Phi Mu badge cost?
 

Hi ladies,
My daughter just pledged Phi Mu at LSU and is busy having a great time going to exchanges and semi-formal etc. I am busy writing checks!!!! The letter that I recieved outlining the expenses told us that the basic badge is $129 but I know that there are many options for the pins. I told daughter that she could order one that had a little extra bling to it but not one that was too expensive. I found pictures of the different badges on the phi mu site but they do not list any prices. Since I am trying to keep track of the money that I am spending and plan ahead for expenses I was hoping someone could give me an idea of how how much a badge runs. I would like to keep it around $200-250. What will the options be or should I expect to pay more than that? I know that daughter will get this info eventually but probably not until closer to initiation and I would just like to have an idea of how much to expect to spend. If anyone can give me a ballpark figure I would really appreciate it.

Each member orders her badge from the fraternity's jeweler direct (instead of going through our national organization). I believe that they have access to a website that shows each design and the cost...sorry, I erased the link I was sent earlier this summer.

The basic badge is $129, but she could get pretty much anything she would want for the price range you mentioned.

Congrats to your daughter pledging at LSU. I have visited them in recent years, and they have a wonderful group of women...they were so friendly and welcoming to me (and that is not always the case when you are a visiting national officer!!!).

You might be able to get a catalogue through hjgreek.com. I sent away for mine several years ago. The badges went up in cost as they are all gold now, but at least before even the "nicer" ones were reasonably priced. Have her contact her Phi Mom who should have the order information.

ETA: Don't click the Phi Mu link, that sends you to the HQ page with no info whatsoever. I do know that the woman who runs the Carnation Collection store at nationals (she is really nice) sells rescued and returned badges (for a significantly cheaper price!) That would be my first contact for more details.

Thanks so much for replying. I am not sure when initiation will be but they were told it would be before homecoming which is the middle of Nov. I guess we will get some info before that. I am going to assume that it will cost about the same as a badge for my sorority. It seems like most of the ones that have stones or pearls run about $300. I always wished that I had got a pin that wasn't plain but I was paying for everything myself so I was on a budget. We are lucky that we can pay for this for her but that doesn't mean that I have unlimited resources!!! So it is good to know ahead of time how much to expect so I don't go off and go crazy spending on something else and then bam I get hit with a bill!!!
Ladybug 12- I have been so impressed with Phi Mu. I have heard so many great things about the LSU chapter and I am so happy that my daughter will have such wonderful women with her the next four years. She will be spending more time with them than me and I wanted her to find people that would help her become the great woman that I know she will be.

tootiepie,

If you haven't seen this on the national website, check this out...
http://phimu.org/content.aspx?item=N...e_ordering.xml

Your daughter will probably get a better idea of what the extras cost in the coming weeks, from her Phi director.

Hope your daughter is having a blast!!

see i went to the link above and if youre a Phi then you may order one. what if you're a senior persay ready to get all my dangles, guard, and new jazzy badge at once? when i was initiated there were just the two options for badge for new members.

Dangles are readily avaialable for sale online at Carnation Collection. As for the badge, you do have to call the woman referenced at the website.

I did look at that link but since the names of the new phis haven't been put in yet I couldn't really get any ideas of prices. I assume that you would be able to choose the options and it would quote the price. I did look at the different options and assume that they are shown from cheapest (129) to the most expensive. I am going to budget a certian amount and tell she has to stick with that. Of course I have often been known to go over my budget if she does a real good job of begging!!!!!
When I was looking for pins I went to the Herf Jones site and I seem to think they might have had dangles there.

x

You can find lovely badges vintage and more recent on Ebay if you want to save some $$. Some with lots of bling. Great way to go.

Tootiepie,
Your daughter will not be able to get a reclaimed badge (all new Phis must purchase their own badge), but if you call the national HQ, they should be able to give you the prices. I got a plain badge when I was initiated, but purchased a pearl one as an alumnae.

Good luck to your daughter!!

Well initiation is in a few weeks so I will know about pins soon. I have decieded that I will just give her an amount and tell her that she can not go above that amount. If she can not get the pin she wants she can get a plain one. I have to agree with gt0854a I have never worn my pin after college so I really didn't need a fancy one, just wanted it!!!!
Of course I moved to a small rural community and never became involved in any alumnae groups so I never had an occasion to wear it. She plans on staying active as an alum so it might make a difference to her. Of course she can always buy another one when she is out of school and earning her own money.

x