El Corte Inglés toy catalogue: the resale nobody saw coming
El Corte Inglés's toy catalogue is being resold in Spain: some people stockpile free copies to sell them. The controversy is served.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
El Corte Inglés's toy catalogue now has a black market
A free toy catalogue has become an object of speculation. While some stockpile copies to resell them, others debate whether it is worth asking for it in store or settling for Carrefour's. The paradox is always the same: what is given away ends up having a price.
When does the El Corte Inglés toy catalogue come out
The question many parents ask every autumn has a variable answer: the catalogue reaches stores before Christmas, but the exact date depends on each branch. What is certain is that the paper leaflet still has pulling power. Some ask for it at the counter only to find they are required to show their loyalty card to receive it, a practice not everyone likes.
Last year, the Carrefour and Alcampo catalogues had **24 pages**, a figure some consider insufficient. El Corte Inglés's, on the other hand, keeps a wider range and more pages, which makes it the favourite of collectors. For them it is not just a leaflet: it is a source of historical prices.
Reselling a free leaflet: profiteering or market
The resale business has reached the catalogue. Some plan to **stockpile copies** to sell them later on second-hand platforms. The practice generates rejection: it is compared to profiteering and it is pointed out that some sell free leaflets to buyers who do not know they are free. The controversy is served.
The buyer's profile is not the child, but the adult collector or the reseller. In shopping centres you see more dogs than children, and the toy section is shrinking while gourmet areas grow. The catalogue, meanwhile, remains an object of desire.
The catalogue as a collector's item
For collectors, the El Corte Inglés catalogue has a value that goes beyond Christmas. It allows you to check what price a toy sold for back in the day, which makes it a reference tool. Hence some are willing to pay for a copy that is free in store.
The irony is that the leaflet has become more valuable than many of the toys it advertises. And while some hoard it, others settle for looking at it on their phone. The question is whether paper will survive until next Christmas.
A free toy catalogue has become an object of speculation. While some stockpile copies to resell them, others debate whether it is worth asking for it in store or settling for Carrefour's. The paradox is always the same: what is given away ends up having a price.
When does the El Corte Inglés toy catalogue come out
The question many parents ask every autumn has a variable answer: the catalogue reaches stores before Christmas, but the exact date depends on each branch. What is certain is that the paper leaflet still has pulling power. Some ask for it at the counter only to find they are required to show their loyalty card to receive it, a practice not everyone likes.
Last year, the Carrefour and Alcampo catalogues had **24 pages**, a figure some consider insufficient. El Corte Inglés's, on the other hand, keeps a wider range and more pages, which makes it the favourite of collectors. For them it is not just a leaflet: it is a source of historical prices.
Reselling a free leaflet: profiteering or market
The resale business has reached the catalogue. Some plan to **stockpile copies** to sell them later on second-hand platforms. The practice generates rejection: it is compared to profiteering and it is pointed out that some sell free leaflets to buyers who do not know they are free. The controversy is served.
The buyer's profile is not the child, but the adult collector or the reseller. In shopping centres you see more dogs than children, and the toy section is shrinking while gourmet areas grow. The catalogue, meanwhile, remains an object of desire.
The catalogue as a collector's item
For collectors, the El Corte Inglés catalogue has a value that goes beyond Christmas. It allows you to check what price a toy sold for back in the day, which makes it a reference tool. Hence some are willing to pay for a copy that is free in store.
The irony is that the leaflet has become more valuable than many of the toys it advertises. And while some hoard it, others settle for looking at it on their phone. The question is whether paper will survive until next Christmas.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (22 replies).
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