Mumsnet calls for an end to Premiership kit rip-off

[KatieMumsnet]

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.

I wasn't saying children might have an attachment to Boden. I was wondering (just wondering!) whether the parents who buy the clothes do.

"save your ire for something that matters mn. really"

I think I'm going to take this sage bit of advice and have dinner...

thebset,do keep up.im referring those whom mn feel they have to save - if you buy willingly then youre not the parent/s mn feel are coerced by capitalism and merchandising pressure.

if as you say you chose then,thats your volition and free will,exwrcise your own spending power and all that

mn are presumably speaking for the parents who find "it's really hard to be the parent who says 'no'. and you know what?why cant an adult say no or just get a cheap kit down the market (like everyone else).Genuinlkey anyy parent who cannot convincingly say No to something they cant afford is indeed fuckwitted

I am trying to keep up scottishmummy. I really am...

all those saying its 'overpriced' can i ask what you are using as a comparison to compare to?

ILoveTiffany.

I gave a comparison earlier between ds1 favourite football club's junior replica strip and the junior Wigan Warriors (Rugby League) replica strip. The rugby strip is nearly £30 cheaper.

Does that help?

price is what someone will pay for an item
value is subjective
team kits are not necessarily bad value,not if think think the price is fair

I used to work in a shop that sold replica kits. On release day the shop would be full of mums buying them for their children. Very few would complain about the price. Many of them would tell me they knew they cost more but at least they would last the two years, unlike t shirts etc that stretch and fade eventually. So they thought they were excellent value for money, not a rip off. I completely disagree with this campaign. Mind you, I disagree with lots of them so maybe I'm not Mumsnet material :o

'price is what someone will pay for an item.'

I agree scottishmummy. But where is the harm in a load of people collectively telling the football clubs they are way out of line.

no harm,but preachy indignant ire.middle class froth
and not really mn business to select which specific business it targets for over costing a small fortune

prams, i have a couple bugaboo. arguably one could say rip off, pricy small fortune.and many do.but i made that choice,based on marketing, merchandise and liked the accessories and branding.and thats my choice. have i paid too much?imo no.im someone else opinion yes

bugaboo sell at price i willingly pay.no one coerced me. i could have said no you know

My view is that is the kits/shirts are not intrinsically poor value - as others have said the shirts wash well, and can be given as birthday presents.

The irritant is in the frequency that the kit and/or the sponsor changes, meaning that a shirt can be outdated within months.

I get where you're coming from scottishmummy. What gets on my nerves though is the thought of kids from poorer backgrounds missing out because middle-class mums can afford such things and, as is evident from this thread, not bat an eye.

yes but this comes back to parental ability to say no
or apparent inability since mn feels it has to save folk from themselves

That's one way of looking at it scottishmummy. Another way, is that mn gathers a popular opinion toegther in a way that cannot be ignored by the likes of the powerful Premiership clubs.

oh come on best,the market sells any knock off kit.that most can afford
but parents as adults need to be able to say no
and arguably were do you draw the line.no kids going on nice holidays because a scheme wean cant?if an individual feels such inequalities and wishes they can contribute to many children charities.

I agree but I feel the clubs use the 'parents can always say no' argument to justify the stupid costs.

Oh, and the knock-off kits have even dodgier providence (child labour) than the real thing!

Marimo , just realised my second born is named after one of the sexiest greatest footballers that ever lived. I should have declared that at the start.

Anyhow, there's lots of info. on why (MN survey results) and comparison value (£9 to make, ship and put through customs, and £27 for similar M&S kit) here

Har, Katie, I am going to enjoy spending my evening thinking of the names of sexy footballers trying to guess.

best you point was kids want kit but parents cant afford
if its solely about the look then yes knock off kits are affordable
see we are digressing in to the ole sweatshop debacle.well majority of uk high street dont come out of that well at all

and no im not going to preach to someone about were to buy their clothes

Oh, strikethrough FAIL.

KatieMumsnet. You didn't really name your baby Peter Beardsley did you

It actually annoys me that the "collective might of Mumsnet" is putting its name to such an inconsequential campaign.

indeed the campaign is inconsequential froth

Am in the 'Just Say No' camp as well.

In fact, I almost started a thread the other day to ask whether it might not be a bad idea if more parents just said no to a lot more things like expensive mobile phones.