Byline: Ailbhe Jordan
THEY queued in their hundreds - some overnight - for the chance to snap up one of the limited-edition range of Jimmy Choo-designed clothing, shoes and accessories at H&M last month.
And within hours, items from the range had appeared on eBay - often at double the original selling price - all but guaranteeing a hefty profit for those who had invested, right? Apparently not.
It emerged this week that virtually all of the merchandise offered for auction is still languishing on the website.
Indeed, of several pieces on auction this week, just one had attracted bidders.
In times of recession, it seems buyers are not willing Replica Chanel Wallet Bags to pay over the odds for a black leather studded handbag (purchase price, e169; eBay price, e215) or a sequined tank top (purchase price, e50; eBay price, e100) - even if they do carry the Jimmy Choo brand, which is headed up by businesswoman Tamara Mellon.
And as bidding time runs out, young women who fought their way into the fashion giant's Dundrum and South King Street stores to buy several items are finding themselves left with unwanted goods worth hundreds of euro.
One seller who was still trying to sell the exclusive range, denied buying it to sell for profit when approached via eBay by an Irish Mail on Sunday reporter posing as a buyer.
The seller claimed they had simply got 'carried away' and bought more than they budgeted for, or that the items were the wrong size.
Italy Soccer Jersey'Truth is, I got a bit carried away that morning in H&M in Dublin and bought far too much stuff, realised that I would never use all the bags, shoes, etc., that I bought and thought I would sell a few on,' she lamented to the reporter.
'I'm a terrible impulse shopper and the shop was like a rugby scrum so I just went a bit mad.' Usually a champion of buyers' right, Dermot Jewell, head of the Consumers Association, had little sympathy for the buyers.
embroidered patches
'This is a form of touting,' he told the MoS. 'These individuals saw reality bite back very quickly. And it serves them right.' Meanwhile, Jimmy Choo founder Mrs Mellon, 42, has won e6.6m in a long-running legal battle with her mother over shares mistakenly allocated to 70-year-old Ann Yeardye. Sources said Mrs Mellon's mother had decided to drop the case.
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BUSINESS: Tamara Mellon, who founded Jimmy Choo brand
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