Shoe shopping, one foot at a time

[powercow]

Yesterday I took my 14 year old son to JD Sports in Brixton to buy him a new pair of trainers.

He found a style he liked; the one on the shelf was his size so we asked the assistant to bring the second shoe from the store-room, which he duly did. Then there was an awkward stand off with the shop assistant holding the box (with the second shoe in it) while we waited for him to hand it over.

I said tentatively "So, can we try it then...?"

"Yes", he said. "If you take the other one off first".

Apparently they have an issue with people trying on running shoes and then doing a runner.

I was shocked (and saddened) that the world has come to this. But I was also shocked and saddened that my teenage son thought it was perfectly reasonable and normal.

Am I just getting old and out of touch?

[Earl Aelfheah]

I don't think you're out of touch. JD Sports are being ridiculous IMO.

[uncleglen]

I'm not surprised- and if they do have a problem then JD are entitled to do whatever it takes, especially since decent running shoes are ?100ish

[DulwichFox]

Post removed as info may not of been accurate..

DulwichFox

[adonirum]

DF: think you might mean Sports Direct

powercow: had the same thing happen in a Sports Direct shop on the Isle of Wight when buying a pair of Karrimor walking shoes. As if I could run/fast/at all at my age!!

Perhaps it's an industry norm ?

[KidKruger]

I would refuse to take off the first shoe until I've tried both on at same time.

You have to walk up and down the aisle to be confident the pair of shoes works for your feet.

They have a security guard by the door at all times, they can shout to him to be on guard when a pair of shoes is being tried on.

[dbboy]

Same at Sports Direct. Last time I bought trainers, would not hand over the box with the trainers inside. The assistant insisted on taking and leaving them at the pay point that I then had to queue up to pay for. Not exactly very trusting and at my age I'm not likely to leg it off with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeremy]

BTW if you're actually dropping serious money on actual running shoes, you should go to a proper running shop where you can try them out on a treadmill - both at the same time!!!

[Grok]

Well it is the brixton branch

powercow Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yesterday I took my 14 year old son to JD Sports

> in Brixton to buy him a new pair of trainers.

>

> He found a style he liked; the one on the shelf

> was his size so we asked the assistant to bring

> the second shoe from the store-room, which he duly

> did. Then there was an awkward stand off with the

> shop assistant holding the box (with the second

> shoe in it) while we waited for him to hand it

> over.

>

> I said tentatively "So, can we try it then...?"

>

> "Yes", he said. "If you take the other one off

> first".

>

> Apparently they have an issue with people trying

> on running shoes and then doing a runner.

>

> I was shocked (and saddened) that the world has

> come to this. But I was also shocked and saddened

> that my teenage son thought it was perfectly

> reasonable and normal.

>

> Am I just getting old and out of touch?