Running stores and HORRIBLE experiences

What's a running store? Seriously, there is no reason to waste time in such a store these days. I was never a fan of them to begin with and am very happy that I can avoid them in this Internet age.

I had a bad experience with a running store, they got mad at me because I ran aggressively on the track at their running team meetings. And then the co-owner got all pissed off because I criticized people who ran Boston as charity runners. Her mother was a first time marathon runner and a Boston charity runner and she should not be criticized the co-owner sniffed.

I stopped going to that running store as well as all other running stores. I know what shoe I need and I get it on Amazon for 50 to 60% less.

I definitely agree. I guess I am still in the "trying on shoes" phase as a necessity as my running form makes some models fit weird. But In the future I am certainly going to lean towards direct online ordering. Running stores seem very uninterested in helping committed runners in my recent experience. I'm not sure if this is a result of dropping business in the industry or what, but I never remember having such few options and such awful service back in my HS days.

Most running stores carry only high priced gear. Sorry, but most people aren't looking to buy $50 shorts and a $70 shirt to run in.

I'm not for or against running stores. I think they serve a purpose for people who don't know anything about running shoes, and/or are new in the sport of running.

However, their prices are over the top. I get that they have to make a profit in order to maintain their business, but increasing prices by an extra 20 to 40.00 is going overboard. Also, the majority of the people that work in running shoe stores aren't dedicated runners. They are more like casual runners, or they don't run at all, and are there to provide customer service.

Moreover, they focus on the casual runner, and they mostly carry overly cushioned, high heel drop running shoes..... They tend to get intimated or agitated by serious runners, who know a lot about running shoes. A girl at a New Balance store once told me that the Zante was a stability shoe - no lie!

The positive thing about a running shoe store is that you can try on a pair of shoes to see if they work.... If I'm interested in a running shoe that's online, and there is a running shoe store in my area that carries it, I'll go in to try it out before purchasing the shoe online. Now, there are people who feel that doing that is a negative to the running shoe store, because the store does not get the sell, which could lead to the store going out of business if every customer were to do that. Well, I call bologna on that. If I can get a 125.00 shoe online for 89.00, with no tax and free 2 day shipping from Running Warehouse ,then that is where I am going to go. It's simple math.

However, If the price difference is only 5 or 10.00, or there is no price difference at all, then I'll go ahead and buy it from the running shoe store. That way, I don't have to wait for shipping.

TheTruthBomb wrote:

Most running stores carry only high priced gear. Sorry, but most people aren't looking to buy $50 shorts and a $70 shirt to run in.

Assuming you're right, this eTailer likely won't be around too much longer:

Look forward to local bike shops and running retailers going bankrupt and dying in poverty within my lifetime

ignorance is bliss. Map Policy exists so that any retailer cannot mark up or markdown skus for their own convenience. Retailer price their product at BASELINE RETAIL OR MSRP. RETAILERS DO NOT MARK UP. Retailers cannot markdown whenever they want either. So a running store cannot sell a brand new shoe for a discounted rate. If they do, their account could be terminated.

oooooh boy wrote:

Retailer price their product at BASELINE RETAIL OR MSRP. RETAILERS DO NOT MARK UP. Retailers cannot markdown whenever they want either. So a running store cannot sell a brand new shoe for a discounted rate. If they do, their account could be terminated.

Hmmm, I worked for many years at a group of small general retail stores that my father owned. We could price anything at whatever price we wanted. Maybe it's different now, but we sold Nike shoes and clothes and MSRP didn't mean anything to us. Of course being a discount store our prices were almost always below MSRP, but no one was stopping us from pricing it higher.

oooooh boy wrote:

ignorance is bliss. Map Policy exists so that any retailer cannot mark up or markdown skus for their own convenience. Retailer price their product at BASELINE RETAIL OR MSRP. RETAILERS DO NOT MARK UP. Retailers cannot markdown whenever they want either. So a running store cannot sell a brand new shoe for a discounted rate. If they do, their account could be terminated.

MAP policy is a joke. That is only for advertising purposes. Retailers can do whatever they want in store. Come to the Twin Cities and find out.

Whiite Trash wrote:

What's a running store? Seriously, there is no reason to waste time in such a store these days. I was never a fan of them to begin with and am very happy that I can avoid them in this Internet age.

I'm with you. Thank God for the internet. I don't need some foot jockey to tell me what shoe feels good.

Geez, you guys have had some bad experiences. I have a local running shop near me. I do purchase shoes from them, but not all my shoes. I also order my shoes from RunningWarehouse and Amazon. One poster made the comment of trying them on. I agree, with the with the shoe companies consistently reinventing the same model every year it's hard to tell how it will fit in the next generation line up. I probably spend 50/50 between online and in store. Luckily for me my running store has always been great service and experience.

Manwithalargedong wrote:

oooooh boy wrote:

ignorance is bliss. Map Policy exists so that any retailer cannot mark up or markdown skus for their own convenience. Retailer price their product at BASELINE RETAIL OR MSRP. RETAILERS DO NOT MARK UP. Retailers cannot markdown whenever they want either. So a running store cannot sell a brand new shoe for a discounted rate. If they do, their account could be terminated.

MAP policy is a joke. That is only for advertising purposes. Retailers can do whatever they want in store. Come to the Twin Cities and find out.

Right on. TCRC always marks down shoe prices $5-10 below MSRP.

If you're going to go to a store just try shoes without intent to buy, at least buy some sports beans or clif blocks or something. Give the store a couple bucks.

I do agree though, after having worked running store retail myself, that a lot of people working do not know shoe properties or biomechanics very well. Eye ball test for pronation- stability or cushion, bring out many options, know a few things to talk about with the shoe, and that's it. IF that.

I agree that if you're an experienced runner and you know what works for you, there's no reason to go into a running store and pay way more than you need to. I buy 90% of my stuff online. However, from time to time I do want to just try on a bunch of different shoes, and to do that I drive an hour to my nearest reasonable approximation to a running store. If I do find something I like, I do NOT then go off and order it online for 30% less. That is not fair to the brick-and-mortar shoe store, which has greater overhead than the internet-only place. After once buying a shoe from the store, however, I may go off and buy my next half-dozen pairs online.

I have rarely found people who work at running stores to know much. The running store is just a place where you can try on lots of stuff quickly.

For my daily trainers I find something that works and stick with it. I've tried to give my local shop some business but they never seem to have my size. The staff (a 20 year old) will try to steer me to some other brand or special order. I end up telling them that after 40 years of running/buying shoes my feet know what's up, and end up going online and saving money too.

As to not having my size, I spent some time in retail and it seemed the buyers would get a full size run but not go deeper with the most sought after sizes, as my local shop seems to do as well.

You guys don't understand how run specialty works... Run specialty doesn't care about you, the fast runner. People who can run a BQ or faster don't spend money in stores. Fast and high volume runners either

A. Get there stuff for free.

B. know what they need and can find the old model on line

C. Know some one in the industry to buy it for them at 60% less.

Run specialty is for new and casual runners who need the piece of mind to be in the right shoe. They are also for the stay at home wife who has a household income of 150k+ where they have no problem buying a $150 shoe, $50 insole, 3 $12 dollar socks and $400 in apparel that gets excited because she will earn points on her disney credit card.

Selling racing flats is the quickest way to lose money. Running shoes have TERRIBLE margin any way. Most shoes are bought by the store at 50% and half of what you order you have to mark down 20% of 9 months so you only make 30%... Oh and you pay 10% shipping so now you only made 20% on that shoe.

Running stores are about selling the rest of the store. Shoes are just the bait. Everyone needs shoes, but everyone wants to coolest looking shit or race belt or sweaty band or compression socks. Shit that most fast runners never even thought about buying.

You have probably had bad experience in running stores because you are a cocky a hole who thinks they know more about running and running shoes then the employee working there. And you might, but I am sure you let them know it. When I worked in a running store, fast D-bags would come in a say they new what they needed and would spew shit about the heel drop and the stability pieces and they would be dead wrong. Then argue with you.

Had a guy say he needed the Brooks Adrenaline, so I got it for him. He talked about running a 2:40 marathon. As he left he said "I don't get why you guys sell stability shoes, I have read studies that they are bad for you body." Even fast runners don't know shit.

I am that dreaded half size that is entirely rare. Some non-running shoe lines dont even make my size. They instead skip from 12 to 13.

Worst experience ever was at Performance Running Outfitters in metropolitan Milwaukee. I go in there having worked at running stores for 6 years as a HSer and college athlete. I ran upward of 100 miles per week in my prime. I know my shoes quite well. I was a walking-talking encyclopedia of them about 10 years ago.

The kid helping me kept pushing to get me to try on Saucony or pressure me into a pre-paid special order.

I will never go to Performance Running Outfitters again. It is too chain like and the hobbyists behind the counter didnt make me feel confident about their motives.

Movin Shoes

Rodiez's

Or online.

Almostbq wrote:

I had a bad experience with a running store, they got mad at me because I ran aggressively on the track at their running team meetings. And then the co-owner got all pissed off because I criticized people who ran Boston as charity runners. Her mother was a first time marathon runner and a Boston charity runner and she should not be criticized the co-owner sniffed.

This is my experience with most running stores. Running stores still exist because their sole purpose now is to be a running clique.

If you do anything to upset the clique, then you get the wrath of the store. Owners are usually wealthy petty people who start up a store just to fill their void to be part of a clique. That's the only reason that these sad places still exist.

For some reason I'm looking for hand sanitizer after reading this...