Boots customers forced into 40 minute online queue to access website as Boxing Day bargain hunters start splashing cash ahead of sales
SAVVY online shoppers seeking the best deals ahead of tomorrow's Boxing Day sales have already caused Boots UK's website to crash.
The pharmaceutical and beauty retailer is forcing its online customers into a 40-minute queue to enter the site.
Attempting to access the page displays a bright red live countdown, starting from 40 minutes, showing the exact seconds left before you can get through.
Alongside the countdown is the message: "You're just minutes away! Sorry, lots of people are shopping with us right now but don't worry, you're in a queue to enter our site."
Confused bargain hunters took to social media to complain of waits of up to an hour, as the countdown reportedly restarted itself once reaching zero.
Writing on Twitter, Paul Wadsworth said: ";Never seen a queue to get on a website before.... is this real?"
Some joked that they would expect people to have better things to do on Christmas Day, with one writing: "just wanted to go on the boots website to look at some nail polish colours and i’ve been put in a queue that’s 40 minutes long wtf why is everyone shopping at 8:30 on christmas night".
Others mused that they thought online shopping was supposed to eliminate queuing, and called on Boots to fix the issue.
Tweeter Laurence Molloy wrote: "So... my other half says that she has to queue for 40 mins to get into the Boots website.
"Am I nuts to think that online shopping was supposed to banish queues? What is behind this madness?"
Even those who had successfully waited it out to access the site were left disappointed, with reports that all stock is either listed as "sold out", or "coming soon".
A Boots spokesperson said: "As the leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, we offer great deals on thousands of products, and our Christmas sale is always eagerly anticipated by our customers.
"Due to a technical issue with the sale we are intermittently closing the site for short periods of time while we resolve this.
"We’re sorry for any inconvenience this is causing our customers, and our stores will be open tomorrow with the same great deals.”
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It comes as Brits were predicted to splash £1billion on Christmas Day for the first time ever.
Of the record-breaking figure, £895million is expected to be spent online, up 11 per cent on last year. according to a study by VoucherCodes.
One in five adults will avoid festivities by filling up their online baskets, with mobile phones used to spend £2 of every £3 on the day.
Many will be looking to get a head start on Boxing Day bargains, when the heavily discounted goods are expected to draw in £1million a minute.
