Frustrated shoppers have hit out at The Range after disappointment over gifts they received at the grand opening of a new store falling well short of expectations.
Avid bargain-hunters were seen queuing up with camping chairs and blankets from 11pm last night, ahead of the shop opening its doors at the Rock in Bury at 9am this morning, Friday, November 19.
In its advertising for the grand opening The Range promised the first 200 customers in line would receive "a gift bag with prizes worth over £2,000 to celebrate the 200th store."
However, this offer seems to have created some confusion, with shoppers who queued to get their gifts saying some were worth no more than £10, The Sun reports.
One shopper said they "had worded the press release in a way to make it look like it was worth queuing for so they had nice pictures."
The Range has since explained that the "total value of prizes and gift cards given away to the first 200 customers was £2,000."
A spokesperson for the popular brand said there were a lot of happy customers at the opening of the new store, and that the first three people in line won special prizes including £100 vouchers, a hot tub, a kayak and a paddle board.
But, others who had waited through the night for the doors to open were less pleased.
One shopper, Emma Louise, who queued from 5am for the opening, said: "We were promised a £2,000 grand prize I got there at 5:00am with good faith that I was going to win.
"Waited four hours, spent so much money on hot drinks to stay warm.
"Finally, I received my bag, it had a pack of pencils inside, a bath bubble, a moisturiser, a bag of chocolates and gift card.
"When I spoke to the woman I asked her how much was on it and got told it would be between £250 and £500.
"Went to the till and the women said I had won ‘5’ I said 'what, £500?' she goes no '£5'!
"I was so upset not only did I waste my time, I wasted my money on £30 taxi to get down and £12 on hot drinks to stay warm. Feel very let down."
Another shopper added: "In the bag there was a bottle of bubble bath, body lotion, a trolley coin, bag of chocolate, out of date edible cake decorations, packet of pencils, cup cake cases, Minky cleaning pad, and a gift card which we had to take to a till to find out the value, we and everybody around us had a fiver in it.
"It was obvious they had worded the press release in a way to make it look like it was worth queuing for so they had nice pictures.
"I was there for 6am but there were one or two people who had been out all night. I just hope they got one of the decent prizes promised!"
A spokesperson for The Range, which replaced the now defunct Debenhams in a prime position at the Rock said over 400 shoppers queued for the grand opening.
A statement released by the brand following the opening said: "Three excited shoppers who had stayed outside of the store overnight bagged themselves a goody bag with a £100 gift card to spend in store and amazing spot prizes.
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"First through the doors was 49-year-old Claire Chapman who received a Lay-Z Spa hot tub. Ryan Wright, 26, who was second in the queue, received a Kayak and sail, while the third person in the queue, 34-year-old Tracey Kerr, received a stand-up paddle board.
"All of the first 200 shoppers through the doors received a goody bag which contained gift cards ranging from £5-£100 and spot prizes which included love to shop vouchers, drill sets, door mats, art deco bin, electric heater and lots more household goodies.
"The total value of prizes and gift cards given away to the first 200 customers was £2,000."
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