PLEASE DISCUSS. I was labeled a Return Policy Abuser at a running shoe store because I had 4 or 5 returns.

I just really think its messed up though: You find a running shoe that works. It gets discontinued, and now you're in a hard place trying find a running shoe that works. You're back at the drawing board and have to go through the entire process again, and now there is added pressure because you just can't simple return a shoe if it does not work.

Running shoes were lot easier back in the day. They were mainly eva foam with rubber soles, and didn't have a lot going on ,and they stayed in production for a long time. Now running shoes only get a 1 year run before a new model comes out, or they get discontinued after one year.

- Brooks Pure GRit

- New Balance Vazee 2 breathe

Those are the only shoes that have worked for me through and through, and I have owned about 10 pairs of each shoe. No lie. However, both are discontinued.

I'm now running in the Nike Zoom elite 9, which were causing knee problems when I first tried them. I went back to them, and so far they are okay. That's another thing sometimes runners go back to shoes that didn't work when they first tried them, but worked the second or third time around, or the shoe company changed the design or stack height to make them better.

And at the risk of stereotyping here, I can't help but to think this has something to do with you being a treadmill runner. Am I right?

I sympathize, Scorpion. Maybe you should try Running Warehouse, which has a very liberal return policy. If you find shoes that work for you, you can always go back to your local store for the next pair.

I’m sorry this is such a shock to you. It sounds like you were taking advantage of the store policy, but that their response was more ardent and scarier than you’d anticipated. Hopefully you can explain to them you weren’t intending to abuse their policy, and they’ll let you keep buying their shoes and supporting their local business.

You are awful.

That number is ridiculous.

I can understand 1, maybe 2 over a year or two.

I worked at a local running store and we had a few abusers that were never happy with their shoes. Maybe if they 20 lbs of fat there knees wouldn't hurt. Shoes can only do so much with a 5ft 7in. 165lb. woman.

seattle prattle wrote:

And at the risk of stereotyping here, I can't help but to think this has something to do with you being a treadmill runner. Am I right?

No. I'm a pure road runner, but I run on the treadmill twice a week just to endure a softer surface and just to get my mileage in. But I usually try out running shoes on the treadmill or track to not put any wear on the soles.

If the shoe works for me on those surfaces, then I know they will work on the road, and that is usually the case.

Yeah, you’re a bum. It’s just a scummy thing you’ve been doing, and they rightly called you out. Sorry, bud.

Scorpion_runner wrote:

I have kept 2 out of maybe 6 or 7 purchases.

I am afraid I have to agree with the majority on this, that is a lot of returns. If I was the store owner I would certainly feel you were abusing my goodwill.

Texerine wrote:

I sympathize, Scorpion. Maybe you should try Running Warehouse, which has a very liberal return policy. If you find shoes that work for you, you can always go back to your local store for the next pair.

Yes, I already shop with them and I have brought several items. Most things I have kept. They run a great business.

But I do like to give business to stores in my city or town.

The store probably thinks you are buying shoes from them so you get them right away and then buying them for less online and returning those.

Scorpion_runner wrote:

seattle prattle wrote:

And at the risk of stereotyping here, I can't help but to think this has something to do with you being a treadmill runner. Am I right?

No. I'm a pure road runner, but I run on the treadmill twice a week just to endure a softer surface and just to get my mileage in. But I usually try out running shoes on the treadmill or track to not put any wear on the soles.

If the shoe works for me on those surfaces, then I know they will work on the road, and that is usually the case.

so you think the treadmill is your personal testing lab for other returnable shoes? How about the other members who want to use the treadmill because of legitimate reasons like allergies or fear of the outdoors/predators/dogs/ meteors? I bet you have a pile of boxes of unopened shoes sitting next to the treadmill ready to try out.

What is the sport coming to?!

the real reason wrote:

The store probably thinks you are buying shoes from them so you get them right away and then buying them for less online and returning those.

Yes. I was thinking just that.... Actually, my goal was to give them business.

Their corporate office is going to give me a call so that we can discuss the matter. Not only have I purchased items at their store, but I have raced in several races that the store has sponsored or presented.

Use some common sense!

If you purchase, then return over 70% of your items USED (yes, they are used - would you accept shoes worn on someone else’s fungal infested gollum feet for 5-10 miles as brand new??) and expect a full refund - How do you expect them to profit?

Do you think they’re running charity to fund your personal training needs.

Seriously, some ppl...

Returning more shoes than you actually bought is a little ridiculous. That's the point of going to a running store, you don't have to hassle with buying a bunch of different shoes and sizes and can try them on at the store.

Hi Scorpion Runner,

I feel your pain - its really hard to find new shoes that work for you after a favorite gets discontinued. Have any of your knee/back issues sorted themselves out after you keep wearing a shoe - ie might they be your body adjusting to the new shoe?

I do have to agree that returning 5/7 shoes is a lot. I don't know that the response of the store is completely justified though, perhaps the manager could have had a discussion with you about their expectations first. Good luck sorting everything out!

Sorry man but your return rate is ridiculous. You are returning USED shoes, lets not forget that.

Over the past couple years I’ve purchased 9 pairs from RunningWarehouse and returned 1. That is a somewhat more appropriate ratio you should be aiming for.

I returned a pair of running shoes for the first time last summer directly to ASICs. They were a pair of Gel Cumulus, size 15 4E. They were at least 2-3 years old. I had never worn them. I no longer had the receipt. When I find a good online deal for shoes that fit my feet I usually buy 3-4 pair at once. This pair had been in the closet. I never had problems before so I didn't bother to try on every pair when I received the set.

With my monstrous feet I have to take any shoes that fit. I don't have the luxury of buying several styles and worrying about whether my back hurts from them. If there is room for my feet and toes then I'm good to go.

When I first put them on something just didn't feel right on the left foot. I took the shoe off and noticed that while the upper was fine, the sole was actually 2 or 3 sizes too small. The sole was literally squeezed into the upper. The sole was forced to be concave. Side by side with it's mate I could see that it was too short. Not remembering where I bought the shoes from I contacted ASICs customer service. I sent them some photos, they asked me to send the shoes back and they sent a new pair to replace them.

If you have only bought 2 pairs of shoes, and you've returned 5 used pairs then I can understand the store not wanting your business. You aren't profitable. The only color that a store is interested in is green as in cold hard cash. Most brick and mortar running shoe stores are barely surviving, and a lot of them have closed in the past few years.

Although none of us wants to buy shoes with that many miles (and sweat etc), the problem is the store is trying to have it both ways. They want to act like there is no risk to the buyer but then complain if you take advantage of the policy. If the policy was a 40% discount if you buy on Tuesdays we would all think it was crazy if the store flagged you for buying all your shoes on Tuesday. The store should change their policy/promotion or live by it.

Of course if the policy is abused, the store will change it or go out of business.

Here's my take. I agree with you that online running shoes stores should let you return the shoes. Especially for running shoes that you have to try on to see if it's good or not. Why would they have on their return policy that you're allowed to return them within 30 days then? So, for that, I think you are allowed to return them for having that policy. Personally, I return a lot of shoes that I buy, but I also buy a lot too, so I haven't been banned from an online store.

Also, I agree with others that since you have ran in the shoes for 5-10 miles, shoes are not brand new. So, please stop saying that as it's not brand new and the stores can probably tell that they've been worn and cannot resell them.

If you're having issues with online stores not accepting your returns, I'd try other sites, or go to an actual running store. Most running stores will let you run in them, but you're expected to at least buy one pair unless you didn't like any of the shoes that you tried.

One thing I hate about buying from stores is that with some pairs, it has obviously been worn by others as you can tell the bottoms are dirty as well as soon as someone else starts wearing the shoes, the insole gets molded to that person's feet, so I personally don't like to buy from running stores and buy from online stores which are actually brand new.