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MNHQ

Mumsnet calls for an end to Premiership kit rip-off

19 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.

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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.

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.

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...

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.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 10:59

@cleverything

I strongly disagree with this campaign. If "all my DD wants for her birthday" is a pony, so we campaign for that? If my DS wants to play the harp and not the recorder, do we campaign for them to be the same price?

Of course not. But if the harp sellers marked up their harps 500% and released 2 new harp models every year and spent fortunes encouraging your child to desire each new harp, while at the same time claiming they did everything they could to look after young harpists, you'd have a damm good case for a campaign. I'd back you!

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:02

@larrygrylls

Justine,

Seriously? Are you going mad this morning?

What business is it of MN what a football club pays their players or what they charge for their kit? If kids want the kit and their parents can afford it and want to buy it, they can. If not, they can say no. What is so hard about that? How about a campaign against Prada as not every parent can afford their kids' range (yes it does exist)? After all, it must be heartbreaking to have to deny your daughter a dress costing £300.

If you really want to intervene in pricing in a positive way for children, why not campaign against the structure of offers and promotions in supermarkets. Every offer on display that I see tends to be on processed "rubbish". This is seriously affecting the health of a generation and I would term it irresponsible behaviour by major organisations who could do so much better.

I think MN has every right to point out that parents think football clubs rip of kids. Doesn't mean other issues are off the agenda. Everything is on the agenda.

And no, not particularly mad but quite cross about rip off football kits Wink

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:04

@ILoveTIFFANY

whats wrong with pre order......we do it with books,dvd's etc dont we??

Nothing at all - we're talking at crossed purposes. Was just used to illustrate price of a new kit.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:06

@cleverything

OK, so the harp example was less good. How about the Mulberry bag one?

Everyone knows Mulberry is a luxury good. Football clubs claim they are for the people - national game etc - increasingly it's become a rich persons' pursuit.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:06

@ILoveTIFFANY

justine......can we get someone in for a webchat please??? FA official or someone from a club maybe?

Good idea. We shall try.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:13

@SexyDomesticatedDab

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."

So it's hard to say no - lots of things in life we can't / don't give. Good parenting is about saying no and explaining why.

Of course that's true. Doesn't stop it being hard and your kid getting teased though.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:27

@SexyDomesticatedDab

So we must all follow the crowd and buy what ever is 'in'. My DS (14) has a very basic phone and not the latest smart phone - so should we just give in and buy a smart phone cos that's what his friends got?

Thats what these companies rely on - pester power - like the stuff at the checkout etc. More of a campaign on how to be an individual and make your own choices in this world would be better.

This site has adverts from places like luxury family hotels - you could say that is also putting pressure onto families here who cannot afford a holiday at all.

I think there is a clear distinction between marketing to adults and marketing to children don't you? We are not asking clubs to cut prices on adults shirts - just to make an affordable kit for child supporters.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:28

@DamnYouAutocorrect

Aren't most PL clubs technically bankrupt anyway?

Weird bloody industry

Yes, if you talk to the clubs about it they say the money they make from merchandise goes straight into players' wages...

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:30

@SexyDomesticatedDab

I doubt they make most money from selling shirts! TV rights possibly most, then advertising etc

Don't see how you would ever turn the clock back now - Premiership is a massive industry worth £millions - although some are just bank rolled by oligarchs and the like

Merchandising is v big part of their revenues - don't have immediate stats but it's significant. I agree you can't reform football industry but think is an issue we could get some movement on.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:39

@Cattleprod

'We are not asking clubs to cut prices on adults shirts - just to make an affordable kit for child supporters'

Surely the bigger issue is whether it is an appropriate industry for children to be supporting? Corruption at the top, all sorts of dubious money deals, terrible off-pitch (and on-pitch) behaviour by many of the so-called 'stars' who are the face of football and people young supporters will be aspiring to, top female professional players paid a tiny fraction of the ridiculous, unsustainable salaries their male counterparts earn.....

Well it's a fair point but not sure I could convince my kids to stop being footie fans.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 29/06/2011 11:59

Feel free to start a thread on any ishoo you feel should be addressed and see if there is a groundswell of support.
We shouldn't let the better be the enemy of the good, though.

MNHQ

KatieMumsnet · 29/06/2011 14:05

Hi All

Not a spoof, just a small part of our family friendly programme. When we did the survey back in Feb more than 1,000 of you took part. And when we asked what you thought was bad value for money football kit merchandise topped the list of complaints, with 97% saying it was poor value for money and nearly 80% saying it ripped off families - pretty categoric results.

This doesn't mean we won't also carry on with our broader campaigns work, which in recent weeks has included Let Girls be Girls, Miscarriage, Immunisations in 3rd world countries and supporting child literacy (we've yet to hear back from Cameron on our offer to help out with Libya Wink).

Realise this isn't an issue for everyone, but it is for lots of people, and we think it's worth seeing if we can get things changed.

MNHQ

KatieMumsnet · 29/06/2011 14:21

Oh now Corrie is one of my guilty pleasures, although I've gone a bit off the Steve and Becky storyline - too much repetition. As Justine would I'd always say, start a thread and if there's lots of support we can certainly throw it into the mix Grin. Although my personal campaign would probably be to bring Graham back.

MNHQ

KatieMumsnet · 29/06/2011 19:06

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

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