UKC

Ordered some stuff from Needlesports for a trip next week. It arrived today but they had sent me static cord instead of the shock cord I ordered.
I telephoned them and all was resolved in under a minute. They also told me to keep the incorrect cord.
Why can't it always be so simple?

In reply to vark: Grat service those guys. Couldn't be more helpful.

In reply to vark:

If I need some new gear, Needlesports is always my first port of call. They are great.

In reply to vark:

Phew - saved by some good back up service and some kind comments. Our main aim though would always be to send you the right stuff in the first place!

In reply to vark: They did something similarly exceptional for me just a few days ago. In that instance I actually ordered the wrong stuff, but they blamed it on their web site not being clear enough. It was only a few pounds-worth of tubular tape but Needlesports' service was exemplary.

If you ever manage to pop in to the shop in Keswick you'll be astounded how much stock they manage to keep in there, and in a fraction of the floorspace of Tisos - sorry, George Fisher. And they're always happy to offer help and advice on gear, places to go, routes to do etc etc.

Needlesports are good people!

In reply to vark: Top shop, with top service!

+1, awesome shop

In reply to vark:

They get 10 out of 10 from me in all my dealings with them.

In reply to vark: Agreed. Ordered a rope bag from these people and its nice to see a firm with integrity.

Keep it up Needlesports!!

In reply to Stephen Reid:
However good your systems errors will always creep in. So long as they are quickly and painlessly, like today's, it doesn't matter.

In reply to vark:

Good old Needlesports, it seems the staff is as efficient as it used to.

Some time ago i left some shopping for the last minute as i usually do, so one week before catching a plane i ordered from them a stove and a pair of mitts paying for the fast delivery to be safe. 2 days later i received a stove box with no stove inside and a pair of the Women version of the mitts...

In reply to Ann S: + one

In reply to Alan Breck:

Love Needlesports, best shop ever.

In reply to vark:

I am a huge fan of Needlesports. Have used them dozens of times, great every time.

In reply to vark:

+1 from me too. Couldn't ask for better service so tend to use them even when I don't need to.

In reply to vark:

Yes - always had excellent service from Needlesports. And they'll send stuff by Royal Mail / Parcelforce.

In reply to vark: Needlesports and Lakes Climber the two best gear shops in the UK. They are staffed by people who are climbers and care, and always good impartial advice.

In reply to Hearnson:

Except Lakes Climber has the poorest selection of clothing the times I've been in there, barely anything in the range.

In reply to vark: Best gear shop in uk!

In reply to vark: Yes Needlesports are superb and while we are on the subject I would like to ring the praises of Llanberis resoles. Good service and the best workmanship I have seen. I have previoulsy used Feetfirst and Chesire but Llanberis Resoles will be getting my business from now on.

In reply to vark: Great shop, great support - keep it up folks!

In reply to vark:

It's two words! Needle Sports.

I my opinion the finest purveyor of climbing equipment in the land.

In reply to Mr Lopez:


Oh Gosh, what a terrible tale - I hope we sorted it out for you promptly. Problems arise because there is no link up between the stock being sold via Sage and it actually having to be zapped by a bar code reader in order to "tick" it off the order. I looked into buying suitable software recently but although the fee to buy it (£2000 I think) was reasonable the annual licence fee of ca £1000 was more than we could afford. If anyone knows of such a system at a more reasonable price I'd be glad to hear of it. Of course, it wouldn't actually stop someone sending out an empty box in error... We do have very strong rules in place about checking the contents of all boxes prior to dispatch, but they aren't always followed I'm sorry to say.

Anyway - thank you everyone for the kind comments. It's a tough time in retail at present and it's very heartening to hear them. Sadly, Lakes Climber (as praised by some of you above) will apparently be closing soon and turning into a cafe. Another small specialist shop gone that (if you count its days as Rock & Run) had been there for longer than us.

Another vote for needlesports. Try to order from them as much as possible.

In reply to vark:

Without doubt the best gear shop in the Lake District.

In reply to vark: And... Stephen Reid very kindly hosts the Nuts Museum website.