erxu
Google
From Patagonia’s website: “We hope you love your Patagonia gear. If not, don't worry—we accept returns and offer free exchanges.”
Well, it seems some Patagonia employees don’t know—or don’t care—to honor that policy easily. My experience at the Patagonia SoHo Flagship Store on 11/06/25 between 4:20 PM and 4:50 PM was disappointing and uncomfortable.
As I entered, an employee leaning against a table at the front, looking at his cellphone, chose to look away from me—but promptly greeted the younger customer who walked in right behind me. Maybe an “okay boomer” moment? Who knows. But first impressions matter, and that one wasn’t good.
I brought in an R2 Jacket I purchased last January because I wasn’t happy with its performance. I approached a young employee who was folding clothes and asked if he was busy. He said “no,” so I explained my issue. His immediate response was, “If there’s no technical issue, what do you want me to do.” Surprised, I replied, “Well, I’m not happy with the jacket.”
He then called over what I assume was the manager. Instead of offering a simple exchange or credit, the manager questioned whether my issue was about sizing or a technical flaw. The conversation quickly turned argumentative—he even said, “I’m not going to argue with you,” though he already was. After about 10 uncomfortable minutes, he finally asked, “What do you want to do—get another jacket or walk out with store credit?”
In the past, I’ve had excellent experiences at the Patagonia SoHo store either the one on Wooster St. or the one on Greene St. including the one on Bowery and 1rst Street, where employees immediately showed me multiple alternative options—cheerfully—and if nothing fit, offered store credit without hesitation. The manager here could have easily told the younger employee to do the same from the start. Instead, I was left with the impression that this is one Patagonia store where employees do not feel the need to facilitate exchanges nor make the experience a pleasant one.
Patagonia management: Please train your SoHo staff on both your exchange policy and basic customer respect. After 30 years as a loyal Patagonia customer, this experience did not reflect the company’s values.