⚒️ How I Became a West Ham Store Guinea Pig
It all started when my London-born husband converted our living room into a claret-and-blue shrine. After his 10th rant about fake jerseys from Amazon, I decided to surprise him with authentic gear from officialwesthamstore.com for our anniversary. Little did I know I’d become the family’s unofficial West Ham merch tester through 3 kits, 2 scarves, and one regrettable neon training jacket.
🛒 The Online Shopping Play-by-Play
First Impressions:
- Website feels like walking into the London Stadium - modern but slightly chaotic
- Pop-up ads for ‘last minute tickets’ had me reaching for my credit card
- Jersey prices made my eyes water (£70?! But hey, it’s cheaper than divorce counseling)
The Purchase That Started It All:
- 2022/23 Home Jersey (XXL - rookie mistake)
- ‘Iron Cross’ premium scarf
- Stupidly ignored the size chart (more on that later)
Shipping Saga:
- UK delivery: 2 days (heroic)
- US shipping for friend’s gift: 14 days + $28 customs fee (less heroic)
- Tracking updates written in British understatement: ‘Your parcel is having a cheeky layover in Frankfurt’
🧪 6-Month Durability Test Results
Battle-Scarred Jersey Report:
- Survived: 5 pub viewings, 2 actual matches, 1 kebab sauce incident
- Colors stayed true through 20+ washes (cold water gospel)
- Crest stitching intact despite my 6’4” nephew bear-hugging Declan Rice lookalike
Scarf Evolution:
- October: Proudly draped at Tottenham away game
- December: Emergency car ice scraper
- February: Dog’s favorite tug-of-war toy
The Weather Test:
- That ‘Stormproof’ jacket? Held up against London drizzle but folded like cheap origami in Amsterdam rain
👍👎 The Brutally Honest Breakdown
PROS:
- Quality that mocks counterfeiters - Thick fabric, proper Premier League patches
- Secret sale section (Found 2021 training tops for £25 after cup elimination)
- UK delivery speed puts Amazon Prime to shame
- Custom name printing survived my washing machine’s ‘angry tornado’ mode
- Surprise loyalty points - Earn 1% back for future purchases
- Return label included (Unlike certain Italian club stores cough Juve cough)
CONS:
- Sizing needs Rosetta Stone - UK XXL = US L. I now own an €85 crop top
- EU customers get rekt - €18 shipping + import taxes doubles scarf prices
- Limited women’s designs - Why is everything either pink or ‘shrink it and pink it’?
Workaround Wisdom:
- Size up twice for jerseys
- Group orders with local fan clubs to split shipping
- Email them about VAT refunds - Saved 20% as non-EU resident
🗣️ Real Talk: Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Shop Here
Worth Every Penny If:
- You want the exact gear players wear on pitch
- Need last-minute gifts before derby day
- Collect season-specific patches/designs
Better Alternatives Exist For:
- Casual fans wanting cheap tees (try DHGate)
- Kids’ clothing (sizes cap at 14-16Y)
- Non-UK shoppers wanting fast delivery
Unexpected MVP Items:
- Stadium-approved clear bag (£15): Gets you through security at 20+ UK grounds
- Bottle opener keychain (£8): Quiet hero of every watch party
- Retro ’70s patches : Turned husband’s boring jacket into conversation starter
🤑 Money-Saving Hacks Straight from the Londoners
- Currency Arbitrage:
- Prices sometimes cheaper in GBP than EUR - compare before checkout
- Abandoned Cart Trick:
- Leave items for 24hrs - got 10% off code via email
- American Thanksgiving Sale:
- Black Friday deals beat Boxing Day (30% vs 25%)
- Student Discount: 10% off with UNiDAYS - works even on sale items
🏁 Final Whistle Verdict
8/10 - The Apple Store of football merch - premium prices but premium experience. Perfect for serious supporters wanting authentic gear, frustrating for casuals wanting budget options.
Value Tip: Their authenticity certificates make jerseys investment pieces - saw 2022 Conference League merch double in value on eBay.
Alternatives:
- For UK locals: Physical store in Stratford has exclusive items
- For Americans: Fanatics has slower shipping but better return policies
Last Thought: Buying here feels like joining a community… an expensive, slightly dysfunctional family that complains about Moyes but keeps renewing season tickets.
Customer Stories
References
[1] How the world’s best hotels deliver customer experience | McKinsey
[2] King, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Formally Establish …