Bonobos

I’m really conflicted with this review. I really dig their merchandise– it’s great quality and their designers do an awesome job having both classic and funky stuff. But my first experience at the Guideshop was super meh.
We went in because I had bought a few pairs of dress pants from here that I wanted to exchange in a different fit. Their pant sizing is kinda confusing tbh. They have Slim, Athletic, Straight, and Tailored– their website does a somewhat good job of explaining, but Tailored is slimmer than Slim? I got Slim, but was trying to decide between that and Athletic (#crossfit). I should have gotten Athletic instead– legs were way too tight. No problem– I live in a city with multiple Guideshops!
The Guideshop is an awesome concept. It’s in a hidden little side alley and has beautiful merchandising– antique rugs, leather sofas, very GQ. They have one of each item out on the racks and tables for you to peruse– if you like it, you can order it in your size after trying on. It’s great. Not so great– their customer service. The girl helping us did not care at all. I’m pretty sure she was hungover. I’ve been there! But, like, smile. The worst part for me though, was that after I tried on the MOST PERFECT PANTS I was unable to get them because they were all out of stock online. And Bonobos has no back ordering system (???). So the sales girl recommended I just keep trying online until they’re back in stock, every few days or so (???). Four weeks later of checking, nothing. For a brand that really prided themselves on customer service and being a leader in e-​commerce, I expected more?
But… I still want those pants. They’re awesome.
As my shaman life guide Drake once said, «I learned working with the negatives makes for better pictures.» I guess I’ll just appreciate the Guideshop for what it is– great clothes with lackluster service.

I recently started building my professional wardrobe and after a good amount of research, purchased four Bonobos dress shirts and four Brooks Brothers dress shirts in May of 2014 to test the two brands which I thought would fit my preferences, style, and budget the best. I was initially impressed with the fit and apparent quality of Bonobos as the comfort and style seemed higher than that of my Brooks Brothers shirts. However after about a year, the material at the normal wear spots (wrists, elbows, etc.) started to thin significantly in my Bonobos shirts, while my Brooks Brothers shirts looked essentially brand new. All shirts were non-​iron, cared for according to instruction, worn approximately once every two or three weeks, and fit my body the exact same.
However this past week, one of my Bonobos dress shirts split halfway around my elbow. I was embarrassed but more surprised at the craftsmanship and longevity of a shirt I’ve barely owned and paid $ 100.
I contacted Customer Support to find out they would only offer me a discount code in case I wanted to purchase a new one. Meanwhile last week a colleague of mine received 8 brand new Brooks Brothers shirts after 2 years which were abnormally fraying at the wrist.
I had hoped to share my initial impressions, however now I have nothing but poor experiences. Others may have had good ones, but just wanted to share so others are aware. Best of luck.

I was here last week and really enjoyed my visit to the Guideshop. The DC location is off the beaten path so it adds a little to it’s exclusivity (not that I’m bougie). The shop was small and of course staffed by two cute women offering water, tea or beer to patrons. I’m pretty self sufficient when picking out my clothes but they were very accommodating helping me with getting the right fit. The cloths feel quality and the pricing reflects that. I’m looking forward to visiting the NYC shop.

Love Bonobos — my boyfriend is a big fan of their pants and shorts, but I was really blown away by their customer service.
After shopping online, I accidentally shipped his birthday presents to my old address! I realized this at 10 pm, and found out from UPS that only Bonobos could correct the shipping address.
I sent a message to their «Ninjas» and got a response back from Jon at 11:40 pm saying he had fixed the whole problem! Crisis averted, and can’t wait to receive the package. They truly went above and beyond.

As such my experience in the guideshop was alright — Evan was courteous and knowledgeable about the clothes. She also gave honest advice which I feel is rare. It was after buying a suit and going home that things went downhill.
When to the website to check my account, the first thing I noticed was that they were a 20% off to all new customers so I was rather annoyed. I called Evan and she graciously apologized and said a «ninja» would get in touch with me. Two weeks later nobody contacted me and so I submitted a form on their website describing the issue. After a couple days I was contacted via email by Mac who also apologized and re-​offered me the 20% off (which is still available to new customers).
But by then (week 3) I had already returned the suit and didn’t feel that the «compensation» offered was any compensation at all since it is available to any new customer. If anyone really wants to buy something, I suggest going to website directly to benefit from the 20% discount.

We had a wonderful experience! We are from Denver and my partner and I decided to check out bonobos suits, we are getting married at the end of the month. The staff was incredible — friendly, fun, knowledgeable and beyond helpful.
We will be back.

Really fantastic shopping experience. Make an appointment and be ready to spend amd hour to try on their well made clothinfs and fin your perfect fit.

Great service from the manager and team at Bonobos.
Their warehouse had sent me the wrong item, I went to the store to return it and the manager was able to get me the corrected item that same day.
Really great service.

I really hope that the trend that Bonobos is developing toward custom fitting and online ordering expands to other retailers because my experience at the Guideshop today was great!
Evan was my primary Guide, and she made me feel right at home. From the time that you walk in, you can take your pick of water, beer, or soda, and the guides inquire what you’re looking for (as opposed to forcing you into something that might not be suitable for you). Evan quickly figured out my style and pulled items that might be a good fit. I have unusually long arms for someone my height, and it is always extremely difficult (read: really, really hard) for me to find dress shirts that fit well in both the neck and at the sleeve. If I do find a shirt that fits in both places, it usually has loads of extra material around the waist and looks sloppy. Bonobos delivers with their tailored slim fit, which is essentially a European cut (think: Zara in Spain). It’s GREAT! They also leave the hems of their pants unfinished, which is perfect because if you’re going to purchase proper trousers, you’ll need to have them tailored unless you’re one of those lucky guys who can just wear things off the rack and have them fit perfectly. You can tell that the material is of a high quality, but a nice point is that it doesn’t require dry cleaning.
After we did all the sizing and found a perfect suit jacket, Evan showed me some things online to help learn what style of shoe I liked. Brandon, the other Guide, threw in a helpful perspective on the shoes, a number of which he owns himself.
The only other times I can think of that I’ve received service this personal are at the Burberry flagship store in Milan and at Nordstrom at Lenox Mall in Atlanta – in both places, a personal stylist goes the extra mile to make sure you get what you want, without pushing you to get anything.
Don’t expect to walk in and walk out with bags full of new clothes, as most of their offerings are online. However, if you see something you love while you’re there, you can take it home. Evan made notes on all my sizes and which items I liked, and emailed the info to me so I could easily purchase online. She was also super friendly and collegial, even though she’s been at the store for only a short time. That’s what service is supposed to feel like.
If I hadn’t already tried on everything that there was to try on, I’d be back soon! All in all, I had a wonderful experience and think that Bonobos is going to be my new go-​to place.

My fiancée and I spent all day searching for a summer suit for our upcoming Hawaii wedding. Bonobos was the last stop and I had to literally drag my fiancée into the store. But I’m so glad that I did because he found the perfect suit, at a great price no less, and our «guide» Nick went above and beyond to search inventories and arrange shipping. After several of the other big chain store experiences that left us both exhausted and frayed, this was a breath of fresh air.

They were so helpful, the entire experience was great. Go check out the stuff in store, order online, its a great system. Really can’t say anything bad about it, everyone was very pleasant.

Great service.
I always wanted to try a pair of Bonobos pants but buying online without trying them on seemed a stretch for me. The guide shop was the perfect answer. I walked in and tried some on and ordered three pairs. The fit is great and the service was fantastic. Check this place out

As Jake C. has already mentioned, this is a showroom-​style shop. While it is possible to walk out with purchase in hand, you will have to place an online order while in-​store for all of the size and color variations.
The service at Bonobos wonderful. Walk in, and you’re offered ice cold beers and plush leather seats to hang out, relax, take a look around. This shop is perfect for guys who want a slimmer and more modern fit. No boxy-​cuts here!

This is more explanation than than review, since Bonobos’ new Georgetown guide shop requires some explaining. Don’t expect to walk in unannounced and walk out with a pair of pants. Their new Georgetown presence is more showroom than store.
Bonobos is an online-​only retailer, and has begun opening a series of «Guide Shops» around the country so that men who are skeptical of buying clothes online can see, touch and try-​on the company’s pants, shirts, sweaters, and other product offerings.
Here’s what happens: You make an appointment by telephone or via Bonobos’ website. When you arrive at the shop for your appointment, a guide will take you around the store and talk to you about the company and clothing. You can try on representative samples from their line. If you find something you like, the guide can order it for you and have it shipped free to your home in a couple of days.
It’s different than walking into J. Crew, though the style of clothing and price points are somewhat similar. The experience is more intimate and somewhat jarring in an age where you generally expect to be left alone to browse in silence. But it’s innovative too, and neat to be able to get to know a startup that is growing and chose to expand into DC.