Go Outdoors
Writing about web page http://www.gooutdoors.net/
So, there’s a new outdoorsy type store in Cov, just the wrong side of Canley crossing. Called Go Outdoors it is probably one of the largest shops of any type that I’ve ever seen – apparantly it used to be an MFI. The place is huge, and they have got a massive range (much more than on the website), as well as the walking stuff that I’m mostly looking at they’ve got a big camping section, with lots of the tents set up, a cycle section (only Claude Butler bikes from what I could see), lots of travel stuff, caravanning, all sorts really.
More interestingly, their prices are very, very good. I just bought a paclite jacket there, reduced from £160 to £120, there are similar reductions on quite a lot of stuff. They make you get a card (£3 for a year) to get 10% off everything and all the special offers.
I had expected the service to be indifferent at best, but I was impressed – all the guys I talked to really knew their stuff, and were very helpful.
Well worth a visit.
August 2nd, 2004 at 09:27
COMMENT:
Great recommendation. I’ll have to check it out.
August 2nd, 2004 at 18:29
Yes my sister said it was a good place too. She went a couple of weeks ago and got some bargain folding seats for an impending camping trip. She has definite plans to return.
August 10th, 2004 at 11:46
Went yesterday for some stuff for my trip to Croatia – the staff really did seem to know what they were talking about.
September 28th, 2004 at 21:38
I popped in to Go Outdoors for some camping equipment and was impressed by the size of the store. The staff were friendly & approachable and seemed to have very good product knowledge. One assistant spent nearly an hour showing me the various tents and their features without pressurising me into buying one. My only critiscism was on the lack of choice for certain items and some things were so cheap i wondered if their quality was going to be that good.
October 1st, 2004 at 10:40
I work just around the corner – found your blog googling for “go outdoors”. I almost wish they weren’t there. That place gets far too much of my hard earned salary, I go in for a set of batteries and walk out with a tons worth of stuff.
Should carry a health warning.
November 13th, 2004 at 22:42
Sorry to burst the bubble guys, but as an outdoor instructor in the area I was unimpressed. The place may be big, but the range goes from recreational gear to, well, recreational gear. Good for a hill walk but even on Welsh mountains you’d be hard pushed to keep warm in some of their stuff. I will concede that you can get a bargain there if you look hard enough, but the majority of their stock is over-priced even if you buy the discount card. And the staff, although friendly and confident, are only giving out the spiel the manufacturers tell them to, and have no clue when it comes to climbing equipment or how to fit a boot properly.
About the best thing I can say is that the shop does stock major outdoor names, no “Peter Storm” like shop brands.
My opinion, a trip into Leamington, to Lockwoods on the Rugby Road, is much more benificial. It’s a smaller shop, but packed full of everything you need from recreational to proffesional gear. The staff their aren’t just trained employees, they are specialists, and Lockwoods do a lot of practical testing on their products, rather than trust the manufacturers.
November 13th, 2004 at 23:36
Hmm. Sam, I’m not sure why you think that a bit of kit bought from Go Outdoors should be any less warm than the same bit of kit bought (for more money) from Lockwoods… Of course “some of their stuff” won’t keep you warm – that’s why you buy the stuff that will. Their focus is certainly toward the recreational, but most of the people I know who trumpet on about how hardcore they and their gear are should spend less time talking about gear and more time using it.
In my experience Lockwoods never sell below RRP. I’ve seen the same exact things £20 cheaper at Go Outdoors, and that’s a lot on a bit of kit (boots in this case) costing £120. Lockwoods boot fitting is excellent, but that’s it really – other than that their range is rather variable. They’ve got the hardcore stuff, and then they’ve got the recreational stuff. Does that mean that their stuff won’t keep you warm either?
And the staff I met in Go Outdoors were not drones – I discussed walking in the Andes with one of them, and with another (who was also an outdoor instructor) the various routes in Wales that we’d done.
Sour grapes perhaps that someone is bursting the “exclusive” market that Lockwoods work so hard to cultivate?
November 15th, 2004 at 08:08
Just a quickie – I used to work at an outdoor shop in the City Centre. We sold at RRP because as a small chain (2 shops) we didnt have the buying power etc that places such as Go Outdoors do. However, we did discount for lots of groups, military, students, tried to do the best deal we could for large orders etc. Staff were treated well and what followed was good quality, friendly and personal service for customers – many we knew as they were regulars and I hope there was never any ‘pressure’ t buy.
In my opinion we sold good quality kit, the majority of the staff were heavily involved in related activities (one has just come back from a year in ethiopia, another is currently in Patagonia ice climbing) and taught us less involved about the kit. This meant that alot of it had been ‘field tested’ so to speak by us. And they were a tough bunch in impress!
Whilst you can get a bargin at Go Outdoors (TNF fleece £35) I think its important to point out that unless we support small, local, specialist shops such as Lockwoods they will not survive. I dont know about anyone else but I would like to support local industry and ensure they are able to survive rather than large corporations.
April 22nd, 2005 at 20:48
I’ve got a paclite jacket too and I have to say i’m also very impressed with it. Although after reading this, i am a little annoyed having paid the full £160!
August 21st, 2008 at 22:18
After having trawled the web looking for camping gear, I have found Go Outdoors hard to beat for prices, range and variety of camping items in stock The place is huge (although not easy to find in Coventry) but well worth a visit. The staff are great and really take the time to listen to your questions and also seem to be experienced campers which I found to be an added bonus. I really can recommend this place to anyone.
February 19th, 2009 at 22:56
Whilst looking for outdoor clothing I found http://www.aosbanbury.com an independent shop with a fantastic range and the paclite jacket for £140 pleased to see inflation hasn’t taken over in Banbury.