Smyths Toys is accepting gift cards in its stores again after an IT issue led to chaos and customer complaints.
The toy giant, which has 21 outlets in Ireland, was unable to process gift-card payments in its stores just after Christmas, with many parents complaining that they only discovered this when they were at the till.
Smyths confirmed that a “technical problem” with their IT provider had caused the issue, and apologised to customers for the inconvenience. The problem affected stores in Ireland and the UK on December 27 and 28.
However, the company has announced that it can now accept gift cards in its stores again after the issue was resolved.
“Our gift cards are now redeemable in our stores again today (Friday). We apologise for the inconvenience and upset caused over the last two days,” read a statement on its website.
READ MORE: Staff defend themselves with kitchen utensils in vicious chip-shop brawl
The glitch did not affect gift-card payments online, and customers were able to use them for both click-and-collect purchases and home deliveries.
While many customers vented their frustration with the issue, others expressed sympathy for Smyths workers who were at the front line of the outrage.
Most Read
“Absolutely crazy – people queuing up and having to put stuff back, put signs up in the windows of the shop that the Smyths vouchers cannot be accepted,” one person wrote on social media.
“I hope the young folk working in Smyths can forget about the angry parents at clocking off time and enjoy what little bit of the festive season left to themselves,” wrote another.
One parent said they had been left with “two distraught kids” on their hands as a result of the IT issue, while another claimed it was “very convenient” that only cash could be accepted.
A customer reported that one Smyths store had been “full of angry parents and upset kids”, with another describing the post-Christmas debacle as “absolutely shocking”.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.