How do we feel about Running Warehouse?

theJeff wrote:

They have top notch customer service, tax free, free shipping, good prices, and bulk discounts for teams.

Is the only negative that they hurt local running stores? Or is there a history I am not aware of? It seems like a group of folks really dislike the company...

I second this. Running Whorehouse is the #1 address for high-quality, affordable beatiful russian escorts. And yes, their bulk discounts for teams are amazing!

I'm a fanboi. It's harder to get as deep of discounts as were available when they first open and you no longer get free bags or water bottles, but they're still a great place to research shoes, will almost always be cheaper than a local running store, and often be online competitors with their pricing. I've done enough business with them to relate to them better than any running stores in my region. They've also donated to a friend's charity, which is pretty impressive for an online running store from across the country.

LOVE IT!

Shoebacca wrote:

I'm a fanboi. It's harder to get as deep of discounts as were available when they first open and you no longer get free bags or water bottles, but they're still a great place to research shoes, will almost always be cheaper than a local running store, and often be online competitors with their pricing. I've done enough business with them to relate to them better than any running stores in my region. They've also donated to a friend's charity, which is pretty impressive for an online running store from across the country.

+1 -- That's cool about the charity

I used to work at a running store. I had no problem with people buying discount shoes elsewhere if they knew what they wanted. I HATED people who would come in for advice, jot down my recommendations, then buy the shoes elsewhere. That's dirty. The markup you pay at the store is for the expertise, and it's well worth it.

When I know what I want, I use Running Warehouse or Amazon or Ebay. When I need help finding something in particular, I'll go to the local store and pay full price.

I know a good number of people that will buy any non-shoe (ie shoes, socks) related product from their local running store and not RW....Wonder what the profit is for gels and body glide/lube for the local running store though.

Nicely put.

And I also love RW. Unfortunately, we no longer have a local store in my town. Perhaps that is in part due to RW and other online options. When we did have a store, I liked to buy some of my shoes there, but I got most from RW to save money, and also the local store didn't carry everything I wanted.

I wish we had another store that I could patronize sometimes, but the closest one is maybe 20 miles away, and they don't carry the brands I run in most.

For me, I think of it like drinking beer. Most of the time I drink beer at home (like buying shoes from RW), but sometimes I like to go out and have a beer at a local bar (like getting shoes from my local running store). Going out does cost more per item, but the experience makes it fun and worth it. No way I could do that all the time, though.

Best shoe website ever

Great store, particularly if you know what you want. Purposely avoid most running stores so I don’t have to deal with socially awkward runner sales people who think their 15:30 D3 5k PR makes them an expert on my shoe needs.

Dong Johnson wrote:

Great store, particularly if you know what you want. Purposely avoid most running stores so I don’t have to deal with socially awkward runner sales people who think their 15:30 D3 5k PR makes them an expert on my shoe needs.

It's even worse when it's a 15:30 D1 5k PR.

another satisfied customer wrote:

theJeff wrote:

They have top notch customer service, tax free, free shipping, good prices, and bulk discounts for teams.

Is the only negative that they hurt local running stores? Or is there a history I am not aware of? It seems like a group of folks really dislike the company...

I second this. Running Whorehouse is the #1 address for high-quality, affordable beatiful russian escorts. And yes, their bulk discounts for teams are amazing!

They screwed me good.

At this point, I know what shoe I wear and what I am looking for in a shoe. So RW is my go-to.

But for a lot of beginners or new runners I meet, I recommend giving the local store (Fleet Feet in NY) a visit to get set up. Make sure they are going in the right direction with their footwear.

They just got a bunch of new LT 3s in stock and put them on clearance ($60). I guess this is in prep for the LT 4s. With a FB15D coupon code (15% off), it came to 50.90, no tax, no shipping.

So I feel flipping fantastic about RW

All three of my current rotation of shoes came from Runners Warehouse. All SEVEN of my shoes-in-waiting (the ones waiting to replace those in my current rotation) came from Runners Warehouse. You can't beat free shipping and a 15% off coupon code on already marked-down shoes. Of late, it seems that there are fewer fantastic deals, like 30% off on average sizes 10 or 11 of really popular shoes, and there are a lot more fantastic deals where you click on the particular shoe only to find that it's 50% off, but only for a men's size 6.5, or 40% off, but only in blaze orange or yellow. I think that's only because RW has gotten much more popular so they don't depend as much on amazing deals for exposure as they used to. I do find that the buyers' reviews are very helpful, and RW has an easy return/replace policy for unsatisfied customers, even when the shoes have been used for a few miles. Other sites like Jackrabbit are also good, but in my experience no one beats RW.

Great customer service, especially with returns. I can never find lower prices.

Returned a pair of Pegasus 33s with a defective outsole 10 days past the 90 day window with no problem.

If they do not have the lowest price they will match the price of any like retailer. Courteous, professional employees in my experiences.

Is the only negative that they hurt local running stores? Or is there a history I am not aware of? It seems like a group of folks really dislike the company...

Who are the people who seem to dislike the company? How and where do they express their dislike?

El Cheapo wrote:

Is the only negative that they hurt local running stores? Or is there a history I am not aware of? It seems like a group of folks really dislike the company...

Who are the people who seem to dislike the company? How and where do they express their dislike?

Yes, they hurt the local stores. I believe this is 99% of the dislike. Can't blame them....

The worst part is when the major brands dump off inventory to RW for cheap. That really screws the local stores. Can't compete with lower inventory costs, and they all do it.

That's true about the "inventory dump." Also, I NEVER buy the latest model because last year's model is almost always just as good, and in many cases the shoe companies make changes to great shoes when they should have left well enough alone--example, Adidas totally screwed up by turning the perfect Supernova Glide 6 through 8 into the still good but not AS good new Supernova. So when the big companies do an inventory dump to RW, those of us who know what we like just scoop up those shoes at RW's great prices.

And when it comes to the local "brick and mortar" or mall stores, it's not just their higher prices that turn people off. Where I live, we have a TEN PERCENT sales tax on top of that, which doesn't even take into account the gas and time it takes to shop in town. I almost never buy anything but food locally because if I can just wait a day or a few days, the internet beats the crap out of any purchase I can make at a local store. So I'm a big Amazon Prime buyer, and I get all my running shoes at RW.

Shawn H wrote:

And when it comes to the local "brick and mortar" or mall stores, it's not just their higher prices that turn people off. Where I live, we have a TEN PERCENT sales tax on top of that, which doesn't even take into account the gas and time it takes to shop in town. I almost never buy anything but food locally because if I can just wait a day or a few days, the internet beats the crap out of any purchase I can make at a local store. So I'm a big Amazon Prime buyer, and I get all my running shoes at RW.

You don't get hit with sales tax through Amazon? I thought every state paid taxes for Amazon now. RW is still tax free :)

for now

You're right--the government will get your money sooner or later. But there are still sites like RW where you don't pay tax or shipping, and Amazon, where Prime members don't pay standard shipping costs. All good things come to an end, especially when government sticks its dirty paws in.