Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Logistically it would a total joke. Carrying enough stock of every item to be able to offer anyone who had mail ordered something an exchange on the spot? It's not fucking Uniqlo...

"what kind of stick would sir like the moon on?"

Did no one spot my comment on this? I took my online order into the Manchester store and exchanged the bibs for another pair without any fuss. They even took my details and emailed me a receipt of the transaction.

Loving all the yellow and purple shorts now on the bay for £60 BIN. Good luck with that.

I wonder whether the same applies at Rapha's shops outside of London.

Woof, those shorts are really, really yellow in the flesh.

It's more about expectation management than whether it's possible to do it. They absolutely will take your return or exchange in the store if they can it's just a lot less easy for them and it's potentially disappointing for Customers to believe they can get things exchanged (maybe stock is not there) or process a refund (which can only be back to the original payment method, which might very well be PayPal or one of the other payment methods).

It's not so black and white.

What's bloody annoying is that I went to store yesterday - decided to buy the black/white mussete online which had 'good availability' showing (the guy also said in store they had 'loads' online).
Went to buy this morning- out of stock!

Presumably loads to go on eBay soon?

Just use a Sainsbo's bag instead?

obviously double bag if you're carrying tinnies

Or buy a mASSIVE COURIER BAG.

You're arguing semantics here. Look at what I typed, "purchased online, tried to return in store", regardless of who purchased it, that is exactly what's happened in your situation.

Obviously, you, or your girlfriend, did not read the return policy online. It's very clear in their return policy, what's bought online is returned online, what's bought in store is returned in store. How is that hard to understand?

Just because a brand is regarded as "premium", the brand doesn't need to bend over backwards for you. Every brand has P&P, and you're trying to argue that they need to go beyond that to satisfy your every need.

IMO, they went above and beyond when they send you a second pair of bibs OUT OF POCKET, without receiving yours back first, and you acknowledged that was sufficient, but STILL you are saying that wasn't enough to satisfy you.

Here's an example for you... Gucci, if you purchased online you cannot walk into Gucci store and return an item in person. They're a premium brand a million times bigger than Rapha, and they don't allow it. It's commonplace.

Your expectations are too high.

For those who have experienced differently, maybe those folks attitude were different, maybe the situation was different than yours. There are other factors. No situation is the same.

I live in Vancouver BC Canada where there are no Rapha stores, but there is a Rapha dealer. I've purchased something online, had an issue, and my Rapha dealer (bike store) helped me resolve the issue, not because I bitched and moaned, but because we already had an established relationship. The bike store went above and beyond because Ive spent buttloads of cash there. Again, different situation.

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.

Same shit with many of the big globally recognised fashion brands.

I've bought stuff on the Rapha website and exchanged it for another size in-store...

some bargains here: http://www.condorcycles.com/Rapha/View-all-products/Page-1-90.html?DescOrderBy=ASC&keyword1=&keyword2=

can I buy stuff from Condor online and return it in a rapha store?
Promteam bibs in all sizes on sale is good stuff

Green wind jacket.

Bah.

Want.

+1
And i worked in customer support in a Webshop. Some people should think about about their expectations.

I like Rapha Classic Bib Shorts for £96.
Will Rapha set the same price? I prefer to buy direct from Rapha.

Condor cycles is probably clearing out rapha inventory bc they're no longer sponsored? I've never seen Rapha.cc drop pricing on Classic Bib Shorts.

Condor are a Rapha stockist, irrespective of any team sponsorship arrangements.

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.

You can't even do that with Evans!

Yeah you can... I definitely have. There was a bit of confusion when they couldn't work out how to refund to my paypal, but it worked out.
Also heard much "we can exchange but not refund online stuff" in the wapha shop...

That must have changed, then. I was seething in store where I couldn't return an order, but it was clearly printed on the invoice I had that I couldn't return the order to a store, only by post. Think I'd have likely payed by Paypal.

or maybe changed the other way around? this was a couple of years ago at least

You can in Glasgow..