How do we feel about Running Warehouse?

They're fine as long as you consider the cost of buying from them over a local competitor. So if 50% of runners (or shoppers) stopped buying from non-local stores, about 50% of those stores will likely close. If you're okay with participating in that, then it's fine.

Things are going to get really interesting in the economy really soon as the Amazon takeover continues.

I can buy Zoom Fly for $127 and Vaporfly 4% for $212 on their site. Nuff said......

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!

wait do the escorts run?

I use Running Warehouse to experiment with new brands or shoes that I would like to try at their hefty discounts, Iike running flats or brands like Inov-8. For my bread and butter shoes, they usually are full price and it doesn't matter too much where I get them.

I like to stop in at my local running store for clothing and accessories and what not, because at least I can try stuff on and see if it fits rather than going through some prolonged return and exchange game with an online retailer. The problem with shoes at my local running stores is I go in there and they either don't have my size or they don't have the particular type of shoes that are looking for. Like most of the running industry, they are making their money off casual joggers, not shoes like lightweight trainers and 5-6 oz racing flats for people looking to run fast. It's a disappointing experience.

Ya. I would feel worse about using RW if my local shop stocked more 14s :-/

I get about half there, half from Holabird. Nobody else likes them?

Wow, that's rough. I have trouble with getting size 11, for god's sake. 11. It's like one of the most common sizes.

HMArunner wrote:

I can buy Zoom Fly for $127 and Vaporfly 4% for $212 on their site. Nuff said......

No you can't.

Oh please. Free market economy. If running stores didn't annoy the heck out of you pushing joining their VIP club, doing a form analysis, full MSRP all the time, I'd understand.

RW is the best. I get the shoes I want, no hassle. At a great price.

El Cheapo wrote:

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.

Interesting, I buy all of my shoes at DSW because the brands seem to dump their shoes there once a new style or model comes out. The brands also seem to have the old styles on sale on their own websites ( sometimes before the new model comes out). So why is this a Running Warehouse problem? Is it not a problem with the running brands themselves?

Of course it's a problem with the brands -- nobody said otherwise.

It's common for the brands to mistreat the local stores like this. I remember the Brooks Adrenaline (current model) showed up at a Dick's Sporting Goods for about 40% off MSRP. Apparently the big box store got special pricing. Things like that really get under the skin of the local running store owners.

Last few years I have purchased close to 100% of my shoes, my wife's, shoes from RunningWarehouse.com. Just amazingly simple with the best offering around. Great business.

The local thing doesn't bother me because this is Joe Rubio's company. He's a runner, coach, author of this wonderful middle distance training guide:

http://img.runningwarehouse.com/pdf/middle_distance_guide.pdf

He used to post here, and I also used to solicit training advice from him when the Running Warehouse site had a training forum. So in a way I feel like I know him and he's one of us. It's not a faceless corporation.

Actually I see they still have a training corner with some of Joe's articles:

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/LearningCenter/coach.html

But I think the forum is gone. It was great while it lasted, he was take the time to answer everyone's individual questions.

RW superfan wrote:

Oh please. Free market economy. If running stores didn't annoy the heck out of you pushing joining their VIP club, doing a form analysis, full MSRP all the time, I'd understand.

RW is the best. I get the shoes I want, no hassle. At a great price.

Yea, annoying running stores practices actually cause me to not go there. I just want to try on some shoes and clothes and get out the door. I already know about my form and what kind of shoes work for me. I would be interested in their VIP program if it gave me a discount and I had a pamphlet to review about the benefits rather than listen to their little speech at the checkout counter.

Bottom line, running stores, like the rest of traditional retail, will have to change their practices if they want to survive.

I love RW, and almost exclusively get my shoes there. I once prized local running shoes, but they just don't have the selection RW does, nor can I easily get info on the shoe options like I can online.

Plus, local running stores don't always have staff that know what they are talking about, negating one of their supposed advantages.

So, great selection, great customer service, good prices, apparently run by knowledgeable runners- what isn't to like about RW?

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...

In my experience local running stores are to be avoided at all costs so there really is no downside.

I feel the same way. I gave up buying running shoes from my local running store, for two reasons: (1) They never have my size and (2) When they order my shoes, it usually takes like 4-5 weeks to get the shoes in (I think it's because they don't process individual orders as they come in. Instead they wait until the end of the month or wait until they have a certain number of orders. Maybe it saves on shipping cost or maybe they get discounts whey they buy in bulk. ) So I usually just purchase gels and antichafe balm at my local running store.

runhills wrote:

So I usually just purchase gels and antichafe balm at my local running store.

1) Honey packets from KFC

2) Vaseline

Now you never have to go there again.

IMHO, the issue with local running stores is two-sided.

One side, MSRP on shoes has gone up a lot over the last decade. We're not longer talking about a $90-100 purchase. Most shoes are retailing for $110-130 these days (or more). The higher prices have forced consumer's hands to look elsewhere for better deals or coupons. Heck, even 10% off and no tax can save you $25 on a pair of shoes these days. Clothing is even worse. I went to my local running store (with a gift card in hand) to buy a pair of shorts. The cheapest ones in the store were $45. Meanwhile, I can find a number of $20-30 shorts on RW.

The other side is the running store side. I used to go frequently to spend gift cards I'd win at local races from either age group or overall awards. These days, a lot of the local stores started cheaping out and instead of giving you a gift card, you get a certificate that expires in 30 days that's good for say $15 off a "full priced" purchase. Of course, as noted above, $15 off of a $45 pair of shorts is still more expensive than what I can get every day at RW. At the same time, sales are almost non-existent.