To think shops should have it together by now!

[BrilliantTimeKeeping]

Hi, this isn't really an AIBU, or maybe it is in a way. When to the shops restock school uniforms? I'm not meaning your basic white and greys. It is driving me mad! My dc have lost items at school and we need more jumpers, that don't cost the earth. I've checked online too, and they're out of stock everywhere!

Asda/Sainsbury/M&S specifically

I've found the same, can't get hold of any anywhere !!

Have you asked at the shops? Sometimes they just don't have them out on display. Or next? They do next day delivery.

@popgoesperfection it is so frustrating. I keep checking every day online, and there's still no stock in any size. Usually I see it in store (always when I don't need it). I'm wondering of they're just out of stock after the Summer, but I need to know when they'll get it in. I thought they have some in by now!

@Nowtbettertodo Next are great, but they don't have the colour of my dc's school. It seems to be an issue with the school jumpers. They never seem to know when/if it is coming in. Somebody told me they only get it in for back to school, surely this cannot be right?!!

School uniform won’t be a priority for most stores right now, it’s going to be winter wear, Christmas themes and stuff like that. They might get odds and ends in of school uniform but no, not loads of choice.

Have you tried eBay or similar? Might as well get it cheap as you can if your kids lose their stuff this early in the term anyway.

Have you tried Argos? They sometimes have stock that sainsburys doesn’t show. Does the school not have a second hand uniform shop?

I work in a big next and we. Have tonnes in the stock room. Can you go to your local
Big one and ask them to look for you? I'd happily go and see for you .

Your school should sell some or have a local uniform supplier

Matalan. School uniform all year round.

I work in the clothing section of Tesco - we have had uniform on sale prominently from late July to mid September with offers as well. We will not get any more large deliveries until next summer but do have a limited stock remaining. As stated before, the concentration now is winter clothing (coats etc) and it will be Christmas.

Have you tried Amazon? They surprisingly sometimes have some

Thank you everybody. My dc is ND, so losing things is common ground unfortunately (despite everything name labelled). I have tried Asda, Sainsburys, Argos and Tesco, all out of stock. Matalan and Next are fantastic for stocking uniform but don't do the colour we need (typical). The only places that have it are the school uniform shop, and Amazon, both are ridiculously priced.

@Iwantacampervan thank you, it is promising to know that a small amount of stock may trickle through at least. I'll keep an eye out.

Thank you @floofbag I love the quality in Next, the uniform is always value for money. The one item we need they don't do in the colour we need, such a shame!

Do the school not have a second hand uniform cupboard? I sometimes used to be able to get the odd piece that way when mine were that age.

Are there any local charity shops? School uniform can pop up surprisingly cheaply there so maybe worth a little look if you haven't already.

I don't want to go second hand through the school, as would rather that stay for children who really need it. I'll wait until half term and if still no luck I may have to resort to the uniform shop. I stupidly thought it was stocked all year around! 😩

Thank you to everybody who has commented and tried to help.😀

It is infuriating. I don't want to buy next year's uniform in July. Why do the shops try to force us to buy stuff for next year when it's still the previous year or the start of the holidays?

I had to pay 3 times the supermarket price for shorts from the official supplier in September because 5 supermarkets had none in store or online. Still can't get DS some bog standard plain grey school socks so he's squeezing into small ones.

Was lamenting the situation with a random mum I got chatting to in Sainsbury's last week. Both of us think it's worse than normal at the moment.

@DappledThings it is really frustrating isn't it?! I have noticed that aswell, I was sure that I had seen it all year around before. If I knew I'd be in this predicament I'd have bought more. It is absolutely ridiculous though, because kids lose it, ruin it, or sometimes just need a replacement.

I work for sainsburys and we have loads of uniform in the back, we just don't have it out. Just ask if they have xyz in size xyz in the back and they'll be happy to check.

Both the branches I tried had two full racks of shorts in age 13 and nothing else. That makes me assume that is all the stock they have. Why else would they not have a range of what is available out for people to pick up? So then I get too cross about the lack of well balanced sizes easily available and have to strop off to set up a click and collect because I don't want to take my frustration out on someone on the shop floor.

@DappledThings that's just it. I would assume if the item isn't there at all in any sizes, than they don't have it at all. I always get the "it's just what's out" reply usually, which I am sure is true as most shops run their stock right down in the current climate.

My local uniform shop is so bad that I’m amazed they ever make any money considering nothing is ever in stock!

Does your school PTA have a second hand supply? Or ask on the parents WhatsApp group?

@MartinChuzzlewit oh my goodness, ours is the opposite, it is such a rip off to the point that they have reems of it! When you order they give you a small timeframe to collect it, because they have nowhere to store it! I wouldn't go to the 2nd hand supply, I'd rather it be kept for those that really need it. I'm holding out for Asda/Sainsburys/Argos to get their act together or I'll be forced to venture to the dreaded uniform shop! 😡