are they different in any way quality-wise than those sold at the local running stores? anyone know the low-down on them?
why would they be different quality wise?
Some manufacturer’s sell a different quality product to “big box” stores than they do to specialty shops. For example, I am CFO for a company that sells plumbing products. The faucets we sell have different internal parts than the “same” faucet sold at some of the large home improvement stores. The ones sold in the home improvement stores have plastic internals as opposed to copper or brass. The average consumer thinks they are getting the same product, when in fact its a lesser quality product.
Having said that, I have no idea if that same type of thing happens in the shoe industry.
Happens quite often with big box stores. Shoe companies will make merchandise at cheaper price points for different target audiences. As an example, you can go to a DSW and see Nike and Saucony running shoes that you won’t find on their websites.
That being said, I find it tough to believe that Hoka would go this route yet. The one at Dick’s are probably the same ones you find at specialty running stores.
there seem to be several more different models that look very similar to me and I cant differentiate them is my problem. They don’t have the more common Hoka models we all know but they have different models that look similar to the Clifton, Conquest…
I was so surprised to see Hokas at Dick’s that I actually talked to the manager of the shoe department that happened to be walking around. Apparently they are trying to appeal to more technical runners so they are bringing in Hoka, an expanded line of Saucony, and Newtons. It would surprise me if the Hoka you get at Dick’s is any different than a boutique running shop.
I was so surprised to see Hokas at Dick’s that I actually talked to the manager of the shoe department that happened to be walking around. Apparently they are trying to appeal to more technical runners so they are bringing in Hoka, an expanded line of Saucony, and Newtons. It would surprise me if the Hoka you get at Dick’s is any different than a boutique running shop.
Few days ago I ordered 3 pair of the Saucony Guide 7’s from Dick’s which are kind of hard to find now, since the 8 came out. First time I have ordered shoes from Dick’s. Roadrunner Sports out of my size and the 8’s seem to have a bit less structure to them.
Are they cheaper than the Hokas sold through the traditional channels?
I recall something about this last year where different names and possibly looks will be used for existing platforms. They definitely have different names for shoes that are similar to the ones we are familiar with.
Vanquish may be like the Conquest(?)
Odyssey may be like the Clifton(?)
Valor may be like the Bondi(??)
Challenger ATR may be like the like Hauka(?)
Some manufacturer’s sell a different quality product to “big box” stores than they do to specialty shops. For example, I am CFO for a company that sells plumbing products. The faucets we sell have different internal parts than the “same” faucet sold at some of the large home improvement stores. The ones sold in the home improvement stores have plastic internals as opposed to copper or brass. The average consumer thinks they are getting the same product, when in fact its a lesser quality product.
Having said that, I have no idea if that same type of thing happens in the shoe industry.
Do they have the same product # or SKU?
I don’t know if they are new models but those are all on the “Running Warehouse” website so it doesn’t appear to be something exclusively for big box stores.
Hoka made a different line for big box stores. Same high prices
Each model is very similar to a model offered in run specialty but in most all cases the uppers are not as nice as they use thicker materials with a few more overlays.
Challenger ATR is one that does not have a run specialty version and is the one you will see most often cross over into specialty stores.
As of right now specialty stores can order the big box versions if we want but big box can not order the run specialty versions.
Thanks for this good information.
This one reason why I always try to support my local specialty running stores. And local bike shops.
Some manufacturer’s sell a different quality product to “big box” stores than they do to specialty shops. For example, I am CFO for a company that sells plumbing products. The faucets we sell have different internal parts than the “same” faucet sold at some of the large home improvement stores. The ones sold in the home improvement stores have plastic internals as opposed to copper or brass. The average consumer thinks they are getting the same product, when in fact its a lesser quality product.
Having said that, I have no idea if that same type of thing happens in the shoe industry.
I find that hard to believe. I was product manager for one of the top plumbing manufacturers and I can tell you that model xyz was EXACTLY the same product coming off the assembly just put in a different box. while it may be true that different products where sold exclusively to big box and may have “lesser” components, they were not branded, nor did they have the same product name.
have you been to the manufacturing sites? if your company is doing as you said, they might be committing fraud
Believe what you may. I didn’t say my company was doing anything. I am saying that the big box stores sell product in a manner that the average homeowner isn’t educated enough to know that the product is of a lesser quality. From outward appearances they appear the same but the internals are different. It isn’t just plumbing products either. Do some research on the “John Deere” mowers sold at the box stores. They are not the same mowers that you buy at an authorized john deere dealer. But I am sure you don’t think that’s true either.
Believe what you may. I didn’t say my company was doing anything. I am saying that the big box stores sell product in a manner that the average homeowner isn’t educated enough to know that the product is of a lesser quality. From outward appearances they appear the same but the internals are different. It isn’t just plumbing products either. Do some research on the “John Deere” mowers sold at the box stores. They are not the same mowers that you buy at an authorized john deere dealer. But I am sure you don’t think that’s true either.
actually, you said that your company sells lesser quality faucets. I am aware that john deere and other companies sell different products to big box stores they are not, however, saying that model xyz that they sell in big box is the same as model xyz that they sell at an authorized dealer that is not my belief, it is a fact/
perhaps you should go talk to the engineers and product managers at your company to confirm what you think is fact.
We are a wholesaler/distributor. My original post didn’t say we were manufacturers. My original post did not say our company sells lesser quality faucets. I said that the faucet you buy at the big box stores isn’t the same faucet you buy at specialty plumbing stores, just as the Hoka’s apparently aren’t the same Hoka’s you buy at specialty running stores. But I bet a large number of uninformed people will tell someone “hey you should buy those Hoka’s at Dick’s they are a lot cheaper there”. My point is this. Specialty stores, in a lot of situations, offer better quality products than what you buy at the big box stores.
We are a wholesaler/distributor. My original post didn’t say we were manufacturers. My original post did not say our company sells lesser quality faucets. I said that the faucet you buy at the big box stores isn’t the same faucet you buy at specialty plumbing stores, just as the Hoka’s apparently aren’t the same Hoka’s you buy at specialty running stores. But I bet a large number of uninformed people will tell someone “hey you should buy those Hoka’s at Dick’s they are a lot cheaper there”. My point is this. Specialty stores, in a lot of situations, offer better quality products than what you buy at the big box stores.
ok, I agree with most of your post above and assumed you were a manufacturer. my bad. BUT, if a product is a kohler fairfax sold through a distributor, the EXACT same kohler fairfax is sold through big box (assuming that they carry the item, if they don’t it will be the EXACT same kohler Fairfax that is special ordered) the manufacturers are not going to commit fraud to gain market share yes, big box does sell “lesser” products of the same type, but NOT the EXACT same product.
same product model/sku # is the same in wholesale or retail
We are a wholesaler/distributor. My original post didn’t say we were manufacturers. My original post did not say our company sells lesser quality faucets. I said that the faucet you buy at the big box stores isn’t the same faucet you buy at specialty plumbing stores, just as the Hoka’s apparently aren’t the same Hoka’s you buy at specialty running stores. But I bet a large number of uninformed people will tell someone “hey you should buy those Hoka’s at Dick’s they are a lot cheaper there”. My point is this. Specialty stores, in a lot of situations, offer better quality products than what you buy at the big box stores.
ok, I agree with most of your post above and assumed you were a manufacturer. my bad. BUT, if a product is a kohler fairfax sold through a distributor, the EXACT same kohler fairfax is sold through big box (assuming that they carry the item, if they don’t it will be the EXACT same kohler Fairfax that is special ordered) the manufacturers are not going to commit fraud to gain market share yes, big box does sell “lesser” products of the same type, but NOT the EXACT same product.
same product model/sku # is the same in wholesale or retail
I doubt they’d have the same sku or model number even though they would be identical (other than internals). The manufacturer would want different numbers to track inventory of each type of product. I did some research work during my Ph.d in economics on showrooming and box stores like Target will sell the exact same product as another store, however the manufacturer provides Target with its own unique UPC and model #. Thus when you scan the item with Amazon app or Red Laser (to check prices), it will only bring up the product at Target. This is consistent practice at Best Buy, Macy’s, Younkers and JcPenny (I’m sure other retailers, these are the ones I worked with).
Thank you for your insight.