School Uniform Supply Monopolies

icelandic_queen

My 3 girls will all be going to the same local school this year and it's costing me a fortune. I live in an area of high unemployment but this seems to mean nothing to not only this school but others. Yesterday I spent 350.25 quid on 2 of the uniforms (and 1 of my girls didn't need a blazer or raincoat) and I have yet to get shoes!! Tomorrow it's the turn of the eldest who has to get the 6th form uniform which will be approx 250 as she has to get everything from new! Everything has the school logo embroidered on it an nothing can be bought in any of the supermarkets or high street shops!! I do believe in a school uniform and the standards are quite high at the school but I just wish the powers that be realised how much of a struggle it is!

jellyhead

I think I might start a new thread about the tesco uniform service ... maybe if enuogh parents nominate a school the school will comply

looby75

jellyhead wrote: »

I think I might start a new thread about the tesco uniform service ... maybe if enuogh parents nominate a school the school will comply

I think I might put the link on fb too, a lot of my friends have kids at ds's school too and a lot of people have been complaining about the price and quality of the uniform the school sells.

tooldle

Just bought my daughters uniform for comprehensive, five logo'd polos, three logo'd sweatshirts and one logo'd gold polo for sport. Total cost £77.00 I always buy from this supplier, a small local shop. It washes well and lasts. Far better than anything I have ever had from the supermarkets. The last set of uniform lasted over three years. There are good suppliers out there.

TechnoBadger

looby75 wrote: »

I've just nominated ds's school. I'm sure the head won't be happy but there you go lol

The Chairman of Governors is responsible for the school's uniform policy. Parents should contact him or her if a head isn't too responsive to parents' requests - she may miss any 'donation' from the sole supplier... (As I've said, I'm not convinced these are legal any more, particularly when the idea of them is to deny a competitor access to the market). I'm not convinced Tesco holds stock of a school's uniform throughout the year but I'd expect parents will get used to planning ahead to same some cash! I bought a few Tesco shares recently, so bring it on!

dark_lady

icelandic_queen wrote: »

My 3 girls will all be going to the same local school this year and it's costing me a fortune. I live in an area of high unemployment but this seems to mean nothing to not only this school but others. Yesterday I spent 350.25 quid on 2 of the uniforms (and 1 of my girls didn't need a blazer or raincoat) and I have yet to get shoes!! Tomorrow it's the turn of the eldest who has to get the 6th form uniform which will be approx 250 as she has to get everything from new! Everything has the school logo embroidered on it an nothing can be bought in any of the supermarkets or high street shops!! I do believe in a school uniform and the standards are quite high at the school but I just wish the powers that be realised how much of a struggle it is!

I think they know exactly what a struggle it is for parents. They just dont care!

jellyhead

tooldle wrote: »

I always buy from this supplier, a small local shop. It washes well and lasts. Far better than anything I have ever had from the supermarkets. The last set of uniform lasted over three years. There are good suppliers out there.

I'm sure there are, which is why I'm in 2 minds about Tesco (I haven't started a thread, but I think it's something Martin could make a fuss about).

I don't like to see local shops forced out of business by mister T, but in our case there is no local shop. Uniform has to be ordered from the school office for both my boys, and unless you wait for school to do a bulk order you have to pay postage at the high school.

The quality is nowhere near as good as Tesco, so our current suppliers aren't competing on price OR quality.

It's not good enough, so I feel no conscience pricking at the thought of Tesco taking business away from them. If they want my business then they have to stop selling rags.

TechnoBadger

jellyhead wrote: »

I don't like to see local shops forced out of business by mister T, but in our case there is no local shop. Uniform has to be ordered from the school office for both my boys, and unless you wait for school to do a bulk order you have to pay postage at the high school.

The quality is nowhere near as good as Tesco, so our current suppliers aren't competing on price OR quality.

It's not good enough, so I feel no conscience pricking at the thought of Tesco taking business away from them. If they want my business then they have to stop selling rags.

I'm not after closing school uniform shops! I'd hazard a guess that the reason a shop in your local area doesn't supply your school's uniform is that the school has an arrangement with the supplier the office use for the orders. Why not ask them if any money / gifts go to the school to facilitate this solus (Trutex's term!) arrangement? And tell them of the new bribery laws.

Hopefully then a local shop will be able to enter the market (without an obligation to give some of your money to the school fund) and you'll have access to all year round schoolwear. Obviously you'll be wanting to keep your existing supplier, too, so that there will be a spot of competition keeping prices reasonable.

Schools are tempted in many ways in their pursuit of extra cash:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14029897

jellyhead

I started a thread, but it's a bit wishy washy

TechnoBadger

jellyhead wrote: »

I had no idea about it. Not many school signed up to it though.

ETA:

I just looked at a random primary school and sizes go to 11-12. Only £8 for a sweatshirt, and £12 for TWO polos!

Cheap but not stunningly so. What do you usually have to pay?