I'd agree with Road Hog on Oxford's GO. It's my local and although the staff have always been helpful and polite IMO, the shop is cramped, badly organised, lot's of bare shelves and the tent selection very limited to quick pitchers and 2 person upstairs, and a scant selection cramped onto gravel outside. Plenty of parking opposite the shop. I've been told of the mythical Teesside Park branch which is (outside of my experience) the nirvana of camping shops. I recently went North to see my family but was banned by the OH from going there, as she considers relatives to be more important than camping.
spoiled the trip for me.
The only other local options I have are Millets Oxford and Witney. Both poor for choice, Blacks Oxford (never bother) Cotswold camping (overpriced and poor selection).
The millets in Rotherham has closed down. That leaves me withe the Doncaster and meadowhall ones which are way too dear and the GoOutdoors in Sheffield and Wakefield.
I think we're going to try the Wakefield one next month
Quote: Originally posted by dadsbeaniemad on 17/1/2010Tentguy are you near Wath-upon-Dearn and Brampton?
I sure am, I'm in Bolton-upon-Dearne which is next door to Wath :-)
I know it's off topic - sorry but i went to school at Brampton Ellis and lived in Wombwell for the first 1/4 of my life (relatives all around there still - mostly Swinton)
Small world!!
Back on topic
Before the 'economic downturn' there were roumours that Go were opening a store in Kendal but I don't know if that was true (came from someone in the industry)
There have been a few threads about this, and the general consensus is always in the negative. The main complaint is that it punctures or deflates easily.
We have one and can’t fault it for lounging about. It is no good for sitting at a camping table for a meal however.
I’ve just looked at the instruction book and there is no spec that states a maximum weight load; it may state it on the box, but I don’t know where that is – but can guess: buried under a ton of camping gear.
Quote: Originally posted by haltedmass on 18/1/2010
I'd agree with Road Hog on Oxford's GO. It's my local and although the staff have always been helpful and polite IMO, the shop is cramped, badly organised, lot's of bare shelves and the tent selection very limited to quick pitchers and 2 person upstairs, and a scant selection cramped onto gravel outside.
Seriously, you must visit Coventry, it's about 3 times the size of Oxford (no exaggeration). Very relaxed, everything is spread out and a far greater range, not just on camping, they have a section on horsey stuff and biking. It is a real retail experience.
I've only ever visited the one in Wigan so don't know how this store compares to any of the others... They extended the outdoor display area at the end of last season so they got a few more tents pitched. This time of year they have some great deals on clothing... Even after i've searched the internet i always find myself going back to the shop to make my purchase coz they'll beat any price by 10%...
And of course just up the road in Standish there is a Yeomans where the service is fab and last years tent displays were errrrrrrm Outwell, Outwell and more Outwell
Quote: Originally posted by tentguy on 17/1/2010
Me and OH had our first ever trip to GoOutdoors (Sheffield) yesterday.
I felt like Harold Carter when he first saw Tutankhamun's tomb lol
We were in there a while and I think we were quite sensible as we only spent £60.
I even got to see a Vango Icarus 500 pitched upstairs. I bought one last month, but I've yet to get it test pitched lol.
Only bad point is that the store is right next to Bramhall Lane football stadium and it was a match day so parking was difficult..............until OH spotted the overspill carpark for GoOutdoors customers lol
Get yourself to Mitchells. Its a million miles better, in a country setting. I just love my trips there and can't wait for the first one of 2010. I quite like going to the one in Sheffield but it's a nightmare to park. Mitchells have tents pitched in the fields and you can walk around them.
I live 10 minutes at a slow stroll from Loughborough GO Outdoors.
When I was on maternity leave I regularly took DD for a browse!
I'd wheel her around the tents and park her up inside the ones I liked the look of and chat to her about the tent features. I think that is why she took to camping so well at such a young age!
Incidently the Loughborough store is OK, but I can't comment too much because I've not been to any others.
As referenced by Haltedmass, We went to the Stockton Go Outdoors (Teeside) and I can confirm it is huge, very spaciously laid out in an equivalent size of an Asda!!! There was also an upstairs tent display with at least a dozen family sized tents as well as multiple two man tents.
Very impressive and lulls you into a false sense of security, like ikea, go in for a couple of items and end up spending a ton.
Best wishes Sam