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I fancy getting an Outwell trout lake, am I likely to get a good deal at the NECC in Feb? are there other bargains to be had at the show or am I just being optimistic?

G...

Hello G

I was considering getting a trout lake. Can't decide between the trout lake and cabanon pyramid style tent.

My understanding is that tent prices are going up quite alot next year so buying now maybe a good idea if you know what you want. I was thinking about the NEC show as it would be good to look at a range of tents and compare them but I don't know if  you could get a good deal at the show.

Quote: Originally posted by PippaH on 26/11/2008

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Hello G

I was considering getting a trout lake. Can't decide between the trout lake and cabanon pyramid style tent.

My understanding is that tent prices are going up quite alot next year so buying now maybe a good idea if you know what you want. I was thinking about the NEC show as it would be good to look at a range of tents and compare them but I don't know if  you could get a good deal at the show.

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Yes everyone keeps saying that prices are going up by a huge %, but I find that hard to believe in the current financial climate, it would be suicide for the manufacturers to hike prices.... ach well...time will tell im sure.

G...

Have a look here and read what Gary has to say - he's in the business and sells Outwells (amongst other stuff).

Go into Camping under Canvan and have a look at the tent pics thread. The last one by Mums Had Enough - they have a Lake tent so will give you some sort of idea of one of the series pitched

Retail of £529.99 discounted to £371.86 at the moment....big hike!!!

G...

The Trout lake tent is the same for 2009. Re price, the trout lake was £429.99 ish in the 2008 season and yes some retailers still have a few 08 models in stock and may well discount them.

The 2009 price will be about £529.99 which is a rise of about 23% from the 08 in season price. If you get one now at the end of season price you will be saving a good amount. Expect 30-40% rise on the footprint and carpets. The extention will be about £199.99 for 09 against £150.00 this season(08).

Re prices at the NEC in feb, i can only go on last year when a discount of about 10% was given on that seasons prices. Saying that if you visit your local dealer before the show and say your visiting the NEC to see whats about they may offer to match the show price if you order from them the week after the show, you could even take your mobile and ring them to see if they will be stocking the tent your after. I know i would offer this and wouldnt it be better to support your local camping dealer so they stay in business for when you need to pop down there to get that last minute gas refill etc.

Re the 2009 prices, its not brands like Outwell etcl or the retailers who are making an extra margin by the way, its down to the price of the dollar and euro plus new employment laws in China. Also the Chinese goverment have stopped giving big tax breaks to factories who export from China.

Picking up on one of the above reasons, imagine a product cost one of the big brands £100 in 2008 to buy from a factory in China and you got $2 to the pound early this year. Now that same product will cost 25% more because the dollar is now about $1.5 to the pound.

A lot of the big brands only make 25-35% margin so a 25% price rise to them has to be passed on. Now take into account some of the other reasons and you can see why the prices are rising.

Regards

Gary

Hi Gary.

            When I see family tents on display for £100, I often wonder having taking into consideration all the costs that you mention, how much that tent would cost to manufacture, I would guess £10 at the most, as a retailer is it worth stocking such tents, I can only imagine that they must bring equal amounts of grief to both the retailer and consumer, I was in Aldi the other week, and they had a 6 person family tent on offer for £59.99, I thought, oh my god, The tent market reminds me of the Bicycle market in some ways, when some one buys a £49 adult bicycle, in fact they normaly buy two, his and hers, then go for one ride, and then they decide they do not like cycling, and we all know why, and sadly I am wondering if a similiar rule aplies to those who buy very cheap new tents?. 

You have a good point there Francais - never thought of it like that and it certainly does make you wonder - like the Halfords or Argos family starter packs at £100 for the tent, airbeds, etc.

Gary is talking lots of sense and he keeps telling people but no one seems to want to believe him and think that because of the credit crunch (hate that term)  then retailers are bound to lower rather than raise prices but no one is taking into account that prices are going up for the retailers buying in from the manufacturers too.