Karrimor

[tenbears10]

I saw Maddave's post about rucksacks just now and it got me thinking. Who know's for definite if karrimor is no more or not? Now I don't just want "some bloke down the pub said....." we need facts people!! I looked at their site and it is fairly inconclusive karrimor It looks like they have divided the company into sections with all the military stuff being sold through PRI for example. What happens to all those lifetime warranties we paid extra for?

I know all the shops went bump (nice phrase Dave) and they sold everything half price but they have either closed or been bought now. Are they still producing new gear and selling under different brands or just suppliers?

Bill

 

[Stuart]

they have most likley been bought out by another company that will continue to produce equipment under the karrimor name

 

[Rabbit]

I have had a Karrimor Sabre 45 for going on 4 years, I bought it from the company Bill mentions (PRI) so I went on to there web site pri.uk.com, they have been producing the Karrimor police and military collection for years. I guess this means that if you got your kit from them they are still under guarantee.

 

[Ed]

What happens to all those lifetime warranties we paid extra for?

'Lifetime' is one of those odd things. You'll find its for the lifetime of the company, not the bag or you. If the company has gone belly up then the warranty is worthless.... the companies lifetime has ended. If they have been bought out you may be lucky and find that the new company will honour the warranty (it may have been part of the buy ouy deal)...... they may not though.


Ed

 

[Stuart]

OK I have just checked and the facts are:

Karrimor went into liquidation after buying the YHA chain and failing to make it work they were bought by Lonsdale Sports

 

[tenbears10]

Thanks guys.

So we will have to see if Lonsdale keep the factory going and produce karrimor products or if they farm out the profitable bits (millitary, bike stuff and rucksacks I would have thought) and scrap the rest.

Bill

 

[tomtom]

or will we see Karrimor on handbags in oxfordstreet windows as we do now with Lord Lonsdales boxing Equipment name.

someone at Karrimor must have been pretty useless with cooking the books to take down YHA with them!

 

[tenbears10]

Or to let YHA take karrimor down. The YHA shops had been fairly badly run for a long time.

Bill

 

[alick]

Hmmm. A product manufacturer with no experience of running a retail operation buys a failing retailer and expects to turn it around. Interesting strategy. Which one of arrogance or stupidity was it I wonder ?

I don't know the background to this so the above may be unfair, but it makes the point that it's always worth asking the really blunt questions when it comes to business strategy.

 

[Rod]

Hi,

I work in the outdoor industry and can confirm that Karrimor were bought out this year by the Sport Soccer chain. We are all waiting to see what happens with the brand from here, but old favourites like the Karrimat are now extinct, we are having to source a compatible product from elsewhere.

PRI are making the mil sacs - I think that they bought the pattern rights. I'll dig arround and find out about the warrenty issue for you. I own a hot earth pack, so I have queries myself

regards

 

[tenbears10]

Thanks Grasshopper I would be interested to know.

I thought that might be the case with the lines they list on the webpage I posted first.

Bill

 

[Adi007]

When I enquired, I was told that warranties issued by Karrimor are not being honoured by PRI or Lonsdale.

 

[tenbears10]

That is a shame because one of the good features was the gold star guarantee they provided and who expected Karrimor to go bump?

Bill

 

[JakeR]

I worked in "Kudos" which was called "YHA adventure stores" (which was first owned by YHA then Karrimor). Karrimor closed all their shops and sold them to private buyers. I know that berghaus are interested in taking the "Karrimor" name. Not sure of the situation now, i certainly heard about Soccer links.

 

[Rod]

Hi Guys,

Have made some enquiries with our After Sales team at work. Guarantees on any Karrimor product sold after March 2004 will be honoured by the new company owners. If before - then, it would appear, we are on our own!

Hope this doesn't cause too much

cheers

 

[Andy]

thats a right pile of poo

I didn't like a lot of the newer karrimor stuff anyway. Just how many daisy chain links do you need with karrimr writton on each link? I thought they must be making lots of money if they were taking YHO over though.
Whats the garentee on lowe alpine stuff?

 

[tenbears10]

Whats the garentee on lowe alpine stuff?

No where near as good as Karrimor used to be IIRC. Looks like macpac which do have a good guarantee and excellent quality control (they pitch + check every single tent before it leaves the factory!)

Bill

 

[johnboy]

Hi,

It's sad that karrimor are well no more... I have an Alpiniste 45 that they fixed for free on numerous occasions.

MacPac have also had their problems. They have moved all of their production from Christchurch in NZ (laying off their manufacturing staff in the process) off shore to China. Their was a big Article in NZ Wilderness Magazine a few Months back centered around this and how it might affect MacPac's legendary quality. Having worked extensively in mainland China, I cannot see a Chinese Subcontractor "pitching every tent" prior to it leaving the factory!!!

Cheers

John

 

[althe1]

I have just received an email from PRI, so this should set the record straight.

Karrimor's Sabre range of rucsacs has been manufactured by PRI under licence since the 90's utilising the same patterns, fabrics and components and to the same high standard of production. When Karrimor went into receivership it's assets (brand names, designs, stock, etc.) were purchased by the Lonsdale group. PRI still retains its Karrimor licence and continues to develop and manufacture the Sabre range of rucsacs under the Karrimor SF brand name. Guarantees on all Sabre bags sold by PRI remain valid.

I hope this helps guys

 

[Hellz]

phew, thanks for that :biggthump

Mind you, I just got a Karrimor Delta 25 for my birthday and it is very well put together so don't expect it to fail. Bit more peace of mind though

Hellz