I've had a few good purchases from the TNF outlet store in Bicester village. But they have been despite the best efforts of some of their staff to confuse & mislead... and even insult me!
On my latest trip, the store manager insisted that the word Quantum (in context of the Women's Catalyst down jacket) referred to some special property of the insulation to be compressible. He even showed me the Pertex Quantum label with its pretty images of two 'volumes' - one being smaller than the other. When I suggested that Pertex Quantum was the face-fabric, and had nothing to do with the down... he got, let's say, agressive. "Is it you or me who works in this shop ???". When I pointed out that there were other non-down articles in the shop labelled Quantum, and that many other brands used it from windshells to sleeping bags... he stonewalled me with 'have a nice day, sir' repeatedly.
I still bought the thing - a very good price for a high quality down jacket that my wife would actually wear. But if TNF are letting people with complete lack of knowledge run their shops, then we have to conclude that they no longer wish to be considered a technical brand, or would rather the informed shopper sticks to using the internet!
To be fair, at least two of the four managers I have encountered at Bicester are pretty good, and are certainly polite. They don't have an overwhelming knowledge of the market but they will refer to their catalogue if in doubt. But when you are putting your brand on the high street, I'd say that it was crucial for your staff - at least at manager level - to know what the heck they are talking about.
The Alan Sugar Apprentice is a poor second to the original US series IMO. The candidates are mostly of a far higher calibre, the tasks are more interesting and the prize of working for Trump - obnoxious as he may be - is really something special if that's your line of work.
I don't think they've shown either in France... it would be considered vulgar to have a programme about making money where the contestants were expected to work more than 35 hours a week
I had the same experiance at the Manchester branch of TNF. was with a mate who was looking for a pair a pants, when i finaly got hold of someone for advise he was abosolutely clueless about the stuff they sell, and one even did a runner from us and went to serve some other poor costomer.
Just a comment about these so called 'The North Face' stores... they are not what them seem.
Tried to return a faulty pair of TNF gloves to the Manchester store only to be told that there would be a £10 handling change as they are not really a North Face store, just a franchise!
