Rapha, dissapearing up their own success pipe.......?
Discussion
paulmon said:
That wasn't the intention. The intention was to show how differently two companies competing for the same customers treat them after they have bought their product. For me a product is only as good as the customer service you get when you have a problem and I reward good service with loyalty and repeat business. That's why my next frameset will be a S-Works and not some other brand and why I now drive an Audi instead of a BMW.
I get you don't like the Rapha image, that's fine but you bleat on about how superior Assos is compared to anything else when in reality they hide behind really crappy warranties. I'm not the only person who has fallen foul of the 300K nonsense. Its all well and good having clothes constructed from space age materials but if you are going to make a big song and dance about it then you need to stand behind the product when it fails.
Not that it makes a huge amount of difference but with that feedback from the supplier / distributor I would have gone to ASSOS direct and had a word to see were that got me as having dealt with corima's dist in the UK and getting pissed off corima them selves were very helpful. I get you don't like the Rapha image, that's fine but you bleat on about how superior Assos is compared to anything else when in reality they hide behind really crappy warranties. I'm not the only person who has fallen foul of the 300K nonsense. Its all well and good having clothes constructed from space age materials but if you are going to make a big song and dance about it then you need to stand behind the product when it fails.
Should you have to go all round the houses, trot out the sale of goods act etc in order to get a company to honour a warranty though?
Yes Rapha are not cheap, but it's unquestionable that they look after you in a way that Assos does not.
Plus, for those complaining about beards and black and white photographs:
Yes Rapha are not cheap, but it's unquestionable that they look after you in a way that Assos does not.
Plus, for those complaining about beards and black and white photographs:
Dammit said:
Should you have to go all round the houses, trot out the sale of goods act etc in order to get a company to honour a warranty though?
Well contacting Assos direct would be like contacting Rapha direct. Which is what happened in Paulmon case. 
Dammit said:
Plus, for those complaining about beards and black and white photographs:
ahemhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJXW94R3WSk
Don't get that with "mardy looking people looking miserable on bikes in black n white and the rain" now do you
Plus Mr Assos man seems like a good guy. AG winner at Kona!
http://youtu.be/w9EERSlBKkI?t=25s
Rapha's model is one of direct sales, they have a very large customer service team in the UK- they are the first point of contact for all issues, which they will resolve.
The poster in this thread bought his from a "supplier", who told him to do one, leaving him with the option of sucking it up or chasing after the distie, who'd likely wash his hands of things and leave the poster chasing his tail.
He'd likely never have got to speak to anyone actually in Assos who gave a monkeys.
The poster in this thread bought his from a "supplier", who told him to do one, leaving him with the option of sucking it up or chasing after the distie, who'd likely wash his hands of things and leave the poster chasing his tail.
He'd likely never have got to speak to anyone actually in Assos who gave a monkeys.
Rapha customer service is excellent. I've had cause to test it through no fault of theirs, and they were excellent.
Just like don't like all the clothes GAP make, I don't like all the stuff that Rapha make. I buy what I like from each.
The Rapha marketing can get a little poncy, but it has the desired effect of getting them talked about. Right now I'm actually singing their praises, on an Internet forum that apparently is one of the most popular in the UK. I'm playing right into their hands!
I'll continue to buy Rapha when it's on offer, reduced or with a code, and I'm sure I'll continue to be very happy with product and service. Now, what will the Team Sky kit look like next year, they've clearly been clearing the shelves for the new stuff...
Just like don't like all the clothes GAP make, I don't like all the stuff that Rapha make. I buy what I like from each.
The Rapha marketing can get a little poncy, but it has the desired effect of getting them talked about. Right now I'm actually singing their praises, on an Internet forum that apparently is one of the most popular in the UK. I'm playing right into their hands!
I'll continue to buy Rapha when it's on offer, reduced or with a code, and I'm sure I'll continue to be very happy with product and service. Now, what will the Team Sky kit look like next year, they've clearly been clearing the shelves for the new stuff...
Funnily enough, I've found the same. Any contact I've had with them, and when I've had cause to use their customer service, has been utterly faultless.
I've bought a fair few things from them over the last 3 or 4 years now, but I find that works really well. Not spending all at once, but building kit over time. I'm a little warey of having everything Rapha, purely because my riding ability doesn't keep up with the amount of money I've spent on clothes. But I like them.
Actually, I have a few off-the-bike items of Rapha clothing (shorts, merino tracksuit top etc) and they always, always receive compliments when I wear them. I'm not sure I have any other items of clothing that get the same reaction!
I can begin to see a few of the questionable items that you are thinking of; whether it's the £100 coffee compactor or the £500 Paul Smith something-or-other. But, that's just for me; they sell (often quickly!) and very succesfully, so perhaps they are the right products for their market it's just that we don't form the whole spectrum of that market.
In other news - got to wear the hardshell jacket at the weekend (it was cold enough). God it's good.
I've bought a fair few things from them over the last 3 or 4 years now, but I find that works really well. Not spending all at once, but building kit over time. I'm a little warey of having everything Rapha, purely because my riding ability doesn't keep up with the amount of money I've spent on clothes. But I like them.
Actually, I have a few off-the-bike items of Rapha clothing (shorts, merino tracksuit top etc) and they always, always receive compliments when I wear them. I'm not sure I have any other items of clothing that get the same reaction!
I can begin to see a few of the questionable items that you are thinking of; whether it's the £100 coffee compactor or the £500 Paul Smith something-or-other. But, that's just for me; they sell (often quickly!) and very succesfully, so perhaps they are the right products for their market it's just that we don't form the whole spectrum of that market.
In other news - got to wear the hardshell jacket at the weekend (it was cold enough). God it's good.
Roman said:
Isnt or wasnt rapha designed by PS in the first place?!Nope, they've done a couple of collaborations - had a range of Paul Smith designed stuff, but he's never been the main designer.
At the moment there's some Rapha/Raeburn stuff in the range - it's something they like to do.
Paul Smith has designed the jerseys for the Giro before, and is no stranger to working with the cycling clothing industry.
His own stuff is priced well toward the "challenging" end of the spectrum I think.
For me, anyway.
At the moment there's some Rapha/Raeburn stuff in the range - it's something they like to do.
Paul Smith has designed the jerseys for the Giro before, and is no stranger to working with the cycling clothing industry.
His own stuff is priced well toward the "challenging" end of the spectrum I think.
For me, anyway.
pattyg said:
I have a 40 % off code for Rapha and I also note there is free delivery this weekend but I am still having problems justifying their prices.
I think I'll go for two winter merino base layers. Getting fed up with stinking Under Armour gear.
Not buying at the moment so genuinely not fishing for a favour but 40% would make a lot of their stuff easier to justify I think I'll go for two winter merino base layers. Getting fed up with stinking Under Armour gear.
Where/how did you get it?
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