Okay so there’s a super big buzz about limited edition nappies at the minute. It used to be that a limited edition print meant that it was available till stocks lasted which was pretty much a year. So you could pick one up at some point or if you waited it out till the next ones were being launched and then you could snap up the old ones on a clear out offer. Now there are the uber limited editions which are sold out in minutes, and the majority of people wanting it miss out or have to buy off Ebay/nappy forums for double, triple the price and in some cases a lot more than that!
It happened last year with the Tots Bots Royal Flush nappy, a gorgeous nappy – sadly it didnt take my fancy so I didnt go for it and am glad I missed the drama surrounding it! Next thing you know they sell out in minutes and they start popping up Ebay and selling forums and some even sold for over £100! Yes a nappy that was £18ish went for that much even some used ones.
And now it’s the turn of Bumgenius to bring out a super limited run of limiteds, first Audrey earlier in the year and now Chaplin which again sold out in minutes, with most stockists only having 10 or so to sell. It’s all gone crazy again! And that’s also not including that the Jules limited edition print from last year has now been discontinued and is a HTF (hard to find) print and again used ones are selling for £70 in good condition.
Now I have no problem if you want it, buy it and then dont like or use it for a bit and then decide to sell it and maybe make a bit of extra back on it. There’s not many times you’ll resell a nappy on and make money on it. And ofc they will only go for as much as someone is willing to pay for it but I do find it hard when people are just buying to sell and make some money. I just feel in the lovely fluffy cloth nappy community I’d like to think we were above that but I guess not.
Now I love prints, and if I see something and like it I’d buy it whether it was limited or not. And I get that there are other people who really dont care about the colour or print on their babies bum and just go with whatever is on offer or just white ones for ease etc – that’s cool for them, each to their own. And of course on the other end of the scale there are some that love a brand so much they want to collect all the colours and prints that are released and even in some cases keep them new in the packet like a collectors item – again that’s cool. I respect the dedication and if it makes someone happy then so be it. But it’s frustrating to miss out on something just because someone else wants to make an easy £50.
I hope the manufacturers sit up and listen to the many frustrated mamas I’ve seen posting on various forums and groups. If they’d made more then they would have sold more and everyone would be happy rather than 95% of their customer base feeling left out and annoyed. I get that limited editions should be just that limited, not around for long, but a few hundred going in minutes means a lot of unhappy customers. Having enough stock for a good month of sales based on previous releases would make most people happy I’m sure. I know you’ll never stop the people who want to make money selling them on but it would be less common place if there were more to start with and people had a chance.
That’s just my take, I’m not unhappy with the mamas that choose to buy them for lots of money or the ones that change their mind and end up selling and make a bit extra. But the people who have three or more to sell, all new and unused and are asking a premium price is frustrating to see – especially as it was meant to be a one per person limit! I’m really annoyed at the companies that chose to do it this way, yes you’ve got a lot of hype and buzz around it but mostly for the wrong reason.
On the plus side I guess I saved myself spending £18 on a nappy I dont really need, as there’s no way I’d pay more then the rrp, even if it was cute! But anyway I hope this cloud passes and doesnt crop up again, it’s not nice to have so much tension in fluffy groups and forums that were once a happy place of support and understating that we’re all a little bit crazy in a nice fluffy way!
Michelle x
