Rapha Store NYC - anyone else have negative, and pompous experience?

[reuben]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

I love the bike-shop / coffee-shop collabro — it’s the future..

That's a different LBS - the Specialized dealer. I've never seen anyone drinking coffee there, though.

[peanutgallery]

At that place, employees are drinking Kool aid...not coffee

Originally Posted by reuben

That's a different LBS - the Specialized dealer. I've never seen anyone drinking coffee there, though.

[EB]

Glad to hear the Soho Rapha store still exists after COVID. Good spot, though I liked the Meatpacking District location a lot more years back - I think the rent hikes chased them out of there.

If you think that place has unacceptable ‘tude, good luck in pretty much any NYC bike shop.

[gcartelli]

Originally Posted by Eli Bingham

Glad to hear the Soho Rapha store still exists after COVID. Good spot, though I liked the Meatpacking District location a lot more years back - I think the rent hikes chased them out of there.

If you think that place has unacceptable ‘tude, good luck in pretty much any NYC bike shop.

ugh i miss the OG store : (

[pasadena]

Been to a few Rapha clubhouses around the globe. They have all been great.
Santa Monica was the least great, but still a lot better than many bikeshops...

It's cycling. Anything cycling related that permeates the landscape is good with me.

[rustychisel]

Originally Posted by Eli Bingham

Glad to hear the Soho Rapha store still exists after COVID. Good spot, though I liked the Meatpacking District location a lot more years back - I think the rent hikes chased them out of there.

If you think that place has unacceptable ‘tude, good luck in pretty much any NYC bike shop.

I think any big city is bound to have a bike shop whose ethos is... questionable.

When I was in NYC about 10 years ago it was Sid's, populated entirely by preppy yahoo Henry's whose hip credentials were negated by the fact they had trouble counting to CAAD 10.

Yeah, they were a Cannondale stockist and thought that was a bit special. Hopefully they're better now.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by ernestleif

...

...'Greeted' outside, with contemptuous once over

...Contemptuous associate rolls over:

IDK...but I sniff something of an attitude. Were you expecting a specific "type" to be working at this store? Your description suggests that you had drawn conclusions before engaging in conversation...

...and then you posted it here for confirmation.

If I have a "subpar" experience with a sales associate, I drop it and move on. Life is too short.

[bicycletricycle]

Been ok for me. I generally try to avoid contact with sales people though.

I find that I have really strange interactions with bicycle store people. They just assume I’m another regular person off of the street (nothing wrong with that) and say weird stuff to me or try to explain things to me like I’m 12 and know nothing about bicycles. Then I don’t really know what to say after that, every option seems rude, I don’t want to correct them or tell them I know that or if I’m real grumpy sometimes I want to correct them or get in some stupid debate about spokes or something.

All of this is mostly just in my head but it makes me feel awkward, I find it easier to avoid the situation and if I need something ask in a way that is extremely specific so they don’t feel the need to educate me.

[jimoots]

Originally Posted by ernestleif

"I'm in the Rapha store, but I'm here for rock climbing and poetry"

You said that out loud?

[jkbrwn]

Never had a bad experience in that store. Great team IMO. Haven’t been in a while, though. My favorite of the stores from a build-out perspective.

[Toddykins]

To pile on - I have been to maybe 10 different Rapha stores the world over and they generally have much better than average customer service.

[pasadena]

Originally Posted by jkbrwn

Never had a bad experience in that store. Great team IMO. Haven’t been in a while, though. My favorite of the stores from a build-out perspective.

Yes the stores are all really well done with always interesting historical items, great interior designs for retail space.

In unfamiliar cities, they are a great resource too.

[chismog]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

I find that I have really strange interactions with bicycle store people. They just assume I’m another regular person off of the street (nothing wrong with that) and say weird stuff to me or try to explain things to me like I’m 12 and know nothing about bicycles. Then I don’t really know what to say after that, every option seems rude, I don’t want to correct them or tell them I know that or if I’m real grumpy sometimes I want to correct them or get in some stupid debate about spokes or something.

All of this is mostly just in my head but it makes me feel awkward, I find it easier to avoid the situation and if I need something ask in a way that is extremely specific so they don’t feel the need to educate me.

+1. Glad it's not just me.

[verticaldoug]

I can't say for certain, but it sounds like you went there hoping to be offended.

Why do you care if the greeter at the door gave you a once over?

If you want tights that light, why not just buy leg warmers to wear with your bibs.

Shave your legs not your face and I betcha service improves.

[the bottle ride]

I have been there and the OG spot-
I had nice experiences and thought the staff was pretty good: both my wife have bought shorts there and I was impressed.

I think the stuff is pricey- but good- and the store makes it easier to make a purchase