I work at a running store. Ask me anything

Talk to me wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Why should I buy shoes from you, when I can get a better price - plus free shipping both ways - from Runningwarehouse?

Online shopping cannot provide you the same one on one service that running store employees can. Also what if you need to return shoe that you ordered online? That is about 1-2 weeks turnaround time if you want an exchange. Versus about 15 minutes if you exchange it from the store. Running Warehouse isn't also cheaper. 85% of their shoes will be MSRP price. Running stores don't up charge on shoes. Running stores mark shoes at MSRP price.

You clearly don't shop at running warehouse much, and if you do and you think everything is almost always MSRP, you're an idiot. There are codes from bloggers that always are accepted. Try gingerrun for example. That's 10% off ALL OF THE TIME, not matter what shoe you are buying. Did you buy some VF4% FK this year? Yep, gingerrun coupon code works for that, got 'e, for $225, free 2-day shipping, oh and no tax. If you don't know this, you are a fool.

How many MILFs have you banged? I've heard running stores are MILF central.

You must be taking a day off as you have not responded to any questions in a day or so.

What percentage of the shoes that you sell are purchased by non-runners?

I am surprised at how many non-runners are willing to pay over $100 for a pair of brightly colored running shoes that they will never run in. These people perhaps do not know about online shoe buying, and/or like the instant gratification of paying for something and wearing them out the door.

this and this wrote:

You must be taking a day off as you have not responded to any questions in a day or so.

What percentage of the shoes that you sell are purchased by non-runners?

I am surprised at how many non-runners are willing to pay over $100 for a pair of brightly colored running shoes that they will never run in. These people perhaps do not know about online shoe buying, and/or like the instant gratification of paying for something and wearing them out the door.

Not the OP, but where I'm at , I'd say 40% non-running.

9/10 times you could get 10-15% off at a running shop if you tell them this. They're not dummies, they know they have to compete with the internet.

Shop dog wrote:

Discounts Dude wrote:

You clearly don't shop at running warehouse much, and if you do and you think everything is almost always MSRP, you're an idiot. There are codes from bloggers that always are accepted. Try gingerrun for example. That's 10% off ALL OF THE TIME, not matter what shoe you are buying. Did you buy some VF4% FK this year? Yep, gingerrun coupon code works for that, got 'e, for $225, free 2-day shipping, oh and no tax. If you don't know this, you are a fool.

9/10 times you could get 10-15% off at a running shop if you tell them this. They're not dummies, they know they have to compete with the internet.

Not the OP

My favorite local store will match to anywhere that has an advertised price on the same product plus ten bucks off of a shoe if I trade in a shoe. I almost never buy online anymore for popular shoes that are widely carried.. There are other ones that do not price match, and they are consistently dead when I go in there, but they typically have more top of the line, niche shoes that only a select few runners run in that I would rather try on in person and buy once from a storefront before ordering a few pairs from the internet.

In my opinion storefronts and online stores have there places, obviously online stores have lower upkeep prices, but they do have to buy advertising which can be quite expensive. I think it is going to continue to be incumbent upon storefronts to continue to price-match and keep niche shoes in stock in order to maintain constant traffic.

Talk to me wrote:

Do it!

Will you ever answer all our questions? Or did you got fired already?

What is the best selling shoe at the moment?

Brooks Ghost no contest.

What fun things can you do with those tiny packets of silica gel inside shoe boxes?

Ok, I admit to being a mid 50s hobby jogger and I am also a retailer(not of shoes, etc). When I go in my local running stores, which I do like, it’s hard to get the time of day there, other than from the youngest kid working that day. Ok, so maybe the really good runners working there know I’m probably slow, but I am also the guy who buys far too many new shoes, GUs, socks, clothes, enters plenty of events. So, wouldn’t an intuitive store manager or employee want to work me in order to get all my business? I like to experiment with a variety of shoes that I really don’t even need. I want to support them because they support the local running events, but they make it tough. Often, I just go to the nearby ASICS outlet, try on whatever I want, and buy there with little hassle or assistance, at regular price for Nimbus. Again, as a local business owner, I don’t like doing that but bad retail forces me to the company outlet or online. Why is this?

Be honest, you make fun of your customers especially returning ones. I bet you have nicknames for them and inside jokes.

I can't even tell you the amount of times people come in and try shoes on with the intention of buying them online elsewhere. Once run spec is gone I hope you all have fun shipping shoes back and forth all the time. Also those people tend to ask the most questions, try on the most pairs and just in general use your expertise and waste time more than any other customer. With the exception of Indians. Indians are the worst by far.

explanation wrote:

Luv2Run wrote:

Wow, you were asked to do something really unethical there.

Is that unethical? I think that's just called upselling. How is that any different from a fast food clerk asking if you would like to add fries and a drink to your order?

I should have used the sarcasm font.

skwilli wrote:

Who was better at math? Albert Einstein or Richard Feynman?

Surely your joking. Mr Feynman.

Areyouserious? wrote:

I can't even tell you the amount of times people come in and try shoes on with the intention of buying them online elsewhere. Once run spec is gone I hope you all have fun shipping shoes back and forth all the time. Also those people tend to ask the most questions, try on the most pairs and just in general use your expertise and waste time more than any other customer. With the exception of Indians. Indians are the worst by far.

This is 100% and drives me nuts! People act like it's a show room: come in, have you bring every pair of shoes out, and it never fails that while you're grabbing a few pairs, you bring them back and their arms are full of more pairs, this is after they come in asking for your expertise in picking a shoe. Dude if you're going to pick your own shoes, don't ask what I think you need. An hour of your wasted time later, they're out the door with all the information they need to buy online. Actually, I shouldn't say all the information, I very deliberately tell them the wrong size and model as they're asking for these things trying to figure out what they'll order, it's not that hard to tell when you're in the process of getting internet-screwed.

But all of this is an aside, Indians are actually the worst and trying and not buying, not to make generalizations but I guess there is something culturally going on there. And IF they buy from you, they're asking for an outrageous discount, those guys do love to barter.

Current State of Affairs wrote:

Been wearing Asics Nimbus, 2E.

Looking for a similar, lighter weight shoe. Not Nike, not ever.

Other choices? I've tried Adidas many times but most seem to run too narrow w/o a width option.

Could also try a Brooks Glycerin of Saucony Triumph, both come in wide and are solid. I just sold a guy who had been wearing the Nimbus for years and years a Triumph and he liked it a lot. Triumph also has a lot of forefoot space.

Have any pro runners come to your store?

Which shoe would you recommend?