Northern Sydney man Mick Turner agreed, saying he was first in line at the Mt Colah supermarket but became “Very disappointed” to find the advertised Mercedes-Benz electric car was not on the shelf.

He claimed an Aldi employee told him “Sorry, we’ve sold out,” which he believes was not true.

“No they hadn't cause there was none there, unless staff are allowed to buy it early. I know you say limited numbers which is why I got there early and lined up,” Mr Turner wrote on the company’s Facebook page.

It was a similar story for Newcastle mum Kristy Henderson who said she arrived at the Belmont store in NSW at 7am to purchase a tractor for her son’s second birthday, but was told none had been available at that store either.

“I spoke to the store manager and he advised me there was not one issued to the store,” she wrote on Facebook Saturday morning.

“C'mon Aldi this has to be illegal advertising products which are not even available,” she said.

In Victoria, Traralgon, woman Clarissa Roscoe claimed she watched in outrage as a man she believed was an employee on his day off, helped himself to a tractor from the stock room.

“Witnessed a man whom I assume was a staff member, though not working at the time as he wasn't in uniform and had a child with him, walk out from the stock room with a tractor on a trolley. Obviously saving stock for staff instead of putting on the floor!"

Seven News Online has contacted Aldi for comment, but not received a a response as yet.