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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don't wnat to buy overpriced books even if the school gets money for them

63 replies

Twiglett · 08/10/2008 16:25

and i don't consider a travelling 'book fair' to be a literacy event

and the fact you take the classes down during school time just exacerbates the problems (kids are supposed to bring in their money to buy something)

it is emotional blackmail - my bloody DD ended up with a Barbie book because I couldn't stand the tantrums over her not being allowed 2 other books due to cost and crapness ... we don't do Barbie in this house .. all she wanted was the tiara anyway

the books are sold at cover price - who buys books at cover price?

I already support the school with school link purchases (school gets books in return) and amazon purchases (school gets

I hate it

AIBU to complain to school about it

OP posts:
Eniddo · 08/10/2008 16:26

yes I agree the books are TERRIBLE

I complained last year

I do not count a High School Musical Sticker book for 5.99 to be a literacy event either

dustystar · 08/10/2008 16:27

I hate it too - dd always goes on about how they have been told its important they support the fair and buy books as it raises money for the school. I let her buy one book but thats it because I'd rather buy my books from the book people and spend 1/2 the money.

Eniddo · 08/10/2008 16:27

I say no to my kids now

and let them choose something from Amazon instead

WowOoo · 08/10/2008 16:29

This annoys me too. Have often wanted to complain, but not brave enough.

Was going to send her in with letter saying she has all the books she needs but then was told that 5% of profit going to charity. 5 per cent...big wow.

Original poster
Twiglett · 08/10/2008 16:29

just cost me a tenner that I had to borrow from a friend

for a tenner I would expect a series of books from schoollink tbh

we got 2 pieces of shit

it's a bloody scam

OP posts:
Original poster
Twiglett · 08/10/2008 16:29

d'ya wanna see my email?

OP posts:
FioFio · 08/10/2008 16:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Twiglett · 08/10/2008 16:33

I don't send money in but I do take them to have a look after school because the kids feel left out .. because I don't send the money in

In that way I try to exercise some control, but honestly I just get myself more and more wound up about it .. because it rubs it in

OP posts:
Eniddo · 08/10/2008 16:33

email please

I hate school at the moment so any excuse to have a go

ahundredtimes · 08/10/2008 16:35

Oh GOD so annoying.

And such crap books too.

New school doesn't have thank god. After years of Scooby Doo 'fun' haunted house books etc. Is a relief.

cory · 08/10/2008 16:35

Quite agree; they are seldom the best quality. I'd far rather take ds down to Waterstones and get him some real literature.

Eniddo · 08/10/2008 16:36

I am vocal

I say 'the books are terrible. I will give a £5 to the school and you can choose a decent one from amazon. good day!'

bamboo · 08/10/2008 16:40

Ours is coming up soon. Agree they are overpriced rubbish. Last year I ended up buying a couple of activity books at 3.99 a throw because I felt I should support it and they were the cheapest thing but honestly I'd rather just give school some money. I might try and be stroppy strong this year and buy nothing..

potatofactory · 08/10/2008 16:43

I have to TAKE the kids down to the fair (they go down during their English lesson) and not say it's crap. Even worse, there's always a table of other stuff to buy. ALL crap. It's complete bollocks. I feel really embarrassed about it.

potatofactory · 08/10/2008 16:44

Makes me a bit depressed that people 'hate school' though.

Twiglett · 08/10/2008 16:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Buda · 08/10/2008 16:46

We do it. I organise it! But it is hard to get English language children's books here so it is usually well attended by people. All profits got to PTA - pays for Halloween party etc.

I try hard to buy decent books that otherwise would not be available here - and we sell at cover price which is cheaper than English books here in general.

But I agree that if I were in UK I would struggle with the concept.

childrenofthecornsilk · 08/10/2008 16:47

Oh well done Twiglett. We also end up with a load of crud, which I would never in a million years let them buy under normal circumstances.

roisin · 08/10/2008 16:49

After the first year I stopped buying books at the Book Fair for the reasons you state.

I offered to run School Link for the school, but the megolomaniac objectionable chair of the PTA declined my offer.

I'm happy to donate to school funds at fun run and this sort of thing, but don't like the Book Fairs at all.

christywhisty · 08/10/2008 16:50

I have no problems with it as long as the school makes some money out of it.

The books are only available after school, when parents can go with the dc's, so no sending money into school and I have control over what is bought.

Ours seem to have plenty of reading choice, not just sticker books and fairy books.

plumandolive · 08/10/2008 16:51

Twiglett I really agree.. and.. lol we have ended up with barbie and crap when we have mountains of books in the house and a brill library down the road.
Good for you Enido! I just keep saying - no that's not a very good looking book....
It's pressure we can do without in the current economic climate eh?

Mercy · 08/10/2008 16:52

Is there one particular company which runs the book fair?

plumandolive · 08/10/2008 16:52

BTW- if they were decent books I would buy them... it's the tv related High School Musical sticker bollocks that gets me...

PandaG · 08/10/2008 16:52

I have just come back from helping at ours. I agree, some of the books are of the craft /sticker/Barbie tat variety, but some are not too bad. At our school it is only open after school, so parents choose to take their children to it. Is definetly worth it, we get 60% of sales to spend on books, and so the school library does very well - the staff certainly find plenty of books they want to add so the books are not all tat.

wheresthehamster · 08/10/2008 16:54

I agree. I hate it as well. I might ask the school how much they actually get from the fair.

I'm another one who never buys books full price - unless I have been given Waterstones vouchers. I hate paying £4.99 for a crappy paperback when you can get a series for the same money from School Link. Like others, my dds have made a big fuss in the past. Now I just say no and give the reasons. Ours is an after school event, timed to coincide with parent consultations, so it's pretty hard to ignore as well.