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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:
Wabbitty · 27/04/2014 08:20

Newton Abbot one is definitely still standing. Just don't bother visiting on a bank holiday. I find the most annoying thing is the tills - they can't scan anything. Have never had my bag/ receipt checked though.

CSIJanner · 27/04/2014 08:23

Concrete - the same tune and advert are on the airwaves now.

oldgrandmama · 27/04/2014 08:28

Oh God, is it still going? I went there in the late 1980s - totally strange place. As I remember, the owner also used to write long, rambling rants that were featured in the local paper.

mewkins · 27/04/2014 08:30

It's a strange place but plenty of bargains on homeware, hose spares and really cheap she re-healing!

Bluestocking · 27/04/2014 08:30

Excuse me, Waltonswatcher, the John Lewis of the South West is the John Lewis in Exeter!
Trago Mills is bonkers. I've only been to the one in Falmouth, which is absolutely crammed with the most diabolical tatty crap, much of it dusty from having been there so long. Having said that, I did find a perfectly serviceable winter weight wetsuit for DS for £10!

magimedi · 27/04/2014 08:31

I've bee nto the Newton Abbot one - very strange. Like someone said earlier, I was very worried about the lack of fire exits.

For those of you who live in East Sussex ESK is the nearest thing to it - but Trago was 20 times the size & not nearly as nice as ESK.

ImSoOverIt · 27/04/2014 08:33

As a Devon girl, yes trago is where the residents of Royston vasey would shop. A lot of the customers look like they are from there too.

ThreeLannistersOneTargaryen · 27/04/2014 08:36

I find it hilarious.
If you know what to look for, they do have some good bargains.

I'm always tempted to try paying in Euros, to see what they'll say. Grin

When they were little, my children liked going to the Co-op next door, as it's shaped like a castle.

ImSoOverIt · 27/04/2014 08:45

Has anyone ever noticed the gargoyles on all the buildings? And of course there is also the little shops outside which are independent concessions, where you have people who sell stuff such as Goth paraphernalia and reborn dolls.

I took dd to see father Xmas there. Ride on the train, wrapped up piece of tat for dd, and my dad was amused/entertained by the somewhat brassy and slightly overweight "elves" in their short skirts (boak). And then the chuck in a cup of tea. All for three quid!

Scuttlebug · 27/04/2014 08:46

It was like woolworths on speed. There was nothing you couldn't buy.

Am actually quite fond of the place, I like my products dusty.

PenguinBear · 27/04/2014 08:50

I've never heard of anything like this.

So is it like one big shop like Costo/ B and M or lots of s shops? Confused

Retropear · 27/04/2014 08:52

Ooooo a Trago thread.GrinThe well known cause of many a family row only to be surpassed by a trip to Ikea.

NA one is near us.I can't stand it but due to prices have to steel myself at times.The lack of doors and windows worries and makes me feel ill.I would really love to know how they pass their fire regs.It has already had a recent fire and seriously having even visited for years in the event of a fire I'd be buggared as it is huge and I still get lost in there.I try to run in and out alone quick.

Like me my dc now get headaches and red eyes in there too and you wonder how the staff stand it(probably why they're so grumpy and rude). I often worry about their working conditions.

Re Ukip we are in a strong Tory area.Grey vote and land owners a plenty so tbf the Ukip banners everywhere don't bother me in the slightest(the alternative aint much better).Trago does pensioner discount days- anybody local- avoid,avoid,avoid- utter carnage on all levels.

Now onto why I drag myself in there now and again.The strange bargains that crop up.Year before last Mini Boden appeared- yes really.Last year the patent Birkenstocks I wanted had sold out everywhere only to be found in a big heap in Trago. Just been buying the gorgeous "ology" books for the dc(Dragonology,Egyptology etc,£20 in a Waterstones- a fiver in Trago![ shock] All the posh pet brands are uber cheap,once got huge packs of proper Pritt Sticks for a £1,just bought a faux oak picture frame I saw for double the price online.My dad is a very experienced gardener and rates the plants,wet suits,boogie boards,a Easter eggs,storage jars that cost ££££ in Hobbycraft are a few pence.....

You have to be price savvy and endure the torture but you can get some real bargains.

Runwayqueen · 27/04/2014 08:54

I live a few minutes drive from the Newton abbot one. It is my idea of hell, dp and dd love it though. We always end up there with what's feels like the rest of Teignbridge on horrible rainy days Hmm

exbrummie · 27/04/2014 08:57

My mom loves that place( omg just realized we are going on holiday near there again with the parents this year!)
Don't remember having bags and receipts checked though.

Dawndonnaagain · 27/04/2014 08:57

I lived in Exeter years ago and used to see the (very strange) adverts in the local press. I always wanted to go there but never got round to it.

Loopylouu · 27/04/2014 08:57

My dad was the manager of trago near liskeard in the 80s.

The original owner/founder was a nutcase. He had a huge house on the liskeard site. One day there was a fire and he made his staff go in and out of the burning building to rescue his belongings.

He was also refused planning permission for something so made life sized models of the local councillor same hung them from trees along the entrance way. He's dead now, but he was an evil, nasty man. All the madness comes from him.

Retropear · 27/04/2014 08:57

Fabric and sewing stuff good too.I got some fab oil cloth off the roll very cheaply,my rich friend paid £££££££ for the same online.She was v miffed.Grin

Retropear · 27/04/2014 08:59

Yes the bag checking is a recent thing.No cards for purchases under £10 free but the convenient cash point is surprisingly free.

Retropear · 27/04/2014 09:02

Would love to know where they get their stock from.Hmm

Waltonswatcher1 · 27/04/2014 09:10

By checking isn't recent ! I remember it from 30 years ago .
And Exeter is a long way from the real south west - new country even . Didn't know they had a John Lewis though ...

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 27/04/2014 09:14

We live near the Newton Abbot one. Hate and love the place. It's the best place to buy blinds & random tat, but I always leave feeling a bit dirty.

Waltonswatcher1 · 27/04/2014 09:17

Picture this - summer holidays 2010 in a tent for five weeks . Rain every day . Real rain , non of your up country drizzle . Two kids bored . Wet everything .
Where do you go for the day (apart from give up and abandon the tent and head home which is what the rest of the campsite did ).
You goes to Tragos . Throw the kids a fiver and they can fill six carriers each full of rubbish junk and crap .
Holiday saved

Retropear · 27/04/2014 09:32

Yes I always feel a bit unclean after a visit.

It's a sort of head down hope I don't bump into anybody I know experience.

SorrelForbes · 27/04/2014 09:43

I bought all the terracotta floor tiles for the kitchen in my first house at Trago [nostalgic]

JeggingsHateMe · 27/04/2014 09:44

Some pretty snobby remarks on this thread!

Head down hoping you won't bump into anyone you know?! Really? That's so funny.

I live not far from Trago and tend to rely on it for DIY stuff as we are doing up our house. Yes it is erm packed full of stuff you most likely will never need, stay away on a bank holiday as there always seems a mad rush to buy all this stuff!

If you can ignore the rabbit warren / risk to your personal safety and the menacing cardboard cut outs telling you what happens to thieves then there are some bargains to be had! Though beware - Even the prices in Trago are creeping up and some things are cheaper in John Lewis Grin