A man has faced significant backlash after purchasing all of the limited-edition Toy Story popcorn buckets from two Cineworld cinemas, intending to resell them for a higher profit. The incident, which occurred on June 19, saw Alex Ursell acquire the Buzz Lightyear-themed buckets from cinemas in Leeds and Wakefield.
In videos shared on social media channels for Resellers Paradise, Mr. Ursell explained his intention to buy the buckets for £40 each and resell them for approximately £80, a practice known as scalping. These collectible buckets, modeled after Buzz Lightyear's spacesuit, are listed on platforms like eBay for as much as £150.
At the Cineworld in Wakefield, Mr. Ursell asked an employee about purchase limits and was informed there were none. He proceeded to buy all available buckets, including those on display, filling large bags with the merchandise. Footage showed two children in the queue behind him with disappointed expressions. He reportedly joked about making £400 in profit after giving the popcorn away to a homeless man after his purchases in Leeds.
The reseller's actions have ignited widespread criticism online. Many social media users expressed anger, with one user on X stating, "These videos are absolutely diabolical and disgusting so many people who genuinely wanted one missed out because you just let resellers clear the shelf." Another commented, "Honestly quite despicable. My sister wanted one of them and she couldn’t get one because they’re all sold out." Some users called for cinemas to implement purchase limits for such popular merchandise.
Cineworld has responded to the situation, stating that the Buzz Lightyear popcorn buckets are now sold out. A spokesperson for the cinema chain said, "Our Buzz Lightyear popcorn buckets have officially gone to infinity and beyond and are now sold out." They added that other Toy Story merchandise, including drink cups and character toppers, are still available, along with upcoming collectible ranges for other franchises.
Mr. Ursell is associated with Resellers Paradise, a group that claims to be the UK's largest reselling community, with thousands of members reportedly having made over £1.5 million from reselling. His biography on the group's website states he has earned over £2 million in a single year through reselling various items, including shoes and Pokémon cards.