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Customers have gone crazy for Coles’ range of miniature grocery toys, with people selling complete sets of the items online for up to $1,000.

The retailer launched its The Little Shop promotion on a few weeks ago, with customers receiving free mini collectible grocery items with their shopping – including tiny versions of popular products like Tim Tams, Milo, 2 Minute Noodles and Vegemite.

Coles customers can collect one of the 30 tiny items with every $30 they spend in store and are encouraged to store their collectables inside a purpose-built display case.

Multiple Facebook swap and sell groups are full of people desperate to complete their collections.

Full sets of the plastic toys have even been listed online for as much as $1,000 on eBay.

ebay

One listing, which boasts all 30 collectable items and the extra “collectors case” for $1000 plus $13.80 postage, says it is a “great item for a collector to have”.

“Very rare to find a brand new complete set,” reads the listing.

“Been opened then put straight into the collectors case.”

Another listing for 50 unopened mini collectibles – which do not reveal which replica is inside – is currently up to $286 .

coles mini

Some people actually think it is a good price!

Many comments have shared that they are worth $30 each when you work it out so this is a fairly good deal.

– “you have to spend that maybe even more to get the full set … each one is worth $30 plus, the odds of collecting every one of them by only spending $900 is never going to happen…. so maybe it’s a good deal.”

– ” I’m doing 3 sets and have spent more money just to get them, especially when woolies do theirs it’s one $10 get one and you can buy certain products to get bonus. Didn’t realise coles was such a rip off next time I’ll know better.”

– “I mean for those people who actually want to collect and have them it would cost $900 minimum that’s if you got 1 different one for every $30 spent.”

However there have been concerns the Little Shop promotion is a waste of plastic and contradicts the supermarket chain’s recent ban on single-use plastic bags just weeks ago. (read more here)

“It’s ridiculous, especially given the environmental impact,” one Facebook user wrote on the Coles page.

The Coles Little Shop campaign is set to close on 28 August 2018

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  • Wow…..Ive got some of these. I found them when cleaning out a spare bedroom. Might have to see what they are worth now….might be sitting on a gold mine.

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  • I would never pay for any, I was quite content to just collect them every time I shopped, they cost me nothing. My daughter did sell a set for $150. People are crazy to buy them

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  • The person who is charging $13.80 for postage may be ripping some people off too. It depends on the destination how much the postage costs.

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  • It makes me really mad that Woolworths ban plastic bags, yet then bring out plastic pieces as a promotion…I’m sure most of these will end up in landfill as well.

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  • They’re cute, but this is ridiculous. Our kids will probably wind up with one incomplete set among them, which is a shame… but I’m not going to distort our shopping habits or spend this kind of money to do more!

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  • I don’t understand the mania around this. They’re little bits of plastic. It’s kinda cool that they resemble grocery items but I wouldn’t be going out of my way or spending extra money to collect them. At the end of the promotion people are going to start getting rid of them and you’ll be able to complete a collection fairly easily anyway.

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  • I am collecting a set between my two youngest. I would never outright buy them as that is too much. If I do not get a full set that is my problem as my children understand. Tried swapping with my grand daughter who received some from her other grand mother, that was a big mistake. She was really upset, yes take mine but do not swap them. The swap day is not in many stores so might have to resort to the Facebook pages.


    • I saw a post from fb and someone was trying to sell individual items/collectibles for $100s! Like you – if we get them – fine – if not that is ok too.

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  • No way.
    Its utterly ridiculous havent collected/recieved one since they have started.
    And wouldn’t even think about buying a set.
    Much preferred the other things such as the Disney, animal/prehistoric books and cards. So much more educational for kids and adults with a childs heart.

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  • Absolutely absurd! I have no interest in them whatsoever …. another blatant use of plastic that our environment does not need …..

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  • stupidity, I am glad my kids don’t care about this stuff

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  • No way! Why would you pay that price – the same price as a holiday or towards savings or something the family can all benefit from getting. I suppose it is an individual choice but I just do not understand spending that much on mini collectibles from Coles. I have happily given some away – no profit required! :)

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  • I think there a bit of fun for kids and adults alike. If people are willing to pay for them who cares! No one is forcing them to buy them

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  • I think they’re lovely and my kids adore them (even my 14yr old daughter !!) I think it’s lovely to receive free from Coles as reward to their costumers, but wouldn’t pay for it.

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  • I wouldn’t pay it but each to their own

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  • Honestly just because thats what its listes at doesnt mean thats what it sold for. I know someone who sold a complete set for $300. While i personally wont pay for a set id be happy to sell a set if someone wants to pay ridiculous pricing for it.
    There are local fb pages that people r swapping on here. And the coles ladies have been super generous too. I got 14 of them when i shouldve gotten 1………
    Honestly its a new thing out and people go ohhhhhh i MUST have it and have it now…… sad but thats the way people are. And while ever people keep paying such ridiculous amounts of money people will keep selling them haha

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  • While shopping at coles its nice to have something extra in return. My kids are enjoying playing with the minis but i wouldnt pay for them.

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  • I like them but if I don’t finish the collection is not a big deal. I would never pay that money. But apparently a lot of people do.

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  • I’m not interested! Just Another way we humans are running the planet :(

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  • I don’t wish to buy them at all!

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  • If you grocery shop anyway all you need is a bit of patience and you can get a set and if you get doubles there are plenty of places to swap them.

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