Any other retailers offer a returns policy for shoes worn outside

After going to my local running shop and being fitted with a pair of shoes which were wrong for me (and contributed to an injury) I have since then been twice to Sweatshop as I know their returns polocy means I can get my shoes replaced if they fit me in the wrong shoes.

Sadly I now urgently need new shoes, but Sweatshop don't have my size in the shoes I want (not locally nor online), so I was wondering if anyone knows of another running retailer that has a similar "return if not right even if worn outdoors" policy??

Thanks

Comments

  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭

    I don't know of any.  Can't Sweatshop get your size for you?  Seems a poor service if they can't, unless the shoe is being discontinued.

  • Its a new version of a shoe, as the old one's being discontinued. sadly they say they can't get it (which is strange as other retailers have it in my size).

    Actually, my nearest shop say they can't get it - maybe I'll try contacting them via their online store and see if they can get it that way. Thanks for the idea!

  • stutyrstutyr ✭✭✭

    Can't you get the older version off the web? If you know it already works for you, then you may save yourself some money by buying online

  • RicFRicF ✭✭✭
    Black And Tabby wrote (see)

    After going to my local running shop and being fitted with a pair of shoes which were wrong for me (and contributed to an injury) I have since then been twice to Sweatshop as I know their returns polocy means I can get my shoes replaced if they fit me in the wrong shoes.

    Sadly I now urgently need new shoes, but Sweatshop don't have my size in the shoes I want (not locally nor online), so I was wondering if anyone knows of another running retailer that has a similar "return if not right even if worn outdoors" policy??

    Thanks

    Out of interest, how did the shoes contribute to an injury?

    🙂

  • Bit of a crazy over generous policy if you ask me. Can't see it happening at anywhere else or even at Sweatshop for much longer.
  • There are other retailers that do it, but I don't know any off the top of my head. 

    It is an economically viable policy for a good shop funnily enough. 

    When I worked at Sweatshop, we reckoned that a good member of staff might get one return in 10-20 sales.  Now the trade price for a £80 pair of running shoes would be about £40.  That means that you can take them back and give somebody a second pair, and still break even on the transaction.

     

     

     

  • Stutyr - I can't get my size in the shoes I used to wear - I have looked, believe me!



    RicF - I was sold a pair with more support than I had been wearing because one of my feet was pronating more than the other. I ended up with an injury to the leg that didn't need as much support.

    Ben - Sweatshop aren't the cheapest place for shoes, but I have great confidence In what they recommend. Also, the replacement guarantee makes it worth it in my eyes.



    So back to the original question - does anyone know of another retailer that offers a replacement if the shoes don't suit?
  • If you are just looking to buy a particular model then even if you did find a retailer that offers that return policy, as they aren't fitting the shoe for you, surely they wouldn't accept a return anyway?

  • I believe most specialist running shops don’t operate that sort of

    Sussex Runner (NLR) wrote (see)
    "crazy over generous policy",

    and a good thing too in my opinion, as it would be a disservice to the customer to do so.

    A lot of people (and don’t assume I’m including you B&T) automatically blame their shoes for any injury or problem that arises.

    By not ‘having’ to refund/return a shoe at the customer’s request (or demand) because of a problem, it forces a bit of interaction to go into the circumstances leading up to the problem/injury – and more often than not - will probably work out what was the real cause (which might well turn out to be the shoe!).

    It is human nature for the customer not to initially be comfortable doing this – to possibly admit that they themselves may have contributed to the problem (and it wasn’t all the shoe’s fault after all!).

    By Sweatshop allowing the customer not to have to do this - and let them decide for themselves that the shoe was the sole cause of all their woes – I believe is allowing a lot of easily solvable, injury causing practices to go on un-resolved.

  • Nose NowtNose Nowt ✭✭✭

    An interesting viewpoint, Mr. Majestic.

    And the other side of the coin is that some people buy a new pair of shoes, and within 2 weeks, their injury has gone.

    In which case, the shoes become the great saviour... even though the injury may well have cleared up in that time anyway!

    As you say, it's human nature to look for cause and effect / blame. We all do it - but some do it more injudiciously than others!

     

     

  • Mr Majestic, thank you for not saying you didn't automatically assume I was one of tehpeople who automatically blame their shoes for any injury. Its way too easy to take anything said in these forums personally. In my case, it was my physio who said it.

    Interesting points though Mr Majestic and Run Wales. Although when I started running I got up to 3 miles and my knees were killing me. Getting correctly fitted for running shoes did instantly 'cure' this pain (as I'm an over pronator) and in that instance the shoes DID become the great saviour!

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