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Europe Bound
Category: Shopping Sporting Goods Sporting Goods [Edit]
383 King St WToronto, ON M5V 1K1
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Downtown Core
(416) 205-9992
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
20 reviews for Europe Bound
20 reviews in English
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Review from Martin W.
1/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
My go to store for all things outdoor is usually MEC, but Europe Bound is conveniently located across the street. There isn't much Yelp love for this place, which I don't understand,probably because I have not experienced the unhelpful customer service. In fact, I have experienced quite the opposite in all of my interactions with store staff.
Yes, the store is a mess, but it is packed with quality gear. You'll find a lot of good stuff that MEC doesn't have, including good brands such as Icebreaker and Smart Wool. The prices are also very reasonable, anybody who says otherwise is speaking crazy talk. I bought 100 ft of paracord here the other day for $8. You won't really find better on Amazon (note: not the best paracord out there, but it'll do in a pinch). The store is also much bigger than what I am reading here. It is 3 large levels jam packed with all of your outdoor needs. I wish their website was useful, unfortunately it sucks, which is why I will not go out of my way to visit the store.
Regardless, there are some real gems in EB if you have the patience to look. -
Review from Coy W.
12/30/2011
If you're claustrophobic I don't recommend coming into here.
This place has a lot of equipment but it's packed closely together and there's barely any room to breathe. It's not well organized and there are 2 levels, so it's 2 levels of really crammed things! There is only 1 way to get to the second level and it's via their stairs.
Now I would normally only give this place 2 stars BUT I have to give them the extra star because the staff were fantastic the last time I was in here.
A lady with a baby carriage asked if there was an elevator to go upstairs which a staff member said no unfortunately not and said most people leave the stroller downstairs and carry their baby upstairs but had no problem helping her carry the carriage upstairs. With that they carried the carriage upstairs. When she wanted to go downstairs he offered to help again and carried the carriage downstairs. That's going above and beyond for your customers! The carriage looked like a tank. -
Review from Lindsay S.
Toronto, ON
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This places gives me an anxiety attack. Stuff piled up to the ceiling ... Half of it hadn't been touched since 1986, so watch out for floating dust bunnies.
The last time I was in there, the staff was busy, hiding behind the counter ... texting. -
Review from Aaron B.
1/10/2011
Like others have said, this place has lots of stuff and hence good potential, but it's just such a mess that you have little hope to find what you're looking for. There organization scheme is by brand, and that's loosely adhered to. You might find exactly what you're looking for, but then again they may have exactly what you're looking for and you still not find it. This would be such an easy thing to correct, to make the place organized and navigable, so I really don't understand why it is the way it is...especially with competition from MEC across the street.
I found a jacket in there that hasn't been made for at least three years. It happens to be one of the best garments ever made by anybody ever! (A Marmot Evolution N2S Windstopper Full Zip Windshirt). I'm always on the look out for more since nothing lasts forever and they are not made anymore, so I was stoked to see it. Though wasn't my size it gave me hope that there are some floating around out there. But the point of bringing that up is that this jacket has been just sitting there for at least three years and it wasn't even on a clearance rack or anything. There is basically NO inventory management going on and it shows...but it could be a good thing if you're looking for that old, rare, niche item. Otherwise the only reason to come here is out of desperation. -
Review from aleiza a.
Toronto, ON
10/3/2010
Europe Bound has terrible customer service. I only subject myself to going here if I am leaving for a trip the next day and the product I need at MEC is sold out. Sleeping bags are usually better priced here and they do carry more brand names (I purchased my sleeping bag there).
I needed a passport photo and work in the area, so stopped in on my lunch. The store has a big sign out front claiming "Passport Photos 7.99". I walked in.
Me: Hi, I'd like to get my passport photo.
Europe Bound: (barely looking at me) "Sorry. The photo machine is not on. Why don't you come back tomorrow? We should have it on then."
Me: I really need my passport photo today. Can you turn on the machine? I can wait.
Europe Bound: Yeahhhno. It'd be better if you came back tomorrow.
So I walked out. Really? Why keep the sign outside promoting that you can do Passport Photos?
But I must stress that if you need any help or advice you will rarely get it here. You will feel leaving dissed by the staff. -
Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
10/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Very expensive and overall much worse than MEC, which happens to be right across the street.
The store is a horrible mess of piled up stuff. They have a separated floor just for clothing, but it's so disorganized that I couldn't find out where the men's section was (hint: everything was all over the place, mixed with women's and kids').
I might come back to compare prices, but I can't say I want to. -
Review from Jeff D.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Neat freaks be warned - this place will send you into a panic attack! Having said that, the organized chaos of Europe Bound is, in my opinion, part of it's charm. I actually ended up here serendipitously, after realizing MEC closes at 7pm during the week (I'll never understand retailers that do this - EB is open until 8pm). I found the staff quite helpful and very willing to make educated recommendations based on specific travel needs. And they have a wide range of brands to choose from. Was it the best customer service experience ever? No. But far from the worst. And with a little digging, there are bargains abound!
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Review from Jordan T.
Toronto, ON
1/7/2011
I agree with all of the other reviewers (except the 4 star review of course). You feel defeated the moment you walk into Europe Bound because the store is just a bunch of completely disorganized stuff and the staff is completely unwilling to help.
There are people I work with who have stacks of paper everywhere in their offices, but when you ask them for something they can somehow reach halfway into a toppled stack and grab exactly what you had asked for, it's amazing. I figure it's probably like that for the staff at Europe Bound, they can find what you're looking for in their big piles of stuff, it's just that they are not inclined to do so.
Against my better judgement I went in last night because MEC was out of something I needed. I walked around aimlessly for 10 minutes and left because I couldn't be bothered trying to root through boxes of randomness and knew that asking the staff wouldn't get me anywhere.
A few people have said that some things are cheaper here than at MEC, that may very well be the case, but save yourself the mental torment and just go to MEC anyway. -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2010
Every time I go to Mountain Equipment CoOp I feel sad for those poor souls I see walking into Europe Bound across the street. I feel like walking over to them to talk some sense into them. With a place like MEC across the street there is no good reason to set foot in Europe Bound.
Despite the name, Europe Bound is really an outdoor gear and apparel store. It is a cramped, disorganized, mess of a store. Most of the staff are friendly however the owner is rude and pushy and ruins any friendliness the other staff show. And, despite what the owner will claim, the prices are not cheaper than MEC. They actually have decent selection, in some cases better than MEC, but the experience of the place means it's usually not worthwhile shopping here.
Two stories:
1. I once walked into Europe Bound with a MEC bag after shopping across the street. The owner was standing behind the cash and told me smugly "You could have saved 30 or 40 bucks if you had bought that here". First, dude didn't even know what was in the bag. Second, I made a point of finding the three or four items I had in the bag in the store and in all cases the price was higher than at MEC. I've heard of this happening to other people as well.
2. My girlfriend and a friend of mine both rented sleeping bags from Europe Bound for a winter camping trip in Algonquin. They explained where they were going and how cold it was expected to be and they were given bags that were supposed to be rated to minus 30. In reality the bags were old and crappy and did almost nothing to keep them warm. Anyhow, they almost died and now none of us ever go to Europe Bound. The End. -
Review from Alexander L.
Toronto, ON
9/13/2010
I agree with Matthew S. - it is a cramped, disorganized, mess of a store and whilst most of the staff are friendly, the owner does seems to be a bit grumpy.
Most smaller stuff I found in EB was 2 or 3 dollars cheaper than MEC and some more basic stuff (e.g lifejacket) is more likely to be found at a reasonable rate at EB ($30) than at MEC (cheapest was $80). But then again, the cheapest, best pair of boots I got was at MEC ($100) as opposed to EB ($180). Morale of the story - SHOP AROUND. TAKE A NOTEPAD AND CHECK BOTH PLACES. -
Review from MC S.
Toronto, ON
7/5/2009
Just a few things to think about....
1. If you are purchasing dried food packs at this store, make sure to look at the expiration dates.
I was considering purchasing a few but I picked up one or two that had expired, by A YEAR. With the over stocking of items in their store, I don't think they ever get rid of anything that is expired. I hesitate to buy an energy bar there if I ever need one. This becomes a health issue for customers. I question how the owner of this store ever cleans and keeps up with their inventory.
2. If you're not sure about what brands to buy for your trip, make sure you do your research online and find the latest models, as well as old, and compare prices.
Some items at Europe Bound looked like it has been there for quite a long time. I do make purchases at MEC as well and I have seen items sell better and quickly. The items do not stay on the shelf for too long. At Europe Bound, there were a few times when I purchased good items but I stopped at buying winter or summer clothing there when I realized that certain items I saw were old and were still ticketed at the same price, from years(yes...years) back when the style came out, or priced slightly lower(not exactly a bargain). I know this because I check both american and canadian websites that sell the older items for a much cheaper rate. There were a few times that I have seen the older models at outlet stores for 80% less. Yes, Europe Bound sells the newest items but be sure that you are getting the best deal, and to be aware of what is new and what is old at the store. -
Review from Mia Z.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2011
This is possibly the worst outdoors store I have ever been in. The staff are unhelpful and offensively rude. Why anyone would continue to shop here is beyond me, MEC is straight over the road with friendlier staff, better prices and a far more pleasant shopping experience.
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Review from Bijan V.
8/14/2008
The staff here are really friendly and they help you get everything you need for your trip to... anywhere really, not just Europe! I was with my sister while she was getting ready to go backpacking in Thailand and we went to a bunch of stores in this area (MEC, a couple other stores on King street) but none had the service nor the selection like Europe bound!
The staff member spent nearly 2 hours with us while we got everything from backpacks to super compact beach towels to crazy bug repellent that's probably overkill for most places in the world (minus Thailand haha). Mind you most of their stuff is more in the high end stuff for backpackers and the likes so if you're looking for a bargain this might not be the place to go but if you're looking for quality products that will last and get you through many vacations then this is probably the place.
They have good selection, good prices, and great service + the store is just really cool to browse through with a lot of really cool gadgets! -
Review from Honey T.
East York, ON
6/20/2010
I think Europe Bound is great. I actually love that it's a mess in there. It's fun to go routing through stuff, you never know what you may find. It's almost like a garage sale. I find the owner very friendly. He always says hi to me. I brought in an ad from Le Baron for expensive winter boots and he priced match it. (of course it hardly snowed so I havent even worn them!) EB has a ton of variety, and a lot of brands I've only seen in the USA. The prices in EB are very reasonable and I have found for the items that I was looking for, cheaper than MEC. EB has a nice 2nd floor, crammed with clothes and a glass floor. I just enjoy the shopping experience in EB. It's fun.
MEC is boring and their products never seem to improve or change. (MEC has a nice washroom which is the only reason I ever go in there.) -
Review from Lynda W.
Toronto, ON
9/3/2008 1 photo
After finding out MEC has a $5 "membership" fee - i just wanted to buy a $0.50 toothbrush holder - it was great to be able to walk across the street to Europe Bound where no membership fee required.
Upon walking into the store, it felt almost like MEC's storage room. People who have been in MEC know it is very organized, everything is nicely labeled, and spacious. Europe bound is the complete opposite. I'm not saying it's a bad thing one way or the other, but if you're looking for a particular item, you may have a hard time finding it yourself.
The store is much smaller than MEC, so don't expect to find the same amount of things. Pricewise, they are both comparable , i didn't seem many sale/clearance items at Europe Bound. If you're looking for a one-stop shop, I recommend MEC or La Baron (no membership fee also). -
Review from Stephen L.
Toronto, ON
9/16/2010
I am a gear whore. Technical outdoor gear and clothing is a passion of mine. Whether it's for cycling, camping, kayaking, or just being out in inclement weather, I like to look for and buy gear to suit the purpose.
Europe Bound sells gear. Lots of it. Like others have said, it's a crazy, disorganized, cramped, and congested retail experience, that is the equivalent of a really expensive, Honest Ed's...but worse.
Although people complain about MEC's $5 membership fee, if you like gear, the MEC catalogue mailings ALONE, are worth the membership fee.
Europe Bound's catalogue has traditionally sucked...and so badly that they stopped making one, because it made their products look even worse than their retail experience. The owner's friendliness is about at the same level as his modelling capabilities presented in the Europe Bound catalogue of 10 years ago.
Their staff? Hit and miss. I've had great, knowledgeable and friendly folks, and really out of it useless ones.
Do I go to this store? All the time.
Given my statements above? Why?
Well, they sell brands that MEC does not carry: Arc'teryx, Mountain Hardware, The North Face, etc.
And, they often have sales that MEC can't touch.
If you can wade through the mayhem that is their shoe sale rack, you can often find older edition shoes for great deals.
Aaah, Europe Bound, curse you and your sales and carrying of brands I love that chisels away at my driving principle of positive retail experience. -
Review from Andre G.
Toronto, ON
7/23/2009
This place is the unorganized, unfriendly, trashy version of MEC. Every single time I think it's a good idea to go in I totally regret my decision. They literally have piles of stuff everywhere with no rhyme or reason. It's not as if their prices are super cheap or anything. It literally stresses me out thinking about going into this store. If they actually spent a little time organizing themselves they should be able to compete with MEC across the street but they simply choose not to do that.
Listed in: Things That Suck
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Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
10/24/2008 1 photo
I realize that I went to this store late. I now only wish that I was
Europe Bound, but I was merely Bathurst bound. The store is right
across the street from MEC which initially may have been a shrewd
marketing decision but turned out to be quite the bust. Europe Bound is
not really a store for people planning on crossing the Atlantic, but a
store for the out doors type, the type of person who can speak
eloquently about camping on snow and hiking for hours on end. I am not
one of these people but I once dabbled in the art and still think that I
have some knowledge in the area. Europe Bound is a fairly nice store,
but not impressive. They offer essentially the same things that you can
get at MEC but present them in a much less pleasant manner. The store
is packed with carabineers and ice axes which made me fear that one poorly
placed step could lead to my demise. I don't recommend Europe Bound
because they are basically no different from MEC and aren't nearly as
nice.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from Evan H.
Peterborough, ON
2/10/2010 4 Check-ins Here
I've been in to Europe Bound a few times when looking for brand names that Mountain Equipment Co-op (across the street) doesn't sell. They stock Outdoor Research, Salomon and Life is Good clothing (amongst many other brands) which a good selection can be hard to find. This store is literally jam packed with clothing, but sometimes it isn't a good thing....gear looks to have been sitting around for ages (some of it covered in a layer of dust), expired freeze dried food, BPA bottles that have not been replaced with the BPA-free counterparts and the owner is rather rude. Overall, a good store to look in for a different selection, but you're better off at their outlet store on 337 Queen St E or better yet, across the road at MEC.
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Review from Kartik K.
Toronto, ON
8/7/2011
one of the worst organized stores I have ever been too. Hard to ruffle through everything in here to find what I want. after about 5 minutes of not finding what i am looking for I usually end up across the street at MEC. At least they know how to organize things into racks instead of a pile. The only reason they have deserve one star is because of the cheap (relative to other photo stores) passport photo studio these guys have. but showing the same level of organization as the rest of the store, they might randomly shut down the photo taking operation on certain days even though the store is still open. So if you plan to get your passport photos taken , call ahead to find out if they are taking photos that day and time. last time I was here to get a photo taken they just said "oh the photo machine has been shutdown" like its some sort of nuclear reactor that takes 1 month to start back up. I dont think I have been this disappointed with service in a store ever.
