Ireland’s Christmas shoppers warned by Smyths Toys on packaging

Mohan Sinha
03 Dec 2025, 15:10 GMT+10

Christmas shoppers, including parents, flooded shops across Ireland over the weekend, taking advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday discount sales to grab the best deals
However, Smyths Toys put a damper on the excitement by issuing a warning on its website for parents buying presents this year
The popular retailer has a click-and-collect service; however, it could spell disaster for parents using it with children in tow

DUBLIN, Ireland: Christmas shoppers, including parents, flooded shops across Ireland over the weekend, taking advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday discount sales to grab the best deals.

However, Smyths Toys put a damper on the excitement by issuing a warning on its website for parents buying presents this year.

The popular retailer has a click-and-collect service; however, it could spell disaster for parents using it with children in tow.

Since their Christmas packages are placed in clear plastic bags, children can see what their parents have ordered, ruining any Christmas morning surprises.

A notice on the Smyths Toys website says, "Please note your Click & Collect items will be in clear packaging with contents visible."

Smyths Toys has extended its store opening hours in the lead up to Christmas, with many locations staying open until 10 p.m. until Friday.

Another present-ruining problem for parents is that Amazon Alexa, when announcing parcel deliveries, will tell anyone who asks exactly what is inside the package.

However, this issue can be avoided by setting Alexa to be more discreet.

To change the settings on your Alexa and stop any festive surprises from being ruined, shoppers must open Alexa on their phones, tap settings, choose notifications, select Amazon shopping, and uncheck the box titled "for items in delivery updates," under the section "let Alexa say or show titles for your items you've ordered."

Parents have also been warned to keep an eye out for deliveries, as some may not come in discreet packaging.