Robinsons ashton megastore

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Lolita

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Has anyone been to the robinsons megastore in Ashton, is it any good? I buy a lot from them online but when I went to the superstore in Cannock I was a bit underwhelmed, is the Ashton one worth a look? :):):)
 
It's a large store but think you might be under whelmed. Suppose it depends what you like in terms of manufacturers and quality. Not my favourite store but I pop in when I'm in area :)
 
I went a month or two ago, mainly cos I needed to try on hats and didn't want to trust buying one online till I knew exactly what fitted my massive noggin. I've got to be honest, I wasn't that impressed. Their stock levels seemed alright to me but their staff aren't great. I was there for over half an hour and didn't see a single member of staff upstairs, then when I went down to pay the two people behind the till were having a full-on conversation with each other and barely acknowledged my presence.
 
My grandparents live nearby so I always pop in when I visit. I think it's alright. It's not a huuuge store but I mostly go when I want to buy something I need to try on eg a hat or body protector. The staff are nice and helpful (I've found) but they're in serious need of more employees. I've only ever see 2 ppl upstairs at most.
 
I got a hat from there. The look on the sales assistent's face when I told her I'd come from mid-Wales was priceless.

The three sales people I spoke to were great and they had a huge sellection of hats. I'd been looking forward to having a good rummage but the wasn't anything I was intrested in in the (large) sale section and the amount of stock was a bit underwhelming. My boyfriend was pleased we could get back on with our journey quickly and my wallet was happy.
 
Yup, the Ashton one is the original one, although I think it got rebuilt after a fire a while ago?

I seem to remember it being much better before the rebuild although I was in my teens then and quite over-excitable about anything horsey so that may not be a fair reflection! :D
 
undergroundoli said:
I got a hat from there. The look on the sales assistent's face when I told her I'd come from mid-Wales was priceless.

The three sales people I spoke to were great and they had a huge sellection of hats. .
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Not anymore! I was there on Sunday and their hat collection has halved. I was thinking about getting a new one too but didn't bother in the end as there was only one member of staff and loads of people waiting to get fitted.
 
gembear said:
Not anymore! I was there on Sunday and their hat collection has halved. I was thinking about getting a new one too but didn't bother in the end as there was only one member of staff and loads of people waiting to get fitted.
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Well that is rubbish and stupid. Hats and body protectors are the things I want a really wide range of, in a shop, so I can get my grubby mits on them. Saddles obviously need a saddler, everything else can be found in a magic place called the internet.
 
I've been to the one in Ashton and found it ok, the people were nice enough too. Also been to the one in Cannock i felt it was a bit of a let down but i think i was expecting it to be like the Ashton one sizewise. Didnt think they had much in either. But i think they are fab for ordering online.
 
I wouldn't go unless I was in the area.

I went in a couple of months ago and got a bargain hat in the sale area, but apart from that its pretty rubbish.
 
Everytime ive bin in the last few years it seems the shelves are half empty/left unstocked. And the sales arnt as good as they used to be either. As lexi said it was better before the rebuild :(
 
Yes the Ashton store is the original, I've shopped there for 30 years... back in the day you could have a good rummage through all kinds of weird and wonderful horsey items and they had a huge selection of new and second hand saddle. It's far more commercial these days and is more like a supermarket... but, I've not been to Robinsons yet and not walked out with what I went for. The other large local equestrian store Derby House has sadly died it's death and although the store is still there, they no longer trade any equestrian items, it has now become a butchers and a toy store :(
 
I live relatively close, so have been on a few occasions. When I needed a new hat, and for the sale (old pony had a gigantic rug size, so usually some bargains to be had).

There's a lot of cheap tat, but some good stuff in there too, but the tat generally outnumbers the decent stuff.

When I got my new hat their "qualified" hat fitter tried to tell me my head was a size bigger than it is. This hat is moving, as such it's clearly too big... Either way I athanor hat I wanted that fits, but no thanks to the shop assistant.

I was also looking for a pair of long boots, I have rather wide calves, so knew it would be a challenge. Asked shop fitter about boots for my chunky legs, she brought out what I think were shires Norfolk long boots, in wide, they didn't fit, then the extra wide, they did fit but only came in a short. Then turned and said I'd have to go to fuller fillies as manufacturers don't make boots that wide. Or why didn't I just try some chaps... Went to my local saddler and managed to get a lovely pair of ariat bromonts that fit wonderfully. The mountain horse ones also fit well (but wern't as comfy) they had both of those boots in stock at robinsons but couldnt be bothered to suggest them...

Rather upset my local saddlery shut down not too long ago :-/
 
I don't bother going any more never have what you want and their sales are just a load if rubbish thrown in bins it's a shame the shop was so much better before when it was just the one floor
 
I do think so many tack shops seem to stock just a limited range for example all of the saddles in one near me are Wintec, all of the rugs in another are Weatherbeeta and another stocks mainly Shires when they are quite a high end store and could sell a lot of Horseware. I dont go to some because they are just too samey, lots of stock but its the same grooming kit in ten different colours taking up fifteen feet of shelf space and no real choice of quality or brand

I dont know if this is because companies restrict what other brands they can sell, whether stores want to simplify their stock or whatever but the days of the tack shop with lots and lots of choice seem numbered!
 
lea840 said:
The other large local equestrian store Derby House has sadly died it's death and although the store is still there, they no longer trade any equestrian items, it has now become a butchers and a toy store :(
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I had no idea it Derby House has gone. I used to enjoy going to Robinsons then shooting up the motorway to Derby House. Made the trip more worthwhile.
 
djlynwood said:
I had no idea it Derby House has gone. I used to enjoy going to Robinsons then shooting up the motorway to Derby House. Made the trip more worthwhile.
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Derby House is in theory still there, they've sublet most of the space to a farm shop (who run the cafe) and a toy store, and just have a small section for themselves, which is fine if you want something for a minature shetland..(meaning all normal size rugs aren't there!)

How much longer they will be there is anybody's guess.

I've started to use Oakfield more now..
 
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