In the last few weeks, there has been a lot of talk about the stadium delays, the significant loss Arsenal took financially this year, and funds for transfers this summer. These financial worries have prompted me to come up with a proposal for my fellow Gunners fans. I propose that we all try to buy most, if not all, of our Arsenal merchandise directly from the club. This way the markup that would go to some retailer would instead go to the club. For some of us, it may cost us more money, but I would rather see the team retain its stars and be financially healthy than have a few extra dollars in my pocket which will probably just be wasted on booze. Anyone with me?
That sounds like a fine idea, but it would be easier to do if Arsenal made their store easier to use for those of us across the pond. This could include currency options. I'm not saying these are necessary, but it would be nice. If Rick or Andrew or someone who has connections within the club could bring this up to them, maybe they could do something about it.
I've actually been trying to get the name of the merchandise person to speak with them. I'll bring this up.
I could not agree more with comments about it being nearly impossible to purchase directly from the club if you're state-side. I went on to the club website over a month ago to try to order some training gear and could not even get a log in number to make a purchase. I e-mailed the club to inquire as to what I was doing wrong, how to order, etc., and received no response. I will gladly throw in my few pounds worth toward the goal of getting another center back but the club needs to make this easier to do. Any help/advice from fellow supporters would certainly be appreciated.
I'll be the first to admit that I've bought my share of arsenal branded merchandise the last 9 years, but I don't think that I have ordered more than twice from the club directly. For me these are the following reasons: as previously mentioned, the club's website and the selection are both pretty poor. I have on the other hand ordered numerous times from both subside or soccerbox mainly because of their low shipping charges which range from 3 GBP for a single shirt to 8.50 GBP for unlimited and you receive your order airmailed within a week normally (soccerbox). This service just can't be compared to Arsenal's shop which charges 25.00 GBP for basically any order and can take a month getting here. I am not really surprised that people aren't ordering from Arsenal directly. Having said that, I wish things with their merchandising division would change that would allow us overseas to order from Arsenal directly. Is a 25.00 GBP shipping charge really necessary? Also, stock more items. When I went to the Finsbury Park shop last October, it was about three weeks or so after the new Fall/Winter catalog had come out and they were already our of about half the stuff in the catalog. Permanently out. Frankly, I'm more upset with the way we handle merchandise/marketing. Just look at our two shops, they're complete crap. Then compare them to chelscum's shop which is absolute class. Our shops never have anything in stock, the people who work there either don't know anything or aren't interested. Would it be that disastrous to open up a merch shop in the busy tourist districts like oxford or piccadilly to give the AFC brand more exposure. For example: the new catalogue is due out soon, but until a week ago the mail order department didn't know exactly when it was going to be out. Furthermore there hasn't been any hype regarding the new away kit. Remember the circus which surrounded the new manc nike lline last summer? It was as if Jesus was finally coming down. I have yet to see any press releases regarding the new kit. Nike may see us as a second rate ambassador for their brand now that they have the mancs, but can we really blame them the way we promote our own brand? Just a thought.
Ok, so far there are four issues here: lack of stock, difficulty in shopping through the site, high shipping costs, and currency options. jwaldman, I agree that currency options would be nice, but I don't know how likely we are to see that. Well, the only way to find out if any of these difficulties can be resolved is to bring them to the attention of the club. I don't know how effective it would be coming from me, as I have no affiliation with them. Maybe from 442?
As always, there are some good points being raised here. I feel that the merchandising and promotion of the club is rather weak at times. The largest toy shop in the world, "Hamleys", right in the heart of London has a "Man. Ure". section. Why not Arsenal, "London's Pride"!? No wonder we are losing out so much to "Merchandise United". Where are our links with someone like the Yankees. When are we going to feature in a major opposition tournament in the USA? As for getting goods, as ever, I have no problem with bringing stuff over, and either personally deliver it (as with "G.Rex") or post it within the USA upon arrival. My next trip begins on 2nd July in VA. and then up to MN. I'm not sure if the new kit will be on sale by then, (probably not), but I'm sure that I can accommodate most people. In the meantime I will speak with people at the club on this topic of merchandise and the "USA Connection".
Jeff, I'll have to talk to you about the possibility of bringing over an infant kit for me this trip. I'm going to need it in Oct.! Erika
I know the club should always look to increase it's options of generating revenue, but the way some things are run over there is almost illogical. Case in point: has AFC's decision to charge for the radio webcast really a good idea? How many people are turned off by the idea and how many people who may have been on the verge of becoming a fan are shut out. I remember in the older days before we could get FSW here in the states, the webcasts were really the only way to follow the team live. Maybe its no longer a concern since there is the tv outlet now. But nonetheless even the English fans are upset at what they perceive is an attempt to squeeze more money out of them. Anyways, believe it or not, the US is a gold mine. There are more people with expendible income than anywhere else in the world. Besides, Americans love the essence of exclusivity. To just be a part of a club, but you have to give the opportunity to people to know you. Don't wait for champions world to organize a preseason or postseason tour, do it yourself. United wins every way you look at it with their tour. They give their brand exposure, they'll get the press coverage, they'll make more fans who will spend money in the future buying merchandise stamped with their ugly logo, and they'll make money directly from the tour. Even Villa and NUFC have come stateside in the last few years. Not to mention AC Milan who was here last May and is here again this year as well as Real, Celtic, Barcelona, Roma. Basically every big club. What about AFC? This is precisely why 442's drive over the last year and a half in organizing a supporters club over here is so critical as is Lancaster's efforts to bridge the gap between us and the club. Most English fans don't give a crap about fans in America and who can blame them at times when they see the quality of pundits such as ty keogh or tommy smith. However, it is important to have our presence felt.
I believe the purchase problem, at least for me, is solely influenced by shipping costs. Arsenal had free shipping for ten days once and I spent several hundred dollars on cups, pins, badges etc. things I didnt need but knew I would never be able to get otherwise. To spend 20 USD for a shirt and then spend almost 38 USD for shipping is usually a deterrant for me.
I encourage all of you to vent here. I will take this laundry list and compile it for the people at Arsenal. When the season ends I am going to try to have discussions with several people in the Arsenal front office including marketing, website and supporters liaisons. Please also check out arsenalamerica.com today. There is a note from webmaster Andrew asking for your help. Thanks, Rick
Shipping cost is definitely one thing that influences my buying, although I have to say that I did spend around $25 to get my jersey over here, between shipping and customs (and DHL charging $4 extra for the "handling" of a $3 customs charge). But I still don't want to have to spend $20 on shipping for an order under $30 (converting from GBP to $). That was the main reason why I didn't order off of Arsenal's online store. Well, that and it was shut down for two weeks when they moved their warehouses, so I couldn't order from them anyway. Also, them telling you directly "it might not be there for a month" is sort of stupid. When I order things online, I don't expect it to take more than a week to be delivered, if it's in stock. Even when I ordered my Bergkamp shirt off of Kitbag, which is based over in the UK, I still got it in a week. I wouldn't mind paying the high shipping costs if there was some guarantee of service, but unless they're hand-making my shirt and dying it with the blood of Sir Alex, I won't do it. One of the other things that influenced me to buy off of Kitbag was price. Arsenal's prices actually are pretty good for a team shop, which usually is just another way to say "maximum price". But Kitbag gave a 10% discount to people who clicked on their banner on Soccernet.com, which saved me another $10 or so. I'm a bargain hunter anyway, and that was nice to get. In the end, even after shipping and customs, it was still cheaper to buy it from Kitbag than it was to buy it from BigSoccer. Maybe Arsenal can have some kind of discount for ArsenalAmerica members or just have a period of free shipping or sales just for people who are signed up at ArsenalAmerica.com. I will say that one of the nice surprises in my mailbox last year was receiving the Arsenal catalog, even if they did butcher my name and address. I still look at it every once in awhile and am amazed that a club would incur that kind of cost to mail it all over the world. They definitely should keep that up.
I agree that it is ideal to purchase direct from Arsenal if at all possible. I do so, but can't blame anyone if they do otherwise, for reasons already noted. My wife blessed me with some goodies for my birthday last October direct from Arsenal. What simply wasn't fair is how much she paid in postage, and that I was at the Finsbury Park store just three weeks later. The shipping she paid was around 1/8 what my flight cost. It would be great if they made more strides to facilitate the finanical support of North American supporters, ideally through ArsenalAmerica.
well guys I just received the new spring/summer catalog in the mail today and although I'm dissapointed that the new away kit isn't being shown, I can tell you that the release date is August 7th. Slightly better news is that the shipping rates have been reduced: under 20 GBP carries a 10 GBP charge while orders above 20 carry a flat charge of 18 GBP down from 25 GBP. Still to high, but its an improvement.