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AIBU?

to want to be able to buy school uniform in September?

39 replies

MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 14/09/2016 14:18

Fucking M&S
Fucking John Lewis

DD started secondary and we bought the full uniform including the 2 x boiling hot wool skirts that are specific to her school. On arrival at school she discovers that actually most people are in navy box pleat skirts and has been advised that she is allowed a quality skirt as long as it meets requirements:

Box pleat
Stitch Down
Knee Length
Navy

We were told the skirts from either M&S or John Lewis are acceptable.

I have logged on to both websites every day for two weeks and the only sizes they have in stock in the warehouse are 3-4 or 15-16 - pretty much nothing in between.

As an aside, DS has had a growth spurt and could do with 2 x grey shorts (cargo style) in an age 10-11. Nope, none of those either.

I have tried Banner/Trutex etc but they don't do a skirt that matches that exact spec and neither do Debenhams. Supermarket/Matalan just isn't going to cut it unfortunately - not that they have any stock either.

Yes yes yes, I know you're supposed to buy it all in August - we did - but things change, people grow, tweaks needed, heaven forbid children sometimes even move school in OTHER MONTHS.

It's fucking ridiculous and I am cross.

So, AIBU and any other suggestions for where I can look?

Thanks
and Phew.

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TeenAndTween · 14/09/2016 14:25

YA N BU Smile

You'll be wanting to buy winter coats in December next!

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Kpo58 · 14/09/2016 14:27

YANBU.

In this boiling weather, the baby section is full of snowsuits and thick fleece leggings. How am I meant to know what size DD is going to be when it actually thinks about getting cold?

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NoMoreGrimble · 14/09/2016 14:28

Nope, YANBU, I too am looking for school uniform with no luck.

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MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 14/09/2016 14:40

Have just emailed M&S and JL to ask when they are getting more uniform and advise them how ridiculous it is that I can't get uniform 2 days into starting a new school year, but I am able to choose from a wide range of fucking Christmas trees. Hmm

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Cloudspider · 14/09/2016 14:50

Plimsolls. No size 12 plimsolls in the land but I could get a lovely Halloween costume or a pack of 12 glittery baubles.

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kierenthecommunity · 14/09/2016 14:51

I hear you! My boy has just started reception and I got trousers and a couple of pairs of shorts thinking he'd only be wearing them a couple of weeks.

He's really taken to wearing shorts, they're a little bit easier for him to dress in and I have got some long socks for when it gets chillier. So thought it'd be worth buying a few more pairs.

But none of the shops are stocking them now even though they have summer dresses. Sooooooo annoying as I should have bought more at the time but who knew? Confused

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user12785 · 14/09/2016 14:57

I also need size 10-11 grey shorts due to DS's summer growth spurt, and they have disappeared off the face of the earth. I have had to buy a "brand new with tags" Next pair off eBay, which cost more than they were in Next! And having to wash and dry them overnight! It is ridiculous. One winter DD ripped every single pair of grey tights we had in a fortnight. It was snowing. We could not get any grey tights ANYWHERE! Even with friends on look out in different parts of the UK.

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MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 14/09/2016 17:29

It's mad isn't it?

If one shop arranged to have a fresh stock of JL/M&S quality uniform shipped in on the 1st September, they'd clean up. I can't understand why M&S with all the years of experience and all that warehouse space, don't stock uniform basics in all sizes, all year round.

Instead, they announce a range of Winter Clothes loosely based in Catwalk designs, but just missing the mark, and wonder why their sales are flagging. Confused

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TENDTOprocrastinate · 14/09/2016 17:35

Yanbu.
I only bought the winter uniform for my reception dd. But of course now it's boiling hot and there aren't any summer dresses to buy anywhere.
My local tesco had a whole back to school isle that disappeared on the 1st day back to be replaced by a Christmas isle! They surely could have waited a few weeks (months!)

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AndNowItsSeven · 14/09/2016 17:37

eBay has lots of brand new John Lewis and m and s last seasons stock.

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MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 14/09/2016 17:50

Have looked on eBay. Nothing in age 12 in the right style. Not even 'Used'.

But thank you.

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AndNowItsSeven · 14/09/2016 18:04

Ahh that's a shame, I bought my dd's on eBay " single inverted pleat" and saved loads.

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GoblinLittleOwl · 14/09/2016 18:49

I had this experience many years ago, and the assistant in M & S said very politely, 'but we are not a school outfitter's, madam.'
They are the only places which will have anything suitable, at twice the price.

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LittleLionMansMummy · 14/09/2016 18:50

We were on holiday for the last two weeks of August, returned to find no school uniform available in my local (enormous) Tesco. Luckily Tesco Direct obliged - ordered one day, delivered to my local store the next (click and collect). Tesco and other supermarkets are usually fine for primary aged children but seems that senior schools have higher standards!

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Hygellig · 14/09/2016 19:02

Yanbu - it's a bit like when I tried to buy a bucket and spade in August and was told it was out of season. I saw advent calendars in Thornton's last week.

I tried to get DD some more school summer dresses in two shops today, but they had none in her size.

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imnottoofussed · 14/09/2016 19:05

YANBU DD has a new school skirt which is of wearing a skirt it's compulsory, she hates it, she got to school to find nearly everyone wearing trousers. They are out of stock at M&S. After traipsing round every single shop in Manchester we eventually got a pair in Newlook but they need taking up at the ankle Confused

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MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 14/09/2016 21:50

Secondary school DD has started definitely has higher standards than her primary. The odd Sainsbury/F&F polo shirt was fine for primary, but new school is very specific.

Having looked at: M&S, JL, Debenhams, Trurex, Banner, David Luke, Next, Amazon, EBay and a few random online uniform suppliers, it seems that a navy, knee length, box pleated skirt, is literally too much to ask.

But I can order flashing bunny ears with built in headphones and ear warmers for next day delivery.

FFS

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LittleMissChangeMyName · 14/09/2016 21:58

YANBU!! Reminds me of when I wanted to buy a swim suit for my DD at our local Next in July(!) just before going on holiday only to be told that season's over.

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KindergartenKop · 14/09/2016 22:01

I found shorts on Amazon.

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ALemonyPea · 14/09/2016 22:05

I get my DC uniform from here and unsure if sizes, but they might do the skirt?

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KathyBeale · 14/09/2016 22:09

This is one of my biggest bugbears. No Easter Eggs available in Morrison's on Easter weekend, I couldn't get mincemeat the week before Christmas last year, there's no school uniform in September, I once tried to buy boots in February when it was snowing and could only get flipflops... I could go on. Surely shops must lose a lot of money by doing this?

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booellesmum · 14/09/2016 22:09

Not sure but they might have them at Gogna schoolwear - you can order online.

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Alanna1 · 14/09/2016 22:11

Have you tried the specialist school suppliers? Think school trends is one but there are others.

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JakeBallardswife · 14/09/2016 22:19
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cexuwaleozbu · 14/09/2016 22:21

What size is your DD OP? Because John Lewis website seems to claim to have in stock a variety of sizes of these box pleat navy skirts

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