Shopping: Smartpak Store vs Equine Affaire?

[whitewolfe001]

I just bought a horse after too long without. I need All The Things.

And not that I have money growing on trees but I have a few bucks to spend on All The Things that I want – I mean, er, that Horsie needs.

The Smartpak store is about an hour and a half from me. I’m itching to go.

But Equine Affaire is coming. Not sure I can wait until mid November to acquire All The Things, though.

I’ve never really shopped at Equine Affaire because I was always broke (and often horseless)… I’ve always just gone for the clinics.

Are there actually good deals? Is it worth waiting to shop there? Is is worth the hassle if something needs to be returned or breaks or whatever?

[IronwoodFarm]

What exactly are All The Things you need? I do most of my shopping online as it tends to be more convenient and many times, cheaper. Now if All the Things I need are heavy or bulky, then I might go to a shop to avoid FOB shipping.

[ryansgirl]

Equine Affaire - lots more to choose from and decent deals (just have to know your prices!). As far as returning stuff - yes it’s a hassle so if I do buy something at EA I make sure it’s going to fit/work for what I need. Personally I would never drive 1.5 hrs to a tack shop unless there is lots of other stuff I could accomplish on the way (& I think Smartpaks prices are a little on the high side). With free shipping over $75 at Smartpak I would just order the bare minimums and have it shipped to me until EA.

[nhhaflngr]

While EA is fun and you can go home with some good deals, the total cost is up there, once you add up $15 entry, plus parking fee, expensive food, motel, and gas. But it’s a good place to touch and feel items like saddles, helmets, boots.

[IFG]

Go to the Smartpak Basement (which is ironically on the second floor). It is hit or miss, but I have made some major scores there. The last few years, I have not had any luck at EA for good deals.

[js]

I would go to Smart Pak if you are buying things that might need to be returned. Can’t beat their return policy. Buy what you need now at Smart Pak but if you can swing a trip to the EA then go and look for deals on items they have there on site and no risk of needing to be returned.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=ryansgirl;7758804]
\Personally I would never drive 1.5 hrs to a tack shop unless there is lots of other stuff I could accomplish on the way (& I think Smartpaks prices are a little on the high side)[/QUOTE]

Says someone who has clearly never experienced the sheer glory of the Smartpak Sale Basement-that’s-actually-the-attic!! :lol:

As for Equine Affaire, I will sum up what I posted on the Hunter/Jumper board recently. I live 20 minutes away and have gone every single year since it began.

You can get really amazing deals on the following:

-Saddles
-Heavy stuff you would normally be paying FOB on, that nobody will ship for free ever. (50lb supplements, stall mats, fencing)
-Trailers
-Tractors
-Breeches (there are always several vendors with big bins)
-Random things you didn’t even know you needed that weren’t on your list or in your budget :lol:

I would not go there intending to shop for basics. 1) It’s a pain to carry bags full of brushes and sprays around with you. 2) Better deals can be had online literally any day of the year.

I wouldn’t go intending to get awesome deals on blankets. Not that they don’t exist, but sizing is very hit and miss. I SCOURED every booth for a 63/66" (granted, a sorta uncommon size but that’s why I usually find Rambos for $5 on clearance racks, 'cause nobody else wants them! :lol:) last year and couldn’t find a single one, good deal or not. The one exception is Schneider’s Blankets. They NEVER do free-shipping on their online site, and their shipping is high, so it’s good to either buy in person or buy at the expo and have them ship it to you which they will do for free as part of the expo special.

So go hit up Smartpak and Dover. (Dover is 10 minutes from Smartpak.) Dover has amazing prices when you don’t need to factor in their shipping. Both have decent sale areas. Get your basics, one or two blankets, etc. Then head to Equine Affaire for the fun stuff, and maybe some extra blankets if you happen on them. (But if you wait until Equine Affaire it will be mid-November, and your horse might not be able to wait until then for a blanket!)

[walktrot]

SmartPak’s booth isn’t all that large. I remember it having a lot of bridles and clothing. It typically is quite crowded. If you really are needing a lot of stuff, I agree, you’d be better off driving so you can look at stuff and try before you buy. How many of us in the horsey world would love to live within 1 1/2 hours of SP just to get at the bargain basement. I used to think that you could find a lot of bargains at Equine Affaire, but that’s not necessarily the case. There will usually be new vendors and new products. I usually wind up finding a good closeout on some clothing, but on the whole I spend my money on stuff that I had no idea I needed.

[Chief2]

If you go to EA on a crowded day, make sure you bring a list. As the day wears on and the crowds thicken it’s easy to end up forgetting what it was you were there shopping for in the first place.

[Marshfield]

I’d also vote for Smartpak over EA. And depending on where you’re coming from there’s also Dover in Plaistown, NH or more importantly their sale/clearance section