Should I replace child's designer coat?

[happyrain]

DS punctured a hole in the arm of a classmate's coat while playing with a stick during breaktime this week. The children play in a wooded area so stick play is not unusual there, although I have of course had stern words with DS about stick games and being careful and so on.

Parents of coat-child naturally aren't happy. I have offered to have the hole professionally repaired but no, they want us to replace the coat. I'm guessing the coat is some sort of designer one as they want the best part of £200 from us.

Whilst I completely accept my DS's responsibility for the damage I am not sure that £200 for a small puncture hole is entirely reasonable.

Any thoughts?

No way would I pay. A coat worn in a wood can be snagged on brambles etc so how can they prove it was your son and also if the child was playing he was also responsible.

Were they not supervised at school?

Stick play is not on the curriculum !

Comments like this genuinely depress me. Free play is an essential part of a child's development and happiness

I totally agree with you ilikeslippers I did think "ffs" and eye rolled when I saw that comment.

For me the cost of the coat is daft but not actually the point. You should pay either the cost of a repair or for a new cost whichever is cheaper. And only really if the functionality of the coat had been affected.

I'd be fed up if my child's cost for ripped - we had a time of hoods being pulled which ripped coats - but if my child was as much involved I wouldn't expect anyone to replace it. Didn't you say they both had sticks?

By the time they get back to wearing coats the kid may have grown out of it. I'm not sure I'd have even offered a repair tbh.

Someone should tell them that you can buy school coats in Asda for 20 quid 😂😂

Yanbu op what utter dickheads, teacher sounds awesome though

I'd be fed up if my child's cost for ripped - we had a time of hoods being pulled which ripped coats - but if my child was as much involved I wouldn't expect anyone to replace it. Didn't you say they both had sticks?

If it was someone struggling I would give them the 20/30 quid for a sensible replacement. But if you send your child into school in a coat that cost ££££ its your problem sorry

Not a chance in hell would I offer to pay for that

It wouldn't even occur to me to offer a repair or replacement in the circumstances... because I wouldn't dream of asking for one if it was the other way round!!

I buy almost all DS' clothes 2nd hand for this exact reason. I want him to be able to play freely like a child without me fretting about him ruining his expensive jeans or whatever.

I suppose if I had more money than sense I might send my child to school in a £200 coat, but then I would presumably also have enough money to replace it.

If your child chopped up his coat with scissors I might see their point but this? Children play. Clothes get damaged. It would be a sad world if we had to restrict our kids' free outdoor play for the sake of preserving their designer threads.

Don't pay OP. Your offer is reasonable.

Max I'd pay for a child's coat would be £40.

Further update.

They must have been talking about it in the staffroom as a random TA collared me at pick up. She was one of the staff on playtime duty during Stick Incident and wanted to let me know that from what she saw she was confident DS hadn't done it. The hole was apparently in fact a rip directly along the seam of the arm, and she'd seen Coat Boy and another boy (not DS) ragging each other round roughly by the sleeves.

Soooo I shan't be paying a penny and have apologised to DS for doubting him

Feeling pretty cross tbh but can't be bothered with more drama given DS is going to be st school with this boy for another 3 years at least and I hate confrontation so will be leaving the saga well alone unless the parents get back in touch about it.

Lesson learned.

Glad the TA told you what she saw, hope other mum has been given the update too!

Yes I hope the boy's parents hear the update and have the good grace to apologise. (And hopefully not just view the other child's parents as a new target for their demands!)

Very similar costs... Very different price tags... Can't she just buy one that looks similar but doesn't have a "name"

Glad it seems to have resolved though!

Coats not costs

Have read most of the thread, and my two penn'orth is that anyone who can afford to waste spend £200+ on a child's coat can afford to lose it/suck up any damage it sustains.
As a teacher, and having seen how the vast majority of kids treat their belongings, I think that anyone who spends that amount (or less, relative to their income) is insane.
Oh, and while you're at it, NAME YOUR CHILD'S CLOTHES PLEASE!!!

Hi, I am a senior teacher with many years experience, and I have never heard of anything like this.
I accept as a parent that if my children go to school in expensive clothes they may get damaged or stolen.
As a teacher it's a real pain if children come to school with clothes or items of extreme value, its just not appropriate.
I think you are being more than generous offering a professional repair. (That's more than I would do)
DO NOT pay out on this coat. This happened on school time. Who was supervising this play? Speak to the class teacher and find out the details. The school must bear some responsibility. (not that that will be paying out).
The parents of this child are cheeky and inappropriate to message you privately, this must go through the school. It happened on school time. Do not respond to this CF family privately again.
I am so sorry that this has happened to you.

Sorry cross post, just seen your update! So pleased for you. XX

If they can't afford to replace the coat then they shouldn't have bought it in the first place. You've offered to repair it and that should be enough... tbh they shouldn't even be bloody asking!! They decided to spend that amount of money on a coat, it's not your fault!!

I suspect this may be what the teacher told them and why they decided to drop it.

Frankly they could get the coat repaired themselves, send the kid to school in that one and keep the new coat they’ve bought for outside of school.

You can send your child to school in whatever costly attire you wish, but if it gets damaged then more fool you for paying so much money for something that could get so easily damaged by a child playing.

The coat surely isn't brand new . Therefore not entitled to full value replacement if you were going down that route. You have generously offered the value of a repair which considering it was a playground incident where sticks are obviously to be had, then the parents should accept incidents will happen. If they can afford a £200 coat for school mind boggles at what they pay for best. They can afford the damage

at your update.

Wow! I hope they'll be telling coat mum this!!!!

SHE should be apologising to you

Agree @Ilikeslippers / @notacooldad

Ha ha @happyrain. You're staffroom gossip!

My son has had loads of things ruined/lost/rugby socks that belonged to others and vice versa. Never occurred to me to try and get money from others. It’s just school life and the reason why you don't buy ridiculously expensive gear for kids

I haven’t read the whole thread. But I can’t believe people spend that in a coat for school. Kids play/fight/run about. Things get torn. Is that normal to spend on a coat or do I live in a different world?
I wouldn’t spend that on a coat for anyone even if I could afford it. But definitely not for playing in!

No! Offer the cost of an average ‘school’ coat or basic repair. The kid should be wearing a coat suitable for school, a £200 coat is ridiculous.