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!
John
Posted: 15/10/2008 at 16:48
