Rapha Sample sale....

domc21

Who went this morning? I got in there about 10.30..... I managed to get 2 country jerseys, winter tights and some pro bib shorts. Missed out on the essential cases. Good bargains to be had.

pinarellokid

yea, just got back spent a bt while i was there but some great bargains to be had

benmac75

Went along, got there at about 9:15 and saw how long the queue was so buggered off on the "my time is more valuable than the savings" thought plan. Went for a ride instead before it pissed down. Mate of mine who it turns out was a little way further up the queue got in at about 11:45 with mild hypothermia.

Flâneur

How good were the savings? Decided not to go just for the sale as my friend cancelled lunch last night

littledove44

sa0u823e wrote:

How good were the savings? Decided not to go just for the sale as my friend cancelled lunch last night

You have lunch at night? Or not!

domc21

Tops £30 jackets £50 shorts £40

super_prestige

I went and was through the doors at 09.30 got a few county jerseys sky pro rain jacket and a few tee shirts.
There were a few people who were defiantly buying to put on ebay, a guy in front of me at the till spent nearly £500.00.

domc21

Ebay is full already.... They had loads of stock though they got me a country jersey out of the back stock room.

BlackMarketSuperstar

i went, nearly 3 hours of queuing after getting there at 9-20 but got a winter jersey, country jersey, pro bib shorts, wind jacket, cap, 3 pairs of socks, cyclocross bag & blue bag cover for 180 quid which wouldve cost around 750 from the shop so definitely worth it

Gary Sinclair

Why don't they sell it online and give everyone a chance to get a bargain? All the stuff is now on eBay with people making a massive profit on the items.

BlackMarketSuperstar

Gary Sinclair wrote:

Why don't they sell it online and give everyone a chance to get a bargain? All the stuff is now on eBay with people making a massive profit on the items.

i think maybe coz they can get rid of seconds & end of lines quickly & easily (hire a unit, put out clothes in sized sorted boxes, few staff & all gone in 2 days)

seconds are easier for people to check & take a chance on if they see them (my country jersey has a small stain on it but its for commuting so not too bothered)

people were saying in the queue they were going to get their moneys worth so may have bought more than they would if online (lots of big bags came out)

people will impulse buy (im not a big impulse buyer but bought socks & bag cover that i hadnt planned to)

sloppyschleckonds

Did they have any Brevet socks?

carbonclem

It does seem at odds with the premium band protection that they normally employ.

Id have thought an ebay shop where people took their chances on individual items at fixed prices on a non returnable basis would have been preferable. I only really care cos Im jealous, of course

Flâneur

Wasn't this also linked to the opening of a new Rapha store in Manchester though? Or was that just a rumor?

A sample sale like this can raise brand awareness in a way an online sale wouldn't perhaps?

jscl

sa0u823e wrote:

Wasn't this also linked to the opening of a new Rapha store in Manchester though? Or was that just a rumor?

A sample sale like this can raise brand awareness in a way an online sale wouldn't perhaps?

Happening late this year

iPete

They did the sample sale in trendy parts of east London a few times. Got lots of bargain kit that's still going years later.

They basically got their brand popular around the trendy parts of town & don't need to do them here now.

snowley

the amount on ebay is a joke. A bit of a shame really as there are people out there (like me) who would have bought a lot of these items directly from the sale (had it been more local) rather than putting the money into others pockets.....

boydster76

snowley wrote:

the amount on ebay is a joke. A bit of a shame really as there are people out there (like me) who would have bought a lot of these items directly from the sale (had it been more local) rather than putting the money into others pockets.....

+1 to this. I can understand why people do it but it just doesn't sit well with me. Surely Rapha could come up with a better way of putting these products into the hands of those that will actually wear them.

flasher

Why, they are a business, they want to sell stuff, it sold, they're happy.

If you want it, get in your car, drive to the sale, queue up, and buy it.

The forces of a free market economy are at work.

Iamnot Wiggins

Flasher wrote:

Why, they are a business, they want to sell stuff, it sold, they're happy.

If you want it, get in your car, drive to the sale, queue up, and buy it.

The forces of a free market economy are at work.

Couldn't have put it better myself. I'm afraid that moaning about somebody looking to make a bit of money isn't going to solve anything nor stop said person doing so. I'm sure we've all seen a bargain and though"i could make a bit here...". I hasten to add that I do not own one item of Rapha clothing so I'm not a guilty party in this debate!

As the guy above said, once it's sold by Rapha, what do they care what the buyer does with it?!

thegreatdivide

Some of the (re)sellers aren't so unscrupulous. I just bought a pair of GT gloves for £25.

onemoresolo

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

Couldn't have put it better myself. I'm afraid that moaning about somebody looking to make a bit of money isn't going to solve anything nor stop said person doing so. I'm sure we've all seen a bargain and though"i could make a bit here...". I hasten to add that I do not own one item of Rapha clothing so I'm not a guilty party in this debate!

As the guy above said, once it's sold by Rapha, what do they care what the buyer does with it?!

I agree, aside from Rapha themselves saying they would stop bulk buying but then doing nothing of the sort. We got there very early on the Saturday but there will still a few folks let in before us filling bags and bags full of kit to resell. I'd suggest limits on items that can be purchased early on to give genuine buyers a chance before opening it up to the eBay hordes.

snowley

This is more my point above. The products would be better off in the hands of folks who want it and actually attend this type of event.

I know you all say Rapha don't care as long as the product is sold and they receive the cash, but for a company like Rapha, brand prominence is of huge importance. If loads of their kit ends up on ebay, it cheapens the brand....... And this may not reflect well on Rapha.

Chinley Churner

rode an SQT at the velodrome from 9-11, met up with mate in town and went to sale... queue was round the building so went for an early lunch. Went back, queue shorter but still same faces as had been there before at back so went for a coffee and some shopping errands. Went back, queue even shorter, about five new faces at the back.. 15 minutes queuing and we were in. Couple of country jerseys for £30 each, including Dutch one for wife who'd Dutch and a few other bits and bobs... job done.

jscl

thegreatdivide wrote:

Some of the (re)sellers aren't so unscrupulous. I just bought a pair of GT gloves for £25.

You can thank me later

sloppyschleckonds

JSCL wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

Some of the (re)sellers aren't so unscrupulous. I just bought a pair of GT gloves for £25.

You can thank me later

Ebay seller I bought mine off sold 22 pairs

Flâneur

Bought some gloves from the nice guy above (I think? emailed you today/yday regarding them if it is you to put a username with a name). He may have made a profit however he hardly ripped off everyone in the process, especially as he was the person who went.

The jersey and jacket sales seem to be where the big profiteers went from my eBay search, my own fault for going on a ride instead of heading to Manchester, I didn't realise the discounts were so large.