Uniform Prices
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Uniform Prices
Hey have any other currently serving folks spotted the MAHOOSIVE increase in uniform costs since April?! Just been to clothing stores, shirts have doubled in price (for identical item), Oxford shoes have gone up from £47 to £130!!!!!!! Can we expect a doubling of our tax allowance to compensate? Jog on.......
(and no, I'm not feeling 'valued' yet....)
(and no, I'm not feeling 'valued' yet....)
Oxford shoes - try www.samuel-windsor.co.uk/
or www.savilerowco.com (no connection). Big discounts and SWs shoes are excellent
or www.savilerowco.com (no connection). Big discounts and SWs shoes are excellent
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Last time I tried to get Oxpats in stores they only had Size 14 because all the others were withdrawn due to the rubber patches falling off the soles (so they said). Maybe they've sourced some decent ones and the price reflects this (+ a significant mark-up).
Anyway, wasn't there talk of free uniforms for all? The tax relief is OK for a few shirts a year and the odd pair of trousers/DMS shoes, but as soon as anything significant needs replacing, it's nowhere near.
STH
Anyway, wasn't there talk of free uniforms for all? The tax relief is OK for a few shirts a year and the odd pair of trousers/DMS shoes, but as soon as anything significant needs replacing, it's nowhere near.
STH
Would explain the rubber sole falling out of my Oxpats after just 6 months. Didn't pay the silly price quoted so the idea that the replacements will cost £130 is just mad.
Can we treat stores like any other shop and return stuff that is clearly not up to the job and demand a refund / replacement?
Can we treat stores like any other shop and return stuff that is clearly not up to the job and demand a refund / replacement?
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Guys ...
Just did a random search ... How about £10.95 a pop for a shirt ?
MANS ROYAL AIR FORCE BLUE SHIRT
They also do DMS Shoes at £44.95 a pop ...
Looks like MOD Supplier kit.
Best
Coff.
Just did a random search ... How about £10.95 a pop for a shirt ?
MANS ROYAL AIR FORCE BLUE SHIRT
They also do DMS Shoes at £44.95 a pop ...
Looks like MOD Supplier kit.
Best
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 28th Jun 2013 at 16:24.
Eddie Bedford in Newark was my favoured outfitter.
This was after I threatened one of the "official" outfitters with court action following a dispute over an item paid for in cash that turned up 18 months later on my account.
I let them go though all the litany of increasingly offensive letters, always replying protesting my innocence, before finally producing the receipt.
No apology of course.
I never could understand why I had some flunky draw around my foot for the "fitting" of my OP shoes.
These, then, after great cost to my uniform allowance, turned up stamped "SIZE 10".
This was after I threatened one of the "official" outfitters with court action following a dispute over an item paid for in cash that turned up 18 months later on my account.
I let them go though all the litany of increasingly offensive letters, always replying protesting my innocence, before finally producing the receipt.
No apology of course.
I never could understand why I had some flunky draw around my foot for the "fitting" of my OP shoes.
These, then, after great cost to my uniform allowance, turned up stamped "SIZE 10".
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
JJ et al, the uniform tax relief is a deal made between the MOD and HMRC. It is not part of your pay.
I suggest you do the following:
Get stores to give you a price for every item of basic uniform clothing from head to foot. Then ask them the expected life of each item. Then calculate the cost of replacement of all the items over the longest period.
For instance, say a wooly pulley lasts 5 years, shirts 2, shoes 18 months, then add up the cost of one pulley, 8 shirts, 3.5 pairs of shoes etc. Divide by the longest period and you get an annual replacement cost.
When I did this sum it was near the £367 that it was until a couple of years ago. In other words I was getting my full entitlement of tax relief. Other items such as No 1s, 5s, SD Hat etc are extras.
Then, if you file a tax return you can claim the additional cost of routine items over the basic relief given at source. Then if you replace the extra items claim their cost too. Keep receipts for everything should the tax man challenge.
In addition to the replacement costs you can also claim maintenance costs. Keep dry cleaning bills, and it you really want to go there, calculate the cost of laundry items as well.
In Mrs PN's case her union agree relief was £18 per year. We claimed around £200 to cover daily laundry and ironing (she was a nurse and sometimes had several changes in a day). They paid without demur.
If you live in a growbag day in and day out then morally you should not try and claim more. You certainly can't claim growbag laundry costs as these should be laundered at work as should all dirty work clothes - H&S would you believe.
I suggest you do the following:
Get stores to give you a price for every item of basic uniform clothing from head to foot. Then ask them the expected life of each item. Then calculate the cost of replacement of all the items over the longest period.
For instance, say a wooly pulley lasts 5 years, shirts 2, shoes 18 months, then add up the cost of one pulley, 8 shirts, 3.5 pairs of shoes etc. Divide by the longest period and you get an annual replacement cost.
When I did this sum it was near the £367 that it was until a couple of years ago. In other words I was getting my full entitlement of tax relief. Other items such as No 1s, 5s, SD Hat etc are extras.
Then, if you file a tax return you can claim the additional cost of routine items over the basic relief given at source. Then if you replace the extra items claim their cost too. Keep receipts for everything should the tax man challenge.
In addition to the replacement costs you can also claim maintenance costs. Keep dry cleaning bills, and it you really want to go there, calculate the cost of laundry items as well.
In Mrs PN's case her union agree relief was £18 per year. We claimed around £200 to cover daily laundry and ironing (she was a nurse and sometimes had several changes in a day). They paid without demur.
If you live in a growbag day in and day out then morally you should not try and claim more. You certainly can't claim growbag laundry costs as these should be laundered at work as should all dirty work clothes - H&S would you believe.
Can we treat stores like any other shop and return stuff that is clearly not up to the job and demand a refund / replacement?
My answer was to get a pair of trousers a size too big and long in the hope that they last 12 months rather than the usual 6. Alternatively, as I am working in an Army heavy HQ environment, I suspect I could get away with wearing PCS. Whilst more than happy to pay for uniform, if the MOD persists in flogging cheap tat that isn't fit for purpose, I may well just go into PCS permanently, only digging blues out as required.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
If the care label says dry clean then they sound like the cr^p M&S used to sell (we always check M&S care labels). If the label says machine wash then Stores are liable just like any other outlet.
IIRC I have once in the dim and distant past had an exchange.
If the label is dry clean, and you chose that route, then add the dry cleaning bills (keep receipts) to your tax expenses.
But I remember a time when you could not buy the stuff from stores and bought it off a snooker table in the Mess from one of the itinerate military tailors.
IIRC I have once in the dim and distant past had an exchange.
If the label is dry clean, and you chose that route, then add the dry cleaning bills (keep receipts) to your tax expenses.
But I remember a time when you could not buy the stuff from stores and bought it off a snooker table in the Mess from one of the itinerate military tailors.
PN,
The label says dry clean OR machine wash as wool. But clearly putting them anywhere near a washing machine cuses them to shrink. Apparently the new Army FAD trousers are the same as our trousers ... I wonder if there will be an increase in quality as a result.
The label says dry clean OR machine wash as wool. But clearly putting them anywhere near a washing machine cuses them to shrink. Apparently the new Army FAD trousers are the same as our trousers ... I wonder if there will be an increase in quality as a result.
Last edited by Melchett01; 28th Jun 2013 at 22:06.
But I remember a time when you could not buy the stuff from stores and bought it off a snooker table in the Mess from one of the itinerate military tailors.
"They're burning some poor sod's uniform", he was heard to remark, as he watched it go up in flames.
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I left in 2009 and just before then there was a feedback system for crap uniform called Threads (I think). I don't know if their submission achieves anything individually, but you would hope that if everyone uses them as intended it would highlight shoddy kit? I submitted one against the DMS shoes issued around 2002 when they went slightly pointier in the toe and ended up nearly crippling me just through normal daily wear.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TTN, I am surprised it lasted that long. My initial issue trousers wore out half way through initial training. As it happens I was picked up to do a visit to my old school as ADC to Sir Gus Walker. I took a few minutes out to visit the old SSI and swap my old pair for a new pair.
Not long after that we all got our Barathea No 2s which lasted a good few years as after training I got a V-force zuit suit.
PS,
Back on the OP, I remember the initial issue of black socks. Two pairs of practically indestructible heavy duty ones and two pairs of lighter ones for use with shoes. The lightweight ones were, I think, about 1951 vintage and 10 years old. Holding the grip top firmly and pulling them on the top simply parted from the sock.
I had to buy some new ones from my clothing allowance. These were a nylon mix and I still have one pair, now vintage, that are still near perfect except for one hole in the upper part. I shall be putting them on eBay in 2021, their 50th birthday. [I just sold my grandfather's toiletry case on eBay even though it was falling to bits].
Not long after that we all got our Barathea No 2s which lasted a good few years as after training I got a V-force zuit suit.
PS,
Back on the OP, I remember the initial issue of black socks. Two pairs of practically indestructible heavy duty ones and two pairs of lighter ones for use with shoes. The lightweight ones were, I think, about 1951 vintage and 10 years old. Holding the grip top firmly and pulling them on the top simply parted from the sock.
I had to buy some new ones from my clothing allowance. These were a nylon mix and I still have one pair, now vintage, that are still near perfect except for one hole in the upper part. I shall be putting them on eBay in 2021, their 50th birthday. [I just sold my grandfather's toiletry case on eBay even though it was falling to bits].
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 30th Jun 2013 at 10:43.
These were a nylon mix and I still have one pair, now vintage, that are still near perfect except for one hole in the upper part. I shall be putting them on eBay in 2021, their 50th birthday. [I just sold my grandfather's toiletry case on eBay even though it was falling to bits].
Last edited by BEagle; 1st Jul 2013 at 15:13.
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Further to the quality of army vs airforce uniform issue -
After ww2 Dickins and Jones of Sloane St were selling US army airforce surplus battledress tops and trousers - being almost identical to British issue with the big difference that the US quality, cut fit and attention to detail were absolutely superb. Photos exist in various books showing the late General Montgomery dressed in US ARMY kit although most probably assumed the photo showed him wearing British issue. Not sure if present day items of US airforce issue would match RAF shades but there may still be a well known forces surplus store near Euston Rd that may be worth a visit for some items.
After ww2 Dickins and Jones of Sloane St were selling US army airforce surplus battledress tops and trousers - being almost identical to British issue with the big difference that the US quality, cut fit and attention to detail were absolutely superb. Photos exist in various books showing the late General Montgomery dressed in US ARMY kit although most probably assumed the photo showed him wearing British issue. Not sure if present day items of US airforce issue would match RAF shades but there may still be a well known forces surplus store near Euston Rd that may be worth a visit for some items.