Outrageous luxury Advent calendar causes a firestorm

California – A key ring, a paper clip, a few stickers – all for a whopping $825 and "shattered hopes and dreams."

TikToker Elise Harmon treated herself to a Chanel advent calendar, but she's set off an avalanche of customers who believe they've been scammed.
TikToker Elise Harmon treated herself to a Chanel advent calendar, but she's set off an avalanche of customers who believe they've been scammed.  © Collage: Screenshot/TikTok/eliseharmon

For the 100th anniversary of its classic perfume No. 5, Chanel came up with something special to celebrate and ring in the holiday season this year – its first and very own luxury Advent calendar.

Yet, the company got the opposite publicity of what it had hoped for – an absolute storm of backlash.

California TikToker Elise Harmon has now gone viral for a series of videos she began posting on Friday opening the high-priced calendar, which is one of the most expensive among the giant beauty brands.

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Seeking to find out if her big purchase was "worth the hype," she shared the calendar's unboxing with her followers.

Yet, her disappointment is palpable in the clips, and has now spread like wildfire throughout social media and news outlets alike.

"Ok, this has to be a joke. This is a joke!" she complains as she presents the contents behind each numbered door.

She shows off the product's chic packaging, which is shaped like a large Chanel perfume bottle, but soon expresses the belief that the brand has ripped off its customers.

Inside the doors, she finds a plastic bracelet, a small body lotion sample – which looks to only be enough to cover just one hand – and two sets of branded stickers. She continues to find magnets, a flip book, a bookmark, and an item that really set users off – an empty Chanel dustbag pouch.

Although the calendar contained some impressive gifts – two lipsticks and mini perfumes – the majority are small samples that seem as if they're previously recycled and cheaply made.

"When you're buying from a brand like Chanel that is coveted and known for quality and luxury, and you receive something that's like gumball status and free things that they had given away months prior, it's questionable," Harmon explained in a new clip responding to her videos' popularity on Monday.

Internet users are storming Chanel's social media accounts

Elise Harmon's videos panning the Chanel Advent calendar have now been viewed over 50 million times.
Elise Harmon's videos panning the Chanel Advent calendar have now been viewed over 50 million times.  © Collage: Screenshot/TikTok/eliseharmon

Harmon is not the only one disappointed.

The clips have garnered more than 50 million views so far on TikTok and have caused internet supporters to unleash their anger in the comments and on Chanel's Instagram account.

"I would demand a refund, this stuff is worth five dollars max," one user wrote.

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"They're all free samples! Chanel must have wanted to clean out the warehouse!" another user claimed.

Taking the drama one step further, Harmon claimed her TikTok account was blocked by the company.

"So you're just going to ignore the advent calendar scam?" one user wrote on Chanel's IG page.

So far, there has been no response from Chanel about the scandal, only a statement saying they had not blocked anyone.

"The recent claim of a person being blocked by Chanel on TikTok is inaccurate. We have never blocked access to the Chanel TikTok page to anyone," a company spokesperson told People. "Our followers are free to express their feelings and opinions, whether they are enthusiastic or critical."

Well, plenty of followers are making their voices heard loud and clear.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot/TikTok/eliseharmon

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