UKC

I'm scratching my head... help me out.

In reply to Ste Brom:

Lice?

In reply to jimtitt:

Alpkit - https://www.alpkit.com/explore/climbing

In reply to Ste Brom:

Dick's Climbing Shop in Bristol.

In reply to Ste Brom:

Up and Under in Cardiff.

In reply to Ste Brom:

Rock On.

In reply to Ste Brom:

Needlesports - http://www.needlesports.com/

In reply to Ste Brom:

http://www.joe-brown.com/

http://www.v12outdoor.com/

In reply to Ste Brom:

I've had good experiences with http://www.facewest.co.uk/

In reply to FactorXXX:

I really like the service and great prices from Up and Under - recommend them.

In reply to Ste Brom:

Outside - http://www.outside.co.uk/

In reply to Ste Brom:

Hitch and Hike in Bamford is the motherlode.

In reply to Steve nevers:

Dick's Climbing is ace. Prices don't seem massively competetive at first, but his service is brill. He took 45mins with me on my first pair of rock shoes, and told me to NOT buy half the things I picked up for a first rack. Makes his prices worth every penny.

In reply to MonkeyPuzzle:

Agreed, Not the cheapest but he decided that he might as well just give 10% for everyone not just BMC/etc members, and both his and Petes knowledge and attention is priceless.

Think I once tried every bloody pair of shoes in the shop once, and after 3 hours of titting about (on my part) his advice was "if they don't fit,don't buy them." Nice to see someone caring more about kitting you out right than making the sale.

In reply to Ste Brom:

Lockwoods in Royal Leamington Spa

In reply to Ste Brom:

Crag X
very good service having active climbers running it (true of all good independents)

T&S

In reply to Ste Brom:

Cold Mountain Kit ( http://www.coldmountainkit.com ) - when you go in (or phone up) you get genuinely helpful advice from climbers, but apparently they have had to stop trading (hopefully temporarily) because of a burglary.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?n=607813

In reply to Ste Brom:

http://www.urbanrock.com/

In reply to Ste Brom:
Rock + Run - http://www.rockrun.com/

In reply to Carolyn:
Another vote for needle sports competitive prices, excellent advice and friendly staff. Just as helpful with local conditions as they are with the gear they sell.

In reply to Ste Brom:

http://www.climbers-shop.com/

In reply to Ste Brom:

In Derbyshire, there's Hitchnhike. Outside. First Ascent

In reply to Ste Brom:

http://www.jo-royle.co.uk/

In reply to Steve nevers:


Me too. Another vote for Dick's Climbing.



Maybe the smaller the shop the more they pay pro rata to the wholesalers? I don't know. At the end of the proverbial day, everybody's got to eat - the customer, the shop-keeper... But people get fixated by scrimping a bit on price. What's the point of getting a 'bargain' if it doesn't fit/isn't what you need, etc?

As somebody who's never had a clue about climbing gear, I want someone knowledgeable to get me from what I think I need to what I actually do need. And I'm perfectly willing to pay for that knowledge. It took time and effort for someone (like Dick) to get it. And I respect that.

Mick

In reply to Mick Ward:


A lot of the time smaller retailers just can't commit to the forward order terms that some bigger suppliers require to get a good discount on their trade prices.

A lot of suppliers over here now are trying to be more proactive with helping out the little guys though by trying not to base discounts on quantity and not allowing the big multiples to range the same stuff as the indies etc.

Joby

In reply to OldProfile:

Thanks. I've never really known how it works and certainly didn't know things were changing. I've been grateful to many climbing shops over the decades. The first one (Derek Jackson's in Northern Ireland) started in his mum's front room. I got my first pair of climbing boots there (and they fitted). She made a great cup of tea.

Mick

trekitt.co.uk in Hereford

Yet another recommendation for Dicks Climbing in Bristol.
Website and shop nicely laid out, good amount of stock and fairly priced.
Tom.

In reply to Ste Brom:

Alpenstock in Stockport http://www.alpenstock.co.uk/

Excellent customer service and knowledgeable.

In reply to tony:

Thought Browns had been taken over by one of the bigger chains. Just that they haven't changed the name because it is a good selling point.