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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to stop the fair committee buying all the best stuff before the thing has even started?

76 replies

holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:01

that's it really
it has been suggested that I help with the next school fair
TBH I was so traumatised by the last one I'm not sure I can

but please tell me what is usual?

are the committee allowed to help themselves beforehand (paying obviously) if so where does it stop?
1 thing each
£10 each
food? drink?
please tell me what's usual

OP posts:
Coca · 01/10/2011 11:04

It's not like they are stealing it. If they are the ones that can actually be bothered to organise it and volunteer why shouldn't they?

AKMD · 01/10/2011 11:04

Usually the committee members are grown up enough to restrain themselves from buying the entire cake stand and all the wii games. If your committee members are taking the mick, a 'no food' rule and a limit on pre-opening spends and 'putting aside' would make sense.

GypsyMoth · 01/10/2011 11:05

Well it's not right is it?

GypsyMoth · 01/10/2011 11:06

And if people have donated stuff ( think of THAT thread) then they want to see it on show!!

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 01/10/2011 11:07

It's tricky as they are giving up their time for free and so I guess first dibs must be a perk. It's just like this at our huge NCT sale. I always volunteer as I know most of the decent stuff will be gone before the doors even open to the public. But I give up my whole day to do it, and it's a lot of hard work.

Coca · 01/10/2011 11:08

Yes but it could sell in the first few minutes anyway and they wouldn't see their donation. At dd2's school the teachers buy up the nicest looking cakes for the staff room so it's taken as quite the compliment if you can't spot your donation Grin

Hassled · 01/10/2011 11:09

I've read about this before on MN but as someone who's spent many many sad years on assorted PTAs, I've never actually seen it in RL. The only time is maybe cake stalls, where we buy a couple of quids' worth before doors open on the basis that we'll be serving until they've all run out and won't get a chance otherwise, which is fair enough. But never big stuff. It's not usual, it's not acceptable.

Original poster
holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:10

umm

I was horrified at first
but then i thought well if they get £10 for it does it matter who spent the £10?

OP posts:
pippilongsmurfing · 01/10/2011 11:10

ILoveTIFFANY I was thinking of THAT thread too!

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 01/10/2011 11:11

That was totally different though, surely. That woman didn;t pay for the computer, she just nicked it. Which is clearly wrong.

NameGotLostInCyberspace · 01/10/2011 11:11

I know why I don't buy stuff at these things - all the good stuff is gone before you get there leaving only the shit!

sunnydelight · 01/10/2011 11:13

That's why I gave up going to NCT sales, by the time the organizers and their friends had been through there was only crap left.

Original poster
holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:18

however don't we give up our time for the love of it IYSWIM

I struggled with it because of 3 particular things however

1 of the choice items was a large box of playmobil this really stood out as being a great buy this was the first thing to go

there was a random person in the playground (not actually helping it turned out although the 3 preschoolers she had with her should have been a clue!) this person bought by far and away the best cake on the cake stall it was a real showpiece and again really stood out, again gone 12 hours before anyone else was through the door they also paid for a large little tikes toy (which for all intent and purposes seemed to have been mispriced!)

overnight the toys had been repriced with most things going up by upto 100%, again once the helpers had done their thing

i should say that with 1 exception it was helpers buying the stuff the key organisers were too busy!!!

OP posts:
LydiaWickham · 01/10/2011 11:19

yep - it's why I've not bothered going to the NCT sale today - it'll be crap left by the time everyone get's in. But then, while they'd get the same £10 for the thing regardless of who buys it, I'd have paid to get in and probably also bought a cake and a cup of coffee.

If I thought they had a new rule that they could only put aside 3-4 items, or only up to a certain value, then I'd be more inclined to go to them. So YANBU.

Original poster
holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:20

can anyone tell me about that thread please

admittedly I went to one NCT sale then I overhard the helper pulling someone aside saying come round here we put all the good stuff here earlier and I know you wanted a double buggy

OP posts:
Original poster
holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:23

agree hassled if it's the helpers buying a cupcake then who cares if it's some random person hanging around for the stuff (not even helping) then I was Shock and the trouble is if you let someone get something then how can say to others she can have the cupcake but you can't have the flower encrusted 3 tiered one
i can have the fisher price but you can't have the playmobil

OP posts:
AurraSing · 01/10/2011 11:30

It can look really dodgy when whoeverpriced the item then go on to buy it. There was a who-har at our school fair when a tub of Lego was sold to a helper for £3, when it could easily have raised more than that.

AKMD · 01/10/2011 11:30

The story was that the OP had donated an XBox to the school to be the main raffle prize but the PTA chair walked off with it before the event started because her son 'just had to have it'. No idea if she had given a 'donation' at all. PTA chair, when challenged, then said she took it home for safekeeping. Basically, she nicked it and the police got involved so the thread was deleted.

Original poster
holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:33

wow AKMD
that puts our stuff kind of in the shade

(wonders what was there before I arrived that suddenly wasn't!! Grin)

I was idally wondering about putting some of the stuff on ebay (would have fetched a lot more but decided it was not in the spirit of it!)

OP posts:
ReshapeWhileDave · 01/10/2011 11:40

I volunteer at NCT sales partly because we get first dibs. (And partly because I support the charity and do other things for it, too.) It's a perk of putting in a good 5 hours' work that starts at about 8.30, and raises a great deal of money. If you don't like it, perhaps you also should volunteer at an NCT sale, LydiaWickham? Smile

FWIW, I am totally unaware of any NCT bods round here who hoard or hide stuff, for themselves or others. You help lay it all out and obviously you know where the stuff you want is, if you placed it on the table, but there are several dozen other people also laying things out, so I reckon it'd be impossible to 'hide' things that you'd nab later on.

Judging by the enthusiasm with which the crowds surge through at 10.30, I think there's still plenty of good stuff left for the punters! And if you have NCT membership, you get in 15 minutes early. IME, that's why a lot of people round here keep their membership up.

ReshapeWhileDave · 01/10/2011 11:42

Sorry, didn't read enough of the OP's posts. Blush OP, not unreasonable if that's what is happening - that the helpers are helping themselves at nominal prices and then repricing the lot. Shock

gorionine · 01/10/2011 11:48

And if people have donated stuff ( think of THAT thread) then they want to see it on show!!

I desagree, when I give something my main aim is to declutter my house and /or help raising funds for school. I could not care less if it has been bought just before the fair by someone from the committee or by someone else during the ctual fair so long as it is paid for and the money goes to school.

I do not get the repricing things though, why are they doing it?

Original poster
holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:49

sorry reshape but that was what I heard (can't remember the exact words it was a while ago now....)

just wondering whether NCT is slightly different don't the sellers get to keep some of the money?

this was all for the school

I was a bit Sad for one of my dds she had spotted some dolly for £2.50 which was then repriced to £7!!

the playmobil went for £3 and would have easily fetched £10! and been the cause of much begging and pleading

OP posts:
Original poster
holidaysoon · 01/10/2011 11:52

sorry gorionine I assumed because someone came in and siad that's worth at least £x

however after this thread I do wonder how many Mothers don't know how much playmobil is worth if they want it that much

gorionine do you think helpers buying up the best stuff is rife where you are?

OP posts:
gorionine · 01/10/2011 12:08

holidaysoon why are you saying "sorry"? you are too nice!Grin

gorionine do you think helpers buying up the best stuff is rife where you are?

Actually where I am I know it is not. I am there to help setting up for most of the fairs and the only time someone bought something pre-fair, it was an item that they had been looking for for a long time and they paid a very reasonable (as in fair not bargain) price for it. I have actually never seen anyone buying the cakes before the fair started . Cannot speak for other places though.

WRT the change of pricing, I (and it seems all the other in the school where I help) seem to find more important to sell a lot at a low price than just a couple or very desirable items at a high price. We are trying to get people to come and make the school a real community place as much as we try to raise money IYSWIM.

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