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 Topic: GO conning us
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12/7/2012 at 11:36am
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Joined: 13/5/2009 Diamond Member 
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GO Wakefield was Mitchells Practical Campers, where we got our first frame tent 20 years ago, then our Pathfinder. So the history, and possibly expertise, is there.
Our local GO is managed by a UKCS member who was previously their tent buyer, so I think we can safely say that he at least knows his camping onions, and based on experience, so do the staff we've come in to contact with.
That said, it's a while since I asked for any camping advice in a shop. I do my own research, I know what I want, the decision then is who and how. I think that's how many of us shop in 2012, certainly for the bigger ticket items.
Conversely, before any of us had ever heard of Go Outdoors, our local specialist camping retailer was a dusty jumble with a few forlorn tents flapping around outside. The owner had a permanent expression akin to "I've lost a quid and found a tanner" and the staff were surly and disinterested.
The last time we went in to buy a camping cupboard, they couldn't have cared less. So we came out and bought the same item online for 2/3rds their price.
And the last time we went, it had closed. They didn't close because of supermarket style commodity sellers, they closed because they were crap.
I'm puzzled that several years on, GO still seems to delight and annoy in equal measure, sometimes simultaneously. I loose no sleep nor worry about their "sales" nor their data mining membership card. I'm just happy to use them for the convenience and a brightly lit spacious store for the mundane items, and play the game for the bigger stuff.
That first frame tent I mentioned was a 4 berth. It was £800. In today's money I'd guess it would be around £1500. Modern marketing and manufacturing gets us a family tent for sub £200 today. Will it be as good ? Probably not. Is it simply a commodity ? Probably is.
The halcyon days have gone. In our area, I prefer the brave new world.
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Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Prague May/Jun 2017
Lake Annecy Aug 2017
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12/7/2012 at 12:12pm
Location: Ashford mx
Outfit: vango Calder 500
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Wow,the weather has a lot to answer for,not least the mood of grounded campers.....not wishing to take sides here,but as far as I can read..Arsenaldes wasn't giving an opinion on the actual shop,just the constantly changing prices which are causing a stiff neck. Our local(ish) camping shop is lovely,great informed staff,nice tent displays..but seriously overpriced,so yes we go there,look round then come straight home and get whatever it is we want cheaper online,sorry local traders,but my wages don't stretch too far these days and who "honestly" would pay full price just because it was local???
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