The Margin: Sorry, $2,500 tickets to visit Santa at famed London department store are sold out

This post was originally published on this site

As Ebenezer Scrooge said in “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in 1843: “Bah humbug”.

Harrods, on Brompton Road in London’s posh Knightsbridge district since 1849, has been the subject of some curmudgeonly displeasure for several days now. That is, since the U.K. media got wind of the fact that not just anyone can visit Santa at its luxury Christmas grotto this year. Nope, it’s by invitation only and with a minimum store spend of 2,000 pounds, or $2,567.07.

Cue the outrage:

The Grotto has been operating by invitation-only for the last two years. Due to high demand, this year entry has been limited to a certain clientele based on what they spend – categorized as Green 2 Tier 1 and above in its loyalty scheme.

The Harrods rewards program has four tiers of spending: Green 1 Tier (up to £1,999), Green 2 Tier (£2,000 to £4,999), and Gold Tier (£5,000 to £9,999). Harrods has had the information posted on its website since August. Note, there’s a 20 pound per-child fee on top of that minimum spend as well.

Harrods did give away 160 free spots to its Grotto via an in-store lottery. Like the paying families, the winners get 10 minutes with Father Christmas, plus an “exclusive gift.”

“Each year, we are overwhelmed by requests for this special experience, which we make every effort to facilitate,” a Harrods spokeswoman said in an email. “Unfortunately, we simply cannot meet the demand for places.”

The Grotto got its start in 1955 and was first-come, first serve for sometime. And if you’re wondering whether the wealthy even need Santa Claus, wonder no more because the Grotto is now sold out for its Nov. 15 to Dec. 24 run.

Harrods is owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, the state’s sovereign-wealth fund, which bought it in 2010 from previous owner Mohamed Al-Fayed. Tourists typically make a beeline to the seven-story, palatial department store with its art nouveau windows, and one of the world’s first moving staircases, built back in 1898. They also sell just about everything one can possibly dream up.

It’s not like other Santa visits don’t cost parents. London’s famed Hamleys Toy Shop charges 39 pounds per child, but those spots have also sold out, according to its website. Back in the U.S., Macy’s M, +0.06%  Santaland will cost you nothing, but you have to reserve online, and professional photo pictures of your kids start at $21.99.

Or you could save yourself all this trouble, and visit one of the most famous American grottos of all, via the 1983 comedy movie “A Christmas Story,” which has become a seasonal classic on U.S. television, complete with screaming kids and a menacing Santa:

Add Comment