I think I'd agree with all of that Mucker. I have one quite close to me, and do sometimes go in there for a browse, and have bought a few low-value items. Certainly not worth me paying for a discount card. Online retailers are often just as cheap as their discount prices, or even cheaper.
I would imagine that their staff are mostly "bods off the street" with minimal or no experience, and paid minimum wage. Bound to be a few exceptions though.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 17/6/2016
I think I'd agree with all of that Mucker.
I would imagine that their staff are mostly "bods off the street" with minimal or no experience, and paid minimum wage. Bound to be a few exceptions though.
Bit harsh chaps. I would probably never buy a tent from them, and I would like to think I know more about camping gear than most of their staff, so it would be down to price if I buy from them. I just found on that day I went in there the customer service was really good.It was only a couple of pairs of trainers I got. 1 pair for work & a half decent pair for out walking, just asked him why some were upwards of £100 and the cheap pair I got for work were £12 coz they all look the same to me.
My 3'happenth's worth is that Go is mostly a sports/leisure/outdoor apparel retailer aimed at middle class folk & their kids who buy more clothing/shoes than they will ever need because they like the colour, the brand & because they have the disposable income to do so.
They employ mainly attractive young staff who have a polite & pleasant manner but very little specialist product knowledge & of course their youth keeps the wages bill down.
They have continuous clothing bargains which in the end encourage you to buy the card & then you might as well buy your camping/caravanning gear from them as well, so a 'one stop shop'. A clever enough business model.
Generally speaking all the camping related items, furniture/cooking/sleeping can be found cheaper at your local caravan/camping shop or online but what a Go store does is create a complete environment that encourages the customer to spend more than they ever intended to do when they entered the store & the card locks them into shopping at Go forevermore.
The environment a Go store seeks to create is an outdoor/camping experience without the gales & rain that can make the real experience so uncomfortable to encourage the customer buy into the dream not the reality...
It's this expertise that cause some retailers to be wildly successful while others, like BHS fail.
Quote: Originally posted by geoffprinter on 17/6/2016
Bit harsh chaps.
Certainly wasn't meant to be, Geoff. More "objective" was my aim.
Being the sort of bloke who, once out of his weekday work uniform, prefers not to slob about in Jeans of a weekend, I have got in the habit of wearing those cargo trousers or whatever it is they're called. Some zip off, some not, and mainly Craghopper, as well as being a good fit and comfy, they also have a Ram motif!
Coupled with various "outdoor" type fleeces, rather than a "pullover", and polo shirts rather than "proper", it would be fair to say a good 50% of my wardrobe now comes from GO, with a further 20% from similar high street outdoor retailers (Mountain Warehouse & the like). (The rest come from Burton's... with Muckerette's excellent staff discount! Thank you, Sir Philip Green! )
When GO have a deal on, they can be very, very competitive, and I see no reason to stop using them.
It's also handy as not only do they offer free and easy out of town parking, they also have a branch literally 200 yards from my office... and even in the right direction for home!
When I'm ready for a new tiny Coleman gas bottle for my single burner, I'll get it from GO.
If and when I need a new loo bucket, I'll get the same as I have now... from GO.
Same goes for most pegs (Other than Delta, of course) and various other sundries.
If and when we need new kitchen gear (tables/cupboards/cookers and stands etc, I'll certainly take at least a look in GO, before trying t'interweb.
...Oh, and I got my soopah doopah fisherman's sleeping bags from there too, and I'm always raving about them!
So no... not "harsh"... just firm but fair!
... In fact, I've come up with a new, rather snappy little line for them...
"Go Camping? Go Fishing? Go Cycling? Go Hiking?
...Go stop at G.O."
Hmmm... Quite good that... Think I'll Email their Catchphrase Dept! Might get it on telly!
Yes it is true to say camping equipment and tents are cheaper at your local store but the range of clothes etc beats all the others and I am defiantly not middle class with loads of disposable income. Just recently I got a road bike from there reason being was that Paul the guy who served me had more experience and knowledge than any of the staff I had spoken to in the bike section at the big store beginning with H.Then after I got the bike I have since got myself cycling shoes in a sale had £70 off my store didn't have them but they soon sourced them for me had had them shipped down the next day, cant get better than that. These same shoes which are being discontinued due to being an older model are still available as current models in the big store beginning with H for 55quid more
------------- its our imperfections that makes us perfect
Always found the staff in our local one very knowledgeable. Mind you a good number of either ex scouts or leaders from our local scout group seem to work there, so no surprise I suppose
To be honest I've spent a fair few quid in G.O and never had an issue, yes you do get staff less knowledgeable than others but you get that everywhere. Also it's only the camping stuff I've bought there so no experience of their other departments.
What I will say is their customer service in my experience is excellent, had a couple of issues and had to return some things, exchanged without batting an eyelid.
------------- If something makes me giggle for longer than 15 seconds I'll assume I'm not allowed to post it!!
With a recently opened branch in Northern Ireland ... I explored for the first time, last month ... came out with some well priced stuff ...
Clothing? Still find better bargains and range in TKMax.
Quote: Originally posted by geoffprinter on 13/6/2016
I know in a post way back I said I wasnt overly impressed with G.O. but now I have parted with me 5 quid for their discount card I might need to eat my words a bit. Went the other week to get a new portaloo which was a good price, but came out with the Vango Aurora sleeping bag as well, which now makes me wish we had got a good one in the 1st place. (live & learn I suppose). Anyway, raining today, so took a run back there today to get some of that pink toilet stuff. Didnt even bother with a basket as that was all we went for. About an hour in there and at the till with the toilet stuff...plus 4 thin fleeces (2each) 2 pairs of walking shoes (trainer type) for me and yes I did offer to get GW a pair, and with our discount for being English Heritage members, I got change out of 70quid. I probably would have spent nearly that visiting some posh house & gardens and tea & cake in their cafe, which was what we had planned for the day. See the sun can shine on a rainy day. If anyone from GO sees this, the staff in your Canterbury store were top notch, really friendly, and the young guy on the footwear dept couldnt do enough to help so thanks again.
I read the title of this thread and thought you meant you'd returned your entire order!
We love G.O. - staff at our two local branches are more than happy to help and all have their different areas of expertise.
If you visit their website, they have a coupon for 10% off until tomorrow (28th). We went at the weekend for a gas coupling and came back out £700 lighter and yet another tent to add to the collection. Thank god for their new finance scheme!
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: G.O. I take it all back
I would probably never buy a tent from them, and I would like to think I know more about camping gear than most of their staff, so it would be down to price if I buy from them. I just found on that day I went in there the customer service was really good.It was only a couple of pairs of trainers I got. 1 pair for work & a half decent pair for out walking, just asked him why some were upwards of £100 and the cheap pair I got for work were £12 coz they all look the same to me.
)
If anyone from GO sees this, the staff in your Canterbury store were top notch, really friendly, and the young guy on the footwear dept couldnt do enough to help so thanks again.
