Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Demotivational Monday and my Road Runner Sports VIP Membership epilogue

I just learned about the new Demotivational Monday linkup that Rachel is hosting. Hilarious! I am obviously a couple of days late to the party (call it a direct demonstration of demotivation, perhaps?) But I wanted to participate anyways.

Here is my submission. I took some liberties with the guidelines.


As you may have surmised, this is also an excuse for me to talk tangentially about some recent frustrations.

Last November, I had posted here about my negative experience with Road Runner Sports and their VIP Membership Program. In summary, the sales clerk lied to me about the online membership price versus the in-store membership price.

The "perks" of the membership program are not all that they are cracked up to be, either. Basically members receive free shipping on all purchases plus 10% off select items. However, there are almost always promo codes available to nonmembers for free shipping and 10% off. So why bother becoming a member?

The free shipping was a marginal perk, too. Before I became a member, I ordered from Road Runner online using a promo code, and my order arrived a couple of days later. However, I have twice ordered from Road Runner online as a member. The first time my order took a week and a half to arrive, and the second time it took my order over two weeks to arrive. Neither of these orders were for back-ordered merchandise or anything, either. It was frustrating that I received faster shipping service as a nonmember than as a member.


A few weeks ago I submitted a membership cancellation request. However, I never received a confirmation or acknowledgement. I followed up with Road Runner Sports on it today. I was put on hold for quite some time while they tried to investigate. I was finally told that it had never been processed. They put me on hold again while they tried to process the cancellation on the spot. They then told me that they were having technical problems and couldn't cancel the membership until November 2013. They assured me they would set up arrangements to ensure it would be cancelled at that time. Here is hoping.


There was one positive note to the membership cancellation process. When I expressed my discontent regarding my incident with the membership price, they indicated they would refund me the entire membership fee. That helped a lot.

I do like the Road Runner Sports-branded merchandise that I've purchased, and their in-person shoe-fitting process was very detailed. However, given my mixed experiences with their customer service and their pricing, Road Runner Sports will not be at the top of my list when I shop for running gear in the future.

19 comments:

  1. Running warehouse has free 2 day shipping and everything and anything you could possibly need.... Without a membership fee. I also go to FLeet Feet when I'm in the area. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have had terrific experiences with Running Warehouse, too! Love that they always have free 2-day shipping and no membership fees, too. Their clearance section is DANGEROUS. I need another pair of shoes like I need a hole in the head but I can't stop looking at what they have every time I'm on their site. AHHH!!!

      I haven't shopped much at Fleet Feet but I think I heard they are opening up a location in the South Loop soon!?!?!?

      Delete
  2. Yay! Thanks for joining the link-up. Sorry you had trouble - let me know if it still doesn't work tonight. Love the Dilbert cartoon!

    I have to agree with Xaarlin - I get almost all my gear from Running Warehouse. Just got a shipment in today, in fact!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for hosting the linkup! I couldn't agree with you more on seeing the plethora of Motivation Monday blog posts so this was so much fun to do. =) I will have to figure out how to make a true poster next time.

      Yay, Running Warehouse!!! What did you order from them!?!?!?

      Delete
  3. I'm glad in the end you got a refund!
    I have amazon prime, so most of my stuff comes through that or the clearance section at Sports Authority!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The refund was a big deal for me. It saved me from never shopping there ever again!

      Amazon Prime is the best. I did the trial Amazon Prime membership a few times and took full advantage of it each time. Never actually paid for a full-year membership but it would totally be worth it!!!

      Delete
  4. Gosh. Nov 2014? Like, over a year away? Are they for realz? I was going to ask what you order... like Declan, I get most things on Prime.

    Yay! Demotivational Monday! Ha ha ha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh, thanks for catching my typo. It is actually November 2013 but I'm thinking ahead to my 2014 races already and that carried into my typing. =) I'll fix it right now!

      Yay for Amazon Prime!!! And yay for Demotivational Monday! Thanks for participating because it was through you that I'd heard about it. =D

      Delete
  5. Have you tried swirlgear.com? Women's running apparel created, designed, and sold by a woman (who's also a mom, and I just have to support moms in business!). The selection isn't huge right now, but they're running a kickstarter campaign to get funding for their new line after the mom bought out her (male) business partner. I can give you a free shipping code, too: swirlon. And yes, Fleet Feet is awesome, and they are opening a SL store. I'll be checking out Running Warehouse's clearance section next...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahh, Swirl Gear! I know several women who are brand ambassadors for them - and I think their office is in the West Loop, too. Yay for moms in business! I did check out their merchandise once awhile back and you are right that they didn't have a huge selection, so I haven't really looked since then. But everyone that has their clothing raves about it so maybe it's time to take another look. =) Thanks for the free shipping code!!!

      Delete
  6. I've had that RRS VIP thing for years and cannot remember the last time I ordered from them. :( Like the others, Running Warehouse is my go-to. I need to cancel too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you are going to cancel your RRS VIP membership (and it definitely sounds like it's time for you!) then I would definitely recommend calling them to do so as opposed to what I did (log into my online account and submit a cancellation form). It's easier for them to conveniently ignore a cancellation form than it is to ignore someone on the phone! I hope your cancellation goes more smoothly than mine did!

      Delete
  7. I am a HUGE fan of Running Warehouse. You can usually find a discount code and I love the 2 day free shipping along with free returns.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Running Warehouse continues to win all the thumbs-up votes!!! =) I've actually had some difficulty finding discount codes for them in recent months - where do you get yours!?!?!?

      Delete
  8. Oh man don't even get me started on customer service! Ever since moving into my own place and having to deal with furniture deliveries, I quickly learned what it meant to experience "the good, the bad, and the ugly." I'm so happy to hear that you got the entire membership fee back though! Now THAT's the kind of customer service I can get behind :)

    -Irina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Irina! I can only imagine what kind of perils you must have gone through in trying to settle into your new place. Furniture deliveries are the worst! Nothing like being told "The delivery truck will be there sometime between 8 AM and 5 PM on Wednesday" only to have them either not show up at all, show up with the wrong item, or show up at like 10 PM, right? Hopefully the vast majority of your vendors offer much better service than that!!!

      Delete
  9. Em, how are you? Sorry I have been MIA but as you know I've been sidelined due to my previous injury. I am glad that they are going to refund your money, what a process. It sounds like Running Warehouse is better anyway with their free 2 day shipping. Blessings girl!
    http://runningsurvivor.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shannon! So good to hear from you, as always. Big hugs and blessings to you, too, and I wish you a fast and easy recovery, as always!!! Keep getting as much rest as you can!!!

      Delete
  10. guys we are offering Road Runner Sports Coupon is free for our website collect it and enjoy shopping

    ReplyDelete