We Brits love our crisps - but just how much would you be willing spend on packet of Walkers?
Amid a shortage of crisps in supermarkets - thanks to a botched computer upgrade which disrupted the world’s biggest crisp factory - resellers on eBay are seizing the opportunity and making the most out of the demand by peddling the popular potato snack, charging as much as nearly £8 for a single pack.
As crisp-lovers are attempting to get their hands on packets, it seems they are willing to fork out the cash and this demand is allowing chancers to up the price and make a bigger profit.
For example, while a single packet of Walkers Salt & Vinegar crisps (32.5g) is typically around 60p in most shops, one eBay seller from Leicester - ironically where Walkers crisps are from - is charging more than ten times this price at jaw-dropping £6.89.
Elsewhere, another seller is charging even more for a single bag of Walkers Salt & Vinegar Squares (68g) which would set you back £7.89. You could get a full-on meal at that price.
This surge in resale prices comes as supermarkets across the UK have been photographed showing empty shelves with no crisps in sight and it’s the same for online shopping as Tesco, Morrisons and Ocado are sold out on their website.
There’s similar scenes for discount store Poundstretcher who have said they too have see a decline in deliveries of Walkers crisps.
“They had a change to their systems and the change has taken much longer than expected,” a spokesperson told BusinessLive.
“In our last order, instead of getting 26 pallets – which is equivalent to a truckload – we received seven cases, which is not even a pallet full. It is that bad.”
There’s further bad news, as Walkers have warned that some products might not be back on the crisp aisle for another month.
In a statement, a Walkers spokesman said: “A recent IT system upgrade has disrupted the supply of some of our products. Our sites are still making crisps and snacks but at a reduced scale.
“We’re doing everything we can to increase production and get people’s favourites back on shelves.
“We’re very sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
