I'm too polite to say this on Facebook but..

[Weasel]

You can apply that logic to anything, though. I bet a few on here enjoy a Bic Mac meal for a fiver a pop in full knowledge that it costs about £1.50 to make (probably less).

At least all the profits from Sheffield United merchandise go into the first team. It's just another way of supporting the club. We're charging the going rate for a replica football shirt for a club of our size/postion, in my opinion. As a completely random example, ours are only £10 more than that of a bog standard League Two team (Bradford City - £45).

We're also charging £4 less than the scrubbers down the road, who are sporting a dismal shirt of dire quality, most likely made by poor souls who spend their days dreaming of a promotion to the sweat shop for chance of a better life. I wonder if Elev8 workers are in a union...

Then the 'going rate' is completely over the top imo. Just because the other clubs rip off their fans with charging £60 for something which probably costs a 6th of that to produce and get on the shelves, doesn't mean that we should follow suit.

I get that all profits from club merchandise supports the club financially. However the whole mark up when the club sells a new kit or 2 every season is ridiculously high. It's just a way of maximising profits and in a way, fleecing the fans. We only have to look across the city to see it taken to another level.

Chansiri tells them that the financial input from the Wendy fans is negligible and that he puts in 95% of the monies required to run the club. Why then wouldn't he put in 96% instead and charge their fans a reasonable amount for match day admission prices instead?

Given the fact that the money which we now get from being in the PL means that the money made from club merchandise and kit sales now amounts to diddily squat, why wouldn't we try to get the kits sold at say £25 instead and get a load more sold?

I get that we need to maximise profits whilst we are lower down the football league chain, but now we are in the PL there really is no need to rip off our own fans. By all means continue to make a small profit on things, but cut down on the profit margin from the normal fan who has been loyal to the club over the years.

The example of a 'Big Mac' is also ludicrous as you don't get your kids asking for the latest McDonald's gear every year which can amount to a few hundred quid. One is a luxury product which is a must have for many a young fan. The other is a poor quality burger which costs bugger all in real terms.

And I don't buy the kits these days (my lads have the retro Blades kits instead) so I'm not being ripped off personally, but my point still stands. Football has always tried to rip off its punters and often get away with it as it is not like a normal business due to fans allegiances.

 

[blade62]

The fact is that it’s often the same factories make the genuine and fake items. My daughter is a clothes and shoe buyer for a large company and she also orders stuff direct from overseas factories for herself.
The fakes can often be the many samples they’ve had to produce for quality checks before doing the full run on the order. The only problem buying direct can be if customs pick them up and charge import duty or seize them. Buyer beware as they say.

 

[TJB.]

Then the 'going rate' is completely over the top imo. Just because the other clubs rip off their fans with charging £60 for something which probably costs a 6th of that to produce and get on the shelves, doesn't mean that we should follow suit.

I get that all profits from club merchandise supports the club financially. However the whole mark up when the club sells a new kit or 2 every season is ridiculously high. It's just a way of maximising profits and in a way, fleecing the fans. We only have to look across the city to see it taken to another level.

Chansiri tells them that the financial input from the Wendy fans is negligible and that he puts in 95% of the monies required to run the club. Why then wouldn't he put in 96% instead and charge their fans a reasonable amount for match day admission prices instead?

Given the fact that the money which we now get from being in the PL means that the money made from club merchandise and kit sales now amounts to diddily squat, why wouldn't we try to get the kits sold at say £25 instead and get a load more sold?

I get that we need to maximise profits whilst we are lower down the football league chain, but now we are in the PL there really is no need to rip off our own fans. By all means continue to make a small profit on things, but cut down on the profit margin from the normal fan who has been loyal to the club over the years.

The example of a 'Big Mac' is also ludicrous as you don't get your kids asking for the latest McDonald's gear every year which can amount to a few hundred quid. One is a luxury product which is a must have for many a young fan. The other is a poor quality burger which costs bugger all in real terms.

And I don't buy the kits these days (my lads have the retro Blades kits instead) so I'm not being ripped off personally, but my point still stands. Football has always tried to rip off its punters and often get away with it as it is not like a normal business due to fans allegiances.

Private companies trying to maximise profits? Imagine my shock!

I don't think my example is ludicrous at all. If putting a large mark-up on products equals ripping off punters, as you suggest, do you not feel that you should direct your anger towards all other instances where this occurs which affect your life? You'll be walking round fuming for a long time if you chose to do so!

Personally I'd rather see the money we get from the Premier League directed towards staying there so that we could earn more money over time and potentially subsidise merchandise prices (and ticket costs) for the foreseeable future, rather than have one season of cheap gear for everyone and dropping back down. Of course you'll say the amount it'd cost to bring the price of merchandise down will be a drop in the ocean in terms of the money we're receiving, but neither of us have an accurate, up-to-date breakdown of the club's finances, nor do we know how much it'd actually cost us to knock £30 off each shirt we sell. There's no point going down that road.

I also don't understand the mentality that we shouldn't seek to maximise profits because we're in the top tier.

 

[leichhardtblade]

Believe it or not Barbara Hulanicki actually did do several ranges for Asda a few years back so the dress will be genuine.

How do I know this?

Because my wife wore a Biba dress at our wedding in 1977 and she still has it, together with the Biba bag it came in.

Biba was Hulanicki's original label but I wouldn't have made the connection if it wasn't for my wife commenting when the Asda range was first publicised.

Your wife has good taste! I loved Biba, especially the makeup - still have an eye pencil that's usable. Class.

 

[Weasel]

Private companies trying to maximise profits? Imagine my shock!

I don't think my example is ludicrous at all. If putting a large mark-up on products equals ripping off punters, as you suggest, do you not feel that you should direct your anger towards all other instances where this occurs which affect your life? You'll be walking round fuming for a long time if you chose to do so!

Personally I'd rather see the money we get from the Premier League directed towards staying there so that we could earn more money over time and potentially subsidise merchandise prices (and ticket costs) for the foreseeable future, rather than have one season of cheap gear for everyone and dropping back down. Of course you'll say the amount it'd cost to bring the price of merchandise down will be a drop in the ocean in terms of the money we're receiving, but neither of us have an accurate, up-to-date breakdown of the club's finances, nor do we know how much it'd actually cost us to knock £30 off each shirt we sell. There's no point going down that road.

I also don't understand the mentality that we shouldn't seek to maximise profits because we're in the top tier.

Then why not charge the fans £100 then or £200 for a kit then? Surely it means even bigger profit margins for the club...? Where do you stop and think perhaps it is ethically wrong to charge something (even though you can if you wanted to maximise profits) instead of perhaps making less and allowing more people to be able to purchase the merchandise?

Just because we could doesn't mean that we should.

And i have no anger to direct in this instance as I am not directly affected. As I stated previously I don't buy football kits for me or mine and thus I'm not being ripped off personally. I probably wouldn't even bother of they were a tenner each as I'm not into them, but a lot of people and their kids are and I would like to see the club be more proactive in trying to make them affordable to the loyal fans.

The club sets the price and that's their prerogative. Then again it's the fans prerogative to buy stuff from elsewhere then if they so wish and the club simply loses out on the money they might have received if they had charged more reasonable prices.

Let's say for example that the club sold 5000 shirts at £60 each. The profit being let's say £45 each. A profit of £225k. Now if we sold em at £30 each the profit is £75k. A difference of £150k. Hardly going to bankrupt the club is it (when we have just banked around £100m) and it is a nice way of thanking the fans. Bearing in mind we would also probably shift a lot more shirts...

 

[benn5712]

Newcastle United chairman 1990's? caught having a laugh. Cost them £5 a shirt and charged £30 odd in the shop.
Was it Fred Shepherd?

 

[TJB.]

Then why not charge the fans £100 then or £200 for a kit then? Surely it means even bigger profit margins for the club...? Where do you stop and think perhaps it is ethically wrong to charge something (even though you can if you wanted to maximise profits) instead of perhaps making less and allowing more people to be able to purchase the merchandise?

Just because we could doesn't mean that we should.

And i have no anger to direct in this instance as I am not directly affected. As I stated previously I don't buy football kits for me or mine and thus I'm not being ripped off personally. I probably wouldn't even bother of they were a tenner each as I'm not into them, but a lot of people and their kids are and I would like to see the club be more proactive in trying to make them affordable to the loyal fans.

The club sets the price and that's their prerogative. Then again it's the fans prerogative to buy stuff from elsewhere then if they so wish and the club simply loses out on the money they might have received if they had charged more reasonable prices.

Because nobody is going to pay £100 or £200 for a replica shirt, The current price reflects the market and what fans are willing to pay, which they must be as plenty of folk have purchased them.

In fairness, where kids are concerned you're most likely correct. I don't have kids myself so I hadn't noticed, but a junior shirt is only a tenner less than an adult shirt, which does seem incredibly steep at £45 a pop. No idea how this compares to the price of junior shirts in previous seasons under Adidas?

 

[Bladesman]

Well sometimes the clubs don’t help themselves, shirts have always been a massive profit opportunity as fans love the shirts and the demand is always high
Don’t they cost the clubs something like £15 a shirt and sell them for £50, but ultimately everyone has a choice, buy original or fake, depends also on what you can afford, especially if you have kids
I personally never buy a shirt, but from what I have seen the fakes look quite impressive

Or wait til after Christmas when they drop the prices of the shirts anyway.

 

[bypassblade]

It’s a luxury product because it’s absolutely unnecessary. (I appreciate kids have a different perspective on this). No adult has to dress up like a footballer to go to a match.

Yes it is a luxury product but, as I said earlier to some fans it's their way of showing their connection to the club personally I haven't liked the last 2 home shirts. Remember the 70's when we had scarves round our head, waist and on wrists looking back on many 70's fashion faux paus we managed to pull off.

 

[Weasel]

Because nobody is going to pay £100 or £200 for a replica shirt, The current price reflects the market and what fans are willing to pay, which they must be as plenty of folk have purchased them.

In fairness, where kids are concerned you're most likely correct. I don't have kids myself so I hadn't noticed, but a junior shirt is only a tenner less than an adult shirt, which does seem incredibly steep at £45 a pop. No idea how this compares to the price of junior shirts in previous seasons under Adidas?

I still go back to my previous point though that just because we could doesn't mean that we should.

The market price might be set as 60quid a shirt but that doesn't make it right, nor does it mean that we are obliged to follow suit.

It would have been excellent PR from the club to sell the shirts cheaper at say £30 and kids shirts at £20 as the club would still be making money, be less likely to see fans buying unofficial merchandise from elsewhere, have a load more fans walking round advertising the club with their shirts, and they had the money this season to take a small financial hit in the name of good publicity.

Each to their own, but I feel it was/is an opportunity lost. Call it a fee for advertising if you want because it would all have been good PR whilst we were in the best position for years to comfortably afford it.

 

[derryblade]

Born in Yorkshire I love a bargain £10 shirt I like, £80+ in club shop, what a decision.

 

[Chief14]

Don’t blame anyone who has kids especially very young kids, price of mini shirts are £45 which for a 2/3/4/5 year old is a bit steep

 

[blade too long]

Good to know some Chinese kids are making these shirts on.40 p a day pay and enjoying a better lifestyle. Mind you that 3 times what the Thai kids making elev8 goods are getting

 

[1889]

Whoever started the wholesale selling of supporters football shirts was a marketing genius. £80 for a shirt every season or £15 for a one off scarf and bobble hat?

The price for an official club football shirt is very expensive, for what it is. If you break down the cost of manufacturing and materials, the profit margin is huge.

The fact that there is such a range in price across different teams and divisions, highlights how teams exploit football supporters. Why, for instance, does a Manchester United shirt cost significantly more to produce than say a Walsall shirt? Surely all football shirts should be of a broadly similar price, whichever club they represent ?

If people want to buy a ‘knock off’ shirt, so what, they are free to spend their money as they wish. They aren’t taking money from the clubs, if they’ve been priced out of buying official merchandise anyway. The fakes and the club shop stock, all originate from the Far East, very possibly from the same factories.

To be honest, I don’t understand the embarrassment factor of being seen wearing a snide football shirt as opposed to the genuine article? Surely, if you’re an adult and not playing football, you shouldn’t really be fucking wearing one anyway, irrespective of its origins.

 

[bypassblade]

Don’t blame anyone who has kids especially very young kids, price of mini shirts are £45 which for a 2/3/4/5 year old is a bit steep

Chief I agree my son just bought his 3 year old daughter one with name on back over 50 quid, I know he loves her and club but it's steep.

 

[Westran]

Donald Trump will put a stop to all this cheap poor quality Chinese shit, with a fair levy on what they produce , they just flood this country with shit , big containers full of shit .

Donald Trump doesn't set levy's for the UK, yet.

 

[Th!stledo]

Good to know some Chinese kids are making these shirts on.40 p a day pay and enjoying a better lifestyle. Mind you that 3 times what the Thai kids making elev8 goods are getting

People like Nike and Adidas give serious amount of money to athletes like Michael Jordan (Nike), Lebron James (Nike), Ronaldo (Nike), Messi (Adidas) to maintain the high brand profile and their high prices for goods that have been made by underpaid workers. I personally would have more respect for clubs whose goods bore the 'Fair Trade' certification.

 

[WhiteHawk]

I've ordered them (home, away & third) mainly out of interest to see what they're like. I've already bought the home & away from the club shop (first time in a long time that I've bought both before they've reduced the price) but there's no way I'm paying £55 for what is last season's away shirt (that's if they even put it on sale).

 

[benn5712]

And didn't Adidas threaten not to supply us with kit if Ched was re-signed?
I would personally have preferred the Blades to find another supplier than be dictated to.

Son's just bought one, £44 with ST discount.
Tanya from BBC Look L###s there so Blades may be on telly this week.

 

[zilpha]

I've ordered them (home, away & third) mainly out of interest to see what they're like. I've already bought the home & away from the club shop (first time in a long time that I've bought both before they've reduced the price) but there's no way I'm paying £55 for what is last season's away shirt (that's if they even put it on sale).

I'd like to see the comparison on these. I'd always go with the official shirts/kits usually but for my kids I'm really not sure they would even care or notice the difference. Given that the kits are changed every seasons these days its a no brainer, I can get them both full kits for less than the price of one shirt. Also the fake kids shirts have the correct Sponsor on them not Utilita.

 

[WhiteHawk]

I'd like to see the comparison on these. I'd always go with the official shirts/kits usually but for my kids I'm really not sure they would even care or notice the difference. Given that the kits are changed every seasons these days its a no brainer, I can get them both full kits for less than the price of one shirt. Also the fake kids shirts have the correct Sponsor on them not Utilita.

I'll post pics once they're delivered. I'm intrigued to see the away one to see the pattern on it is anything like it should be.

 

[bypassblade]

I'd like to see the comparison on these. I'd always go with the official shirts/kits usually but for my kids I'm really not sure they would even care or notice the difference. Given that the kits are changed every seasons these days its a no brainer, I can get them both full kits for less than the price of one shirt. Also the fake kids shirts have the correct Sponsor on them not Utilita.

I asked my son why his daughter had a different sponsor to USG sure he said summat to do with them being a financial firm, and kids under 18 just what I was told.

 

[BrayfordsBushyBeard]

WhiteHawk can you pm details ? Would like a few for a stag do ! Better than chavvy t shirts

 

[diplomat]

Totally get your point about not wanting one's child/children to feel left out, but just can't afford to buy a 'proper' shirt. I know football clubs have to be run as a business and maximise their income from all avenues, but some thought should be given to their less affluent supporters. Would it make sense to have the children shirts vastly discounted and more affordable, after all these are the future paying fans?

Yes, can't follow the logic of adult fans boasting about buying fake shirts showing (fake)support for the club?

Kids kits are a joke. Way too much. It should be about trying to get as many kids in them as possible not a profit margin.

 

[Maidenhead]

Kids kits are a joke. Way too much. It should be about trying to get as many kids in them as possible not a profit margin.

Everything is about a profit margin.

Next you'll be wanting the Premier League to be about football, or something equally ridiculous

 

[Jolly Buffer]

Newcastle United chairman 1990's? caught having a laugh. Cost them £5 a shirt and charged £30 odd in the shop.
Was it Fred Shepherd?

It was kind of what we all knew but he just confirmed it. Him joking about it just rubbed it in further by taking the piss out of the lifeblood of his club. A lesson learned as he didn't know he was being filmed. I think it probably affected other clubs' shirt sales at the time as it highlighted to everyone just what a rip off the shirts are. If anyone wants to spend 55 quid that's their choice but I don't buy them.

 

[BushBlade]

It was kind of what we all knew but he just confirmed it. Him joking about it just rubbed it in further by taking the piss out of the lifeblood of his club. A lesson learned as he didn't know he was being filmed. I think it probably affected other clubs' shirt sales at the time as it highlighted to everyone just what a rip off the shirts are. If anyone wants to spend 55 quid that's their choice but I don't buy them.

The Geordies couldn’t wait to get rid of him. That worked out well.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

Oh the trials and tribulations of supporting an EPL team eh?

I bet the Pigs are so pleased to have their knock off Poundland Nike shirts made by Elev8!




I'm still waiting to see photos of these Blades snide shirts which are soooo bad!

 

[silver blade]

all the people boasting about their £10 Chinese fake Sheffield United shirts in the Sheffield United groups.. they look shit!

If kids are involved, I get it. If you can't afford it, and your kids want a shirt because all their mates have one, you do what you have to do (I'm not judging you... I'd do the same if I had to).

I really do get that, but ... there are grown ass men showing off in Facebook groups that they've beat the system because they got a fake as fuck shirt for a tenner. You're grown ass men ffs! You're showing off to fellow fans that you've ripped off our club. You've contributed to an illegal trade (with all the things that entails including, potentially, child labour).

I haven't worn shirts for many a year (I'll pretend it's because I'm too cool, rather than being due to age and a beer belly), but if I was the type to wear the current shirt, and I'd ordered a dodgy copy, I'd seriously keep that shit to myself and hope nobody noticed rather than broadcasting it all over social media.

Here's a suggestion: either buy an official shirt or don't wear colours at all. You look like a cheapskate wearing that shit!

I think my wife looks hot in her Liverpool one

 

[Professor Yaffle]

If it's true that the club only makes 10% from shirt sales then I'd really have no qualms about buying a fake shirt. The £5.50 is so insignificant to the club I don't know why you're crying about it. Do you feel the same about the people selling knock-off scarves and pins outside the ground?