Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

So, you bought your bibs online, and you walked into a retail rapha store for an exchange?

No, my girlfriend wanted to walk into the shop to exchange them after purchasing them online . She's purchased stuff directly through the shop before and spent a fair bit both online and through the shop. I can't see why you shouldn't be able to do this.
One team, one dream and all that.
Didn't even bother to ask her where she wanted them posted either, just posted them to an old work address.

I'm with you on this 7VEN - would this be too much of a logistical nightmare for a business to offer? (that is a genuine question - if someone works in e-commerce and could enlighten me, I appreciate this could be difficult for a business to implement)

On a similar (dare I say, more frustrating) note, someone bought me a gift voucher off the Rapha website, and a physical voucher was subsequently delivered to me. I tried to purchase something in store with this, but was told it was only usable online.

For a brand that is supposedly so strong on seamless customer service, that is a bit pants.

I got some bibs online from rapha a few months back and exchanged them in store without any fuss what so ever. Twice. Once because they were damaged and the second because after I tried them on I realised they were too small. So twice in the same week.

Some of the stitching on the pad on every pair of their shorts I've owned has come out at some point.

On one pair it happened almost straight away, but never seems to have gotten any worse and I've been happily wearing them at least 2x a week for the last 2 years.

Has anyone ever tried to return their Castelli bib shorts because the Scorpion logo has peeled off a bit in the wash? They'd tell you to do-one quick time.

Osh Kosh Kabosh.

Or something.

It's not the logo coming off but the majority of stitching wearing through after 4 wears. Castelli bibs are half the price.

Not really the same thing, is it?

I've not been impressed by the finishing on some Rapha stuff either. Buttons falling off, loose stitches, etc. Not ideal for a "premium" brand. PT Base Layer, 3/4 shorts and Hardshell have been solid, but others need some attention in the QC dep. Assos bibshorts and jerseys are definitely better quality.

You both missed the point.

If Castelli had their own high street shops, and I bought from the Castelli online shop, I'd expect to be able to return in-store if convenient for me. Saves time and return postage etc. Shops always have stock coming and going from the warehouse, so it's not a big deal to include return items with them.

Also, a logo rubbing off and stitching coming apart aren't the same. One potentially affects functionality, the other is aesthetic.

I'm with you on this 7VEN - would this be too much of a logistical nightmare for a business to offer? (that is a genuine question - if someone works in e-commerce and could enlighten me, I appreciate this could be difficult for a business to implement)

I imagine they're separate business entities. And the retail store in Soho will have a totally different scale of operation compared to the online side of the business. I imagine the difference is so great, they just wouldn't have anywhere near the storage space to handle the online sales in London.

Anyway, that Shadow stuff sounds good!

Sounds shit mate ;)

Oi Polloi have a store in Manchester and also London. Yet they don't offer what you're asking for either, 7VEN. Just using them as an example.

http://www.oipolloi.com/pages/returns-and-exchanges

Nor do End, yet they have a store in Newcastle

http://www.endclothing.com/us/returns/

Nor do Paul Smith

http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/uk-en/shop/information/returns-and-exchanges.html

And so on and so forth.

Heh

From the link you have posted:

Can I take my return to the Oi Polloi shop in Manchester?

Yes you can, as long as you return the goods within 28 days of delivery. The shop staff can process a credit note or exchange but if a refund is required this will need to be processed by the website team and may take an additional day.

The shadow stuff sounds great.

The name is a worry though. Hiding in the shadows isnt a great game plan for solo training rides on unlit roads. I do hope they do some tasteless fluoro combo for the mails, as well as the usual subtle colours for the hipsters.

I appreciate the sales can't be fulfilled from the Soho store, but why can't orders be returned in store, and then somehow returned at their own cost to the fulfillment centre/warehouse or whatever they use? Considering online returns already go to Rapha HQ in zone 2, there could surely be an easy and not too expensive solution to this?

jersey downsize received today; top service will buy again

you planning on further downsizing? you'll disappear

Have you put in for your weight loss roundel?

#remembersoipolloianditslittleshop

I liked that shop

I liked the dog.

Oops, didn't scroll down that far. Well, it still applies to the other two! My point is, it's not like Rapha are the only company that don't offer in-store returns for web purchases...