Primark customers unable to buy £5 Beauty and the Beast ‘Chip’ mug ‘because staff stripped the shelves as they go for £40 on eBay’
Scores of shoppers were up at the crack of dawn last week in the hope of getting their hands on one of the much-desired cups
PRIMARK customers are furious after many could not buy £5 Beauty and the Beast "Chip" mugs - with some claiming staff stripped shelves before they were flogged on eBay.
Scores of shoppers hoped to bag the much-desired cups last week, but were disappointed as stock ran out in just 45 minutes last Wednesday.
The cups are now selling for up to £40 on eBay – and some suggest staff have been flogging them at a profit.
Shannon Paxton, 25, was so desperate to get cups for daughters Summer and Sky, five and two, she visited her local Glasgow store twice a day for a week before they were released.
She said: "I queued for two hours when they were released and saw two members of staff walking around asking colleagues how many they wanted.
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"When I'd asked before a member of staff said they weren't allowed to have any, so I don't know how they could have run out that quickly."
Shannon was told the store only had 50 cups for sale, meaning many who had queued for hours didn’t get one.
She said: “A smaller shop nearby had 140 In stock, which makes no sense. Every single member of staff was taking two per person."
Furious Karen Crammond, 28, says she saw a member of staff buying seven mugs in Glasgow’s Argyle Street store.
The Disney-loving accountant said: “The woman told me they were out of stock and went straight over to the till and paid for seven.
"I was so angry. I really wanted one but I don't think I'll bother in the resale - what's the point if staff just get them all before they hit the shop floor?"
Did you manage to get a Chip mug? Email [email protected] or call 0207 782 4094
Laura-Jane Knight, 28, arrived at the Lakeside store before it opened at 9am to queue for a mug.
She said: "By the time the shop opened staff were already queuing to buy them in their uniforms and there were only a handful left.
"One member of staff had five and another had 10 - but they were telling customers there was a two-per-person limit."
Lou Spencer, 30, also tried to get hold of one of the cups at her local Primark in Manchester.
She said: “A member of staff told me they had all reserved theirs a week before.
“I think it's bad staff can get them before customers - I work in retail and we're not allowed to buy anything from the new line for two weeks."
A spokesperson for Primark said: “Primark is aware of the exceptionally high level of interest in the Beauty and the Beast Chip mug and we are doing our best to meet this demand. A limited amount of stock landed in selected stores last week but sold out very quickly.
“We are pleased to confirm that the Chip mug will be back in selected stores - at the amazing price of just £5 - in May.”
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