Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

It is all part of the Rapha business plan... and they know it
Heard it from a direct source within Rapha, that post Christmas, once the sales are in full swing, a sizable percentage of items brought at full price come back for refunds and exchanges. These returned items then go into the sample sale a few weeks later, so Rapha end up selling all their stock (new and returned). Notice there are 2 sample sales a year, and they always directly follow the winter and summer sale. Have you seen the amount of stock at a Rapha sample sale? - where do you think it comes from? The fact is, the profit margins are so large in clothing retail (even more when there are no high street overheads or store managers to pay), that Rapha are always quids in and it's all part of their business plan.

I got 50% off my softshell when I complained about the quality - there you go I said it.. is that a precedent?

Why would they put stock that's in perfect condition in a sample sale? If they do that then their operation will not last. I wonder at what point in their brief history they started to run at a profit?