'Cons and sob stories': The sneaky tactics in the battle to secure a Coles Little Shop case
Parents are being warned about Coles Little Shop resellers accused of using sneaky tricks to source free Christmas cases to sell them for a profit.
Frustrated shoppers claim online resellers are posing as parents and aunts on Facebook, creating a “sob story” to con generous parents into giving them the seemingly unattainable cases for free.
Coles recently launched a Christmas edition of its Coles Little Shop campaign with many shoppers complaining they have been unable to get a Christmas case due to low stock.
It now appears people are cashing in on families’ desperation to get their hands on the Christmas cases.
People are selling the cases on ebay for hundreds of dollars, an act that is leaving many parents outraged on Facebook.
In the Coles Little Shop Collectibles and Christmas Edition Facebook group, parents slammed those trying to make a profit from the cases.
One generous woman giving cases out for free shared a warning she received from a parent concerned she was being conned by a reseller.
She gave away the case after a woman claimed she was seeking one for her niece and nephew.
The parent who saw the exchange between the pair warned the generous woman about the alleged scam.
“I don’t want you to be conned; this person did this with the same sort of tactics the last time around too in multiple groups,” the parent said.
“She definitely was getting them herself from Coles and at the same time asking others for free ones.”
Other collectors shared their outrage about the trick, but said it was hard to know who was collecting them for financial gain.
Coles Christmas Little Shop cases selling for up to $250 on eBay
Currently on ebay the Christmas cases are being sold for up to $250 each.
Fed up parents and grandparents said their kids were losing out to money hungry shoppers who were cashing in on the popular campaign.
One grandmother recently posted in a Facebook group about those selling the collector folders on Ebay for a high price.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves. All I wanted was one folder for my granddaughter … what the hell is going on?” she said.
“Now I see selfish money-hungry people selling them for $40. Wise up you stupid people.”
A Coles spokeswoman told Yahoo News in a statement the Christmas edition had taken Australia by storm.
“There are still plenty of minis left so customers are encouraged to get into stores while stocks last,” she said.
While many stores have sold out of the Christmas cases, the spokeswoman said people could download the template online.
