Comments on: Gear: A Question of Ethics?

By: andy

andy — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 06:16:02 +0000

Spot on Paddy. Nick at Paramo has certainly found a better way forward.

By: Paddy Dillon

Paddy Dillon — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:53:19 +0000

“The best prices are in China and the Far East…”

Well… if price is the only concern, then China and the Far East will do it, but they may well do their own bit on the side and nothing will stop them. Perhaps Nick at Paramo found a better way of getting a job done, dealing with people who are unlikely ever to do the dirty on him. Price isn’t everything. If you want an ‘ethical’ deal then maybe the ‘ethics’ have to come first.

By: andy

andy — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:38:57 +0000

In one way, Rob, this is inevitable. But what is annoying me is that the manufactures are not really being honest about it.

And sometime, just sometimes, I get very confused. I live under the delusion that the make these tents because they want to sell them !!!

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:32:20 +0000

Very interesting… what i’ve heard from alot of shops regarding tents and why they are less than helpfull these days is mainly due to people going in asking to see the tent up taking its name and then leaving without buying, in some cases even saying thanks i’ll go and look on the internet as it will be cheeper. So i’m not suprised that it’s hard finding them in store anymore especially as over the last 2-3 years most independents have been left with stock at the end of the season which they have had to discount and make no money on, another reason why they will not invest in the stock these days.

By: andy

andy — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:50:21 +0000

The range certainly isn’t consistent. One time at Cotswold you can find one thing but never find it again. You certainly couldn’t get a gear range together.

By: ecco

ecco — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:14:33 +0000

I think cotswold (& many others) went down the “travel clothing” route some time ago. That’s why I was suprised to find rab softshell and a fair bit of montane in my local one (kingston). It’s by no means a full range though, & I think i’d struggle putting together a proper kit list there.

By: andy

andy — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:46:14 +0000

This illustrates the issue that I have raised before, namely, that gear shops now only stock some issues online.

I’ve always appreciated Cotswold but I’ve noticed that even their store in Snowdonia is now focussed mainly around end of line items – at least it has been the last few times that I have been there.

By: johnhee

johnhee — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:09:42 +0000

Well there’s now a local branch of Cotswolds in bournemouth, and I’ve become increasingly frustrated in trying to buy stuff that’s not in stock, or just poorly represented.
As a result they’re off my ‘must visit’ list for some time to come. i’m used to being in a non walking area, so don’t xpect the shops. But I have my favourites dotted around the country where I’ll go for the gear if I want choice and good advice. A pity the nearest is 100 mile away in Devon. Good excuse for a weekend away though

By: andy

andy — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:41:55 +0000

Cameron reads the blogs! I might write something and I’m sure he’d publish it, but I’d have to write something properly, of course.

There is no branch of Cotswold in BIrmingham

It’s one of the reasons I go to Snowdonia so often!

By: ecco

ecco — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:35:30 +0000

Oddly enough, I’ve noticed quite a lot of rab & montane gear at my local cotswold.

Perhaps you should mention this debate to cameron – it deserves an editorial (or at least a debate on OM)