Unhappy Small-Store Experience

Run Run Away » running apparel » Unhappy Small-Store Experience

Categories: running apparel

Question:

I’m trying to support the small local running store. I went there today to buy new shoes (replacing the stolen ones!) – knowing exactly what I wanted – but none of the shoes had any prices marked on them. The clerk asked her co-worker, "How much are these? $85? $90? I think they’re $90." Clerk didn’t know. Person in shoe department didn’t know. So she just rings them up at $90 (would be $97 with tax). Since they were also a color I didn’t really want, I said, um, no thanks. Just ordered them online (in the color I wanted) from RoadRunner Sports for $68 with tax and shipping (on sale; MSRP was $85, BTW). (Also the clerk was licking Doritos cheese off her fingers as she was lacing up the shoes – yuck!) I dunno. I’d like to support the small store, but if they’re just going to pull numbers out of the air, I think I’ll stick with bigger companies.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m trying to support the small local running store. I went there today to buy new shoes (replacing the stolen ones!) – knowing exactly what I wanted – but none of the shoes had any prices marked on them. The clerk asked her co-worker, "How much are these? $85? $90? I think they’re $90." Clerk didn’t know. Person in shoe department didn’t know. So she just rings them up at $90 (would be $97 with tax). Since they were also a color I didn’t really want, I said, um, no thanks. Just ordered them online (in the color I wanted) from RoadRunner Sports for $68 with tax and shipping (on sale; MSRP was $85, BTW). (Also the clerk was licking Doritos cheese off her fingers as she was lacing up the shoes – yuck!) I dunno. I’d like to support the small store, but if they’re just going to pull numbers out of the air, I think I’ll stick with bigger companies.

Wow. That’s horrible. Rest assured they won’t be open long with service like that. Ruger9

Response:

That gives the rest of us small local running stores who are trying very diligently to provide the best of service a bad name. There’s no excuse for that. Randy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m trying to support the small local running store. I went there today to buy new shoes (replacing the stolen ones!) – knowing exactly what I wanted – but none of the shoes had any prices marked on them. The clerk asked her co-worker, "How much are these? $85? $90? I think they’re $90." Clerk didn’t know. Person in shoe department didn’t know. So she just rings them up at $90 (would be $97 with tax). Since they were also a color I didn’t really want, I said, um, no thanks. Just ordered them online (in the color I wanted) from RoadRunner Sports for $68 with tax and shipping (on sale; MSRP was $85, BTW). (Also the clerk was licking Doritos cheese off her fingers as she was lacing up the shoes – yuck!) I dunno. I’d like to support the small store, but if they’re just going to pull numbers out of the air, I think I’ll stick with bigger companies.

Response:

troll Bill R.

Response:

Wow. That’s horrible. Rest assured they won’t be open long with service like that.

HA! The fat people who walk fast will flock to that store once it gets out they’re giving away cheese flavored shoe laces with each pair of Nikes. Bill R.

Response:

That gives the rest of us small local running stores who are trying very diligently to provide the best of service a bad name. There’s no excuse for that.

Actually we plan on serving warm Velveeta on our shoe laces, so I think we’ll beat them just on flavor alone. Sorry for the ID switch, this is fun! Handy-Randy (future Al Bundy)

Response:

I think in smaller rural areas that is more the norm than the exception. I would suspect in larger cities you can find serious running supply stores, of course I’m sure the duds are still there too. Check with the clerk in the sporting goods section at Wal-Mart, duh, yeah this here is a good running shoe, comes with laces and everything.

Response:

Go ahead. Keep ordering your goods online, and before long, you’ll have to order everything that way. But don’t worry, I’m sure that ordering milk, toilet paper, and cigarettes, won’t be too big of a hassle…….as long as you order 2-3 weeks before you run out. And make sure you report all your online purchases on your income tax returns. Your state is going to want their sales tax…….and I’m sure that a fine, upstanding, jogger such as yourself, wouldn’t try to cheat your state out of tax revenue that was due them. Would you? After all, your state needs to use this revenue to try to convince it’s small business owners to stay in business, in spite of internet sales, and Walmart trying to kill them. Enjoy those shoes.

Response:

Sounds like they are trying to go out of business. No price tags are a pet peeve of mine. A sales person who does not know prices should be taught a lesson by the store owner. A sales person who asks another for a price in the middle of the store should be fired. Just ordered them online (in the color I wanted) from RoadRunner Sports for $68 with tax and shipping (on sale; MSRP was $85, BTW). (Also the clerk was licking Doritos cheese off her fingers as she was lacing up the shoes – yuck!) I dunno. I’d like to support the small store, but if they’re just going to pull numbers out of the air, I think I’ll stick with bigger companies.

It is always best to comparison shop so you know if a price os good or not. You were right to decline the sale and order from where you could get them cheaper. "An educated consumer is our best customer." -Sy Symms Andy

Response:

Maybe talk to the manager or owner rather than here since none of us can do anything about it. Bad experience.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m trying to support the small local running store. I went there today to buy new shoes (replacing the stolen ones!) – knowing exactly what I wanted – but none of the shoes had any prices marked on them. The clerk asked her co-worker, "How much are these? $85? $90? I think they’re $90." Clerk didn’t know. Person in shoe department didn’t know. So she just rings them up at $90 (would be $97 with tax). Since they were also a color I didn’t really want, I said, um, no thanks. Sounds like they are trying to go out of business. No price tags are a pet peeve of mine. A sales person who does not know prices should be taught a lesson by the store owner. A sales person who asks another for a price in the middle of the store should be fired.

Well, that seems extreme. Let me give you an example, at the store I worked at we were marking down prices and had moved some shoes to the sales bin. We took the price tags off since we were going to put new ones on. If someone had come in, the clerk should have asked. Also, price tags fall off. How do you expect the person to memorize. I knew the prices of the most popular items, but did not take the time to commit every shoe to memory (they change too often). Now, not having the prices on all the shoes is strange. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just ordered them online (in the color I wanted) from RoadRunner Sports for $68 with tax and shipping (on sale; MSRP was $85, BTW). (Also the clerk was licking Doritos cheese off her fingers as she was lacing up the shoes – yuck!) I dunno. I’d like to support the small store, but if they’re just going to pull numbers out of the air, I think I’ll stick with bigger companies. It is always best to comparison shop so you know if a price os good or not. You were right to decline the sale and order from where you could get them cheaper. "An educated consumer is our best customer." -Sy Symms Andy

Response:

I can understand someone not knowing the price but if they make no attempt to find out the correct information, then I walk. Talk to the owner. There is a major difference between someone who works a "job" and someone whos name is the business. If only a manager, store people act the way management allows. Probably reflects on bad management.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe talk to the manager or owner rather than here since none of us can do anything about it. Bad experience. I’m trying to support the small local running store. I went there today to buy new shoes (replacing the stolen ones!) – knowing exactly what I wanted – but none of the shoes had any prices marked on them. The clerk asked her co-worker, "How much are these? $85? $90? I think they’re $90." Clerk didn’t know. Person in shoe department didn’t know. So she just rings them up at $90 (would be $97 with tax). Since they were also a color I didn’t really want, I said, um, no thanks. Just ordered them online (in the color I wanted) from RoadRunner Sports for $68 with tax and shipping (on sale; MSRP was $85, BTW). (Also the clerk was licking Doritos cheese off her fingers as she was lacing up the shoes – yuck!) I dunno. I’d like to support the small store, but if they’re just going to pull numbers out of the air, I think I’ll stick with bigger companies.

Response:

It isn’t a matter of ordering on-line, its a matter of quality service. You give me quality service and I’ll buy from you, if you are incompetent then I won’t. One thing that I see in some places is you pay some kid minimum wage, well what do you expect. If you want to give quality service then you have to be there from opening to closing yourelf or hire competent people and pay them enough to motivate them and deliver a quality product at a competitive price. A big order but if you want to succeed you have to bite the bullet.

Response:

The consumer must be armed with information on a product before walking into any store. Obviously experienced runners are going to know a lot more about running shoes then the high school children working in these places. My local mall has five athletic stores all selling running shoes. It usually takes me a good part of an afternoon to walk from one end of the mall to the other comparing prices and availability. What is great is that these stores are competing and we are getting outstanding discounts here in central Massachusetts.

Response:

"Sam" wrote … Maybe talk to the manager or owner rather than here since none of us can do anything about it.

That may not help. The last time (and I mean very last, as in "I’ll never be back") I was in one of the local running shops, three staffers and the owner were in the store, and I was still virtually ignored. Worse than that, I was the only customer in the store at the time! I now buy my running shoes from a small independent family run shoe store and although they are not a specialty running shoe store, I get far more shoe selection assistance from the staffers (and even the owner) than I EVER did in any of the local "running stores". I buy all my ‘running’ apparel from a local bike shop, and the owner of that shop has to order most of it in as a special order since he doesn’t stock much apparel, yet I still pay considerably less than the "running store" equivalents (plus I can use them for riding as well). Regards, Perdy… still looking for a decent running store in London, Ontario.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Sam" wrote … Maybe talk to the manager or owner rather than here since none of us can do anything about it. That may not help. The last time (and I mean very last, as in "I’ll never be back") I was in one of the local running shops, three staffers and the owner were in the store, and I was still virtually ignored. Worse than that, I was the only customer in the store at the time! I now buy my running shoes from a small independent family run shoe store and although they are not a specialty running shoe store, I get far more shoe selection assistance from the staffers (and even the owner) than I EVER did in any of the local "running stores". I buy all my ‘running’ apparel from a local bike shop, and the owner of that shop has to order most of it in as a special order since he doesn’t stock much apparel, yet I still pay considerably less than the "running store" equivalents (plus I can use them for riding as well).

Based on the first paragraph, I would say you did the right thing. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Regards, Perdy… still looking for a decent running store in London, Ontario.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No price tags are a pet peeve of mine. A sales person who does not know prices should be taught a lesson by the store owner. A sales person who asks another for a price in the middle of the store should be fired. Well, that seems extreme. Let me give you an example, at the store I worked at we were marking down prices and had moved some shoes to the sales bin. We took the price tags off since we were going to put new ones on. If someone had come in, the clerk should have asked. Also, price tags fall off. How do you expect the person to memorize. I knew the prices of the most popular items, but did not take the time to commit every shoe to memory (they change too often). Now, not having the prices on all the shoes is strange.

OK good point about the sales bin thing. But would you yell across the sales floor to a fellow salesman "Are these $85 or $90?" To me that translates to "What do you think we should charge this guy?" and comes off to me as rude. Easiest solution make sure the prices are on the shoes on display. There has to be some time where the store isn’t that busy that the prices couldn’t be updated. Sales bin items are a different story. Andy

Response:

But would you yell across the sales floor to a fellow salesman "Are these $85 or $90?" To me that translates to "What do you think we should charge this guy?" and comes off to me as rude.

If it were my store, in a case like this, I would think the best option would be to give the customer the benefit of the doubt, and charge $85. At the local bike shop where I purchase my running gear, the owner automatically takes 25% off any MSRP. Perdy.

Response:

A small local running store with a shoe department? What other departments did it have? Ben

Response:

<<A small local running store with a shoe department? What other departments did it have? I use the term "department" loosely – should have said "floor area." They also carry clothing and accessories. It’s a small store located in a strip mall. <<But would you yell across the sales floor to a fellow salesman "Are these $85 or $90?" To me that translates to "What do you think we should charge this guy?" and comes off to me as rude. Exactly what I thought. And then to go ahead and ring up $90 when they obviously weren’t sure – seemed like they weren’t asking me how high I’d jump, but how far I’d bend over. :-p (When I bought that style before, they were $80 – so I did have some idea of what they should have cost – as I said RRS listed the current MSRP at $85.)

Response:

I use the term "department" loosely – should have said "floor area." They also carry clothing and accessories. It’s a small store located in a strip mall.

Do they have a BDS&M department? My new store will. We will cater to all fetishes, even people who wear Nikes, as strange as that maybe. Like farm animals? Visit our "farmland department" where we have tons of life sized blow-up dolls of all your favorite barnyard animals, and we will stock lower priced lines for the cheapskate in you, and the top-of-the-line models as well, like the sheep with a vibrating vagina and lips (batteries included), and with all the extras. Just think, while the wife and kids are in "sneakerland" (our exstensive shoe dept) you can be enjoying "Jeffrey Dahmer, the early years" on VHS in one of our "viewing" booths (fresh tissues added daily) or be frolicking with "Bessie the vinyl lovecow" in one of our private rooms, rented by the half hour of course! For the lonely, bored housewife on a solo shopping spree we have the "Ride ‘em hard buckin’ Bronco" bull ride. Of course we’ve ‘modified’ the saddle a bit by relocating the sadles horn to about midway in the seat for a females ultimate comfort while riding, plus she gets the remote to control her own speed. Now I ask any of you, have I thought of everything or what? How could this store POSSIBLY fail? Handy Randy who’ll give you candy. Randy

Response:

Where’s this going to be? I just had to cancel my vacation to Times Square, and I’m in the market for a new fun spot. Bill R.

Response:

Bill, You can poke all the fun you want and yes, sometimes you are pretty funny but please don’t sign my name to anything you post. Thank you. Randy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I use the term "department" loosely – should have said "floor area." They also carry clothing and accessories. It’s a small store located in a strip mall. Do they have a BDS&M department? My new store will. We will cater to all fetishes, even people who wear Nikes, as strange as that maybe. Like farm animals? Visit our "farmland department" where we have tons of life sized blow-up dolls of all your favorite barnyard animals, and we will stock lower priced lines for the cheapskate in you, and the top-of-the-line models as well, like the sheep with a vibrating vagina and lips (batteries included), and with all the extras. Just think, while the wife and kids are in "sneakerland" (our exstensive shoe dept) you can be enjoying "Jeffrey Dahmer, the early years" on VHS in one of our "viewing" booths (fresh tissues added daily) or be frolicking with "Bessie the vinyl lovecow" in one of our private rooms, rented by the half hour of course! For the lonely, bored housewife on a solo shopping spree we have the "Ride ‘em hard buckin’ Bronco" bull ride. Of course we’ve ‘modified’ the saddle a bit by relocating the sadles horn to about midway in the seat for a females ultimate comfort while riding, plus she gets the remote to control her own speed. Now I ask any of you, have I thought of everything or what? How could this store POSSIBLY fail? Handy Randy who’ll give you candy. Randy

Response:

Hey Randy, order to make them look bad is, at least, unethical, as he continues to prove day after day. They will respond.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bill, You can poke all the fun you want and yes, sometimes you are pretty funny but please don’t sign my name to anything you post. Thank you. Randy I use the term "department" loosely – should have said "floor area." They also carry clothing and accessories. It’s a small store located in a strip mall. Do they have a BDS&M department? My new store will. We will cater to all fetishes, even people who wear Nikes, as strange as that maybe. Like farm animals? Visit our "farmland department" where we have tons of life sized blow-up dolls of all your favorite barnyard animals, and we will stock lower priced lines for the cheapskate in you, and the top-of-the-line models as well, like the sheep with a vibrating vagina and lips (batteries included), and with all the extras. Just think, while the wife and kids are in "sneakerland" (our exstensive shoe dept) you can be enjoying "Jeffrey Dahmer, the early years" on VHS in one of our "viewing" booths (fresh tissues added daily) or be frolicking with "Bessie the vinyl lovecow" in one of our private rooms, rented by the half hour of course! For the lonely, bored housewife on a solo shopping spree we have the "Ride ‘em hard buckin’ Bronco" bull ride. Of course we’ve ‘modified’ the saddle a bit by relocating the sadles horn to about midway in the seat for a females ultimate comfort while riding, plus she gets the remote to control her own speed. Now I ask any of you, have I thought of everything or what? How could this store POSSIBLY fail? Handy Randy who’ll give you candy. Randy

Run Run Away