Disgusted TikTokers have criticized Primark’s most recent price increases, believing that the once-most inexpensive store in Britain’s towns is now just like “any other” on the high street.
The international fast fashion retailer said in April that it would have “no choice” but to increase its pricing for a portion of this season’s collection owing to inflation.
However, some TikTokers who depended on the company for “cheap” apparel fear that Primark has “missed the point” by going too far with its price rises – and risks losing its image for being inexpensive.
Families are now dealing with skyrocketing gasoline, electricity, and food costs, and basic products like clothing and household goods are becoming more expensive due to inflation.
Customers complained that the merchant was changing prices “sneakily” by copying the previous pricing and tacking a new price on the bottom of the tag, which led to fury in September.
Others said that certain things were sold without any price tags, leaving customers to figure out the amount at the register.
Lilly Whitfield, a twenty-one-year-old Lincoln resident and Master’s student, published a video on TikTok in which she describes her shock at being paid £44 for two pairs of polyester pants.
I’m sorry, but since when did Primark become so expensive? Ms. Whitfield, who goes by the TikTok account @lileviex, held up the goods in the video that has more than a million views.
“When I enter, I notice these pants…”
I just grab the black and the beige without giving it a second thought.
Please explain to me why he says £44 at the cashier when I arrive. Two pairs of pants from Primark cost £44.
“I’m quite sure they would have cost about £5 apiece in 2015,” you say. This guy with the cost-of-living issue is just gone too far.
Ms. Whitfield told MailOnline that Primark is well-known for having affordable clothing and other items in the UK. Because they had such a well-established reputation for being reasonably priced and because they earned so much money, I do think they fell short.
They run the danger of becoming lost and blending in with the other stores, I’m sure of it.
“I was stunned.” It’s absurd to pay $22 for a single pair of pants made entirely of polyester. Simply said, there is no need for it to be that pricey.
“When I was younger, I used to walk into Primark and buy my Christmas shopping.” For less than £50, I could enter and go with a few bags.
“I returned the pants I purchased only to walk in and realize that they’ve raised the prices so much—yet the quality doesn’t appear to truly match the price rise either.”
The fashionista’s TikTok account now has more than 32,000 followers. Ms. Whitfield said, “I am very much conscious of the cost-of-living that’s going on – you see it everywhere.”
But it’s really rather alarming to see how much Primark’s prices have increased.
“Look at Topshop’s new location—they were acquired by ASOS, which is pretty depressing.”
Another irate TikToker with the user handle @holymorridge shared a video on social media expressing her displeasure at the increased cost of a three-pack of thongs from Primark.
She said on the 1.6 million-view video, “I’m shaking and in a panic.” Just searching for my thongs at Primark.
The price of a three-pack has increased to £4. I’m f****** not believing it.
I am aware of the cost-of-living problem, but I am now experiencing a crisis in the thong department. It’s taken me by surprise.
Responses to the video demonstrate that other customers are also displeased with the fast fashion retailer’s escalating costs. “Primark needs to REMEMBER who they are,” one person said.
One person said, “I work there, and I’ll tell you right now, I am startled when I’m scanning items and seeing how much it has gone up compared to a few months ago.”
The caption for another recent video by @sumaiyahazam showcasing new arrivals at Primark reads, “Upped their game but also their pricing.”
@erinvlogz, a different TikTok user, shared a video of some recent purchases she made at the shop with the comment “PRIMARK STOOP THE PRICE RISE!”
“Two pairs of these cargos, each with 20 buffs!” She said, “I remember when that s*** cost a fiver.
While this is going on, comments on a TikTok video highlighting new holiday merchandise at the retailer reveal that Primark customers are upset about the price of a Christmas vest top that costs $25.
That realization that you can’t even afford Primark anymore, as one commenter put it.
What happened to Primark tops, a different person asked? I can still see them for £2.50.
A TikTok mother posted on the social media platform that she was unable to “cope” with current Primark costs.
Can we just speak about how expensive Primark is becoming, please? she said in the video.
Since when has Primark become so pricey? I’m going to need Primark to lower their pricing a little bit since I can’t even handle. I know that the cost of living has increased significantly recently.
The staff at Primark has also expressed displeasure about the retailer’s most recent pricing rises, claiming they had seen large increases in the shop.
Erin Rymes, a 19-year-old former Primark employee, told MailOnline that the price of women’s leggings increased from £2.50 to, I believe, £4.50 and that the price of socks increased from £2.50 to £3.50.
“Some shoes were over £20, and the most expensive coat I saw was over £50!” Which is absurd for Primark; it should cost £30, not £50!
“It’s clearly discernible!” There’s a little crystal top on sale for £25 that I seen on TikToks throughout the previous several days of new arrivals!
It probably would have cost £10 or £15 a few years ago. It is absurd. The cost of living is insane, and everything else is rising, however.
‘We had to tear off the old price tags and re-label the new price on with a white sticker,’ Ms. Rymes added in reference to the claims of’sneaky’ price hikes, which were made against Primark for allegedly seeking to increase costs without customers noticing.
‘Some goods were left with no price at all if we didn’t know the new price or if there wasn’t enough personnel to handle repricing.
I didn’t personally encounter any irate clients. However, other from that, I don’t believe it was deceptive, despite what some people could have said.
TikTok user @lisa nellie dottie, who goes by the handle @lisa nellie dottie, expressed her worry about how she chose two products from Primark but was paid more than the label when she reached the cashier.
She stated in the video, which has more than 2.4 million views, “We just went to Primark and I picked up a pair of black leather-look shorts for $10 and some pajamas for $12.” It totaled £12 for the shorts and £13 for the pajamas at the register.
If you notice that everything at Primark has had its little tags torn off, that is because the majority of the goods have increased by roughly £2.
Therefore, verify the pricing when you arrive to the register since, in essence, you’re paying more than you ought to.
‘We are devoted to giving the absolute best value on the high street, something we know is more essential to our consumers than ever,’ a Primark spokeswoman told MailOnline.
“We indicated in April that we would be forced to raise prices across a number of this season’s categories owing to cost hikes.
The new price tags may have drawn the attention of customers. This is because when the decision was made, some of our new goods had already left the factories of our suppliers, therefore they were updated in-store.
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