Road Runner Sport-Rip Off

wasn't it the run america club? i signed up for that years ago too. bastards!

I believe it was free 2-day shipping and 5%. I bought from them when they were just a Road Runner logo and an 800 number in the back of RT, Runner, etc. $20 for a lifetime. BUT, it really was 2-3 day priority shipping - ain't got that one anymore - they reneged on it. So, I'm happy w/ the runningwarehouse.com - reasonable price and free 2-day.

Usually, lifetime is defined in the contract and is always written in a way to let them wiggle out of it when they want.

For example, people will sing up for a special, lifetime gym membership and the gym goes under a year later. They read their contract and find out lifetime meant as long as the gym was open. They paid a lot more up front than some Joe paying monthly dues for that year, but they are just out of luck.

Email them and find out why you, a loyal customer who supported them from the beginning, is being treated like you are.

Try caling them up...they usually have pretty good customer service and I've always had them go out of their way to make things right for me.

Why would you ever buy from them in the first place? They suck.

Yep, I once belonged to the RAC AND I worked at RRS years ago. The membership was "lifetime". You paid $20 or $30 for it over the phone (of course the sales people were bonus-ed for each RAC they sold), and the info was scant in the catalogs. Nothing at all mentioned the program ever ending. It was simply one-time-fee for life = upgrade in shipping and 10% off-----forever.

I never liked them as a company...they pay the manufacturers a fraction of what a running shop pays, yet charge the full MSRP (RRS's cost on a GT2010 was roughly $45 and I'm sure they got the first 120 days free---compared to about $20 more for your local favorite shop).

And the sales reps are the scum of the earth. No, that's an insult to scum. Well, they're pretty awful. The only time any of them runs is for third helpings at Hometown Buffet. A few of us used to refer to the rows of cubicles on the sales floor as "skid row", though in retrospect, I'd rather associate with bums than TSRs (telephone sales reps).

It's such an awful environment that many of the employees who do manage to flee from Mike G's house of horrors actually go to work for International Male (a gay-talog)!

Running warehouse has great prices and much deeper selection. Better yet, find a good local shop and help keep them in business.

Yes, it was the run America club. I did say something to them and they attempted to sell me the vip membership. I have been using running warehouse or my local running store. It is just wrong that they have screwed the people who supported them when they first started. In addition, 8.99 shipping when it takes a week to get to me!!!

Mixed reviews from me on RRS.

I don't use them very often--maybe order some small item now and then.

And on the phone, they've been variously helpful/unhelpful.

And while it's probably not fair to pin my view of them on one experience, the one that stands out was my ordering something as a gift for my niece. At first, they told me they had it and that it would arrive on time for her birthday. Then it kept being put on back order, on back order yet again, and yet again. When I'd call, it would take forever to get through to someone, and I would never get a straight answer about when I could hope for the item to arrive--I finally got tired of waiting and canceled the order.

Now I definitely prefer the "brick and mortar" type running stores, staffed by runners for runners. They have good sales often enough that I can get prices comparable to the ones RRS offers. And even if not, knowing I'll have the item in my hands as soon as I pay for it, not have to worry about sending something back, is worth it.

I too was once a con artist....I mean RoadRunnerSports associate. They push that damn VIp thing to death. Why, because there is extra money in their paycheck if they get you to sign up. After working at RRS, you realize that the associates there are nothing more than used car salesmen in disguise. You can't tell if the shoe you are in is proper for you, or proper for their paycheck. Higher average tickets give you a higher paycheck, thus the reason you will get talked out of a 70 dollar shoe by the associates.

The company as a whole hires a lot of clueless individuals. They over-expanded, so you aren't going to see any new stores for awhile. They laid off a lot of good people because they had their heads up their asses and lost a ton of money. They sold out to Nike, so you are going to see a swoosh everywhere you look both in the stores and online. Anyone who refers to them as the Walmart of running is 100 percent correct. They employee people who are greedy. They may run, but no nothing about the sport of running, don't care about what you are doing, and will talk all sorts of shit about you if you don't sign up for a VIP membership, or buy 175 bucks worth of stuff. In general, a disgrace to teh running community. Shop with your local mom and pops!

Road Runner Sport is over-priced, plain and simple.

You can get much better deals shopping around at places like EastBay, Holabird Sports, etc.

Yes, exactly. The only runners who would still shop RRS at this point have to be incredibly ignorant. Even if you don't have a local running store that you could support (and have support you in return), Running Warehouse and Holabird and others can give deals that rival RRS prices and ship for free, too.

Toledo8 wrote:

Road Runner Sport is over-priced, plain and simple.

You can get much better deals shopping around at places like EastBay, Holabird Sports, etc.

Agreed but Eastbay has that $7.00 shipping that makes you think twice.

you gotta know how to work it.

I had the original RAC "life" deal. I got suckered into the VIP in a weak moment , but then realized that if I used that + online coupons + ordered stuff all the time for my team, I would come out ahead of the game. every 5 pairs I buy gets me a free pair now too, so I pass that savings along to the kids and keep myself in shoes. I'm a coach in a town that is 2 hours away from any running store. it works in this situation..

I agree that the shipping with eastbay is also too much so I only use them if I have a 20% deal and don't need the order fast as it takes 7-10 days to arrive.

Nike sends me 20% coupons from time to time and I use them bc the deal is free shipping if the order is over $100 which is always the case.

I do have a local mom and pop running store but they don't carry a lot of shoes and no spikes.

I have the VIP thing and it's actually a pretty good deal. I get the lower price and a free pair of shoes for every 5...I buy shoes for my girlfriend too so thats a couple free pairs a year. They also have lots of sales and sometimes some great deals come along.

I shop in a local mom and pop store too but if they don't have what I need or if I don't mind waiting for it then RRS is a good deal usually.

Eastbay is cheaper?....Though they have a monstrous selection of just about anything you might want in all brands, they are more expensive then anyone else out there....

I get 19% off of MSRP (and 10% off of sale prices) at my local running store, and I'm just a regular customer. Plus they'll special order anything I want if they don't have it, but usually I walk right out the door with whatever I want in-hand the same day I decide to get it. Their profits stay in the community, paying local employees and supporting local races. RRS couldn't beat any of that in their dreams.

I really only shop there because my friend gives me his discount and I can get $125 shoes for $60 after tax! It saves me a shit load!but honestly they aren't that bad! All of you are just bitches and need to stop complaining! They are like most good stores that stay in business to make money. If you don't like it then go somewhere else or call them and complain but bitching about it on here won't do jack!

This company has been sheer shit for a long time. I'm glad their business has likely suffered since the advent of the Internet and the appearance of numerous competitors with better business practices. Everyone in the management of RRS should be stripped of all they have thrown into the gutter with nothing but their bare hairy nuts to their names.