AIBU to not want to buy a £125 football for DS (7)

[FlirtyKirti]

DS is 7 and is completely obsessed with football. He has written a list for Father Christmas with only one thing on it - a Nike Premier League ball. I was gobsmacked to discover it cost £125: m.jdsports.co.uk/product/yellow-nike-english-premier-league-202122-flight-football/16235109/?cm_mmc=googleshop--google--shopping-_-pla&istCompanyId=9c5cf6f7-3142-4f9f-be57-2fce9c67adfd&istFeedId=014e8b49-620d-4e56-9e87-79529c403af2&istItemId=ppatqxrxm&istBid=tzwt&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7oyNBhDiARIsADtGRZaReDhs_fuuUhcaeS4lSxt3_TUb5GOBEv1euWaeea_5zd6U4p5B868aAjZvEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I don’t want to spend so much on something that is likely to get lost/kicked over a fence/punctured by a dog’s teeth, and I would worry taking something like that to a park could make him a target for thieves.

But… he is going through a tough time. His grandfather who he is very close to is dying of cancer and it is the only thing he wants, while his brother has copied out most of the Ninjago sets in the Lego catalogue on his list. I wouldn’t balk at spending that much on Lego if he’d wanted a big set as his main present. What should I do? I don’t want him to be spoilt but I also want him to be happy during what might otherwise be a rather bleak Christmas.

@Arethechildreninbedyet

www.next.co.uk/style/st820969/m09472?dp=a&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7oyNBhDiARIsADtGRZaTtPzW34o37zWN3mPJGbOJyerg7AL3dRnzN158PBPAN3ECSKUBHJ0aAsNoEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#m09472

Would the replica suffice OP?

I don’t blame you at all, I nearly fainted at the price!

Maybe it if wasn't 'currently unavailable'.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185181189051?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143230%26meid%3D811467be56564bc196c5662efb58342b%26pid%3D101224%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D393682099293%26itm%3D185181189051%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

£40 for the match ball and it is so similar a 7 year old won’t know the difference

I don't understand not getting so,etching a kid (or an adult) has asked for if it's in your budget and that's what they want. Why bother asking then? Not aimed at OP, but many replies here and other threads. Someone asks for x because they are asked what do,they want, and cue no way that's ridiculous. I've bought many ridiculous things I've rather years. Do I regret them at the time? Hell no. Same with presents. I own some things that maybe (certainly) weren't good long term choices, but it made my Christmas getting what I'd asked for

There is one on eBay for £41

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313762861444?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=313762861444&targetid=1279076611369&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=1007336&poi=&campaignid=14727339348&mkgroupid=127909237815&rlsatarget=pla-1279076611369&abcId=9300672&merchantid=6995734&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2dumnPa69AIVEOrtCh2B6g30EAQYASABEgL7cfD_BwE

I have a footballing DD, she’s good, but she still treats a ball like a ball. She plays on muddy pitches with 10 year olds, not beautiful pitches with green keepers, and professional footballers. Her footballs end up in trees, hedges and ditches. She’s always had the replica ball of the moment, and it’s always been fine. They look virtually identical, but are made of cheaper materials and are fractionally heavier. The discrepancies are only noticeable to the pros!

If your 7 year old child had asked for a red c neck cashmere jumper would you get it? Or would you establish that actually what he wanted was a red v neck jumper abs get one a bit more robust and practical?

It's not just the cost of a football (that usually costs £20) is it? It's the cost for an item that is easily lost as it is literally kicked around by other people and would hold sentimental value and is crazily priced

Maybe ask DS if this is going to be a display football that he keeps safe in his bedroom never to be used /nor taken to school (ala Harvey Specter in Suits) as a cherished item, Or used as an actual football for its purpose?

one needs signed £125 ball as a kick around and it'd get nicked at school ..,!

£125 on Trainers to wear? -possibly yes, £125 on a ball that'll get lost damaged or nicked ?- no.

The ebay ones look like a much better idea. There really do look the same.

No one needs a £125, I meant!

My DS2 used to ask for very expensive footballs! I wouldn't buy it, but you can normally get replica plastic versions. I would explain to him that you're not buying it and the reasons why, so there's no disappointment on Christmas Day. It's the sort of think kids love because they can show off to their friends, but within a couple of weeks it'll be either lost or filthy dirty. --

I know it's Christmas but I don't think it hurts to explain to kids that somethings just aren't worth the money (although saying that, this didn't work with DS2, he's now 22 and wants a £250 hoodie for Christmas which he won't be getting either)

I think you need to manage expectations, if it's too expensive tell them. I would tell them that it's not the type of ball to play with and ask if there's another one they'd like to have to play with. They also learn that they don't get everything on the list.

@Eeyoresideyestigger

It's not just the cost of a football (that usually costs £20) is it? It's the cost for an item that is easily lost as it is literally kicked around by other people and would hold sentimental value and is crazily priced

Maybe ask DS if this is going to be a display football that he keeps safe in his bedroom never to be used /nor taken to school (ala Harvey Specter in Suits) as a cherished item, Or used as an actual football for its purpose?

one needs signed £125 ball as a kick around and it'd get nicked at school ..,!

£125 on Trainers to wear? -possibly yes, £125 on a ball that'll get lost damaged or nicked ?- no.

Where can I get a Harvey Specter to display in my bedroom? Asking for a friend...

That one is waiting stock.
This one similar price is in stock
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313762861444?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143230%26meid%3D811467be56564bc196c5662efb58342b%26pid%3D101224%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D393682099293%26itm%3D313762861444%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

But the original £125 ball if not played with and kept in a display case will increase in value. the 2015/16 ball is now worth around £500 as people do collect them.

Have you looked on eBay? This looks the same? It’s £36.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nike-Premier-League-2021-2022-Strike-Football-Ball-size-4-/224712120671?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Be careful with the delivery dates on the ebay ones though. One has 13th Dec, one is coming from China and has between 10th and 30th Dec.

I think I would get the actual ball quickly now whilst the Nike 25% code is still valid and a replica to play with…sports direct have them for £20. Xmas is looking like it could be a difficult one again for everyone and sounds incredibly difficult in your circumstances - if this is an opportunity to deliver a little joy I’d seize it.

Thanks for some good advice and strategies. I’m definitely not going to ask his grandfather to buy it for him! Getting the £40 match ball is a really good idea and I doubt he’ll know the difference. He will definitely want to play with it rather than keep it in a display case and my big worry is that it will get lost/stolen/destroyed as footballs haven’t previously had very long life expectancies in our family.

My DS is football mad too. I think he would definitely have been able to tell the difference between the genuine and imitation at 7 sorry, he would have watched some kind of review video on you tube that showed the £125 version in detail.

That said, looks like the expensive one is only available in size 5 which will be too big for a seven year old anyway I would expect him to use a size 3 or 4 ball. So maybe suitable as one to keep special for when he is bigger?

I think people are missing the op's point.
Footballs are something with a high likelihood of being lost, stolen, punctured etc
That's what is giving her pause.

Op how often has he misplaced previous footballs- how many have you replaced? If he is good with his stuff and doesn't generally loose of ruin them than that maybe a point in the yes column.

It sounds insane and possibly cruel to buy him a ball he probably believes will make him the best footballer ever and then tell him he can only look at it and never kick it. Like buying a child a Teddy bear or doll that never comes out of the box.

I think ALL football stuff is a rip off. That's point one
Point two is that I don't get people who say "I just couldn't" when its buying a gift for someone who REALLY wants the gift and affording it is not an issue....buyer I hate to tell you but this is not about you.
Point three is that I think its about having a convo with the child. I wouldn't stop them doing what they want with the ball because then that's a duff gift, but do they understand that if it gets lost or damaged it can't be replaced and that they won't get a lot else...depends on how "grown up" the 7 yo is
I was a bit older when I wanted a grown up bureau (10 or 11)....same issues and concerns apart from the theft...would I break it, get fed up, be upset because that was all i got?....its almost 60 years later and I still have and treasure the bureau

Regardless of price, if it only comes in size 5 it’s the wrong size for a 7 year old anyway. Size 3 is more suitable or 4 at a push. I’d steer him towards the cheaper replica balls in the right size

Just because the OP can afford it doesn’t mean she should buy it!! If he’s going to insist on playing with the ball then I think it’s madness to spend that amount of money on it. Might as well take £125 and throw it away.

There are limits. Some things are just too expensive to be justified regardless of resources. Like £250 on a barbie house. It’s fine for children to realise this. Healthy, even.

So maybe suitable as one to keep special for when he is bigger?
It’s this season’s ball. It won’t be special in a year’s time.

I was a bit older when I wanted a grown up bureau (10 or 11)....same issues and concerns apart from the theft...would I break it, get fed up, be upset because that was all i got?....its almost 60 years later and I still have and treasure the bureau
This isn’t at all comparable. Bureaus stay in the house and a big and heavy!! Footballs go outside, are kicked around, end up all over the place and covered in mud, can get taken off by dogs, apart from the theft side of things. There’s a new premier league ball every year too… this is not a precedent I’d want to set with a 7 year old!

Also those Oodies! My 7 year old wants one of those but fuck off am I spending £70-odd on that.

I’ll buy her a cheaper replica one.

Some very good points here from pp. He would be better off with a smaller ball anyway. He would likely be very happy with the lower spec ball that looked like it.
Unless he's that rare 7 year old who wants to look at the ball in a cabinet, just don't do it.