Sportsdirect - Terrible Service - No cash refund 1 day after purchase

unexploded

I thought I'd share my experience with Sports Direct.

Firstly, I'm absolutely aware of "you get what you pay for", but to be quite honest, what I buy isn't 10 pairs of Donnay boxer shorts for £3. It's Adidas sports wear or cricket shirts which generally don't have too much marked off the price.

And secondly I've worked in retail and run my own business so I know how both ends of the deal work.

A few months ago I went to the Stafford branch for a pair of Adidas jogging bottoms, and we're about £20-odd (so not some daft 70% off deal), and then I noticed that this particular pair had another label on it for £10. So I went to the till, it was scanned and it came out at the normal price, which I then questioned. The girl behind the till then said that people are taking labels off cheaper clothes and putting them on more expensive items. But the way she said it, it was like she was suggesting I had done that. In front of a lot of customers, you could imagine it was rather embarrasing. So after that I pretty much vowed not to shop there.

My brother and me decided to get my dad one of the England Cricket training jerseys for Christmas, so last week we placed an order and bought it from the sportsdirect.com website (brother's fault haha!).

I received it yesterday and it has a snag in the shirt, quite easy to find and on the front (why did they not see this when packing it?). So I thought as it's so close to Christmas there's no chance this can get sent back and exchanged before hand (especially with the snow). So I rang all my closest stores, closest ones are 10 miles away. I rang Walsall branch, asked if they had any in and if so can they exchange a faulty product but on their website, which they said was fine and they told me they had "loads in stock", and so they didn't need to put me one aside.

So I drove 10 miles at a snails pace (snow and all that), parked up on the most horrible NCP car park, found the store and the girl there unfortunately dealt me the news that there aren't any of these particular shirts in stock. She was very apologetic so I didn't want to get on to her about it. I spoke to the manager, he didn't apologise once, and was no help at all.

Naturally I was pretty annoyed about this, so I found the customer service number on this particular forum post (no numbers on the website, surprise), after half an hour's wait on the phone I was told to return it, scan the proof of postage and send them an email with it so that they can immediately despatch me a replacement. I just know that this won't happen before Christmas because they're one of the most inept companies that I've ever dealt with.

So I've wasted in total of 20 miles of petrol, £2.20 car parking and my time.

Plus I can't even wrap it up for my dad, present it then tell him I've actually got to exchange it because exchanges have to be made within seven days of delivery!

Anyway there you go, feel a bit relieved now haha!

Jeff_Bridges_hair

trumpton wrote: »

Sports Direct is ok for the occasional bargain, but mostly it is full of tat, staffed by fairly clueless kids, and it's constant 70% off price reductions could give DSF a run for their money in the liar stakes.

Also, many of their brands are actually owned by Sports Direct - they own Antigua, Carlton, Donnay, Dunlop, Kangol, Karrimor, LA Gear, Lillywhites, Lonsdale, No Fear, Slazenger and Voodoo Dolls, and a 50% stake in No Fear. So how can they claim '70% off RRP' when they own the company and set the RRP? The RRP is just fiction made to make their tat look cheap.

Remember when Dunlop, Slazenger, Donnay were quality sports brands? The other thing I notice is that even when you see a 'quality' brand in SD, like YSL, the clothes feel and look like stuff off the market. If it's genuine, why is that?

So they own No Fear and also own a 50% stake in No fear.. wow

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Also this 70% thing is in the same way that TK Maxx operate - its not always about having things actually 'on sale'

myatt_2

ianianian wrote: »

Evening all,

A quick question which I’d be grateful for help with and then a rant if you wish to read on.

I have been told I cannot have a refund on a pair of trainers just one day after purchase. I can't find the returns policy online, but i can't believe that I can't get a refund after 1 day. Is this true?

Now for the little rant

*I went into a branch on Saturday, waited almost 30 minutes for to try on a pair of trainers during which time i had to advice other customers about trainers as the store was seriously understaffed and the staff there were quite frankly useless
*I thought the shoes were too tight, but was told i would have to join the queue and wait another 30 minutes to get another pair to try. I decided to buy them and try them at home

*I was told I had to queue up at a separate queue to get some swimming equipment, then back up to the main queue to collect my trainers.
*All in all i waited an hour for a pair of trainers and some goggles! I would wait that long to buy a car!
*Having tried the shoes on at home and decided they didn't fit I have taken them back. They had non in a bigger size, but i could not have a refund as i didn't buy them on my credit card and so have been given a voucher.
*I’m definitely complaining. I appreciate this is a discount store, but the service is appalling and I can’t face more time in the shop!

some people want it both ways dont they. you cant have your shoes at rock low prices and expect quick service, they are cheap because the shops run understaffed to reduce costs. if you want great service walk accros the road to JJB AND PAY £20 POUND MORE FOR THE SAME PAIR OF TRAINERS

pricey85

RHYSDAD wrote: »

I hate sports direct stores. Instead of having large signs saying '99% off' and such like, they should have large signs saying 'if there is ever a fire in this shopping centre, this is where the bodies will pile up'. You can barely move in there such is the stocking density!

The fact that I found this funny makes me worry that I'm a bad person.

I agree with you though, I will happily pay extra (not a normal occurance believe me) on a product to avoid having to go into Sports Direct. Everything's too close together, makes it a nightmare trying to get anywhere/avoid people, it's not worth the hassle.

sirmarcus

RHYSDAD wrote: »

I hate sports direct stores. Instead of having large signs saying '99% off' and such like, they should have large signs saying 'if there is ever a fire in this shopping centre, this is where the bodies will pile up'. You can barely move in there such is the stocking density!

pricey85 wrote: »

The fact that I found this funny makes me worry that I'm a bad person.

I agree with you though, I will happily pay extra (not a normal occurance believe me) on a product to avoid having to go into Sports Direct. Everything's too close together, makes it a nightmare trying to get anywhere/avoid people, it's not worth the hassle.

If you want, I can supply you with the email address of the Sportsdirect CEO to complain to ?;):)

tensey

I’m in a nightmare situation with SportsDirect as I purchased some goods online which was a big mistake from the start..
They have not been delivered to me and when I called customer services (which I had to wait 30mins to get through too, i wonder is this to put people off in the hope they wont hold on and hang up or just due to the volume of complaints they are receiving) they fob me off and don’t seem to know much at all or care for that matter.
Many weeks have passed now and nothing sorted..
My only hope is a chargeback as paid by credit card but have to wait a good few more weeks before CC Company can go ahead.

ummaboodie

Just got stung myself with Sports Direct.com. Ordered some trainers and a jacket for my son and not only did they never arrive, but tracking states it was delivered and signed for with my name! Numerous emails to customer services have failed to generate the goods or a refund. They were good at taking my money though! I'm planning a drive up to shirebrook to have it out with them in person. I'm not easy! If you are a Sports Direct customer or are planning to be, and think this will probably not happen to you, think again. Sure, there are bargains to be had at that store but since it could also just be £50 down the toilet - you might be better off playing the damn lottery. (not that I advocate gambling in any way,shape or form btw...)

zaksmum

I've had refunds from Sports Direct...and promptly.

BlueAngelCV

ummaboodie wrote: »

Just got stung myself with Sports Direct.com. Ordered some trainers and a jacket for my son and not only did they never arrive, but tracking states it was delivered and signed for with my name! Numerous emails to customer services have failed to generate the goods or a refund. They were good at taking my money though! I'm planning a drive up to shirebrook to have it out with them in person. I'm not easy! If you are a Sports Direct customer or are planning to be, and think this will probably not happen to you, think again. Sure, there are bargains to be had at that store but since it could also just be £50 down the toilet - you might be better off playing the damn lottery. (not that I advocate gambling in any way,shape or form btw...)

That sounds like a problem with their delivery company rather than them. I don't think going there in person will help. I would ask them for a copy of the signature and if you're satisfied that it is no-one from your house then send them a Letter Before Action giving them 14 days to provide a refund or you will take them to small claims court.