u/Plum_Tea

Inkly is beyond my current budget for Jellies by about 40 pounds. I have been collecting since over 15 years, and I have a pretty big collection, so I am mindful about how I aquire new ones. I think a year ago I'd have felt less aprehensive about spending 90 pounds on a plush, but I have never spend this much on one, and right now money is not exactly overflowing either.

I liked the way Inkly looked in pictures but I was a bit worried about the texture as long fuzzy fur is sometimes harsh to touch, but nevertheless wanted at least to see her in person to touch and figure out if I could perhaps be still tempted, because she looks really gorgeous and people's reviews seemed to confirm she is definitely worth it.

I was expecting something similar at Selfridges to the last space collection launch - some sort of limitation of access, but a normal sale situation.

I walked into the store to people walking around with multiple bunnies in their baskets, and empty shelves. I was told there will be a restock in a few minutes and that I will definitely get one. People with multiple bunnies in their bags were still hanging around to get more from the restock shelves!
Then, the shelves were then fenced off and restocked. At that time I had no idea if I actually wanted one, but felt I had to grab one off the shelf, because there was no way I could just stand there and make up my mind in peace. I was then directed to the tills to pay.

I stood for a good while debating with my partner what to do, and eventually started queing up to pay. She was really pretty and the fur was also soft enough. As I was quieing I started to feel *really* mixed up about it - was that really my priority right now? Would I be not better off saving that money or spending it on something more needed? I also noticed that whilst her fur was soft, the tail was from a type of fur that is a bit rougher and cheaper feeling.
I felt so conflicted, that I then decided to leave her behind and not get her. She really had the most perfect face, but I am pretty sure someone else will enjoy her more.

I've never felt so uncomfortable in my life about a shopping experience.

The shameless "scalper" types added to the pressure, the conditions created a situation where the assumption was that everyone absolutely wanted to buy one, and that we had to grab them off the shelves- which made it difficult for me to actually work out what I wanted.

I felt so pressured to get it, like it was toilet paper during the pandemic, but it was not.
It is not an essential item. It is also an unusual item, not like all the other bunnies, so it is not something that you can work out from afar, that it is definitely worth it. It's a luxury item that you need time to figure out how to justify the purchase.

If there were less pressure, if I could go and see her normally at the shop and then think about the purchase for some time and then prehaps return on another day, I'd be likely to get her.

But honestly, the conditions made me feel so disrespected as a customer, they made me confused and like I was subjected to pressure selling tactics, which I associate with low- value products, where you are being scammed. Jellycat is a globally recognised brand, with high guality products (mostly), they don't need to artifically generate sales, there are plenty of people who *genuinely* want their products, and who'd spend that money for their dream plush.

Instead, they limit the access to their products for those who genuinely want them & create pressure to buy on anyone who is in the vicinity of the launch, regardless if they genuinely want them or not. They also facilitate "scalping" (not sure how else to call it) by proffesional resellers, and almost encourages people who can't afford them, buying multiples, because they think they'd be able to re-sell them and make money.

It was an overall sad experience. I was sad to have to leave her on the shelf, but I would also have felt sad about parting with this much money, so it was a lose/lose situation from the start.