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

[Nancery]

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
Bonkers. All of it! And more than a little bit sinister.
And the place was bloody packed!!

I've clearly not lived have I?!

Ha, no, my house is full or enough clutter as it is!. It's bad enough that there's a branch of The Range near where I work, you can go in there and fill a trolley with stuff for a tenner too.

The Range????? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

There is a Dunelm and a BHS Home here too - if you want to go all upmarket !

But there is something special about Trago... so much more...... more

Nomama, I think you need a

I am always put off by the creepy old fairground stuff.

Too scooby doo for me.

The day we went it was pissing down with rain and what seemed like the entire population of Devon was huddled under a tiny shelter eating the fish and chips, grim.

The Falmouth one makes Boyes (North East institution) look like Harrods

There's nowhere like, Trago Mills, Trago Mills, pays the biiiiilllls.

Best jingle ever.

Yes, Trago! What an experience. My DM used to drag us there (Scabbot Newton Abbot)every year for school uniform/ equipment and then again for Christmas. I have gone there voluntarily the grand total of twice as an adult, as a supportive friend for someone who cannot drive. It's just as weird as I remembered it. Not somewhere I'd chose to go, but DSDs have gone with their DM and sf, they rave about it. I feel mean for not taking them but I don't get the appeal.

I quite like Trago Mill. went to the devon one. Don't remember the politics thing.

I quite like Trago Mill. went to the devon one. Don't remember the politics thing.

We've been to the one in Falmouth. The kids still mention how great it was - 4 years later.

The Shop That Sells Everything

Pretty sure cutting labels out of garments is so you can't send it back to the manufacturer for a refund.

Is Trago Mills the one shaped like a big wooden castle or did I imagine that?

Trago!
I grew up near the Newton Abbot one and have extremely fond childhood memories of the big wooden play castle, water spray games, what seemed like a MASSIVE death slide and go kart track. Even the petting zoo had a very grumpy llama as well as rabbits, if memory serves. Then my dad would take us to the garden centre bit and we would die of boredom.

I've been back quite a few times in adulthood and the rides all look a bit tatty now, but there are some gems to be had amongst the tat in the main shop if you rummage amongst the dust and terrible lighting. The last time I picked up cheap as chips Kilner jars, a great pair of wellies - and a Sellotape dispenser.
And yy to the poster who remembers the castle-shaped Co-op, though in my day it was known as Normans.

Feeling oddly nostalgic now

Recently went to get some engine oil. Very helpful and knowledgable staff which surprised me! We also bought our daughter a cornet (the instrument, not the ice cream) for a fraction of the price it's worth a few years back. I have many memories of the rides as a kid. The worst of which was when I crashed the go karts after a row with my sister and ended up with a very swollen ankle!

Xenophobia aside, it is an experience!

The exotic rug department in the Liskeard branch is wonderful. Kelims, Turkish, Indian, Chinese...fabulous range and some of them are very large indeed. Everything from tiny prayer rugs to huge, beautiful, gloriously woven works of art.

The art department is good too.

In the kitchen department you will find Le Creuset pans, garlic presses, silicone bakewear, good quality toasters, food mixers, breadmakers etc, etc.

If you go anytime from end of september you will find a mindblowingly over the top selection of christmas decorations from all over the world.

Riding clothes, Hunter wellies, lawn mowers, tools...and on and on.

I'm pretty sure they also used to have bungee jumping there at one point

Dp used to work at the Newton Abbot one

A lot of their stock is seconds, they buy it cheap. Dp hates the place but still makes me oh there for diy stuff

We're in Cornwall and avoid Trago Mills like the plague.
It's full of horrendous cheap tat and dodgy looking people. Went once to the big one in Cornwall to find out what it was like.
Gah. Just...gah.