Academy Sports + Outdoors — Local services in Buford

Had just eaten dinner at Texas Roadhouse for my bf’s nephew’s birthday. Decided to walk over to Academy Sports to look for some shorts because I am pregnant, needed some new clothes, and it was convenient right after dinner. My bf’s nephews followed us to the store and their parents stayed behind in the parking lot. My bf and I are calmly shopping for shorts and his nephews (13,15,&17) go off on their own to look around. Next thing we know we are in men’s department checking for shorts for my bf and his nephew comes over saying they’re getting kicked out. Mind you this is the oldest nephew who wasn’t even a part of whatever the other two were doing. Apparently they were throwing a football, running around, causing a ruckus. Next thing we know, one of the employees (apparently a team lead named Natalie) comes over asking if we are with them and that we need to get out if we are and that they are “choosing not to do business with us.” I was so in shock because we had absolutely nothing to do with what his nephews were doing and while we did walk in together, we had the intentions of actually shopping and we figured they were mature enough to look around on their own, especially considering their parents were outside. As in we were not responsible for them or what they chose to do. While I completely understand the disruption not being wanted in the store, they asked the three boys to leave and they did. Meanwhile, after the boys had already left the store like they were told, the Team lead continued to have an extreme attitude, continuing to tell us to leave when we were in a completely different department, cursing, and threatening to call the police on us to escort us out. The ironic part is that their was another employee there who was a witness to everything and even said we were minding our business shopping and that it wasn’t fair to ask us to leave when we had nothing to do with it and his nephews already left like the store asked. I was still in shock and at that point I was ready to put my things up and not give them business. I felt as if Natalie racially profiled my bf, not only assuming that we were with them, but also trying to kick us out of the store for something we had no part in and had no idea was even going on. Their nice and understanding manager named Amy, asked us what was going on, understood where we were coming from, and allowed us to continue to shop since we did not have any part in his nephew’s wrong doings. I don’t know if I’ll be back, just considering all of the unnecessary drama, and being talked down to. but I do appreciate how the manager handled it & allowed us to continue about our day and finish shopping. Hopefully this doesn’t happen again with...

I went there today to return some 2-in-1 hiking pants and hiking boots I had purchased for a hiking trip in Italy. When the boots came in, they were too small and I didn’t have time to return them before the trip.

The day before I left, I wore the pants for the first time—aside from trying them on—and they were rubbing on the inside of my knee from where the zipper attached. I realized I wouldn’t be able to wear them hiking because I would be rubbed raw. Since I didn’t have time, I left the return for when I returned.

When I got back, I went to return the boots and pants. Immediately, they said I could not return the pants because I didn’t have the receipt or tags. I explained that tossed the tag and receipt because the pants had fit when I tried them on, but I couldn’t wear them on the hike because they rubbed. I further explained that I had them on for maybe 5 minutes and they were already causing discomfort. I was told that I couldn’t return them without a receipt because they wouldn’t be able to find the transaction. I then told them that you could find it using the credit card it was paid for. “That’s not possible. And even if it were, you wore them and we cannot take them back. We have a policy.” I asked to see the policy because the website never states that in their return policy and told them you can absolutely lookup transactions using the credit card because I also work in retail. After losing his temper a bit, the team lead gave in.

We went to another register and he was able to find the transaction using the credit card and scanning another like item. IMAGINE THAT! Also to my surprise, he actual flat out told me that I didn’t need to show him the receipt for the boots, just enter my card and it will find the transaction.

Awful experiences like this will drive me away from stores. Especially when I was lied to. I’m sure there are great people that work there, but I will not be shopping...

Academy sports sales person misinformed me and ended up signing me up for a credit card. Of course, I would never sign up for a credit card from Academy Sports. But this is only the beginning of the story. The cc company they use do not send a bill by mail or by email so we are unable to see the statement. They keep calling and saying we have late fees. So my $40 order is now $100 and keeps increasing. I have no way to pay for the credit card. When I went to the store, they said not my problem, call the credit card company. Seems they get commissions from signing up people for their store credit card and in order to get more sign ups conceal the fact that its a credit card. I have spent hours on this over several months with on resolution in sight. The company they use is an offshore company and people there don't speak English. Unsure what to do at this point. Reading reviews, I see many people fell into the same trap as me. Be very careful with their credit cards.

UPDATE 12/16/2024 Still dealing with the issue! Months of weekly harassing calls. I went to the store again regarding this issue, they said there is nothing they can do. The company they use is called Bread Financial, and their primary source of revenue is late fees. They cannot send you a bill, so when you make payment, all they have to do is call you back next month asking for more money, claiming that you owe them late fees. This appears to be how they make their money. Never experienced anything close to this in my life. STAY FAR AWAY FROM...