As I was passing, I called in to a Cotswold Outdoor store the other day to see whether the much praised Meindl Borneo's would fit my average British feet, which, despite the comments about them being wide, they did.

I was surprised to be getting a really hard sell from the assistant who was exaggerating the benefits of their fitting service (which amounted to - walk up and down incline - do you toes hit the end, do your feet slide in the boot ?), saying that other boot retailers, and internet retailers did not have the same relationship with the manufacturers that allowed Cotswold to send back faulty boots. Said that Karrimor boots had gone out of business, the Borneo's needed 4 months breaking in and insoles must be worn on top of Superfeet.

So given her evangelising about the service I'd received vs. buying over the internet, what value do you think that I should place on it ?

if they fit...and your happy...vote with your feet and dotcom them for £20 cheaper.........

very little.......thats really shockingly poor for such a big chain.

If they fit great, buy them where you want all retailers will have that 'special' relationship when returning faulty product.

i do have to add, i've never had an experience like that in Cotswolds, which sotre was it? I wonder if they had just had a training day...

If you call the Reading store, there's an older chap who works there part time and really knows his stuff about boots.
He was advising me just the other day - although he couldn't help much as I'd previously rather stupidly purchased and used the wrong sized boots (and they won't do refunds once you've used them).
I wouldn't necessarily always say 'old wine is good wine' but this guy seems to really know his stuff.
The 'big sell' to which you refer seems right out of order, which is a shame as Cotswolds are a reasonably decent chain.

The St Albans store has alwyas been good too.

Maybe the assistant was just trying to be helpful and you interpreted it differently?
If you're happy with the boots why not just ask if they'll price match?

It was the original South Cerney store in the cotswolds.

A quick look on Froogle reveals them at a £35 ~20% discount - not that I can justify buying them yet - got to wear out my current pair <g> !

Part of the reason I posted is that the high street retailers only argument for justifying their higher prices is the supposed 'added value' of their personal service. This is obviously bullshit - they just exaggerate what they do.

As for the other 'insights' - Karrimor boots are still for sale. The 4 month breaking in period was obviously bullshit, and having worn Superfeet without insoles for years, I've never heard of wearing the original boot insoles on top of Superfeet.

if you know the right people/in the right clubs you can get 20% anyway.

Surely wearing insoles over superfeet decreases the volume of the boot, thus meaning they won't fit as well?

Maybe the assistant was just trying to be helpful and you interpreted it differently?

Then god preserve me from people who are 'just trying to be helpful'.

if you know the right people/in the right clubs you can get 20% anyway.

Sounds mysterious.

Then I don't suppose I'm alone in not knowing the right people in the right clubs.

An example being group membership for clubs, as a member of Herts Scouts, who have a group account, I can get up to 20% off. DofE participants and leaders get discounts, and I believe BMC members do as well.
There's no harm in asking for a discount anywhere :)

Superfeet don't just do the orthotic insoles. They also make volume reducers which are designed to go under the original insole. They're pretty useful if you can't find a boot that fits your foot properly.

I would have thought that Cotswolds would probably price match if you've seen them somewhere else for cheaper too.

the manager of the picadilly branch was likened to, by one of the staff, arkwright's till. he suggested you could try but probably wouldn't work.

Membership of the SYHA/YHA gets 10% off at Cotswolds in Manchester and Keswick. I suspect simply asking gets 10% off.

I was disappointed to read the OP. I have found Cotswold to be among the better outdoor retaillers and the experience described by the OP is not mine. Had I had the experience described I would go elsewhere.

I have generally had good and often money saving advice from Cotswolds but I suppose in every large organisation there will be one or two not up to standard. I think you were unlucky.