The new Rangers and Castore kit deal promised so much and now as the delayed kit deliveries arrive, it’s apparently falling apart. The kit that is, not the deal, not yet anyway.
One of the unique selling points for Castore is the quality of their merchandise. Of course this was when they were still growing and hadn’t taken on Rangers and the large step up in volumes that brings. Remember how everyone shuddered at the frightening statement saying the new kit was so good it would make a difference in the performance on the pitch, giving the light blues an additional edge. Things do not seem to turning out as well.
There are reports online of Rangers fans being unhappy about the quality of the kit they had ordered. Read on further for more about the players too.
Others reckon it’s been Celtic fans who ordered the Rangers kit, got it delivered and then picked flaws and holes on the kit, stitching and logos to make it look poor. Wishful thinking perhaps.
Plenty more were disappointed by supply delays and the kit not actually arriving on time as promised. The Sun reported that Castore co-founder Tom Beahon acknowledges issues over late arrival of kits but says the firm can meet demand. There are also delivery issues as many reported holes and damaged goods as part of the delivery by Hermes. Talks of £25 vouchers to compensate will add a bit of an income hole if correct.
Hermes say they received 2000 complaints about lost/stolen or damaged Rangers tops.
— Rangers FC & Linfield FC (@bluesbrothers86) August 4, 2020
Castore and Hermes have now agreed that Rangers gear will be sent out in unbranded packaging. pic.twitter.com/IZaXs0oSB4
Rangers fans' claims of Castore strips being damaged and stolen in post investigated by Hermeshttps://t.co/gLvGEoGKD6 pic.twitter.com/tjkqWKhhhH
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) August 5, 2020
Well the customer service I have received from #castore has been nothing short of appalling
— Brian Cameron (@BrianCameron27) August 3, 2020
Back to that quality kit point and the material that is so good it’ll give the players at Ibrox the edge over opponents. Maybe it’s not just the fans who are disappointed. Journalist Phil MacGiollabhain’s recent blog on 3 August referred to the ongoing questions over kit contracts and exclusive rights claims by Sports Direct. That’s a story that is likely to continue to run.
But Phil also suggested that journalists looking for a story should use their access to the Rangers players and ask them:
"“How they feel about the quality of the new Castore kit”"
Phil has a habit of raising appropriate questions where he is already aware the answer is interesting and newsworthy. Maybe that on the pitch quality to boost performance is hanging by a thread..