I ventured into Super Soccer at Kinnaird Park and picked up a new Hibs away top. I wasnae going to bother, I'd got used to paying £40 [Or not paying £40] but my mate says did you hear? This sports shop is selling the Hibs tops for £25!!! And £18 for bairns.

I want to get one before they sell out, because when they do; you aint going to be able to get one for love nor money because you can sure that Le Coq wont be making any more. Just going by past experience likesay.

So what's all the fuss about? Well it's simply really. Buy an adult Hibs top from Sports Soccer for £25 or from the official club shop for £40. That means that the club shop is 60% more expensive. But here's the really hard bit to take. Buy a children's top at Sports Soccer and it will cost you £18. Complete with Sponsors logo. That same top will cost you a whopping £33 from the club shop making it 83% more expensive. Interestingly the differential is £15 for both tops. I wonder what the significance of that is? The jerseys are produced in the far East, so it's difficult to believe they cost a great deal to produce.

Now, I know all the reasons/sob stories for why the club is more expensive and how it benefits the club if you buy direct, but come on guys: we arenae talking about a fiver or a couple of pints: we're talking a disturbing proportion of the cost. If you didnae feel ripped off before now, you certainly do now.

Hibs are now changing their strip[s] EVERY season: every strip has a sell by date of no more than ONE season; £40 for a strip that is going to be out of date within 9 months? If you dinnae buy it at the start of the season then what is the point? Interestingly, this practise is actively discouraged in England where the Football task force recommends that home strips are carried for at least two season unless there is a change of kit manufacturer or sponsor. Okay we've just changed our sponsor but this is our 4th new home strip in 4 years and our 3rd new away strip in 3 years: is it no time to calm it down a bit? Or rethink the policy to charge £40 a throw?

 There is a suspicion, mainly due to considerable Le Coq incompetence in the past, that the problems are not of Hibs making: maybe the club are embarrassed at the tops being sold elsewhere for £25 and are powerless to do anything about it. If that was the case the solution is simple DITCH LE COQ: they arenae exactly anything special. Aberdeen recently ditched them for their poor service, and managed to bring on board Nike instead. You can bet they dinnae have the pricing or supply problems that we have.

When the contract next comes up for negotiation the club might want to put more consideration into overhauling the system of how replica strips are priced and distributed. Everybody wants to see the club make as much money as possible, sell as many strips as possible, and without leaving the fans feeling ripped off. It's about balance is it not?

Postscript:

In an unusual move by the club, the following statement was released on the official website:
 
"Hibernian FC are disappointed to learn that a discount sports shop is able to sell the new all white Hibernian away kit at a price much the same as the Club buys the product from GPS the distributors of Le Coq Sportif product.

It is important that revenues to support the team are maximised. Every shirt not purchased from the Club results in loss revenue, which is required to provide Tony Mowbray with the necessary playing resources.

The Club do recognise that we need to keep the cost affordable for fans and have held the price of kit for the past few years including this year. We however can do little when discount warehouses buy large quantities of Le Coq Sportif product including other teams kits and generic Le Coq Sportif sportswear and therefore can pile them high and sell them cheap, we simply do not have the buying power that these chains have.

Richard Alexander, Retail Operations Manager said: "With over 600 replica kit pre-orders, sales are doing really well. The club have designed, launched and marketed the kit and we wish to thank all those supporters who have bought direct from the Club."

Elaine Morrison"

Le Coq and Hibernian don't appear to have a very good relationship. Roll on the next kit manufacturer.