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JJB Sports "Serious About Running" - they must be joking!
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I went to JJB after seeing the "serious about running promotion".
Assistant said to me "Do you do much running?"
Good I thought, probably going to try and identify running style right shoes etc...
Yes, I said. I am training for a marathon.
Assistant says "Huh, you must be mad. You wouldn't catch me doing that."
In the defense of JJB - my local one actually stocked Nike pro tops for women (which I absolutely love) = can't get on the net OR in the NIKE shop (For goodness sake - only have blokes ones).
So even though they are carp (asked for womens running gear - yeah right!! didn't I realise you can run in anything so long as it's made in lycra - how dare I actually want real gear) sometimes they do have the odd bit and bob that's okay.
It does make me wonder though that they have gone to all this trouble to try hard to get into serious sports wear - they have an adidas bit, and a nike bit all roped off in their stores, they do have some good kit hidden amoungst the dross yet their staff are obviously paid a pittance and the shop floors are like junk yards. They really are making a mess of any 'rebranding' they may be trying to do. The MD/CEO needs to really get a grip otherwise they are going to lose all their core customers yet not pick up any new ones from the other sports sectors that they are blatantly courting yet failing to impress.
As for Sports World in Carlisle... I bought a pair of Kayanos there in October, and the lad who served me was spot on with help and advice, he couldn't praise Asics shoes enough, and was very helpful. With this in mind, I went back there last week, as they are selling off 2120s half price. I asked for help and the girl goes off to 'flirt' with a thick bloke who comes over, after 5 minutes, so I ask if they have the 2120s in a 6... he comes back with a 5 and a 7. I thanked him but pointed out I'd had Asics before and I know I'm a 6. He then replies 'aye but you might wanna see if a snug or a loose fit is better'... I'm back in my Kayanos!
My local (worcester) are great, friendly helpful professional approach by the staff and what looks to this novice runner like a good selection of kit.
however I have not (and would not) go there for shoes. thats what running shoe shops are for (innit)
JJb isnt all that bad...just providing you know what your looking for when you go in.
i went to a specialist, off the main-street sports shop who charged me bout £75 for a set of Assics 1110.theyve been out for about three years now...and thats nearly the same price as when they came out. theyve got them in JJb for bout £30!!!!!
i see ur point tho!!!! the bigger chain stores are normally crap
I agree with Laurie. It is a clothing store with pretentions to sports. However, you can get some good deals there and while it is all well and good supporting your local running shop, if I can get my shoes for a lot cheaper then I will.
If you know what you want then you are fine. I don't know about not selling 'proper' running shoes as the ones I visit have plenty of NB and Asics stuff. I guess it is just the luck of the draw.
I also noticed they sell a hell of a lot of decent women's gear as well, just a bit skimpy on the me's stuff...
Stay away from the track suits and you will be fine!
Oh and one staff member does 40-50 mpw running! Quite impressive
Ojoman, please don't bother making statements like "it is all well and good supporting your local running shop" if you're then gonna follow it up with "if I can get my shoes for a lot cheaper then I will".
In 5 years time the only places left to buy running shoes will probably be Sports World or blahblahblah.com. But hey, at least they'll be cheap!!!!!!!!!
Their Head Office ain't very good with dealing with customer complaints.
They don't seem to value their customers, very much.
My advice is go to your local foot clinic and get a bi-mechanical done by a registered specialist. It cost around £20 and at the end you will know what spec you need to go for in your training shoes. Then all you have to do is try on and see which ones give you a good fit. Also the specialist can advise you on corrective excerises which can add stability to your running technique.
If you ever go into a store and are offered a JJB Store Visa Card
Please : Do Not Take It
They are non existant at correcting Their Errors.
Their Customer Service is a joke.
I was in JJB last night and heard an ad that went something like ' JJB has been voted best runners retailer by runners world magazine readers' . Now that may not be word for word, but that was the gist. Then I read this thread, and it seems even more unlikely!
I went in for energy gels, which they had sold out of, but tried to sell me a bottle of lucozade instead.
I have been in previously and asked for technical fabric t shirts, and the girl did not know what I was talking about. My daughter is a runner, and the choice of proper running gear for girls is terrible, they only do boys technical t's, so she has to wear them, or pay more for a size 8 ladies (too big).
they only do boys technical t's, so she has to wear them, or pay more for a size 8 ladies (too big).
The stock control of JJB is insane. Merthyr JJB has 30+ "JJB running jackets/gilets" for £8. Bargin you think. Yes it is, if you find one that fits. At the moment the 30+ jacekts are for size 16 women. How many size 16 runners does JJB think merthyr has?
Now, I'd hesitate to jump to the defense of JJB, because they don't have any service at all.
BUT, as far as high street 'sports' retailers go, they must be about the only ones where you have a fair chance of stumbling into something you can actually use for running.
So arguably, they are the best high street sports retailer for runners. That's pretty sad, but not necessarily untrue.
(and very much kicking myself for neglecting to buy another pair of Puma Meditations when they sold them for £25)
Taff, if I send you a cheque can you get me one of those women's jackets please?? All my local JJB have is stick insect size ones, or men's
. I've even had to resort to running in a men's fluorescent T shirt as they didn't have any women's at all.
I've picked up most of my kit from JJB, but get my shoes from the local running specialist.