"I was reading your blog about becoming a new runner and I felt compelled to e-mail you and comment on your recommendation to try Dick's Sporting Goods for running shoes.

"I attended the 8 Great Monday event last year and heard various speakers talk about the importance of good running shoes. Because I am a complete novice to running and not sure where to begin, I tried Dick's. I should at this point comment that I am not a Size 0 female but I am hoping that running will improve my health - both mentally and physically. I though I would get some advice on where to begin and hoped to find some shoes.

"After starting at the wall of shoes and realizing I really needed help, I tracked down the shoe department associate. I explained to the young saleman that I was a walker but I wanted to upgrade my walking to running. I needed a really good support shoe and the cost wasn't as much a factor as having a great shoe to transition from walking to running. He stared at me. And he said - you want to start running???

"The staring worried me, I wasn't completely sure that running was something I should be trying. At that point, I had been getting a lot of negative feedback from friends so my self-confidence wasn't completely 100%.

"I calmly said, yes, I want to try transitioning from walking to running.

"He literally started laughing at me and said he'd be back in a few minutes. After a few minutes, he came back with 2 pair of shoes for me to try but he could barely still contain his laughter.
I tried on one pair before I couldn't take the snickering anymore and make an excuse and left the store feeling very humiliated.

"I had two girlfriend tell me to just write it off - one bad associate. They both constantly take their fit teenagers without any problems. However, they did notice that the associates only seem to talk to the teenagers. They keep hounding me to go back and not let one bad incident undermine me. Having talked to other people about this, I'm sensing Dick's only is nice and helpful to the already fit looking customers

"So, I trying again. I went back a couple of weeks later. By then, I had my Erie Runner's Club membership and knew Dick's was supposed to give a discount. I went to the shoes again and picked up a pair of shoes for my husband. While there, I asked a different male associate where I could find a sport bra. He looks at me and says - a gift for a friend? I said no, I'm trying to go from walking to running and I need a really good support bra. He started snickering at me and he doubted they carried anything that LARGE but I'd find them over there. He pointed me away and walked away still snickering.

"He was right, Dick's does not appear to carry a quality sports bra for a larger chested woman. However, I picked up some other items to try as part of running. I went to the register, hoping that to write off the overall bad experience of a 2nd person laughing at me.

"I tell the associate, I have an ERC membership and I didn't know how it worked. He was new so he called over the Senior Cashier. Again, I tell her I have an ERC membership and the website said there was a discount. She said NO. The corporation no longer offer any Runner's Club discounts. I said, but the website said it does and I know people who have gotten the discount and they were here only weeks ago. She huffs and says NO. Beginning in January 2007 (I was there in July.) the corporate said - no discounts and then she turned a walked away. The cashier shugged his shoulder and said - Oh well - your total is xx.

"I paid (I shouldn't have) and left the store.

"After beginning laughed at twice and receiving Zero quality customer service, I will never step foot inside Dick's. I would not recommend that store to anyone who doesn't already have some running knowledge. (I did call and complain and was told that they'd look into it but they never apologized.)

"On the other hand, I did purchase shoes at Erie Sports Store and was very happy with my purchase.

"I have also had an opportunity to visit the Achilles store in Meadville. They give a 10% discount to ERC members. I went into their store with my young daughter, I was looking for nighttime running gloves.

"I was a little nervous because my toddler daughter started touching everything in sight. The associate just laughed and said there was nothing breakable in the store and asked what I was looking for. After having the Dick's experience, I was nervous but told her I was trying running for the 1st time. She didn't laugh - but instead started giving me advice and a mini-pep talk about how running would improve both my mental and physical health.

"I left their store very happy and surprised. I was worried that because they were a specialty store that they would only cater to elite runners and novices would be unwelcome.

"As a novice runner, I thought I should pass along that Erie Sports Store and Achilles are much more friendly and willing to give advice. Dick's poor service is not worth any small discounts that a big box business might be able to offer."