Sierra — Local services in Ann Arbor

This store is an unappealing mess. Sierra Trading Post used to be a great little hand-drawn catalog put out by a store in Wyoming which sold leftover manufacturer stock.

Today it is an arm of TJX, the company that owns and runs TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc. Last year TJX began opening Sierra Trading Post stores, and with one nearby in Ann Arbor, I've visited the new retail arm of Sierra Trading Post a number of times.

A few observations on the continuing decline of this once-fun little company where you could often find great deals.

The stock sold is now indiscernible from any mid-level sporting goods store. Nothing esoteric, few things of high quality are found here any more.

I keep checking prices in the store against Amazon, and except for occasional clearance items the price of the same item on Amazon (or other web retailer like Moosejaw) is usually as good or better.

Remaindered items are found throughout the store, but except for an occasional Red Wing Boot second, it's no better quality or price than at TJ Maxx, the merchandise is just skewed a bit toward "outdoor" styles. Lots of Marmot at the top end. No Arcteryx or Kuhl. Maybe a few North Face but nothing most people would want. You will often find better deals on equal quality stuff at Burlington Coat Factory. Burlington won't have the quantity, but they can have equal (and sometimes better) quality which they sell much cheaper.

Finally, I found the Ann Arbor store totally revised into a confusing dump on visiting it yesterday. Instead of shoes being presented by styles like at most shoe stores with boxes of merchandise available under open display samples as the store was initially arranged, they've turned it into a Marshall's-type dump with every set of shoes unboxed and thrown randomly on shelves. And the same was true throughout the store--totally revised from a rather attractive and distinctive design with clear departments into a cramped, chaotic mess.

This place is unfortunately no more attractive than a TJ Maxx. Sierra Trading Post has become indiscernible from the rest of the TJX retail...

My niece turned me on to this store and I love it! This was my first time visiting and definitely worth the trip. I wish they had them in California.

The pet section was expansive. The dog toys were incredible values compared to the other two major pet chains near me. I picked up a Kevlar duck since my cute lil fur baby has razor sharp teeth.

I got some walking poles and a 3L hydration bag that can go in a backpack or also hang at a campsite.

I got an incredible deal on a clearance Northface 4person tent that weighs about 9lbs for an upcoming trip.

The outdoor wear for the cooler weather was amazing. I need to lose a little more weight for the 2XLs to fit me, they all seemed to be cut a little trimmer for all the brands I tried, but would have been fine if I didn’t want something so tight. Incredible prices there also.

The poles have come in very handy as I do my 650ft incline in the first mile near my house.

I have been checking out their website now that I’m back home in California. Been picking up a few more items for my hiking trip with my nephew and niece. Gotta see how much more fit I can get for those...

I've gotten some high quality items (mostly shoes) at huge discounts, but they have recently re-"organized" their shoe selection. It used to be very accessible, kind of like DSW with stacks in the front and a small clearance rack in the back. Now the ENTIRE STORE looks like a DSW clearance rack. It makes finding what you're looking for almost impossible! It used to be great, with one style of shoe getting one shelf with all the different sizes in boxes below it in the same location. Now it's horrible! If I want to try a different size of the same shoe, I have to walk to a different aisle and look through massive, cluttered racks and pray that I can even find it to begin with. I also really liked getting the shoe box and seeing the manufacturer labels and whatnot, but they just dispose of the boxes and put only the shoes out. Next time I will try ordering online and shipping to store because it's much easier to find what I...