As Korean schools’ new school term starts this march 2nd, many students graduated from their old schools in February. Students are preparing for their new school year. For those who are graduating to middle school or high school, this includes buying new school uniforms since it is a requirement for students to wear them. The price of uniforms is a huge concern for parents every year. What frustrates the parents this year is that all the major uniform companies have raised their prices to the same amount. Parents and students have no choice but to pay the higher price. Fortunately, there are still some ways to buy these uniforms at a reasonable price.
Group purchase
Many schools purchase uniforms for students in bulk. Students can turn in forms to their schools to order uniforms. Then, school staff take the students’ measurements and purchase uniforms together according to the number of students. Some schools make a contract with local stores. Consequently, students are able to buy uniforms at a more affordable price. Although students lose out on the opportunity to choose their own favorite brands, they can wear uniforms at a cheaper price.
Choosing a company wisely
Although there are famous brands for uniforms, students also can find small unknown brands. As a matter of fact, the small companies sell uniforms at a lower price. According to students, there is no quality difference between famous brands and unknown brands. The only difference is a matter of advertisement and brand recognition. The well-known companies simply charge more because they have a larger budget for advertisements.
Donation from graduates
Some students who are graduating may donate their old clothes. If students cannot afford to buy uniforms even with above ways, they should ask their school if there is a donation program from alumni. Some school manage this event depending on the amount of uniforms they receive. This, however, is different from school to school so students should inquire at their schools if such a program is available.
