People Are Flogging Aldi's Kevin The Carrot For An Extortionate Amount

Looking to buy a Kevin the Carrot toy from Aldi? Well, you may find that a bit of a struggle.

Customers at the bargain supermarket have criticised “greedy” eBay sellers flogging our favourite Christmas carrot and his chocolatey cousin, Cuthbert the Caterpillar, online – with some of the toys going for over ten times its retail value.

'Pre sale' versions of the now cult toys have been being sold on the online auction site for more than a week despite the items not going on sale in stores until 25^th November.

While Kevin the Carrot, Cuthbert the Caterpillar, Marcus Radishford and Ebanana Scrooge are only sold for £3.99 by Aldi, opportunistic sellers have sold dozens for up to £30 - with one even being listed at £50.

Aldi regular and stuffed vegetable fanatic Carol Smith has collected Kevin the Carrot toys for five years, but has spoken out about being “shocked” about those selling the cuddly toys for substantial profit.

She’s particularly scandalised as Aldi gives proceeds from the Kevin the Carrot range to children’s charities.

“My message to the people selling them on eBay to make a profit is that they should think about what they're doing because they're actually taking money from children in need. If it was their children, how would they feel?” the Wolverhampton-native complained.

"It's shocking, it's really shocking.

“I think it's disgusting because they're only spending £3.99 on these toys and that money is going to a good cause, it's not even going to the shops for them to make money.

"I personally feel that they're robbing the charities and they deserve not to sell them and if they do well they're not donating the extra money to that cause.

"People who can't get them are willing to pay, which is absolutely crazy.”

Carol, who is such a Kevin the Carrot enthusiast she queues from 6am to make sure she gets her hand on a toy, refuses to get the toys on eBay.

“Last year they made so many with Kevin in a Kilt in Scotland and they [eBay sellers] were asking £50 to £60 in the end for them because I kept looking and I thought 'no, I'm not giving you an extra penny I'd rather not have than give you that money'.

"I refuse to buy them on eBay. I think eBay should do something about it as well and people message eBay and say to them 'look, these are only £3.99, why are you allowing them to sell them?'

"I think they should have a system where if they're seen to be put on there for anything more than what they're worth, stop them from advertising it. It would be a good idea."

Aldi pledges £10,000 from Marcus Radishford toy sales to Magic Breakfast - a charity dedicated to providing children with school breakfasts and a donation of £15,000 will also be made to their charity partner Teenage Cancer Trust from the sales of selected Kevin the Carrot products.

Other fans shared screenshots of eBay users touting Cuthbert soft toys for up to £50.

One said: "Someone is charging £50 pound for Cuthbert and saying it's limited to 3k made? Is this true? I’m so confused."

Other users said they thought the claims it was limited were 'made up' while others said they hoped people 'on’t buy them to sell for stupid amounts'.

On a Facebook post shared of an eBay seller flogging a 79p Kevin the Carrot advent calendar for more than £10 including postage users were equally as outraged.

One commented: "So wrong not true *carrot emoji* fans at all."

A second said: "Anyone who pays that is bonkers there will be enough for everyone from a shop."

Another remarked: "Well more fool the people that buy them!"

One said: "Ridiculous as there is loads in stores at 79p. Greedy gits."

Aldi believe the listings to be opportunists advertising the toys ahead of their release day in the hope they can pick one up in store. The brand confirmed that store staff are not allowed to reserve the toys.

Tyla contacted Aldi for further comment.

A spokesperson for eBay told Tyla: "We appreciate that there is high demand for Kevin the Carrot and his friends, however these items do not break eBay’s policies.

"We encourage buyers who wish to support Magic Breakfast, to purchase items at Aldi, to ensure that proceeds of the sale go to the charity."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Aldi, Christmas, Shopping, News, Life

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley