Manzanita Outfitters

This review applies to bike rentals only. If you’re traveling (and managing charges to your credit card (s)) and want to rent a bike in Prescott, DO NOT RENT A BIKE FROM THEM unless you’re willing to have thousands of dollars — pending charge lodged by them for retail value of 4 bikes — tied up for 5 or more business days. Their extensive boiler plate (5 pages) that renters are required to initial and sign includes provision to do this. Their staff has no logical explanation for this practice and their owner doesn’t seem to care as a request to speak with him has been ignored. This is outrageous when bikes were rented, returned, and paid for with no damage on the same day. Manzanita Outfitters did NOTHING to remedy the situation that started on Mar 7^th and was finally remedied by my credit card issuer at my request on Mar 11^th. Shame on Manzanita Outfitters.

I love the thought of supporting local business, however when one is faced with paying much higher prices as well as problems with customer service, especially regarding any kind of problems with a product purchased, you have to wonder about the value of supporting a particular business. I tried to return a so called crushable hat which, as it turns out the hat is only supposed to be crushed from the top down, not sideways. So after battling with the manager, and her making calls to the manufacturer, they begrudgingly decided to replace my hat. A $ 70 hat. At a later time, and hoping for a better experience, I stopped in at sale time. Upon checking prices I couldn’t help but notice that the sale prices were really not that great. So I asked the sales associate «Why should I spend more here than say if I went to a big box store?» Whereupon she said that «well we are a small business and we provide better customer service. And we don’t have the room for the huge selection or ability to give lower prices.» So I asked her why should I pay the higher prices including higher sales tax for less selection and only a 30 day return period? To which she had no reply. She did however inform me that a previously purchased sleeping pad and sleeping bag, with which I had problems, that they would not take those back under any conditions because they had been used, even though still in new condition with the original packaging. And this even though the sleeping pad had a leak, the first time out. Five hundred dollars worth of merchandise. These small local businesses want you to «shop local» and yet they charge more and give inferior customer service IE with an attitude, even though you had a problem with their product. Say what you want about the big box stores but given their customer service and return policies, I feel like my dollars are much safer spent with them. I will not support the arrogance of some of these small local merchants.

We didn’t buy anything but staff asked us if we needed help while looking around. Great selection of outdoor gear and a really nice choice of fashionable leisure apparel. We’ll check this place out again when looking for outdoor gear.

When I first walked in there were two associates standing at the counter. They looked up not a single hello or what can I help you with today or anything. It’s customer service you get paid to talk and assist customers. I continued to walk around and look around for about 10 minutes. Associate still proceeded to walk by me still not one hello. I went to the back wall to look at the climbing shoes and there was this guy helping out other customers. So I waited back there until he was done. He came back my way and actually said hello and was very knowledgeable and sold me a pair of climbing shoes. The one star is all that one guy that helped me out. Other than that the place is absolutely appalling with how rude the associates were. If you are selling high-​priced items like that I would sure want pleasant happy knowledgeable associates in my business.

I’ve been coming in here for quite some time now (I like supporting local business). Staff has always been helpful, and the prices and selection are great. Staff is knowledgeable and willing to explain things in depth if asked.

This company sold me a canoe that was sitting their shop window in the arizona sun for 4 years, and told me it was a brand new canoe. I used it to canoe down the mississippi river, then it got a crack in the seat which was spreading to the hull. i called manzanita to ask how or if they could help. the owner litterally laughed at me over the phone. so… i had to cancel the remainder of my trip, only 10 days from the end. sell my canoe for ¹⁄₁₀ of what i had just paid 100 days previous. which had a full 1 year warranty which apparently meant nothing unless i was willing to drag it home to Arizona from Mississippi. unless i could mail the canoe to them so they could get it repaired and then pay to mail it back to us (1600.00 in shipping total) also i would have to wait up to 3 months to get it back. while i supported myself being homeless in a state i have been in for 6 days, in the middle of my trip to the gulf of mexico. they employees are great, the owner is not.

This review is written in the hope that the proprietors will read it and at best make some changes, or at the very least give a little thought to my comments.
I travel a lot and annually spend a significant amount at stores like REI. Of course here in our beautiful little town of Prescott there is no REI, so when I find myself needing some outdoor gear or clothing I usually pop into Manzanita.
The store has a nice selection of quality stock and I normally find something suitable. I have noted in the past that the staff are not especially attentive, helpful or friendly. Not a big deal necessarily but worth noting in regards my experience this morning!
Recently an old leg injury flared up and I really needed to get some nice quality, really comfortable light hiking boots. It was one of those occasions when I really didn’t care how much this was going to cost me as I really did just need some comfortable new footwear. So with a pocket full of cash I headed to Manzanita confident that they would have what I needed.
Sure enough I got to the footwear section this morning and I could see four or five boots that were exactly what I wanted, just a case now of getting someone to help me with trying on a few pairs.
As said I am struggling with an injury, so I was quite uncomfortable, the trip in had already taken it’s toll, so I was reluctant to start searching the store for some assistance. Thinking instead that a member of staff would soon see me and be keen to offer their assistance.
Well I waited and waited and then waited some more. I had by this time been seen by a couple of staff members but neither of these seemed remotely interested in me. In all fairness one of them was occupied with another customer but even she could have summoned another staff member or said she would be over in a moment.
Needless to say I got increasingly frustrated and this inevitably results in me starting to think that I really don’t want to give these people a penny of my hard earned cash. So I started to slowly walk to the door. As expected not a single member of staff paid me any attention. No «can I help you with something sir?» or «I’ll be with you in a moment».
I guess they just don’t care, it certainly appears to me that their customer service is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
I was in a lot of discomfort and took the time and no small amount of effort to patronize their story with full intent on spending a couple of hundred buck on some new boots. I walked out of their store with my cash still in my pocket and for no other reason that the staff didn’t seem to care less that a customer needed some assistance.
PS. I promptly went to the local footwear store in the centre of town and received wonderful service and came home with exactly what I wanted. Perhaps I should have saved myself the trouble and given Manzanita a wide birth from the start?
Happy hiking, Roy.

this was our first time shopping here… we were in town for new years at my grandparents cabin and my hubby forgot his winter jacket so we came to see if they had any for him and they did… the jacket he bought was on sale and it was the north face ones… kept him warm while we went sledding and while we were just outside taking photos. they have a nice selection of name brand jackets and it looked like all of them were on sale… not sure if it was because the holiday or its always a little cheaper then normal but he was happy he found a nice jacket since he had none

This store is quite nice. They have a good selection of outdoor clothing and shoes. I was pleased to see that they carry Tilley brand hats, my favorite. They also have a bike shop and lots of camping and hiking equipment, as well as disc golf discs and bags. They also offer kayaking equipment. They will actually meet you out at the lake and let you try the equipment before you buy it.
The prices are a little high, but they are a local business and worth supporting. They offer student discounts to those who attend local colleges. Manzanita also has very friendly and helpful staff.

I will start by saying I know how high the prices are here. There’s a wee bit higher a mark-​up on some items than I think is really necessary. However, the prices aren’t the primary reason I think this place is great. It’s the service.
My wife and I came in looking for Yak Trax for a trip to New York. Unfortunately, we’d had trouble finding the right size for her. (Her feet are so small her legs might as well end in pegs.) Even Manzanita was out of her size, but when we mentioned it to the gentleman at the counter, without prompting or request he called around to other retailers in the area until he found one that had her size in stock. Very helpful!
Also, their sales can be pretty good. We’ve found really nice snow gloves and other small items at a bargain price. If you don’t mind planning for next season, this is a good place to check out.

This is a very good local outfitters store. This location used to be a Popular Surplus Store and closed and re-​opened with local ownership. They carry some nice clothing lines, but are a little pricey.
I took my wife in there to buy some good quality hiking boots. We wanted something better than the average. The sales person took a lot of time with us and helped us very much. They have things to climb on while you are trying different boots so you can get the feel of them and make sure you have a good fit. We spent about $ 200 for her boots.
Thank you guys very much for being there for us.