Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find Trago Mills one of the weirdest shopping experiences I've ever had...

148 replies

Nancery · 26/04/2014 23:10

On holiday last week we ended up in Trago Mills as we wanted to buy DS (22m) a tractor as we'd gone on holiday with no toys. I'd heard vaguely about it via my former partner who used to bicker with his mother about it (he refused to set foot in the place due to it's bizarre political messages and umpteen other reasons, his mum thought he was being ridiculous as it's cheap!) but didn't know loads. Well... From the signs around the building informing you you will be prosecuted for stealing the plants around the moat, the signs about shoplifting and the consequences almost everywhere you look, the having to queue to to have your receipt and bags checked, the extraordinary statues of the 'money grabbing tax man' or anti Europe posters - I am Shock
Bonkers. All of it! And more than a little bit sinister.
And the place was bloody packed!!

I've clearly not lived have I?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nancery · 26/04/2014 23:23

Chickens and geese at the one in Devon.

OP posts:
tshirtsuntan · 26/04/2014 23:25

Ooh, I like rugs & house tat, will have to stop next time and have a rummage

Original poster
Nancery · 26/04/2014 23:27

It's heaving with tat! Might be some better stuff, no idea. Think the kind of ornaments or bedding you have in holiday cottages, if that makes sense (yes, I have just been to one!)

OP posts:
TrinityRhino · 26/04/2014 23:27

There is three of them, they are awesome!

I can't wait to go each time I visit my parents.

OOAOML · 26/04/2014 23:27

They sell motorbikes! They are clearly an uber-outlet - is the politics really bad?

OOAOML · 26/04/2014 23:30

My parents have taken me to sterlingmills.com/ a couple of times, mainly I have bought towels. Clearly I didn't realise the range of outlet variety that was available Down South.

shouldnthavesaid · 26/04/2014 23:30

I went to the newton abbot one years and years ago, nearly twenty years I think actually. Got a lovely barbie who had wee rollerblades and a nice bed for her. Can't remember what else my mum and dad picked up. I'm sure there was a barbecue.

Mum's just reminded me that she bought Pyrex bowels, falcon plates, camping equipment, a wind cheater, etc.

I only remember the moat thing and a train. I wasn't past five at the time.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 26/04/2014 23:33

A bit like the homeware section of TKMaxx but bigger, the same sort of random, cheap looking, piled high stuff.

CSIJanner · 26/04/2014 23:34

The peacock out front sums up the shopping experience Grin

DarylDixonsDarlin · 26/04/2014 23:35

FML

Trago was a day out when we was kids.

Vague recollection of something like the bloke who runs it is a UKIP fan, with a weekly spouting in the local paper about leaving the EU or some similar random shit...?

Darmok · 26/04/2014 23:35

They sell masses of tat and the odd hidden gem.
The place is a shrine to nuttiness. What bothers me is it's insanely busy.

TrinityRhino · 26/04/2014 23:35

he doesn't want to go metric among other things

the main guy is dead now and his son runs it all

Original poster
Nancery · 26/04/2014 23:39

Good lord, look at this

OP posts:
Thetallesttower · 26/04/2014 23:41

It used to be weirder. The guy who set it up used to take out full page ads in the local newspaper ranting against the government and the EU, full on UKIP stuff.

You still have to have small metal tokens to go on the rides, you can't pay money/swipe cards or anything like that.

There are some bargains to be had in rugs and carpets though.

It's a local shop for local people, if you know what I mean.

Yoghurty · 26/04/2014 23:47

Oh my goodness- I grew up visiting the 'Newt 'nabbot' (Grin) branch on a regular basis. There were deer and other animals in a wildlife park type enclosure. And yes, we'd always leave with some random tat. Every time Grin

I had no idea about all the UKIP links Shock

HenI5 · 26/04/2014 23:47

Mum's just reminded me that she bought Pyrex bowels

Well that's definitely a one up over anything the Kardashians have had done Grin

Bitofkipper · 26/04/2014 23:47

Had the rudest checkout woman ever at the one near Bovey Tracey.

My husband loves it, lots of useless crap.

feathermucker · 26/04/2014 23:55

I live in Newton Abbot, Trago (the Devon one) is about 10 minutes drive.

Love it, it's always packed and noisy, but they sell EVERYTHING. And there's an activity thing where, if you pay £5, kids can go on lots of different rides etc,

UKIP signs everywhere though Confused

GarlicAprilShowers · 26/04/2014 23:57

Big UKIP supporter. Publishes racist rants in all the local newspapers, with occasional digressions into anti 'poofter' rants and a lot of anti-Europe rants. Was found to be employing 30 Poles at the same time as ranting against immigration. Dumped a load of toxic building waste on sites, but paid for cleanup just before due in court. Features sculptures of HMRC and 'Europe' as underworld characters with horns & forked tails. Also has a sculptural group called 'Pans People' which is much beloved by paedophiles.

They sound like nice people.

Original poster
Nancery · 27/04/2014 00:02

garlic you summed it up beautifully. I think that's why I was so amazed!

OP posts:
rembrandtsrockchick · 27/04/2014 07:32

I use the Liskeard branch. It's much better since the old man died, the staff are not quite so hostile and there is not so much emphasis on the customers being treated as criminals.

My biggest problem is the rabbit warren lay out of the store and the impossibility of finding the exits. Every time I shop there I'm worrying about the fire risk. It's difficult enough to find the exits (which are all tucked away in corners and very difficult to see) in normal conditions, god knows how anyone would find their way out in an emergency with smoke everywhere!

My husband hates the place.

The anti europe statuary is very funny and the 'shoplifters will be shot and buried in unmarked graves' signs are as prolific as ever they were when the old man was alive.

It is indeed an experience to be savoured.

Waltonswatcher1 · 27/04/2014 07:51

Tis the John Lewis of the south west !
It's a department store and a pound land under one roof .
My mother used to make dried flowers for them over twenty years ago - she found 3 of the bouquets on a high shelf in the Falmouth branch last month !
Only in Tragos .
"Nobody beats trago mills beats trago mills"

fatlazymummy · 27/04/2014 07:55

I've been a couple of times, 20 odd years ago. I can't remember all the political stuff ,or the security either. I went with my ex who fancied himself as a bit of a delboy. I can vaguely remember the stuff being cheap, but nothing that you really needed or wanted. The ideal shop for people who buy stuff just for the sake of it.

ConcreteElephant · 27/04/2014 07:56

Totally crazy place. I grew up in Devon and we went there a lot - nowhere else could you buy £5 trainers, paint, shower gel and rabbit food all under one roof...and get your bags checked on the way out. Nice.

The rants in the local paper were utterly frothy and seemed quite unique at the time, though these days there are whole parties with the same attitude of course.

I still remember the radio ad even though I left the West Country in the late 90s after uni. It's a 20yr old ear worm. 'Trago Mills gotta great deal happening, get on down to Trago Mills Liskeard, Falmouth and Newton Abbott' ... Disclaimer, this is an old advert, check the internet for current locations if you are tempted by this thread to visit ;)

We're back in the home county for a break this week - I don't think I'll drag my DC there, even for old times' sake :)

whatadrama · 27/04/2014 08:15

I used to go a lot when i was very young but thought the one in Newton Abbot had burnt down years ago so havent taken my kids to enjoy the delights and chaos Confused