For most kids in Grahamstown, it's back to school tomorrow. If you're facing a last minute rush for stationery, we've done some shopping around for you and have compared the various stationery prices, qualities and specials that stores have to offer parents.
For most kids in Grahamstown, it's back to school tomorrow. If you're facing a last minute rush for stationery, we've done some shopping around for you and have compared the various stationery prices, qualities and specials that stores have to offer parents.
We've used the Grade 1 Oatlands stationery requirement list as a template for basic primary school stationery needs. This consists of: three glue sticks, twist wax crayons, a pair of 13.5 mm scissors, an eraser, a two-hole sharpener, a 30-page file display, four whiteboard markers, three denim pencil cases and a tennis ball.
At Shoprite, on the corner of Beaufort and West streets, the price of the Grade 1 Oatlands package will be R222.98. The stationery items at Shoprite range in quality from good to poor, but are generally relatively cheap.
They also have some specials on good quality stationery such as a 43g Pritt glue stick for R26.99. Their stationery section is rather small, and some of the items are scattered at the ends of other aisles which makes it a bit inconvenient.
At Checkers, at 109 High Street, the Grade 1 Oatlands stationery package will cost slightly less at R212.36. Their stationery selection is quite large and conveniently situated all together. Checkers stocks both better and poorer quality stationery items and appears to have cheaper stationery than Shoprite. So if you’re looking to save a few bucks on an item or two, Checkers or Shoprite are probably your best bets.
However, some of our local stores offer convenient options such as stationery packs and cheaper bulk prices. At Albany Business Machines (ABM), at 28 New Street, the Grade 1 Oatlands package will cost only R178.70. According to co-owner Chante van der Merwe, ABM receives its stock in bulk at cheaper prices.
Because of this they are able to offer back-to-school discounts on stationery. If you are looking for stationery that lasts longer, ABM houses better quality brands at relatively low prices. ABM also supplies some school stationery shops, and they are so well supported by the schools that they are able to give the discount to students as well.
Suzi-Q, at 31 High Street, also has offers which can ease the shopping frenzy. “We offer back-to-school prices which means the prices are all down. We also offer back-to-school stationery packages for any grade and any school,” said the owner, Sue Reynolds.
These convenient packages include all the stationery requirements for that specific grade. For some items in the Grade 1 Oatlands package, you can choose between a more expensive, better quality brand or a slightly cheaper good quality brand. If you choose the cheaper items, the package will be R175.
With the more expensive items, the package will be R276. The cheaper items are only of slightly lower quality because Suzi-Q stocks only the best of the best, says Reynolds, who says cheaper quality brands do not last and are more expensive in the long run, so Suzi-Q does not stock them.
“Teachers want good quality brands that last,“ she says. Reynolds even overlocks the seams on the denim pencil bags herself to ensure longer-lasting quality.
At Suzi-Q, parents have to sign up and pay a deposit for these packages by the end of November for ordering purposes. However, if the season’s celebrations have left you shopping at the last minute, do not stress. “Even if parents are late and did not sign up initially, we can still help them out and put together the packages at the same discounted prices,“ Reynolds said.
Similarly, Chante Van der Merwe from ABM explains, “Our back-to-school specials finish at the end of January, but if someone’s left it to the last minute, we’re often able to offer them the same prices, as long as that stock lasts".
To avoid unwanted spending, make sure to clean out your cupboards and ask friends or family members for stationery that they may not need.
Reynolds says she encourages parents to check at home for stationery before buying the packages. If you already have one of the package items, Suzi-Q will leave that item out for you on request.
To recap: For cheaper single items, but poorer quality and less convenience, check out Shoprite. For a range of better to poorer quality items all at relatively low prices and at moderate convenience, take a look at Checkers.
For moderately expensive but discounted prices and for good quality stationery, try out Albany Business Machines. And for more costly but only good quality items, and the convenience of prepared packages, go down to Suzi-Q.
