Wow. I can't believe that any store would allow someone willing to spend over $100 on a pair of good running shoes walk out the door without even a "hello".
My wife and I went to this store simply because we had good service at another Dick's in State College, PA. My wife wanted a new pair of running shoes, and didn't want to go to the mall (where, ironically, the perception if the "aloof teenager who could care less to help you" runs rampant).
As another reviewer mentioned, there are indeed people standing by the door, willing to make sure you enter and exit in the right direction. They appear to be the only people in the store doing anything.
We had our three kiddos with us (*disclaimer - they are usually very well-behaved), and I took them to go look at bicycles and rollerblades while my wife was allowed to shop without distraction. We stopped through the shoe department on the way to the bikes, just to give a quick perusal before we moved on. There was a whopping ONE person in the whole department, running like mad to make sure he was able to grab certain sizes from the back once the 10 customers or so could grab him. Poor guy... he was joined (and I use that word very loosely) by a colleague who seemed to go WAY out of his way to make sure he spoke with no customers that day. Must've been a dare going on that day. We'll call him "Mr. Aloof" or "MA". The one salesman who is frantically trying to help folks asks my wife if she needs anything, she tells him she is needing advice on a good running shoe to replace her old ones. He says he'll be back as soon as possible, and scurries off. I notice that Mr. Aloof is cornered by someone who wants help... Mr. Aloof tells that person he has to "put something back into inventory" and hurriedly ducks into the back. Thirty seconds later, Mr. Aloof appears out of the other door on the other side of the show department, glances to make sure the customer is nowhere around, and walks over to another department to chat with a female store employee.
I leave my wife and head to the bikes, children in tow. We arrive there, another Mr. Aloof appears (he shall be known as "Mr. Aloof 2" or "MA2"). He makes eye contact, then turns around and heads back to another aisle to make sure some boxes on display are still there (I guess). I think I may have startled him with my presence... after all, there are no other customers in the bike section, and apparently this is a nice "quiet spot" for someone working there who needs solace away from customers. Guess I ruined his peace.
After a few minutes, I spot a bike I'm interested in for myself, and go back to look for MA2. Seeing me coming, he then starts to head for the cash registers by making his way though the golf section. "Eh, maybe he needs to go potty," I think to myself. I wait for about 10 minutes while my kiddos sit on a few bikes, then decide to go check on my wife. MA2 never appears again. Maybe he needed to go #2.
Back in the shoe section, I find the forementioned spouse standing with a gruff look... apparently, the poor guy who acknowledged her earlier has disappeared into the back, never to be seen again. Getting my hopes up, I go look for the original Mr. Aloof. I spot him over by the men's running shoes over on one side... and head that way. He sees me coming with purpose, and does exactly what I think he will do, which is duck into the door leading to the back. Drats!! So, foreshadowing his next move, I make my way over to the door on the other side. I figure he'll pop out any moment now.
Well, whaddaya know? I was right!! However, when he glances up and sees me standing, he does a 180-degree and heads right back into the back.
After playing "hide and go seek" for 15 minutes with these clowns (and winning!), I decide it's not worth it and we head out. After all, I can play that game with my kids, and it's quite a bit more satisfying that way.
I tell the guy at the front door that they need some folks to help in the shoe department, since there are at least 10 customers standing around holding one shoe, all with blank looks on their faces. He reminds me to make sure I exit by the cash registers.
***On a serious note... I have NO idea how a 20,000-plus square-foot store can get away with having less than 10 employees on the entire floor. Two cashiers, two folks near the front guiding people to enter/exit the right way, two golf employees enjoying a good chat, one poor fella running like mad in shoes, and two MA's that apparently go entire shifts without performing any duties at all. And this is on a "busy" Saturday!!!
Pretty sad. And it makes the last time I'll walk into that store ever again. read more