'Absurd and ridiculous': Shoppers take aim at Aldi after Dyson sale fail

Disgruntled Aldi customers have taken to social media to voice their anger over missing out on the store’s latest special on a Dyson vacuum cleaner with some saying its the last straw.

Considered to be one of the most sought after special buy items of the year, two variations of the Dyson vacuum cleaner were available, which included a handheld DC44 Animal for $299, and a DC29 Multifloor for $349.

But the store has been criticised for not having enough stock and the behaviour of its customers. One woman told 3AW she even witnessed one customer snatch a vacuum cleaner out of a child's hands.

Many said the shopping frenzy saw the vacuums sell out within 30 seconds of the store opening.

Now, some customers have had enough and are threatening to boycott the German supermarket for leaving empty handed.

“Very disappointed today to visit the Rosebud Aldi store and to find Dyson vacuum cleaners had sold within 15 miss (sic) noting that two people in front of me purchased 4 each. Should have been a limit per person this is why I don’t do Aldi always disappoints!” one woman posted on Aldi Australia’s Facebook page.

Another annoyed customer, who tried an Aldi in Brisbane, accused Aldi of focusing on publicity and “stocking ridiculously small quantities”.

“Absurd and ridiculous how at my age I have to line up for more than an hour and walking away with empty hands,” he posted.

“I feel so disappointed, I take this as an insult.”

A woman said the felt “disgusted” by the behaviour of customers and said she missed out on a vacuum cleaner. She suggested “a number system could have prevented this”; while another woman said in the Bondi Junction store there was “no crowd control”.

“People were running and pushing each other ... They only had 20 and the crowd was about 200. Never shopping at Aldi again,” she said.

Another vented the store needed to have limits on the special buys per transaction with some people were purchasing more than one.

A woman who lined up for the Tamworth store said many in line missed out because people were buying “three or even four of the Dysons on offer”.

An Aldi Australia spokeswoman told News Corp many store managers had actually implemented a “ticketing system” along with “additional measures”.

She added the store never intends to disappoint its customers.

“If customers miss out on a Special Buy we recommend they contact our customer service team on 13 25 34 to assist with stock availability at other stores in your area,” she said.

However, retail expert Brian Walker from the Retail Doctor Group said Aldi’s Special Buys strategy, such as the one involving the Dysons, was “calculated” to create “surprise and theatre”.

He added a “general adage” is the more special the buy, and effective its advertising it’s less likely customers will see lots of stock.

“The plan to distribute to stores would be known weeks and months in advance … the reality of it is when a product is very popular there is very limited supply, and that’s going to create difficulties for some consumers,” Mr Walker said.

He said some of the comments on social media were doing damage to Aldi’s reputation which “is not good”.

“It’s a very calculated gamble that some consumers will miss out, but it’s working for them,” Mr Walker said.