Cub Scout uniform...>HOLY MOLY!

[cjnix29]

We just moved, and I wanted to get DS involved in cub scouts to help him with the transition. We have never done it before. Went to get his uniform, tried to order it online, it was $90! Oh my gosh!!!!! Outrageous!!! Anyone have any tips to get it cheaper? I have tried to find it on craigslist, but only found a hat. That is one thing I will definitely buy him new. But the rest....Ugh!

 

[mjkacmom]

Does he need the whole uniform? When my boys did scouting, they just needed a shirt (which we bought big, to get many years out of it), and the neck scarf thing (I'm sure it has a name).

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Which year is he in. I have a few uniform pieces my boys have outgrown, and we are in West Michigan...

Also, in my den (I'm a den leader), I don't ask the boys to have the whole uniform. They really only need the shirt and neckerchief.

If you buy a shirt, get a large short sleeved one. They can wear if for a few years, and in the winter they can just wear a long sleeve shirt under it.

 

[cjnix29]

He is a wolf. Shirt, neckerchief, plus the patches, and hat. and the handbook. Good ideas on getting the shirt big!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

As others have said- boys here only wear the shirt and neckerchief. When I wasn cubmaster (eg leader for the town), I even said not to worry about the slide (scarf holder). I hate the BSA ones, they are always losing them. My pack just made their own. I also had a beef with hats as most of our meetings were indoors, and they shouldn't be wearing hats indoors. (I never bought my son a scout hat and he's almost an Eagle scout now.)

If your scout shop is anything like ours though, they will tell you they "have" to have everything down to BSA underwear, lol.

You can also ask if there are any outgrown ones within the pack. We had some we just passed on down through the ranks/sizes. (Nice thing there too, most of the insignia patches may still be on. Again, check what the pack typically does so you're not buying more than you have to of those, either.) Some councils also have a stash of "experienced" uniforms if the uniform would be a financial hardship. (Not sure if that is the case here or just sticker shock, lol) You would need to ask someone in the office, NOT someone in the scout shop.

As said, short sleeve and buy big.

It is crazy, but then I look too at my daughter and the $65 dance recital costume every year. At least with the scout uniforms, they're wearing it every week and for multiple years!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I just checked my box. I only have the tiger stuff left. I already gave away the wolf stuff. Well, next year I'll have the bear things up for grabs.

I got together with our Cub Master, and he made an announcement at a pack meeting that if anyone had used uniform pieces they weren't using they could donate them back to the pack. Most people don't want to save them, and a lot of people brought stuff in to the next meeting. So we started a kind of pack closet to help people out.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

I got DS's shirt and stuff off of ebay. It took a little while to find something for a good price, but not too long. So maybe check there?

We're lucky, our troop isn't overly picky about everything, I think we still need to get his scarf thing.

 

[JB2K]

We just moved, and I wanted to get DS involved in cub scouts to help him with the transition. We have never done it before. Went to get his uniform, tried to order it online, it was $90! Oh my gosh!!!!! Outrageous!!! Anyone have any tips to get it cheaper? I have tried to find it on craigslist, but only found a hat. That is one thing I will definitely buy him new. But the rest....Ugh!

Former Cub Scout, here. Uniforms were expensive in 1972, and it appears that is still the case, today.

The main reason is that the uniforms are "specialty wear" not commonly sold at national retailers (such as Walmart or Sears).

You mentioned CL, but have you tried eBay? Also, thrift stores are known to carry CS uniforms, too...

 

[JB2K]

BTW, the "neck scarf thing" is called a neckerchief (and the metal part is called a "neckerchief slide").

Hope this helps.

 

[cjnix29]

I just checked my box. I only have the tiger stuff left. I already gave away the wolf stuff. Well, next year I'll have the bear things up for grabs.

I got together with our Cub Master, and he made an announcement at a pack meeting that if anyone had used uniform pieces they weren't using they could donate them back to the pack. Most people don't want to save them, and a lot of people brought stuff in to the next meeting. So we started a kind of pack closet to help people out.

Thanks for checking! I appreciate it!

 

[maggiew]

I bought my DDs brownie outfit on eBay.

Maggie

 

[Piper]

Go to thrift stores....goodwill, salvation army, purple heart. That is where I used to buy my kiddos uniforms for both boy and girl scouts. They could get everything they needed for less than 1 peice would cost retail!!

 

[dawson5]

I thought our Dunham's carried some things also, not patches or scarves though. I remember they had the cookbook my son needed for camp (he didn't listen and didn't know that the troop already had these all he had to do was ask.). I have three boys and a hubby who all did scouts, at one time I had four guys in blue shirts.

I have to ask, why are you ordering online? Does your area have a scout shop? If he is new to this, he needs to achieve the previous ranks to be able to put the patches on. Your troop should supply some of these as part of the dues. This is the way our troop worked at least. When they moved up in rank, they were given the new kerchief. We only had to purchase the shirt, slide and book, they gave us the council patch, numbers and patch for each achievement.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not sure if you can hold out--but if you have one of those very large kid's consignment sales that occur once or twice a year, I recall seeing a few scouting pieces at one.

My next sale is in spring, but I had just checked their website this morning and they don't have it up yet. It should be March/April.

You might also check any Kid's consignment stores, get on a freecycle list and put out a request and see if anyone has any to give away.

And thrift stores as has been suggested.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I thought our Dunham's carried some things also, not patches or scarves though. I remember they had the cookbook my son needed for camp (he didn't listen and didn't know that the troop already had these all he had to do was ask.). I have three boys and a hubby who all did scouts, at one time I had four guys in blue shirts.

I have to ask, why are you ordering online? Does your area have a scout shop? If he is new to this, he needs to achieve the previous ranks to be able to put the patches on. Your troop should supply some of these as part of the dues. This is the way our troop worked at least. When they moved up in rank, they were given the new kerchief. We only had to purchase the shirt, slide and book, they gave us the council patch, numbers and patch for each achievement.

There is a Scout shop in the area, but I think the prices online are the same. You can call the scout shop to order, and they will send stuff to you.

Some Dunhams still has the stuff, but again the prices aren't any better.

I think ordering online is just easier than traveling to the out of the way Scout shop.

 

[DVCBELLE]

We just went through the same thing...

My DH isn't working and after searching high and low for a good deal - I finally found out that you can ask your leader for one if you are not able to afford one. It was hard for me to do but we just didn't have the disposable income.

 

[dawson5]

There is a Scout shop in the area, but I think the prices online are the same. You can call the scout shop to order, and they will send stuff to you.

Some Dunhams still has the stuff, but again the prices aren't any better.

I think ordering online is just easier than traveling to the out of the way Scout shop.

You might be able to sign up for Dunham's deals and get a % off. I guess we are spoiled, our scout shops have always been within 10 minutes of home. Gas and time were less than shipping for us.

Another thought, our troops have always offered troop t-shirts that we could wear at times when the blue shirt was not required. Ours were allowed to wear them for some of the meetings, might want to inquire if this is an option. Especially as you've said he hasn't done this before. Would hate to go through the whole process just to find out he hates it. (not just the ordering and cash out of pocket but the sewing on of those patches. I hated doing that.)

 

[3boymthr]

Prices online and in any store are exactly the same and they are not allowed to offer discounts unless the items have been discontinued. But double check with your scout shop because they did just discontinue a bunch of stuff.

One thing to be wary of when ordering online. I ordered some stuff from them online and it took 6 weeks to arrive. Plus the shipping charges are steep.

 

[pennymom]

I haven't read all of the replies yet, but check with the Leader to see is your Pack has a box of outgrown uniforms...some do. Check Ebay, Goodwill, etc. also, but be careful what you buy because if someone used 'patch magic' or an adhesive to attach the patches it can be VERY difficult to get their patches off and yours on and still have it look nice.

Also, in some packs like ours, all the boys have to have is a shirt and hat (and a belt if you choose to). The Pack gives them all patches, neckerchief, slide and book as long as they have participated in the fundraisers.

Good luck, and I hope your DS loves Scouts as much as mine do!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

You might be able to sign up for Dunham's deals and get a % off. I guess we are spoiled, our scout shops have always been within 10 minutes of home. Gas and time were less than shipping for us.

Our Scout shop is a 45 minute drive from our house. Even Dunham's is about 30 minutes from our house, but we live out in the middle of nowhere!