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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WWYD - teen running their own tuck shop in school

504 replies

PinkPansies · 08/02/2022 16:06

We've realised recently that ds1 aged 14 has become quite flush with cash (more so than his pocket money would allow anyway!).

On questioning we've discovered that he's quite the entrepreneur and has set up his own tuck shop in school on breaks and lunches. In short, he's been stopping at the local Coop on the way to school and buying sweets and chocolates then selling them to the kids in his year for double the price. Who are more than willing to pay.

From making the odd quid here and there his 'business' has expanded rapidly in the last 3 weeks and he's got quite a following in school - and he's currently making about ten quid A DAY in profit. I can't quite believe the amounts.

He's taking specific requests from kids that get the bus to school so don't have the opportunity to visit a shop and has a price/order list to show his customers and a book with a record of his sales and profits each day 🙈

He's taking it very seriously and is incredibly organised. He's explained to his parents that his profit is limited only by how much stuff he can physically fit in his bag - so he's currently looking at smaller, higher value sweets and sounding our his customers for interest levels.

Parent A and Parent B have different opinions.

Parent A is thrilled, has congratulated their son for his driven, entrepreneurial spirit and told him to crack on...but that he needs to be aware the school will probably give him a detention if he's caught. It's a risk ds is happy to take.

Parent B is amused and a bit impressed but thinks he should stop as obviously the school would frown on this. Haven't seen any specific school rules about this but obviously the school would probably want it stopped!

WWYD?

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 08/02/2022 16:23

All it takes is one parents complaint that he is ripping other children off. The school might take a dim view

outdooryone · 08/02/2022 16:24

I would be proud of having an entrepreneur in my household like that.
They are working hard, being creative, seeing opportunity.
It should be encouraged IMO.
(That and parental profit share of course)

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 08/02/2022 16:24

I'm impressed.

I would be slightly worried about muggings though.

betwixtlives · 08/02/2022 16:25

Good for him!

TimePoliceTeam236 · 08/02/2022 16:26

Yes good for him.

twoladsnow · 08/02/2022 16:26

My brothers did this a decade ago. Parents didn't condemn the behaviour but they did get asked to stop.

Fuggly · 08/02/2022 16:26

My son did this 15 years ago. After a few weeks school got wind of it and made him stop. He wasn't punished but he might have been if he carried on after the warning.

NoJaffaCakesAreKeptInThisVan · 08/02/2022 16:26

I’d definitely check the school rules, I imagine it’s a no no due to possible allergens etc…tell him to make sure nothing contains nuts!!

Santaslittlemelter · 08/02/2022 16:27

Considering I ran the school contraband tuck shop for 2 years and made a load of cash (what me and my partner didn’t eat ourselves) I can’t criticise your ds.

RozHuntleysLeftHand · 08/02/2022 16:28

I used to sell cigarettes for 50p each at that age, bought 10 with my lunch money on the way to school everyday.
A packet cost 1.20 so I'd only have to sell 3 to make my money back, so I'd have fags AND my lunch money back again!! Plus if I didn't eat lunch I had enough to buy a pint after school in the dubious local! (shows age)
Be grateful that at least it's not that (or weed or vodka which some mates used to sell at lunch ffs!) Grin

I think it's bloody enterprising and a genius use of money tbf.
If he's willing to take the detention then let him crack on, like I said it could be a lot worse!

MrsScrubbingbrush · 08/02/2022 16:32

Warn him that he may get competitors who undercut him if he charges double the retail price!

Georgeskitchen · 08/02/2022 16:33

Good for him!! What an entrepreneur. I used to sell my packed lunch sandwiches at school and make enough to buy a hot pie and a cigarette at the local shop (1970s)
My small business ran aground when my mum caught me buttering a whole loaf one morning before school. She made me confess and started strictly rationing my school lunch pack 😀😀🤣

JaninaDuszejko · 08/02/2022 16:33

This happened recently in the DDs school. Multipacks of blue lollies were bought online and sold individually in school for a profit. School got annoyed at the fact that every child had a blue tongue so banned the lollies.

Glenthebattleostrich · 08/02/2022 16:35

Better than selling cigarettes stolen from parents like my brother and his mates did. Or taking a percentage of the profit for smuggling the stuff in because school knew they were little sods and their sister was a goodie two shoes (at least thats what people thought).

I say well done him.

HollowTalk · 08/02/2022 16:36

@MaggieMooh

If he’s serious about it he’ll have to register and pay tax etc. You can’t just run a business illegally.
Pay tax on £10 per day?
RozHuntleysLeftHand · 08/02/2022 16:37

Although I will add I sadly did not become an entrepreneur, just spent it all on illicit stuff like the aforementioned booze and weed!! Grin

HollowTalk · 08/02/2022 16:37

Kids have always done this and schools have always stopped them. I think it does show an entrepreneurial spirit and that should be encouraged, but I wouldn't fancy teaching a bunch of teenagers who'd just eaten a load of sugar.

Sh05 · 08/02/2022 16:39

Yup Parent A.
I've been suggesting to my ds to do similar but he's too shy. He mentioned to a friend and his friend has started!
They buy the 2for £1.50 cookies from Asda and Oreos lunchbox packs and charge 10p less than the school tuckshop.
There's nothing in any school correspondence that says they can't do this and if they do get caught and told off then they'll stop.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 08/02/2022 16:39

Isn't there a kid who does this is in every school?

It really wouldn't bother me - good for him if he's found a way to make some extra cash!

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 08/02/2022 16:40

My son did this with chewing gum. Contraband was strictly shared out amongst others, some did pop, others sweets. They all got caught and punished, somehow he managed to avoid detection. Until I found a stash of gum and a load of cash. I worked at school, so I thought it was time to stop.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 08/02/2022 16:40

Just be grateful it's only tuck he's selling!

At that age the kids where I went to boarding school were bringing back cigarettes from abroad duty free and selling them for great profit 🤣

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 08/02/2022 16:40

Umm, not sure why I got a HQ notice there?

QueenOfCakeandCoffee · 08/02/2022 16:41

Could parent A take him to Costco?
I would talk to hi about how to keep the money safe and what he plans to do with it.
Would a card reader work? I have one the cost £30 and only takes a small percentage

Ratherdogsthanpeople · 08/02/2022 16:42

I know someone who managed to install a popcorn machine in their locker and sold pocorn. Made a fortune. He’s an electrician now.

Choccy21 · 08/02/2022 16:44

A lot of these famous business people did the same thing at that age. Some people are born with entrepreneurship spirit.