I've been to two Go Outdoors shops in the last 18 months, Norwich and Colchester, both have had staff who have so little knowledge about the backpacking side of outdoors life that I was convinced it was their first day on the job. Then trying to get them to honour some of their price matching or discount terms was so painful I abandoned the effort both times, walking out the store and leaving the goods behind.
I think it all depends on what you want from an outdoor store. If you're someone who doesn't go too far from the beaten track or likes the more motorised side of the subject then I'd rank Go Outdoors as more than suitable but if you're after a more specialised service then they just can't help effectively. To be honest, I did feel a bit snobbish after I left and ranked up much of my annoyance with the stores as my own arrogance and intolerance for people who aren't experts at their job.
I've just replaced a good bit of my backpacking kit at just shy of £1000, Cotswold Outdoors got the business simply because I could have a chat with them and they understood exactly what I was talking about and could add quality suggestions when I asked. They even convinced me to go for a few far cheaper options of some things simply because the more expensive stuff was unnecessarily over-specced for my needs. I won't name the store in case they get in trouble for losing some money on their sales!
Discount camping gear & knowlegable staff don't really go together. Young people have to go for any job they can get these days & I'm sure most of the staff went for plenty of others & happened to land one at Go.
Anybody who has done a bit of camping is going to have more knowledge than staff who have done no camping at all & nowadays we have the whole internet to do out research before buying stuff.
Just been to GO Swansea for a campingaz sg600 stove, it was sold at the 15% off price and when i asked if it came with regulator and hose i was told it wasn't included in the box but that they were giving them out free with stoves, and the assistant went off and got one and rung it through the till as a no charge item, so no complaints from me.
------------- real men shouldn't be crying into their beer, they should be drinking whisky.
I went to the Oxford store on Saturday, we were going into town on the park & ride and popped in there first to get a spare pan handle for my MSR pans. I had checked online and it said they had them in stock. Once in the shop, it took three members of staff to try to find said handle. The first lady did not have a clue what I was talking about. Two others were sent off to look for keys to a store cupboard. This took ten minutes. Cupboard was opened, but no pan handles. Computer checked, supposed to be four in stock. Staff completely bemused. They have no idea where the missing stock is. My guess is someone shoplifted them and sold them on eBay.