Thanks for the research Mucker. It's been a while since I've been in one, and when I got the leaflet the other day, I only idly flicked through it. Middle daughter is camping, but that's the extent of my interest these days.
If I've added it up right, it seems to me in the tents, about 25% are poled/air in their own brands, meaning 75% are others, and sorting by price high>low, their most expensive is an Outwell at £1100 with the card.
I can't even see it elsewhere so it might be NOS or an exclsive to G.O., again rendering the Price Match very much in theoretical territory.
But my point was - you don't buy a big ticket item even at the "card price". You wait till one of their frequent sales comes along, or on an independent brand, you can deploy Price Match. Or, you Go Elsewhere!
That said, they can be handy for bits n bats (we've two locally) and at the very least, enable browsing in often congenial conditions and with complementary activities catered for side by side. I'm thinking fishing, cycling etc.
We had a true independent nearby. Awful, dark, dusty place. Crap CS. The owner always looked as if he'd lost a tenner and found a tanner.
It closed.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
I've been in GO with my son a few times over the last year's. He found a pair of hiking boots he liked and a smart watch the other.
Quite fun playing the price match game. Find something that you have seen/tried on in real life. Spend the next ten mins searching for the best price on line on your smart phone. Show the staff the website. Staff check it on their computer and away you go. Lowest price with 10% off and no waiting for delivery.
I hear and read a lot of comments about GO being mostly own brand now and not as good as they were when they stocked all the main brands etc.
Well as an independent retailer I'm glad go outdoors are going the way they are, it's good for them as a business and for newish campers, they bring new people into camping with their TV ads etc. These people then often become my customers down the line.
The price match is getting harder to take advantage of against products we independent retailers stock and thats a good thing for us and you the campers. If we don't make a profit you will loose are expertise and the ranges of product we decide to supply from years of experience. Anyway, that's my humble opinion
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
If you want to get a true picture of go outdoors read my thread on fire in my tent from go outdoors cooker and how they treated me., that tells you all you need to know.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Go outdoors wakefield
