Ok - I just ordered most of our new camping stuff from a retailer I have seen referred to on here as 'that big blue store' or something similar. Most of their stock is Hi Gear, so thats what I ended up with.
So - battery powered lantern doesnt work. It cost £10, they want me to post it back, which is going to be hard as the packaging is not very secure for posting, but I will try. Thats going to be £5 postage which they will refund me - hardly seems worth the cost to them.
Tried out my new headlamp just now (to search through the rubbish for OHs keys!) - very flimsy and plastic and battery very loose so it kept turning off.
Bit concerned now about the other stuff - cooker etc. Is this brand generally ok, or cheap and flimsy?
I think Hi Gear is their in-house label. I've avoided buying it mostly as it does look a bit flimsy and there's nearly always a better alternative for a little more money. The two things I have bought (a roll-top table and an aluminium water bottle) have been excellent so far.
I like to use the 'big blue store' to wander round, check stuff out, feel it, mess with it etc. I find what I'm looking for, choose the best one, then go and look for the exact same one online to see if I can get it cheaper.
Being 6'4" and 19stone, checking stuff out in person is pretty high on my list of priorities and it's easy to be fooled by flattering photos and descriptions on-line. My wife's mum always says, "Buy cheap, buy twice" and I reckon it's a fairly good maxim for camping kit...it's your holiday home after all!
As the previous poster said, Hi Gear is their own label.
I have learnt over the years to stick to well known manufacturers' brands. Goods with the store's own brand name may be manufactured by a well known company but not necessarily to the same standard as goods bearing their own name.
I have bought 3 of the Hi-gear easy up storage units and they were better made and more sturdy than the outwell one i returned for twice the price. Goes to say, check it out first..! I suppose some items better than others.
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
Yes Hi Gear stuff is pretty generic its fine, The law concerning distnace selling is that the seller or shop should have to pay for return postage costs, especially if the item is faulty.
Again its label snobery! I would say as most items are IDENTICAL to the likes of Gelert, Vango etc I a mixture of items made by different companies forinstance: Hi Gear LED Lantern, exactly the same as a gelert on (Hi Gear cost £12.99 Gelert £19.99) Hi Gear Heavy duty tent pegs 12 for £5 Vango Ones £8 and these items are EXACTLY the same and I mean IDENTICAL same goes for MOST of the hi-gear items (Stoves tents etc).
But that's not to say some items are cheap for a reason, just ask on here if you are not sure, I know someone will have the item that you are thinking of buying.
Anyway, here is the exact letter of the law reguarding distance selling for the seller or shop and it reads:
"3.57 If the goods are faulty or do not comply with the contract, you will have to pay for their return whatever the circumstances."
You can find this in THIS document concerning law for Distance Selling Rules, just be polite and insist they pay for postage.
As we all know or should know most things these days are manufactured in the Far East and labelled with different brand names as required so the same product can go out to 6 different suppliers under different names. At the end of the day you pay your money and you take your choice
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
Thanks - its just unfortunate that the 1st 2 things from Hi GEar I tried are a bit flimsy. But having a proper garden test of all equipment next week so we will be able to find out for sure we are ready for our trip. I am sure the rest will be fine :)
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Hi Gear
