I’m a big proponent of experimentation when it comes to running shoes. I’ve been lucky in that being a shoe reviewer has afforded me the opportunity to run in over 50 different shoes the past few years, which has really allowed me to hone my preferences to the point where I know if I’m going to like a shoe within the first few runs in it.
A major impediment to being able to do this for most people is that it’s simply cost-prohibitive to buy multiple pairs of shoes just to try them out in the hope that one will meet your needs. The two best ways to get around this are to either go to a good running specialty store that will let you take shoes on a short test run around the block (as my local store, Runner’s Alley in Manchester, NH does), or buy from an on-line store that allows you to return shoes that don’t work out even if you have run in them. A few stores have had such a policy, and I was pleased when I opened an email today from my advertising partner Running Warehouse that announced that they are starting a 90-day “No Sweat” return policy. Basically, the new policy allows you to buy a pair of shoes, run in it, and if it doesn’t work out you can return it for store credit or an exchange for another model. Sounds like they will place a limit on how often this can be done, so don’t plan on trying every shoe that they sell (which seems completely reasonable to me).
My big question is what happens to the returned, lightly used shoes? Seems like there could be a market for such shoes to be sold at a discount should they still be in decent shape (I’ve given away a bunch of lightly used shoes myself, and it really can help people for whom extra cash to spend on running shoes is not abundant). Hopefully the used shoes will get put to good use.
Here are the rules posted on the Running Warehouse returns page:
90 Day No Sweat Returns
Running Warehouse wants you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. Items can be returned at any point, new or used, within 90 days from the original invoice date.
- To receive a refund or exchange for the full value of your purchase, products must be returned in new, store-bought condition within 90 days from the original invoice date.
- Products returned in used or worn condition within 90 days from the original invoice date can be exchanged for another item, or are eligible to receive a store credit for the full value of the purchase. Please note that while we want you to be happy with your purchases, an excessive number of used returns within a twelve-month period may limit your eligibility for exchanges or store credit.
- Products returned beyond 90 days from the original invoice date may be eligible to receive a store credit at the sole discretion of Running Warehouse.
- Please note: PayPal refunds made more than 60 days after the original payment are considered new payments and regular PayPal fees for receiving money will incur. Running Warehouse will refund the value of the product returned; the total amount of money received will reflect the refund less any PayPal fees.
- Shipping charges are non-refundable.
About Peter Larson
Road Runner Sports has a similar policy. If the returned shoes are lightly worn, they sell them at a huge discount at one of their outlet stores. If they’re too used to sell, they donate them and probably take a tax write off for the retail price.
I love buying shoes from Runner’s Warehouse because they have shoeftr to make sure they fit right and more info about the shoes than just about anyone else. With this new policy I can’t think of any reason to buy elsewhere. They also give me a discount for typing RUNBLOG10 in a little box.
REI isn’t a running specialty store, but they have a really generous return policy – everything is guaranteed, return it if you don’t like it. The lightly-used stuff gets sold at a deep discount at the Garage Sales that the stores have every couple of months.
They do carry running shoes, although the selection isn’t as good as at a running-specific store. But that’s where I bought my Merrell Pace Gloves.
Any idea if they will increase prices a wee bit to offset the additional cost of this program? I am like James as I have purchased all my running shoes from the warehouse with the runblogger code for a 10% discount. You are the man Pete! Thanks for your help.
Don’t know, but the combo of their prices and return policy makes them tough to beat now. I openly admit that I advertise for them, but they were my go to shoe store long before I initiated that relationship. Good group of people there!
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Not that I would ever do this, but you could definitely wear out a pair of shoes in 90 days. ie.If someone runs 5 miles a day, 6 days per week, after 90 days that’s a little less than 390 miles. Hope no one abuses this.
I believe they are able to control abuses enough.
Runblogger, this is a great post–slightly used running shoes, it’s genius. Very useful to your readers. You may have heard of Mizuno’s Mezamashii Run Project, a program in which Mizuno is giving away thousands of pairs of running shoes. I’m encouraging runners to share the information with local running programs that teach life skills to others, like Back on My Feet and Student Run Philly Style. I don’t endorse Mizuno or any other shoe company, I simply want runners who need the shoes most to have an opportunity to win a free pair. I’d appreciate if you mention the program and share the link, or if you’d rather you can send them to a post I wrote yesterday at
Got
Running Shoes? at Rite2Run
. Thanks, .you do a great job!
Awesome I’ve been looking to change shoes and as a newbie I am not sure where to go. Thank you!