UKC

Cheaper gear Legally. Blog post

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 John Burns 26 Mar 2013
It’s not that I don’t trust technology it’s just that most of the time I don’t understand it. It’s the pace of change that gets to me. Just when I think I’ve mastered one thing it moves on and I find myself running after it like I’m chasing some ever accelerating bus, no matter how close I get to it’s always pulling away and nobody seems to have the time table. I’ve decided that I’ll never use a GPS on the hill, not because they aren’t great little devices and would be really handy at times but because I spend so much time in front of one kind of screen or another I just want somewhere in my life that I don’t have to watch some flickering little screen or reboot it every now and again.

That doesn’t make me a technophobe, or maybe it does, I still use technology and I take my little Nexus 7 tablet into bothies so, if I’m there alone, I can watch a movie. This harmless little pass time has brought me much approbation, as if it’s somehow immoral or unethical. I think there’s a place for technology, it allows us to do amazing things, it’s getting the balance right that’s the trick, we shouldn’t let it take over.

Enough of the grumpy old man lecture, you’re here to find out about how to get cheap gear.

Read more here http://johndburns.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/how-to-get-cheaper-gear-legally/
andrew breckill 26 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns: there's lots of ways to get cheap gear. I pride myself on at least 25% discount on any gear I buy. Having said that the price of outdoor gear generally is ludicrous. I bought an xgk II from field and trek in the mid nineties, paid £60 for it with 25% disc they are a £140 now.
Not a lot of use for outdoor gear, but I get about £500 cashback buying the things I need for the cheapest price every year, things like car insurance, change utilities, phones, broadband etc.
 OMR 26 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns: The guy who owns Tower Ridge (the gear shop, not the part of the mountain) is often on this forum. I'm sure that, as a guy running his own business, he'll be delighted to know you used his best prices to knock down a chain store and give them your custom. Seems a bit harsh for him when the chain is just buying - fairly cheaply - a bigger share of the market to force people like my mate out of business. But, hey, I'm sure all the UKC capitalists will heartily approve.
 Jon Wickham 26 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns: Would you be willing to pay more for a product if the company you bought it from gave you a higher standard of service?
 Mark Kemball 26 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns: Buy from places like Needlesport - it may cost you a little more (often it doesn't), but the service is excellent, well worth any extra you might pay.
 angry pirate 26 Mar 2013
In reply to Mark Kemball:
> (In reply to John Burns) Buy from places like Needlesport - it may cost you a little more (often it doesn't), but the service is excellent, well worth any extra you might pay.

+1 on this. I know folk love driving down a bargain but there are times when the expertise that these specialist retailers have is invaluable. Whether it's trying on a decent selection of boots or some firsthand advice on gear for certain venues or just stocking the invaluable little spares that some internet discount stores don't, these shops provide a service beyond just sales. If we stop using them, we'll lose them.
 roddyp 27 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns:

You'll be trying on boots in a shop and then buying them online next - and then complaining that there's nowhere left locally where you can buy decent gear.

There are plenty of ways to get good discounts at small independent shops : BMC discounts (typically 10%) and local club discounts, which are often 15% or more. For example, it looks like Tower Ridge offer 15% to Blairgowrie and District Hillwalking club members: http://www.bdhc.org.uk/links.html
nickyrannoch 27 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns:

I was in Mountain Leisure in Perth on Saturday and much of what I was looking for was cheaper there than it was in TISO. Add to that the excellent personal service and advice I would be more than happy to use them even if it was a few quid more expensive.

they also do 20% discount for public sector workers.
 IanMcC 27 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns:
So you've single-handedly had all the unfrequented bothies trashed AND put all the local gear shops out of business. I hope you're pleased with yourself
 cuppatea 27 Mar 2013
In reply to John Burns:

Not sure theres much wrong with your blog thing. As far as I can see all the apostrophie's are in the right place.


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