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MNHQ

Mumsnet calls for an end to Premiership kit rip-off

258 replies

KatieMumsnet · 28/06/2011 22:58

As you might have seen we're writing to Premiership clubs, asking them to stop ripping off young fans with their replica kits. When we did our Family Friendly survey back in February 80% of you who responded said they thought football club merchandise ripped off families. We've now done the maths and the average Premiership kit for an eight year old retails at almost £60, rising to £80+ if you include getting the latest logos and player names. We know a similar (non-branded) kit at M&S costs £27, so are asking (very nicely of course) if the Premiership clubs couldn't produce a more affordable kit for their junior fans as they do for their toddlers.

As JustineMumsnet said in our press release "it's really hard to be the parent who says 'no' to the requests for the latest kits but these days you need a small fortune to buy a complete replica."

We'll keep you updated as the clubs respond to our letter, but let us know your thoughts, and of course if you want to tweet your club in support, that would be fine and lovely.

OP posts:
ZeroMinusZero · 29/06/2011 10:00

TIFFANY it once was every second year but became every year a while back. Anything to make money, I suppose

wimpybar · 29/06/2011 10:02

huh i missed this and wouldn't agree myself. you can get kit cheaper in sports soccer too. and agree you don't have to buy it Confused can we stop with these 'campaign's' for a while, they make us look too meddling

larrygrylls · 29/06/2011 10:05

How about an educational campaign to teach parents to say "no"? Repeat after me, "no you cannot have that kit, we cannot afford it", "no you cannot have that kit, it is a rip off". Practice 20 times and then use it on your children.

Seriously, is this really a sensible use for campaign time and resources?

Aworryingtrend · 29/06/2011 10:07

I would really like a pair of diamond earrings. Please can we have a Mumsnet Campaign to ask jewellers to reduce their prices?

GypsyMoth · 29/06/2011 10:08

every second year still according to Arsenal website (will need to clear my history before any dc see i have been there)

away kit change one year,home kit the next. except for next year as its anniversary,so special exception

ime dc dont want the away kits,so its still one shirt to last 2 years

GypsyMoth · 29/06/2011 10:08

its the aSPORTS stores who are ripping you off charging per letter/number to be put on the backs!!

Honeydragon · 29/06/2011 10:23

The lettering thing is what pisses me off. Hugely expensive. The companies stipulate that it has to me them that do it so the shirt isn't "compromised", or won't do it at all on smaller one, as it will ruin the look as it is too small.

As a result in my business we get loads of parents asking to put names on their dc's strips. We refuse because a) We are not allowed due to copyright, and b) if we or they make a mistake they would have to pay another £30 to replace the shirt.

I wanted a shirt done for my son once and was charged £5 per letter, so I declined Hmm

Honeydragon · 29/06/2011 10:24

ILoveTiffany .... the clubs stipulate who is allowed to print and sell their shirts and for what return.

piprabbit · 29/06/2011 10:24

I like larrygrylls campaign idea much better than the football rip-off one.

marimo · 29/06/2011 10:26

With all the crap that happens to the children (and mothers) of planet Earth, it's a bit beyond my comprehension that this would become a campaign.

How about a campaign against child labour, perhaps? Perhaps there are children somewhere whose childhood is being spent making shirts for hardly any money?

GypsyMoth · 29/06/2011 10:28

have just looked on a few sites

firstly,they dont sell 'kits' for 8 year olds....so why MNHQ are you quoting kit prices being rip offs? kits stop at age 5-6....presumably no demand for a full kit after that (babyish my 8 yr old ds says,the top is worn all year with jeans,trackies,shorts,to bed...),and if a child wants one,then its all available separately so cost could be spread anyway.

GypsyMoth · 29/06/2011 10:33

are you campaigning about price of RUGBY replica 'kits' too??

have you seen

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 10:44

@ILoveTIFFANY

have just looked on a few sites

firstly,they dont sell 'kits' for 8 year olds....so why MNHQ are you quoting kit prices being rip offs? kits stop at age 5-6....presumably no demand for a full kit after that (babyish my 8 yr old ds says,the top is worn all year with jeans,trackies,shorts,to bed...),and if a child wants one,then its all available separately so cost could be spread anyway.

Yes they do! Chelsea kids kits is available for sizes 8,10,12,14 - you can pre-order the new away kit now for an 8 year old, with badges, name and numbers it comes to the princely sum of £77.

It is a complete rip-off and a massive mark-up on what it costs to produce these things. Of course parents don't have to buy it, but for lots of kids it's the only thing they want for birthday/christmas etc.

flowery · 29/06/2011 10:47

I do think stuff like this damages MNs credibility somewhat. It sounds as though parents on this site find it too difficult to say no to their DC and therefore want to abdicate responsibility to someone else. I looked at the link and the campaign seems to be based on a majority of respondents to a survey not thinking these kits are value for money.

Well I agree, I don't think they are value for money either, however that doesn't mean I think the clubs should voluntarily lower their prices. Lots of things aren't good value for money, are luxuries, and everyone can make their own decision as to which (if any) luxury items they wish to buy for themselves/their DC.

I have bought DS1 t-shirts from Boden, for example, which have pictures on I knew he would like. No doubt I could have got a plain t-shirt elsewhere which he would have got just as much wear out of and wouldn't have cost me as much. But that doesn't mean Boden are ripping me off. It's my decision.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 10:48

@ILoveTIFFANY

are you campaigning about price of RUGBY replica 'kits' too??

have you seen

Happy to if folks want us to and the facts stack up - 97% of mumsnetters asked in our Family friendly survey said thought football merchandise was poor value for money. (And it is!)

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 10:49

@flowery

I do think stuff like this damages MNs credibility somewhat. It sounds as though parents on this site find it too difficult to say no to their DC and therefore want to abdicate responsibility to someone else. I looked at the link and the campaign seems to be based on a majority of respondents to a survey not thinking these kits are value for money.

Well I agree, I don't think they are value for money either, however that doesn't mean I think the clubs should voluntarily lower their prices. Lots of things aren't good value for money, are luxuries, and everyone can make their own decision as to which (if any) luxury items they wish to buy for themselves/their DC.

Think football is different though - supposed to be about more than just money. It's about community - the clubs are always banging on about that.

wimpybar · 29/06/2011 10:52

who in the world needs to pre-order a football kit? even my ds(17) who is mad on football doesn't do that Confused

and what sort of badges, names and numbers do you mean? of course something is going to be marked up if it's personalised

very confused with this campaign

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 10:52

@SexyDomesticatedDab

Perhaps a just say no campaign might be in order?

Football is now big business - they have to find ways to pay their overpaid 'stars' - maybe having more realistic wages for footballers may be a start.

Yes I agree - hugely over-priced merchandise is supporting hugely overpaid wages to "stars". Cut the price of merchandise and you cut the wages...

wimpybar · 29/06/2011 10:52

and if we're talking about clothing rip-offs maybe you should question taking on boden advertising

wimpybar · 29/06/2011 10:52
Wink
Cattleprod · 29/06/2011 10:54

I guess it's the price you pay for choosing a poor excuse for a hobby that involves watching a load of overpaid men with dubious morals kicking a bag of air around a field.

How about finding a more interesting, worthwhile, creative or productive hobby to interest your children? And teaching them to dress well and not like a chav unimaginative sheep?

(Can you tell I hate professional football and all it stands for?)

DamnYouAutocorrect · 29/06/2011 10:54

Organisations over-charging is a rip-off, though. This might not be the world's biggest issue, but a rip-off is a rip-off. Not that my son cares, all he wants in the world is another computer [not-getting-one emoticon]

If the clubs pay any attention to this, I hope they consider the child labour/exploitation issue alongside it.

marimo · 29/06/2011 10:54

Hear, hear, flowery.

I think the clubs have to bang on about community to justify the excesses of their own business. Surely?

And they can only charge this much because this is what people are willing to pay?

And our idea of community has been reduced to us all being able to buy the same shirts? I don't get it! Are there not other ways children can find belonging within a community? We're teaching them that they have to have the right shirt to belong?

cleverything · 29/06/2011 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 10:55

@wimpybar

who in the world needs to pre-order a football kit? even my ds(17) who is mad on football doesn't do that Confused

and what sort of badges, names and numbers do you mean? of course something is going to be marked up if it's personalised

very confused with this campaign

Pre-order is what lots of people are doing right now because the kits have been announced but are not available - the clubs announce them before they're ready to build the hype around this time each year. If you want an exact replica kit - ie like the one the players wear - then it has a name and number on the back and premier league badge all of which cost extra. Lots of kids really do want an exact replica - not surprisingly.