Woolworths Ooshies on Ebay asking $50k – are they for real?

Ambitious Woolworths customers are once again trying their luck at making some quick cash by selling characters from the supermarket’s latest Ooshie collection for exorbitant prices.

Characters that some shoppers believe to be “rare” have begun appearing on online marketplace Ebay from people advertising them for anywhere between $2 and $50,000.

A popular feature on the site has become Glitter Elsa from the Disney movie Frozen, which is one of four Disney glitter Ooshies that Woolworths said would make customers’ collections “extra special”.

The other glitter characters are Woody, The Mandalorian and Captain Marvel, which despite their sparkly exterior, all feature in equal numbers with the rest of the 36 Ooshies.

Following widespread speculation over which, if any, of the characters were released in fewer numbers this year, Woolworths put the rumours to bed.

“The glitter Ooshies aren’t rare. There are equal amounts in circulation along with the 36 Disney+ Ooshies - made just for fun,” an employee wrote in response to several posts on Facebook.

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Still, shoppers seem to have begun trying their luck anyway by advertising the small plastic toys online for thousands of dollars.

Some ads have attracted bids and others even have several people tracking their progress.

It’s unclear if those trying to sell the toys genuinely believe they are in possession of a rare Ooshie, if they are simply hoping to cash in on other people’s naivety, or just having a laugh by asking for an outrageous sum.

A Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the supermarket does not condone the resale of its popular collectables.

“The Disney+ Ooshies are a Disney Collector’s item and we do not encourage resale of these items,” the spokesperson said.

“Last year, we saw massive engagement and demand for the limited edition Lion King Ooshies. We’re hopeful families who take part and collect Ooshies can enjoy them for years to come.”

Collectors were also sent into a spin after a document supposedly containing details on the latest launch made its way onto social media, revealing two characters that Woolworths had not announced.

A furry version of Thor and The Child from Star Wars were pictured on the document, but the retailer has not confirmed if the two products are going to be introduced or not.

Fanatics have come up with their own theories on the products, including that they will be released into circulation soon as the collection’s “ultra rare” characters.

Some were less optimistic and thought it was possible the document had been photoshopped by a third party to stir up some discussion.

The excitement surrounding the latest launch has been plagued by ongoing criticism from people angry at the impact the plastic figures will undoubtedly have on the environment.

Several change.org petitions have been established - one called “Woolworths - put a stop to plastic toy promotions” and another, “Woolworths: Stop Disney Ooshies release”.

To combat such concerns, Woolworths for the first time this year has provided bins inside every store for shoppers to recycle both the toys and the wrappers they come in.

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