If Dick's Sporting Goods and Marshalls had a baby, it'd be Bob's Stores. This place has been around…read morefor at least 20 years, surprisingly.
Locations:
-remaining Bob's Stores seem to be scattered to the four winds. This one in Randolph (and one in Taunton) are closest to the South Shore-- definitely a drive.
Merchandise:
-clothing and shoes for men, women and children
-tends to be athletic-related brands like Nike, Adidas, Marmot, Columbia, Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). Small amount of non-athletic brands like Calvin Klein, Levis, Carhartt, etc.
-some sporting good items like skateboards, pads/helmets, yoga/pilates gear, soccer balls, kickballs, and even a random kayak. Definitely not the selection/variety of larger box stores, when it comes to sporting goods, but a fair cross-section.
Service/Checkout:
-despite visiting the weekend after Thanksgiving (when stores are usually mobbed), Bob's was pleasantly busy. There was very little wait time for checkout, and they had 3 registers open.
-both cashiers we interacted with were pleasant and helpful, inputting the 30% off coupon listed on their website (but strangely, missing a barcode to scan).
Price:
-with all the sales going on this past weekend, Bob's was definitely competitive with other big-box stores. Most everything had a 25% off sale on it, some even higher (my jacket was listed as 50% off). Problem is, with all the signs, it's difficult for the consumer to determine what the final price will ACTUALLY be.
-coupons available online and in flyers. Be sure to check online, as they do allow you to double up on coupons and sales. Example: my $100 EMS jacket was on sale for 50% off, then there was a coupon for 30% off any one clothing item. Note, the 30% off comes off of the discounted price (i.e., 30% off of $50). So, I was able to get an awesome EMS jacket originally priced at $100 for $34. Winning.
If I'm on the hunt for athletic wear that doesn't scream soccer mom, I'd definitely choose Bob's Stores. They have tons of clothing I'd wear from brands I know and trust, and are at the very least competitive with other big-box stores. Worth the trip, in my opinion.