17 Jun 2013 14:37:16
I went to OT on Saturday to buy my daughter a replica kit (easy Kloot) I do this not only out of tradition but because as I live in Nth Yorkshire I like the fact that when she goes to training she really rams the fact that she supports United down the other kids throats, most of the kids support L'pool, Arsenal, Chelsea and most recently C'teh oh yeah and the odd Leeds fan thrown in, (you know the one that gets locked in their room and made to watch video's of past glory, sorry make that A video) so its not easy for her but she sticks to her guns and let's them have it.

Anyway, we turned up at OT and Scarlett (it's subtle folks I know) was like wow dad who's that statue etc etc as any kid does when they visit OT. As it wasn't as busy I was able to show her some of the free stuff that you can't on match day. It was brill.

Here comes the poor bit, £92 for a replica strip with her name, number 20 and premier league badges on, yes that's right £92, I don't normally buy replica tops as a rule and I might be a little out of touch with prices, but £92. wow. Add to that another Shirt for my son £62 with the name and number plus the cost of travelling and I am shltting it for the day when they both start wanting to frequent the games (both showing a real interest now) because I tell you what folks, it's going to be tough saying no to them, how could i.

1.) 17 Jun 2013
Sorry, that was from me. Dishforth Red.

2.) 17 Jun 2013
It's a joke m8 I went to get my son the baby kit, the shirt wasnt even close to looking like the actuall shirt it is literally a red t-shirt with a stick on badge and no collar. for £30!

3.) 17 Jun 2013
Is your daughters name Elli-George-Charlton-Cantona-Robson-Edwards-Law-Ruud-Rooney- Smith or something and charged per letter? My that is ridiculous, I haven't owned a shirt for years but I had no idea they were that high.
Invisible STuey

4.) 17 Jun 2013
I don't really have any sympathy for you. until people have the good sense to tell them to shove their £92 overpriced kits where the sun don't shine, they'll just keep jacking up the price and those people who keep buying them will be bigger and bigger mugs.

explain to your kids that you can't taken them to the game because the club is trying to rip you off with extortionate ticket prices and you refuse to be a victim of their racket. you could also tell them it doesn't have to be this way but English clubs don't really care about their fans, they just want their money.

Andrew b

5.) 17 Jun 2013
The club would sell a lot more if they were more reasonably priced. I do not own one and I don't have kids so I need not buy any, however I do sympathize with those who buy them.

6.) 17 Jun 2013
For info, the shirt was £40 + £15 for name and number + £7 for Premier league Badges. £20 for the shorts, £10 for the socks.
Only £59. 999. 908 left for Ronaldo, Glazers!

7.) 17 Jun 2013
Andrew, so what you are saying is, break my kids heart and hope that everyone else follows suit! Not going to happen my friend. If I lived back in Manchester, I would be taking them to the game, the Grandparents would still be buying the kit for them so it would be double bubble. Question; have you stopped going because you are being ripped off?
Also explaining to kids aged below 10 is not as easy as you make it sound.
The post wasn't designed to make people sympathise with me, it was just the shock for me to find out first hand how much more expensive the replica kits have become.

8.) 17 Jun 2013
Anyone who's got kids will realize that you have to treat them every now and then. United is a passion you have for the rest of your life, so a shirt is not like a toy they grow out of. AndrewB it is very difficult to say no to your children. And also you'll be waiting a long time if you think united or any of the other clubs are going to change.
Dishforth red, buy them the shirts, let them wear them with honour and be long life Man United fans.
Nomidfield

9.) 17 Jun 2013
I'm going to guess that Andrew has never been to a game and doesn't have kids.

10.) 17 Jun 2013
In terms of going to the games, just try and get to Away games mate, especially against lower EPL clubs the tickets are a little bit cheaper.

Also, Kit prices are mental, especially when as previously mentioned they have stuck on badges for the infant kits. it is mental.

personally, I would try and buy them cheaper classic kits from the 90's. maybe they would be interested in that?

The Moon.

11.) 17 Jun 2013
I have two boys, one 7 and one just 4, got their new kits yesterday, absolute rip off, the youngest kit is nothing like the actual kit, it has a v neck and iron on badge, but they both train with chaddy fc and need a kit to play in, can't see it getting betyer anytime soon, but sports direct do have them at 30% off if that helpd

12.) 17 Jun 2013
Tickets have gone up by a high percentage except for last season and the new one, but my season ticket works out at £37 per game for a fantastic view, to me that is cheap compare to some prem clubs.
johndenton

13.) 18 Jun 2013
GDS and dish forth red.

I've watched utd at OT on many occasions, but I refuse to go anymore because the whole experience is so expensive. I just can't enjoy myself when I know I'm being ripped off.

the situation will continue to get worse as long as people continue to pay whatever the club asks for. if the stadia were half empty and they didn't sell many kits, then they'd have to reduce prices.

in a way you are doing your kids a disservice because you are telling them that these rip off prices are acceptable. you'd be better making the club look like the bad guy in their eyes for making it prohibitive for many ordinary people to go to matches.

you could tell your kids that it doesn't have to be this way because in Germany they have very fairly priced tickets but Manchester United doesn't care about its fans, it just wants to grab as much money as it can.

Andrew b

14.) 18 Jun 2013
LOL are you actually telling people they are raising their kids wrong on a football banter website?

15.) 18 Jun 2013
No name

I'm not telling people how to raise their kids, but people have raised the serious issue of feeling pressured to pay silly prices for club merchanise.

I understand people don't want to let their kids down but by not paying inflated prices its not them that are letting their kids down, it's the club for trying to take the michael in the first place.

Just to put some of the prices into perspective. Minimum wage is £6. 31 an hour. The cheapest season ticket works out at a little under £40 a game. So to afford a match ticket a person on minimum wage would have to work for nearly a whole day and for two whole days to buy one of their kids a replica kit.

That can't be right, surely? Hardly the peoples' game is it?

The clubs are commercial enterprises and as such only understand the bottom line. If people decide their products are too expensive and stop buying them then they will have to reduce their prices. Simple economics! lol!

Everyone has the choice of rejecting the club's offers instead of just blindly accepting them. All I'm suggesting is more people should say no thanks because it's too expensive. Otherwise, prices will just continue to rise. At what point do you draw the line and say enough is enough?

Andrew B