TRAGO MILLS - "More than you bargain for"
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Mum: I think we should maybe decorate the bathroom next…
Dad: Yes OK then would you like to pop down to Trago at the weekend?
Mum: Yeah that sounds good
Little Fluffy: Can we have some ... Read review
Advantages: cheap, affordable products Disadvantages: price stickers leave a mark, and you have to pay extra for carrier bags
TRAGO MILLS - "More than you bargain for"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Mum: I think we should maybe decorate the bathroom next…
Dad: Yes OK then would you like to pop down to Trago at the weekend?
Mum: Yeah that sounds good
Little Fluffy: Can we have some toys?
Sister: Can we have some sweets?
Mum and Dad: No, we are going to look at a new bathroom suit. ...
Every trip to Trago resulted in an exciting flurry of questions. I loved Trago when we had a few pounds to spend on pens, pencils, pocket toys and sweets. We could get so much more for our money compared to most high street stores.
On our way down the A38 we couldn't help but sing the ditty "Trago Mills has a great deal happening…so get on down to Trago Mills". It still appears on the radio today for that gentle nudge ... more
TRAGO MILLS - "More than you bargain for" ----------------------------------------------------------- Mum: I think we should maybe decorate the bathroom next… Dad: Yes OK then would you like to pop down to Trago at the weekend? Mum: Yeah that sounds good Little Fluffy: Can we have some toys? Sister: Can we have some sweets? Mum and Dad: No, we are going to look at a new bathroom suit. Little Fluffy + Sister: *sulks* Little Fluffy: Can we feed the ducks? Mum: Yeah if we have time Sister: Can we have some toys? Mum and Dad: No
Every trip to Trago resulted in an exciting flurry of questions. I loved Trago when we had a few pounds to spend on pens, pencils, pocket toys and sweets. We could get so much more for our money compared to most high street stores.
On our way down the A38 we couldn't help but sing the ditty "Trago Mills has a great deal happening…so get on down to Trago Mills". It still appears on the radio today for that gentle nudge towards a shopping visit!
Trago started out in the 1960's as a small shed in Liskeard, South East Cornwall. The founder Mike Robertson bought a selection of items 'up country' and sold them in this shed. The store was designed to sell cheap, affordable products to the locals of Cornwall. Mike Robertson is a well known supporter and has broken many trading laws in the past by insisting to open on Sundays and ignore the metric ruling.
The store has expanded and has another two stores in Newton Abbot, Devon and Falmouth, Cornwall. For anyone living in Wales there are currently plans to expand into Merthyr Tydfil by late 2009. The plans for this new store can be found at www.tragomills.co.uk
THE STORE ------------------ The store is nestled in the idyllic Glynn Valley situated on the A38 between Liskeard and Bodmin. The store is open between 9am and 5:30pm on a Monday to Friday and10am and 4pm on a Sunday (opens at 9:30am for viewing).
The car park has ample parking spaces (over 1000) although we have found that when visiting the store on a Sunday car parking can be a little stressful. I have seen a few cases of road rage where two people have had an ugly disagreement about spaces.
PRODUCTS AND PRICES ------------------------------------ The store is very well organised with clearly labelled departments. There is a large garden and outdoors department on the ground floor with affordable plants and furniture. I enjoy shopping in the pet section as I know I can get affordable pet care items at a fraction of the high street prices.
Also on the ground floor is a selection of DIY, Car maintenance, CD, DVD and Book products neatly arranged and easy to find. My only real compliant is that the book, CD and DVD collection is stuck in the past and it is impossible to find a modern book/film.
On the second floor there is a huge stationary department which sells a selection of gift cards, gift wrap and small porcelain/glass/wooden gifts. I stock up on all my paper, pens, pencils and folders as it is a lot better priced than in a more established stationary store.
As a child I remember going to Trago Mills to pick my carpet for my bedroom, or wallpaper and the selection was amazing. I would say that Trago easily compares to the national chain stores such as Homebase, MFI and IKEA.
The prices are very good and on average the prices are about 5%-15% less for electrical and entertainment goods, 20%-30% less for furniture, garden equipment and DIY goods, clothes and stationary is about 30%-50% less than most high street/large chain stores.
The most attractive feature is the ability to buy brand name clothes, sport equipment or electrical good at a fraction of the price. I managed to find a gorgeous Levi leather jacket for £10.99 and a set of Panasonic speakers for only £2.99 and they work a treat.
►Bunk Bed - £69.99 (Argos £119.99) ►Leather Boots - £19.99 (Clarks £60) ►Ainsley Harriet Book - £2.95 (Waterstones £8.99) ►Stickers 59p (Ham and Sewell £1.99) ►Fimo Clay 99p (Ham and Sewell £1.79) ►Hamster Cage £9.99 (Local Pet store £22.99) ►Hamster bedding 79p (Wilkinsons 99p)
The above prices are just a quick reference guide so that you can compare the prices.
PAYING ------------ Due to the large size of Trago Mills and the many checkout points in the building there is a system in process where receipts are checked and stamped to prevent theft. The store takes theft seriously and has a life size cut out of a policeman reminding customers of how many criminals have been caught and prosecuted that month. This cardboard cut out also offers any thief a 'free ride home in a police car'.
At the moment customers can only use debit/credit cards when they spend over £10 although the store also accept cheques, vouchers and cash. Bags are also charged at 2p for a small carrier or 5p for a large carrier. It is therefore advisable that you take your own bag.
OTHER INFORMATION --------------------------------- The store is situated in a large wooden area with a number of food outlets and burger vans. The Fit 't' Bust kiosk sell a range of cheap, tasty fast food. We often stop off here for a cheap lunch (sausage, chips, cheese and curry sauce with a can for less than £3) and eat it by the Fowey River in the picnic area.
There is also a great deal on a cooked "Early Shopper" breakfast in the Keg and Kettle restaurant for only 99p so if you plan to get there early to avoid queues this is a very good deal. There is a small aviary with a nearby pond with Koi Carp near the restaurant so eating is a real pleasure, especially during the summer months.
There are a number of small outlets selling local foods such as pasties or local farm produce. There is also a mobile phone store and newsagents.
SUMMARY ----------------- Overall Trago Mills is a great department store for those on a tight budget when decorating or redesigning a new home. In fact when I move into my new home with my partner all of our stuff will be purchased in Trago saving us hundreds of pounds.
My partner is a plumber and happily buys his overalls, equipment and materials from the store without worrying about quality. I love to stock up on any equipment I may need and know that I can save £20-£50 each time compared to a trip to a high street store.
Trago Mills does get a bad press as the 'poor mans store' but although the stuff is cheap the quality is not compromised. If you plan to visit Cornwall or Devon in the near future don't miss out on a trip to Trago Mills, you never know what you may find.
...South Devon or East Cornwall, Trago Mills is one of the things that you sort of know about instinctively. Like how to crimp a pasty or what to look for to avoid being shot at on one of the live firing ranges on Dartmoor. To the rest of the country it seems to be a bit of a mystery, so I shall endeavour to explain it to the uninitiated.
Trago Mills is a big warehouse where lots of things are sold very cheaply.
And there you have it. Not enough detail? ... ...currently three Trago Mills outlets. One at Newton Abbot in South Devon, one at Liskeard in East Cornwall and one at Falmouth, further down towards the pointy bit in Cornwall. They are beginning to build a new one - not in a south west catchment area like the others, but in Merthyr Tydfil. Go figure... Personally I have shopped at Newton Abbot and Liskeard, which are very similar. I'm hazarding a guess that Falmouth is a carbon copy of the others, ...
Vixterbelle 02.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Trago Mills (Liskeard)
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Advantages: there is more to do and its closer to the mainland England Disadvantages: not as well organised as the store at Liskeard
TRAGOMILLS
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After my review on TragoMills (Liskeard) I have decided to write about my favourite store of the three (liskeard, Newton Abbot and Falmouth). After the initial debate about whether we wanted a shopping trip down Cornwall or to Exeter and Torquay we could work out which store we really wanted to visit.
In case you have not read the 'TragoMillsLiskeard' review I will give a brief introduction to the history of Trago. TragoMills started out in the 1960's as a small shed in Liskeard, South East Cornwall. The founder Mike Robertson bought a selection of items 'up country' and sold them in this shed. The store was designed to sell cheap, affordable products to the locals of Cornwall. Mike Robertson is a well known supporter and has broken many trading laws in the past by insisting to open on Sundays ...
This review is on TragoMills, a family themem park with shopping centre based in Devon just outside a town called Newton Abbot. This site is one out of three TragoMills sites, the other two being in Cornwall (one at Liskeard theh other at Falmouth).
In order to find this particular one, you will find it on the A38 between Plymouth and Exeter. Or rather, closer to Exeter but still on that exact same road! Look for sings to Newton Abbot, although just to confuse you all more which I know you like - there are in fact two junctions for this town. If coming from Exeter way, then it will be the first turning - of course, from Plymouth it will be the second. But never fear, as Trago is well signposted from both ways.
On entering the site, there is plenty of car parking. But as this is a popular place to come to, then no doubt it will ...
