Academy Sports + Outdoors — Local services in Aiken County

I was in town for the Holidays in Aiken SC, and I wanted to take the time to commend great customer service! As someone who owns and operates several Fortune 500 Companies(The Rothschild Group,) I always pay attention to those who have great customer service skills. Heck, I have stolen a few employees to come work for me because I knew they possessed strong customer service and people skills, which is paramount in the success of my organizations as well as any and all organization that is in the business of sales.

Yesterday was an example of someone that I would love to come work for The Rothschild Group. Academy Sports in Aiken's Natalie is someone perfect in every way. I would hope that after her higher ups (District Manager bc I was not impressed with her managers there) see this, they would consider elevating her position or giving her a well deserved increase in income.

Natalie overheard me tell Mom "I thought their Gamecock Under Armour Gear would be on the year end clearance being season is over as well as holidays. Natalie decided to try and find out for me. She asked her management team, which were near her register up inside a box that is probably the manager's office(most stores have those offices that do not have a actual closed off office area). Now, I do not care usually about the managers, other than I paid attention because I was curious if Natalie had LEARNED this from a great management team.

No, she had not. The manager's response was abysmal. Actually, if I had been doing one of my secret "let me go pretend to be a customer to some of our properties," I would of given those managers(one was worse bc she handled the question, the other just ignored it and seemed busy, which is a bit better than hearing it all and responding with a very much "I do not care about this customer" attitude. She said "I don't know. Tell him to look online." No, you should FIND OUT. YOU HAVE that power manager, and should able to "speculate" when the end of the year clearances take place. If not, should of been something to go "sir, I am not certain, but give me a second and let me see if I can find an answer for you." If she could not, it would of went a long way that she tried. I wonder if I had been in my Armani suit and tie and told her "I golfed at the National with Ken Hicks last April." How would of she responded? That is her CEO. My point is it does not matter that I am wearing a beanie and in a T shirt, I am someone that is an obvious regular customer to know or even think to go "Let's go by Academy Sports while we are in Aiken. There Under Armour Gamecock stuff should be on clearance.

Mom and I ended up making a small purchase, but Natalie was great yet again as she rang both Mom and I up. Engaged with my Mom, by telling her "pretty shirt you picked out." My mother is 79, and was getting it for my sister's birthday so that meant a lot to hear that reassurance that the cashier felt she made a great choice, and she asked me "You a Panther and Gamecock fan!' (Was buying a Panthers beanie.). Yes mam! And here she is working at a sports store and talking.......sports! Sports fans love to talk sports! If I owned Academy, I would encourage them all to talk as much sports as possible. Noticed the teams people have, and tell them where they can find their favorite teams stuff.

Bottom Line, Natalie is the one that needs to be behind that management office overlooking HER EMPLOYEES, that she trained...to be like her OR maybe in California working for The Rothschild Group! Best wishes Natalie! I told you you...

Sensible discretion and lack of understanding of secondary English speaking Americans made for unfortunate firearms purchase experience. A family member who speaks English well, but still struggles with comprehension asked for help with one question on the ATF Form 4473 to ensure it was understood. The staff at the sales counter refused and said they needed to do it and would not help them with the question. The question answered incorrectly by mistake was 6l, about if they were an illegal alien. Clearly they were not, they had a USA passport, SS card, and state Drivers license. So clearly this was an honest error that can be “lined through” and initialed at a local small FFL without any issues. I called the corporate office and spoke to two unsympathetic corporate robots that could not be a good human decision and bring common sense to corporate policy. The back story is my family member finally found a firearm that they were able to manipulate with a minor hand injury. There was also a matter of safety to which the court approved an expedited pistol permit due to a perceived threat. This didn’t matter at all to inhuman Corporate Academy suits. Keep this in mind if English is not your primary language or if read comprehension is not your strongest. They will hide behind hind this border line discriminating policy that is NOT SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL LAW. staff either wittingly lied or ignorantly confused the law. Either case is shameful and the public should know.

For the record Melissa W. Sr. Customer Care Team Member Academy Customer Care didn’t even address the customer issue. She opted just to regurgitate company policy, cite NICS and the FBI which is irrelevant to this situation since there was NO violation or question of federal law here. What a feckless lack...

I went to Academy sports last year to buy a gun that was on sell.and the man over looked me and went to a group of men that just walked up. He started helping them as I was standing there 10 min . I looked at him and asked him he had to be joking that I have been standing here 10 min and u skipped me. So he gets pissed bc I called him out in front of everyone. Anyway so I go on to tell him what gun I wanted. Only 1 left so he gets even more pissed off bc the guys that came in wanted the same gun. So he proceeded with me buy of course. In the mean time waiting for back ground to come back and I get a phone call from my brother and was telling him what gun I was buying. I asked my brother what Barrel his was. To make sure I was getting the gun I wanted bc I loved his. So getting off the phone with my brother guy doing everything for me says ma'am I can't sell you this gun because you just stated you was buying the gun for your brother. I looked at him like he was stupid and said are you joking right now? Those words never came out of my mouth.by this time he has me pissed off to the max.and still would not let me buy the gun and red flagged me in the System there to buy guns. I cussed him out for everything he was worth. I went above his head and reported the way he done me and would not sell me a gun due to a lie he made up. So they call me telling me I could buy the gun I said screw y'all and your company I would take my Business else's where. He did what he did bc I was a woman and those other men wanted the gun. B4 hand they was my go to place. I will never set foot in another one no matter...