New Kit 2010 / 11 ?

[KONSPIRACY]

I'd do all my weekly shopping from the Villa shop if I could. I'd rather profits from my purchases go to the club I support than any other business.

As discussed in the merch thread I made, sports shops stock items to sell at profit, and that is why you see the Sky4 shirts more than Villa shirts. Why should I increase their profits when it could go to an institution I actually care about just to save a couple of quid (which I'd probably spend on petrol getting to that shop in the first place?)

[pauliewalnuts]

I think there was a point in the last 20 odd years at which the balance between us being "fans" and us being "customers" tipped towards the latter.

I'm not pointing the finger of blame at one body / organisation / group of people in particular, but I suspect it was a combination of:

Clubs seeing fan loyalty as something to be exploited financially as much as possibly.

Ticket prices going through the roof - which is a reflection of the above on the part of the clubs

Ticket prices also have the knock on effect that, when paying 40 odd quid for a ticket, the supporter is going to have a different mindset towards the club and different expectations for what he wants to see from his 90 mins of football every other week.

Television companies spending huge amounts for football rights, and as a result expecting (not surprisingly) to be calling the shots when it comes to fixture scheduling. How many times have we seen this issue raised on here? There's no doubt whatsoever that convenience of supporters is right at the bottom of that list.

We're no more guilty than any other club in the above (in fact, in many ways, we're less guilty), but if we're to be treated as "customers" rather than "fans", then that surely has to work both ways?

If we're going to change our shirt every year and charge 40 quid for it, then I'm surprised anyone would spurn a chance of buying it at the most convenient place (price / location) rather than from the club.

Incidentally, in the subjects covered above, the one thing I really wish had happened was that that huge influx of television money had gone towards (possibly through some PL legislation) subsidising / pegging ticket prices at reasonable levels rather than directly into the pockets of the players.

That would have been much more sensible. Too sensible.

[maidstonevillain]

Or he can go to JJB and hand it to the likes of Dave Whelan*

*Yes, I know he has stepped down and they only sell Sky 4 anyway, but you get my point.

If you want a top, then buying from the Villa is the better option.

Or you can buy it from the cheapest place possible and - here's a  novel idea - keep more of your own money.

Or send it to Acorns

[pauliewalnuts]

I'd do all my weekly shopping from the Villa shop if I could

"What's for dinner, Dad?"

"Carling Cup Final commemorative chocolates, son"

[Brend'Watkins]

Buying anything is an emotional decision that is why some people are drawn by loyalty to purchase at the club shop while some others will get their shirt or whatever from the cheapest outlet they can as the emotion for them is to have more cash to buy other stuff such as crusty beer at the Barton's when really they could go to a Weatherspoons and get the same thing cheaper.  

Fortunately for all of us buying decisions are not always based purely on the price.

[Dave Cooper please]

Do you think that it might be because people think of themselves as fans not customers? That they understand that commercial success is important to the club and that merchandising is an important aspect of that? So by spending money at the club shop they feel that are helping the team that they support?

Yes. Exactly.
Which is why I said that football is totally unlike any other business.
It commands customer (fan) loyalty like no other.

I'm not having a go at anyone who would rather pay more for the same goods, heck I did it for long enough!

[KONSPIRACY]

Any news on the new shirt or sponsors then? ;)

[JJ-AV]

I'd do all my weekly shopping from the Villa shop if I could

"What's for dinner, Dad?"

"Carling Cup Final commemorative chocolates, son"

Quality, I've just been in stitches for 5 minutes.

[Deano's Mullet]

I've got my last few shirts from Sports Direct. They were cheaper.

Credit Crunch and all that...

Me too. They sent me a huge tea mug too.

[bob]

I've got my last few shirts from Sports Direct. They were cheaper.

Credit Crunch and all that...

Me too. They sent me a huge tea mug too.

You mean you don't drink from a Villa mug? You're a disgrace!

There's one of those mugs at work. They're too big.

[Deano's Mullet]

I've got my last few shirts from Sports Direct. They were cheaper.

Credit Crunch and all that...

Me too. They sent me a huge tea mug too.

You mean you don't drink from a Villa mug? You're a disgrace!

There's one of those mugs at work. They're too big.

i have two Villa mugs. One which i bought after the Agent Ridgewell game which features a Blues shirt, washing up powder and a Villa shirt! Also got one with the 1982 squad on.

[PaulTheVillan]

Shite.

[Lv]

thats awful.. lol^

[KONSPIRACY]

Looks like a Sunday league kit.

[TimTheVillain]

Looks like a Sunday league kit.

You wonder who to blame, them or the club who must have a massive say in the design etc.

Personally speaking, I like Puma kits these days.