With the huge thread on LBS vs ebay…just had to ask how many support the local running store? not talking about Finish Line or Footlocker…I mean the local guru that runs the local road races etc…with free shipping and volume, the internet(road runner etc.) is hard to beat. How many try a shoe on at local store and then order it online?
Yes, always. I buy all of my running shoes either at MetroSport, a local small chain (3 stores maybe) multisport shop or at Transition Sports, a local tri only shop. I never buy anything off eBay (or anything used), but that’s my personal quirk. OK, I have bought a couple of books at used book stores, but didn’t really like it. I have a bunch of crap I could/should sell, but I’d much rather give it away.
I don’t think I would have much of a problem buying a bike from somewhere other than the LBS, but shoes for me are a different story. I buy my shoes from the local running only store. I could save maybe $30 if I bought somewhere else, but that’s not enough of a savings for me to do it. I’ll spend the extra $30 or so and support them, who in turn supports the local running scene.
I support the Running Shop exclusively in tucson. I appreciate that they will take the time to fit me to the shoe I need, not want. If it takes 5 min or 55 min they don’t care. I also enjoy shopping at a store where the owner. employees and I greet each other by name, where i can just drop in say hi and bs for a bit.
I probably could save 15-25 by mail order/online but if the shoe doesn’t fit it costs time and money to get the one that does. To me it’s not worth it. IMO buying running shoes should have at least if not more thought put into it than thinking about frame material orwhich aero wheel to buy.
I buy almost all of my running shoes and associated run stuff from my local shop, The Running Center in Carlsbad. They also have a store in Redlands. They are located right next to the grocery store that I shop at so I go in often, even when I don’t have to make a purchase just to chat and see what’s going on. Roadrunner, while a mail order place for most, is also a local store for me, but I rarely ever buy shoes from them. Their prices aren’t much better than The Running Center for me. Roadrunner does support the local running and triathlon scene though. Tri Club of San Diego holds their monthly meeting at RR.
My friends Randy Step and Karen Holupa (sp?) both own running stores so I go there. Randy supports a lot of events in the area through his Running Fit stores so I feel it is only right I support his stores if I am going to do his events and benefit from his support. I like to try the shoes on too. His people always have good recommendations too.
The only time I ever ordered shoes online was because the model was being discontinued and I could not find it locally in my size. Even from an economical point of view it does not make sense to go elsewhere when applying the discount I get for being a member of the local Tri club.
I buy all my shoes from Bill Rodgers Running Center in Boston. One reason is that they helped me work through finding the right shoe, which has helped both my efficiency and my performance. Another reason is that I have not found my shoes, the New Balance 765’s, anywhere for less than BRRC sells them for. None of the online retailers sell them at a discount. The third reason is that the other local running shops I have dealt with are full price retailers who act snotty and only want to deal with running bunnies(like the one who didn’t want to let me in wearing full bike gear, even though I had $50 cash and just wanted to pick up a new Fuel Belt, gloves and Gu. I had to leave my bike unlocked outside and tell them what I was buying before they’d let me in.)
Occasionally, The Sports Authority will have a Buy One, get one 50% off sale, but miraculously they are out of the high end NB shoes whenever those sales happen.
I’ll buy my other running gear wherever I can find it cheapest, but again, I often end up at BRRC. I think that the difference why people support their local running shop, but not their LBS largely comes down to the fact that bike parts can be had at a huge discount online(I buy almost everything from Performance), while running gear is priced more consistently across retail distribution sources.
Plus, the running shop folks don’t charge me $150 to make sure the shoes I just bought fit me correctly.
Daddy needs a new pair of shoes. The last pair of shoes I bought ws from NikeTown here n SF because it was the first day the shoe came out and I had been waiting for it. I now know my size so I have been looking at Ebay since it is about time to get a new pair. On Ebay the $90, plus tax, shoe will cost me about $50-$60 on Ebay to my door. I have a tough time getting to the local store when I need to get me shoes. Plus they usually do not have any shoes I am interested in. I think the next pair will be on Ebay but that is because I already know whaat size I need.
The shoes I have seen on Ebay that I am interested in come from what looks like either a local shop where they are or an on-line shop. But even on-line shops are brick and morter somewhere.
Here is an honest queston so don’t take this the wrong way, but Why does everyone feel compelled to support your local shops if it requires you to pay a 50% mark-up. Why can’t the shops reduce the price to closer to on-line shops. And I am talking about shops that are shoe or bike specific shops selling brand new items.
At the end of the year that could be hundreds or thousands of dollars out of your pocket.
Willy in Pacifica
I prefer having the opportunity to try on various running shoes to get the best for me-- which is better to do in a specialty running store. However, I’ve ended up purchasing online at times because it’s incredibly difficult to find a store that carries racing flats and/or light weight trainers in women’s sizes. They say they don’t carry them because they wouldn’t sell. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but how would they know if they never carry these items? Am I really the only female in the area that wears light-weight trainers and racing flats? A quick foot scan at the local running road race suggests not. Of course, these are the same stores trying to steer me to the big, fluffy inflexible shoes that make an efficient stride more difficult (for me, at least). There seem to be different philosophies of running shoe fitting, and it seems important to find a store that matches your philosophy. Good news is, my husband has discovered a new store opening that is owned by a husband /wife team, and the wife runs competitively. They carry light weight trainers and racing flats in womens’ sizes. Amazing! I know where I’m going to get my next pair of racing flats.
I support my local running shop and my LBS (which is owned by a real sweety and an old friend).
who else would let me go for a short run in ht eshoes I as thinking of buying? who else would grab a wrench to help me out?
both store give back to the local sporting community - what better reason to give them our business.
I buy about every third or fourth pair from a local running shop. I get the attention to fit, etc. and feel it’s worth the extra $20-$40. But once I know I like a size 9 1/2 Brooks Adrenaline I will order the next few on-line. Feet and shoe models change, so after a couple of years I’ll go back and get a new fitting. I wouldn’t be comfortable buying that initial pair online after my local people spent so much time with me, but I don’t have a problem with the others. (Of course, they probably figure it out when they see me at a race with a bright, shiny pair of shoes just like the ones they sold me a year ago.)
I recently purchased a pair of Asics DS Trainer VIII (I think) from my local running store but was dissapointed that
a, they didn’t let me go outside and run 30 yards with them
b, they were a bit pricey
so after I bought them, I saw them online for $30 cheaper and I bought those and returned the other pair.
IMHO, the local running store has to offer something that the internet can’t - either price or customer service. If I can’t get either locally, then I’m going to shop onine.
By the way, when I lived in Atlanta, I bought all of my shoes from Phidipides (sp?) which not only picked out several shoes based on your foot and events, but let you try them all on outside and run in them. They even watch you run to watch your gait.
It sounds like your LRS isn’t very good. I bought a pair of Asis Gel Kayano’s earlier this year after reading about how great they were for distance racing, and I found them to be really uncomfortable. I ran about 50 miles in them before returning them, and the guy at the shop didn’t give me a hard time about it. He mentioned that they had a bit of wear on them, but wasn’t about to refuse to take them back.
A good running store knows that if you are a dedicated runner, then once they get you into the right shoe, you’ll be buying 3-4 pairs a year, and it isn’t worth it for them to hassle you over a pair that doesn’t work for you. My shop says, “Take them home, run on the treadmill, and if you don’t like them, bring them back.” They prefer that you keep them clean, but they’ve been pretty good to me the couple of times I’ve returned shoes.
Our local running store, “Running Wild,” is owned by a runner/triathlete and his triathlete wife. He provides free gait analysis, gives a 15% discount to tri/running club members, supports training/workout groups, lets you try out shoes before buying, hires only athletes to work in the store, and dispenses loads of free advice. Ex.: I had been having some knee pain on longer runs lately, and talked to a lot of my running friends. They all said to buy new shoes. I took my shoes into the store, and Paul looked at them and told me I didn’t need new shoes. He gave me some advice about stretching and icing down, not running the day after a long run, etc. Saved me $85.
You can’t get that kind of service out of a catalog or over the internet. I patronize the store because I feel I get my money’s worth.
Sorry, but I can’t let your ‘50% mark up’ remark go by unchallenged. I believe a fairly standard retail mark up is this amount. Why on earth would you expect any retailer to sell you shoes or bike parts or whatever, at their cost ???!!! Don’t get me wrong, I like a bargain as much as the next bloke, but your (apparent) position pisses me off, that because a retailer (bricks and mortar store type) sells at suggested retail price, they are in some way ripping off their customer. E-Bay or online shopping is all very well, but don’t you feel just a little bit guilty at going into your local store, taking time trying on shoes, walking out without buying and then getting them from some faceless (non)entity on the internet just because they’re ‘cheaper’? Sorry, mate, as a (now part time) employee of a very good running store in Ft Lauderdale, I think I know how much of a service we provide to the local running/tri community, I have a fair idea of the bottom line profit the owner comes up with at the end of a year, and she’s not in the business to make a fortune and retire early, believe me. I suspect it’s the same in most running/bike/specialty operations. There’s more to it all than the almighty dollar, and I think that should go both ways. Think about it.
Cheers
Barry
bglading,
As we speak there is a pair of Nike Kukinis in the same size as the pair I need to replace. I can use the buy it now and with shipping it will cost me $60 to my door. At Nike Town they are $90 plus tax so just under $100. Why would I go to Nike Town for the privledge of paying $40 more? $10 maybe I go. But that is a real $40 in my pocket for something I am going to buy anyways. And I don’t even have to get out of my chair.
A lot of folks talk about the service they get at the local running and bike shop. If I go to Nike Town where is that $40 of service? I bought one pair there so now I know my size so no need to go back. If I go the the little neighborhood running shoe store they generally don’t have the shoe I want. I go to local bike shops for service but not usually for parts. I know exactly the shoe I want and exactly the size I want and it is on Ebay all the time.
I don’t expect a retailer to sell me a shoe for 50% off but if I can get it at 50% off I will do it almost everytime. As for bike componants, what is the difference between a brand new Dura Ace rear der from the local bike shop and one from Colorado Cyclist or the one on Ebay? About 50%.
I never said I go into a local shop and try on items then buy them on-line. I said I usually buy my clothing at the LBS. But once I buy an item and know my size why buy the next one there if I have to pay 50% more? So they can make a profit off of me. At the end of the day I have the exact same thing and more money in my pocket. If they don’t give me a discount, and I didn’t say they have to, then they are just looking out for the best interest of their business. Which is just fine. Why is it so terrible that I am looking out for the best interest of my family.
When you buy a pair of shoes where do you go? Do you go the the local running shoe store and pay retail? No, you buy it at your store and get an employee discount. Or do you pay full retail at your store? I bet you don’t pay full retail at your store. Why not support your own store and give your boss that extra 50%. If not, why should I?
Willy in Pacifica
I am certainly an advocate for the local running stores, and I will always recommend a RUNNING store over a shoe/athletic store (footlocker, athletes foot…), however I have been VERY happy with the service that I have gotten from RoadRunner Sports. When I was living overseas, where we did not have a LRS we had to depend on RRS, and they came through every time. While most reputable LRS’s will allow you to go for a trial jog or even run a day or two on a treadmill, I have not found any place that matches the RRS VIP club, you have 60 days from the day you order to run as much as you want in the shoe, and if you’re not happy just send it back, no questions asked. Also the customer service reps are great on the phone, it’s obvious that you are not just calling in to a phone bank where the rep has no idea what the hell you are talking about.
I will continue to support the LRS, join their training groups and make purchases from them, however I am a bona fide RRS fan and they will likely get the bulk of my business.