School Supply pre-order

[Alexander]

Our school offers this but the price is lower (around $30 with two dollars going to the PTA). I've priced it out in the past and it is always cheaper for me to shop myself. Also, my kids LOVE to pick out their own folders and notebooks instead of generic/unisex colors. When I see a good deal on supplies, I buy extra so that we are stocked for the year. I hate paying full price for crayons in January when I can get them for $.25 a box in August! I'm also a total "pencil snob" and only buy Ticonderoga pencils which are the best ever made (easy to sharpen, good erasers, write well) but are not offered in our kits (I buy them at Costco for much less than regular stores). That said, the kits are a total convenience for my friends who have a lot of children or are working and don't want to waste time shopping at different stores for the best deals.

Yes! I am not the only one! I cannot stand cheap pencils!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Don't bother.

I tried it twice and the 2nd time they didn't even have all the stuff in the box that was supposed to be there. I had to keep contacting the company to get the missing items. It drove me nuts but I finally did get the missing items. I had already replaced them because they were needed right away.

Plus there were still items on the teacher list that I still had to go out and buy.

 

[averysmom]

Our school does bulk purchase - but it's not optional...there is no option ot purchase your own supplies. It covered everything but backpack, shoes and kleenex. I think I paid 30 for each child, and then an additional 20 for school fees - I thought it was reasonable.

 

[Swimalie]

Our school offers this for $30 with an optional $10 additional package. I have been able to buy the same items for about $20 (incl additional). Also, the quality that our school supply sends is not good. The ziploc bags rip and the kleenex aren't great either. I can buy name brands that will last longer.

 

[mjmartin01]

our school district does this but the packs are $70! I know I can shop by myself for waaay less then that. I don't EVER plan on purchasing these packs

 

[bpesch]

Never heard of this before. I guess it would be good for someone with time issues and a big budget. But I found shopping sales for school supplies cuts the prices way down, so it wouldn't be for me.

 

[ekatiel]

our school district does this but the packs are $70! I know I can shop by myself for waaay less then that. I don't EVER plan on purchasing these packs

I thought I was going to be the winner @ $65 per kid. You beat me . I have actually shelled it out for the past two years, when I only had one in school. Now my younger DS is starting kinder, and I can't seem to stomach $130 for the two to get supplies. I'll be shopping the sales this year ! --Katie

 

[senoragilbert]

The past two years, I have been doing this, thinking I was doing the school a favor. I looked more closely this year (since we now have more glue sticks, pencils, and highlighters than we could possibly use next year) and realized that the school does NOT add a percentage, so they get NOTHING, it's just a "convenience" for the parents. I will not be doing it again. So if your school is using it as a fundraiser, it might be worth it, but if not, you could probably do just as well by picking one store with several of the list items on sale.

Another thought...get the Sunday paper and circle the lowest price items from all the circulars, then bring them over to WalMart, they'll probably price match. That way, you still only shop one store but get a great deal.

 

[Poohforyou]

Our PTO does this as a fund raiser. My DD will be going into 8th grade and I think the cost is $60. For me it would be worth it just to not have to bother to shop but DD likes to pick out her own things. I think they build in $10-15 as profit. Most parents here are really busy with careers, after school activities, multiple children and jump at the chance to cross something off the list even if it costs a little more.

 

[abolanwoski]

Our school offers it, but I never use it. I always have so much of the stuff around the house (left over glue sticks, unused pencils and unopened crayons) and then a few weeks before school, I just go to Target where EVERYTHING is on sale and get the few things left on the list. I can't be bothered with driving from sale to sale, but haven't needed to so far.