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 Topic: Newbie with a bargain tent!
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27/8/2011 at 8:47pm
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Joined: 22/8/2011 Standard Member
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Hi all,
First post on here but have already gleaned a fair bit of info from reading through the forum.
Took my wife and 4yr old up to Beadnell Bay in Northumberland a few weeks back to see if they would like camping. Using my 4man Quechua tent, which I only use for site camping when away on hill walking weekends with my mates. We figured that if they enjoyed it in that with the limited space and minimal equipment, then they would be more than happy doing it properly...
Well, they both loved it so we started lookin around for a more suitable family tent. Outwell seemed to be the best suited to us, we like the "panoramic" living areas and sturdy build.
I looked on the website of a large store, who shall remain nameless but let's just say that they encourage people to "leave the indoor environment!" The first of their package deals that we saw was for an Outwell Tennessee 6 with footprint and carpet for £450 ! A quick Google showed that best price for tent only was £599 elsewhere. The video on YouTube was very impressive and it seemed like it would suit us perfectly.
We decided to be a bit cautious and sleep on it before making a decision, only to find that when we looked again, the offer had finished and the tent was no longer available on the website at all!
I sent an email to their customer service and headed up to my nearest branch the next day. The store had the tent and accessories all in stock but wanted full price (over £950) for it! The sales staff asked the manager if he would do the deal...he said he wasn't aware of that offer and he was unable to honour "web only" deals. Not one to give up easily, I rang the customer care line from the store. Explained to them that the store were unaware of the offer and could he help. He said that he couldn't help because it was a store decision but that he would ring the store and confirm to them that the offer had been in place on the website. He did just that, no more than speaking to one of the sales assistants to "confirm that the offer had been on the website." After tracking down the store manager, I managed to somehow make him believe that the guy had authorised him to do the deal! Still not sure how I managed it.
Chuffed with that result, I carried the stuff to the checkout and the manager told the lass to put it through as "head office authority" or his goolies would be in a vice!  It got better...when she put it all through, she priced the carpet and footprint at full retail price and reduced the price of the tent right down to make the total £450.00. However when she hit the final button, she looked at me and said "Oh, the carpet and footprint are actually reduced at the minute anyway, so the total only comes to £410.00!" I opened my mouth to correct her and received a swift kick from my wife!!
We loaded the car and drove away VERY quickly!!!
So anyway, that's where we are and now need to start building up our kit to get started and get the aforementioned bargain out for a test run.
Any advice, on any aspect would be greatly appreciated. I've been camping for most of my life but in a very rustic way. Always wondering what goes on in those MAHOOSIVE house sized things at the other end of the site! Well, now I need to find out...
Cheers
Graeme
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Starting out family camping from scratch!
Follow or contact me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/Appfixer73
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28/8/2011 at 8:37am
Location: Essex
Outfit: 2 berth caravan.
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Lucky you and well done on the "haggling". About time that retailer got stiffed! I just know you're going to have a great time but can you sleep at night knowing you've stiffed them. Hahahahaha. I know I could.
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You don`t stop playing `cos you get old, you get old `cos you stop playing!
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28/8/2011 at 9:11am
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The best advice would be dont go back to that branch of the store just in case you are recognised.
Congratulations on your audacity and the deal, happy camping.
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Neil
Dragon5551
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29/8/2011 at 5:14pm
Location: East Yorkshire
Outfit: Outwell minnesota 6
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well done you!! Love a good bargain!!
comfy chairs and beds are a must. We started off saying we wasnt going to fill our living area in our wolf lake with loads of stuff, but ...... now we have:
Blow up sofa bed, kitchen unit, large electric cool box, wardrobe and a chest box. Only thing i put in the bedrooms is airbeds and bedding. We tend to keep our 2 tables and 4 chairs outside.
Happy camping!
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love shopping, love a bargain even more!
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