Neds yoyo thingy.

[user789653241]

Is it a scam?
At school drop off, one parent asked me if I given ds money for £11 yoyo.
I didn't know anything about it, since my ds isn't a sort interested in things like yoyo.
Apparently the show came to school, and they are selling yoyo for £11.

I had vague memory reading about this in the past, so searched the past post and found lots of angry post.

I can only see the caos, crying children who's parents don't buy them, lost, stolen,broken expensive yoyos, etc.
Why does school do this? Should I tell this parent about it?(she is a good friend.)

[exexpat]

One of my DCs bought the yoyo. Used it about twice, string got all tangled, languished in a drawer for years until it got chucked. It's a complete waste of money and I really don't know why schools let them in to do those assemblies.

[exexpat]

www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jul/20/schools-premium-yoyo-ned-show-parents

Not exactly a scam, but definitely dodgy marketing tactic.

[user789653241]

Thank you exexpat.
From what she said to me, she thinks this is some sort of charity. And she mentioned the yoyo was a prize. (from what her dc must have said to her about it, since we didn't receive/haven't received any info regarding this yet.)
Last year it was young writers, and again with this this year, I really start to doubt ds's school...

[exexpat]

Oh, it is very definitely not a charity, and the schools don't get anything out of it apart from the 'inspirational' assembly, as far as I can tell.

I can't stand those young writers things either - I refused to buy the book with DD's 'winning' poem, which was virtually identical to every other 'winning' poem written by every other child in her class, printed alongside it.

I understand that schools are always looking for enrichment activities and outside involvement, but things like this, which put pressure on parents to stump up quite large amounts of cash, are really not the solution.

[user789653241]

Yes, I can understand school is just trying their best for children.
But it is a big school. I just wonder why non of stuff never came across these and question it.
Last year I returned the unfinished writing paper(it was a home work!)
with link on young writers.
If my ds brought some info leaflet home, I might do it again with your gurdian link. (I'm sure I'm "that parent"!)

[BathshebaDarkstone]

Well it just wouldn't happen in this house. £11 for a yoyo? Fuck off! I can buy meals for nearly 4 days for that.

[user789653241]

I was too quick to assume my ds wasn't interested!
At school pick up, there were loads of children playing with yoyo.
My ds said he wanted one too. I explained to him that I won't be paying £11 for something that maybe played for a week and forgotten.
I am really tempted to write a note to teacher with a link.

[exexpat]

If you think the craze at school will last beyond the weekend, you could get him a flashy one for a couple of quid on Amazon (or probably at your nearest toyshop) www.amazon.co.uk/HOT-SHOT-YO-LIGHT-TIME4TOYS/dp/B0018D97R0/ref=sr_1_7?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1466609086&sr=1-7&keywords=yoyo&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

But yes, I think a note to the teacher querying their decision to invite a commercial concern into school and subject the parents to pester power would also be a good idea.

[user789653241]

Thanks again, exexpat
So you don't think (or other Mnetters who read this thread) it's not OTT to mention my concern to school? It may not be a scam, but I really don't like what they are doing. And I am really unhappy about the comment the vice president of this company made on exexpat 's link, that he feels sorry for children growing up with parents with negative attitude.

[christinarossetti]

My children's school had a NED show performance last week. They've done a very, very soft sell on the yo-yos - mention in the weekly newsletter that there's no expectation that children will buy yo-yos and a separate letter saying the same.

You have to go to the office to buy them as far as I can tell. A couple from my children's classes seem to have bought them, but otherwise NED has had pretty slim pickings at our school.

[DullUserName]

[Teachere here]
The school gets the NED roadshow for free if they agree to sell the merchandise, otherwise it's hundreds of pounds. The underlying NED message is good, so schools go with it. The yoyos themselves are overpriced shite and the fad is over in 2 weeks.

[storynanny]

Another teacher here
Agree that underlying message is good
N ever give up
E ncourage others
D o your best
I dont recall the yoyos being £11 though. We had the ned show about 6 years ago and they were about £3
Big increase in 6 years £11 is ridiculous.

[exexpat]

DullUserName - I can't imagine any school actually paying hundreds of pounds for an assembly, though, can you? I presume that is just the inflated 'list price' so that schools think they are getting a good deal by allowing the yoyo sales and getting the assembly 'free'.

It is all standard marketing tactics, a bit like double glazing salesmen who quote ridiculous standard prices and then say you can get 50% off if you sign today, and go down to 75% off if you seem reluctant and they call their manager for a 'special discount'...

[InionEile]

A NED roadshow selling NED yo-yos? Can't see them doing much business in Scotland...

[cingolimama]

It's a clever marketing scam, dressed up as some kind of "positive message" show. Very American. And it's really not on, at a state school, to push selling £11 yo-yo's. Please complain.

[user789653241]

I tried to write a note to teacher, with a link. But when I tried typing in the url to test if the link works, it keeps going to somewhere else. So, I decided to let it go. I can email school with a link, but thought it maybe OTT.
If you are a teacher and your school is thinking about inviting NED, please say something. The show maybe great, but the trouble it may cause at home and school doesn't worth it. There are better ways to motivate children.

[user789653241]

I actually saw one of my ds's friend arguing with his Mum this morning. He wanted to buy a yoyo, but his younger brother wanted one as well. And Mum wasn't willing to pay £11 x 2 for yoyo. This is so wrong.

[exexpat]

You don't need to include a link - just a short, polite note explaining the pressure you feel you and other parents have been put under (maybe describing the scene this morning) and suggesting that the school thinks twice about this kind of scheme in the future? If no one says anything, they will think it was all great and will probably do it again.

[user789653241]

Thank you, exexpat.
Yes, that is so true. I will write to his teacher. Even one parent's questioning may make the school think twice before doing it again.(I hope.)

[Yokohamajojo]

We had it a couple of years ago and there was some moaning from my children but no they didn't get a yoyo!

[whiteDragon]

Mine had this few years ago - mine got yo-yo off amazon - for a few pounds.

School didn't have them back and I think they had a few complaints.

[user789653241]

I did write a note today. Now I'm sure I'm marked as a "that" parent.
I did witnessed another crying children today. I am bit scared, but I feel I've done the right thing.

[jamdonut]

We had this at our school a few years back.
Personally,I wouldn't bother...way too expensive and actually not that good.

[ParadiseCity]

They've been to our school. Kids loved the show. I sniggered at NEDs. DD wanted a yo yo, she bought a £5 one with her own money. I did google them and told her about parents complaining about pester power etc, but she decided to get one anyway. She is in juniors... if you can't spend your pocket money on the latest craze of tat at that age when can you? I still have the t shirt I bought at her age from Streets Ahead which my dad said was a load of tat and I bought with My Own Money.