Customers at Rituals must fork out for a pair when they want a certain product.
Gordon Hickey (42), from Dublin, who shared his experience on TikTok, wanted a gift for his sister-in-law for her 30th birthday when he visited Kildare Village.
“She loves Rituals, so we were driving down the motorway and thought to run in and grab a candle from Rituals,” he said. “The place was packed, I went in, smelled a few different candles and picked up the one I liked.
“The candle was €38. I got to the counter, handed in the candle and the girl said, ‘What else would you like to get?’
“I was like, ‘Oh, no, just the candle’s OK’, and she said, ‘Sorry, we have a minimum of two items’.”
I should have left the shop, but I was in a hurry. They’re very clever
There was a sign in the store informing customers of a “minimum purchase of two items” that added: “All combinations are possible.”
“I said I don’t need anything else. I swear, I thought I was on the hidden-camera show,” Mr Hickey said.
“The girl said, ‘You have to buy something else’. I should have left the shop, but I was in a hurry. They’re very clever – they had loads of stuff on top of the counter for €7 or €12.
“I said, ‘I’ll take one of the shower gels for €7’. I paid and it was only when I left that I thought to myself, ‘What happened there?’.”
Kildare Village
Mr Hickey owns two coffee shops in Dublin and has been working in retail for several years.
“Sometimes, someone’s coming in and spending €1.50 on their card and I’m like, ‘It’s OK’,” he said.
“I don’t have a minimum spend, but I know some shops have a minimum spend of €5 on your card. So that I understand, because the transaction fees are very high. But this wasn’t a cheap item [in Rituals] and I wasn’t buying something for €5.
“Then it got me thinking, imagine people coming into my cafe wanting one coffee and me forcing them to buy a croissant or a cake and refusing the coffee otherwise. My shop would shut down in two days, yet the big corporations seem to be getting away with it.”
After Mr Hickey posted to TikTok on his account, Do Dublin Better, social media users expressed their confusion over the shop’s rule in the comments, describing it as a ridiculous situation.
One TikTok user said: “I was there three weeks ago with my mother. She went in around 1pm and bought €60 worth of goods. Later, she went back to buy a candle and they refused to sell it to her as a single purchase.”
This policy enables Kildare Village to offer its customers a wider assortment and greater value
Another social media user asked: “If you were to immediately return the second item, surely they can’t refuse you?”
In response to an Irish Independent query, Rituals UK & Ireland managing director Annemarie Forsyth said: “Kildare Village requires all customers purchasing certain items from beauty brands, including Rituals, to buy at least two items.
“This policy is clearly stated in store and our team in store informs customers as part of the sale process. This policy enables Kildare Village to offer its customers a wider assortment and greater value.”
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission said: “In general, while traders may place certain restrictions on purchases, the policy must be communicated clearly and in a timely manner in advance of the sale so that the consumer can make an informed decision.
“If consumers have concerns or feel they have been misled, we encourage them to contact our helpline on 01 402 5555 Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, via the contact form at ccpc.ie or by emailing [email protected].”
Kildare Village was asked for comment.
