The Outdoor Store — Local services in City of Ithaca

Absolutely terrible service and attitude from a man who seems to be near maniacal. Let me tell you, friends, the tale of Dan, the lonely salesman. Not only were the bikes ridiculously priced, but when I tried to get more details about one I overheard Dan remark to one of his employees (asking something on my behalf) that I didn't look like I had money and not to waste my time. LOL. Funny, as I've been more than willing to spend money on quality before, my price range was anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand, I was simply curious. This is after I witnessed him refuse to refund a woman her rental fee after he neglected to mention the rentals didn't include locks and that the customer was responsible for any issues of theft.. how is a tourist going to go anywhere, since when do restaurants allow bikes inside? When I continued to ask the employee some basic things, Dan himself eventually stumbled down the stairs again disheveled and smelling strongly of cheap beer... this was early afternoon. He was curt and unfriendly, immediately snapping at the employee for answering my questions - the fear in those eyes made my heart drop a bit, as they paced around the store seemingly just adjusting the sleeves of the shop's absurd north face selection (because yes the make or break of whether or not people are going to buy your overpriced jackets in the winter is if the sleeves are in the pockets) and I immediately realized this was a lost cause. "Great" Dan remarked, "I don't need your business". I was curious - as an Ithacan local I knew the store had been around for awhile, and I was shocked to see all these other negative reviews reiterating my own experiences almost identically. He appears to spy on customers and staff, and while I understand the obvious need for cameras in the store, it seems both creepy and bizarre that he's also recording audio of all the ongoings of his store, especially when he seems to just live upstairs. This is a bitter mean man - with a beautiful dog and a seemingly sweet but perhaps just a little bit uninformed staff - and he seems to be living out his regret towards the world by taking it out on customers. I'm sorry inheriting your fathers business didn't go the way you planned - maybe you should lose some of the jackets and pick up more, I don't know... outdoor gear?

In summary; rude creepy owner with poorly priced limited selections on actual outdoor supplies. If you need gear, check out eastern mountain sports or old goat; if you need a bicycle, the Bike Rack in college town was amazing and the service there was fantastic - oh and if you need a bike rental, lime bike is here and easy to use. I will not be returning to the Outdoor Store, and I highly suggest to anyone thinking about visiting to do the same, no matter how cute the lab in...

I wish I could give this store zero stars. The owner is unimaginably rude and hostile. I will NEVER shop there again and regret ever giving them my business in the past. He is truly unstable. I have had two bad expereiences with him on seperate occasions. The first time he did not want me to try on a jacket because the size I wanted was sealed in plastic. He told me he would not take it out unless I knew I was going to buy it. Since I couldn't tell that without trying it on, I did not have him take it out....for fear he would flip out if it didn't fit and I didn't end up buying it. He was clearly irritated with having to assist me at all, didn't provide any help and lost a sale as I purchased the jacket at another store where they actually let me try it on!

I'm not sure why I ever went back to that store after that experience but I did and I will NEVER go back again. I tried on one jacket, which I intended to buy. I was on my phone while my fiance shopped and the owner came out of no where and started yelling at me that I"m not allowed to take pictures, I told him I wasn't but he didn't believe me and continued to harrass me and yell at me about how customers take pictures and then don't buy things from there. He would not stop so we decided to leave and then he yelled at me for not putting the jacket I was going to buy back. For some reason instead of just leaving then, I took it to the back of the store to put it away and he followed me back there continuing to yell at me and then followed me to the front of the store saying things like "thanks for trying on all of our jackets and not buying anything" and "why don't you try on our stuff and then buy it online to save ten dollars" Even though I tried on ONE jacket that I was going to buy from him! It was extremely upsetting and embarrassing and he made a huge scene in front of other customers. I was in complete disbelief. This man clearly hates his customers, has serious issues and should NOT have any interactions with the public. I WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN and in reading other reviews it appears I am not alone with my horrible experience with him. I just hope he's nice to the beautiful dogs...

My recent encounter with the Outdoor Store has left me deeply dissatisfied and questioning the integrity of their business practices, particularly concerning their rigid "no return" policy. While the store does technically have a sign indicating this policy, the glaring issue lies in its inconspicuous placement – right at your feet.

The primary bone of contention revolves around the lack of visibility of their return policy signage. Buried inconspicuously at ground level, the sign fails to meet the standard of clear and conspicuous notification that responsible businesses should adhere to. Customers should not have to scrutinize the floor to uncover essential information about a store's return policy; it should be prominently displayed to ensure transparency and informed decision-making.

Discovering this minute sign becomes problematic when customers realize they are stuck with faulty or unsatisfactory products. A reputable business should prioritize a positive shopping experience and customer satisfaction over the pursuit of profit. Unfortunately, the Outdoor Store's refusal to accept returns indicates a disregard for these principles.

In an age where consumers expect transparency and fairness, the Outdoor Store's questionable policies fall short of these standards. I caution potential customers to be wary before making purchases at this establishment, as the risk of ending up with an undesirable product is alarmingly high. Until the Outdoor Store reevaluates its policies and practices, I find it difficult to recommend this store to anyone seeking a reliable and customer-focused outdoor...