Al's Sporting Goods — Local services in Logan

Seems like a great store; clean, well stocked, organized. Stopped in to pick up an RMR optic but saw a Springfield Hellion on the rack. $1800, which isn’t bad, so I waited for an employee to close the sale. Thirty minutes later, I was still waiting and no one seemed interested in selling merchandise. So, I left. No Hellion, no optic, and my AmEx card dissatisfied at not being brought out to play. Now, one unhappy customer won’t close Al’s down, but I don’t think I’ll return.

UPDATE ——————————

I noticed Al’s posted a response with an invitation to return to the store in hopes I would have a different experience. First, the fact they responded at all was impressive, so I decided to return. Holding a grudge is so 2023.

On Friday, 4-5-24 I went back to Al’s to purchase two fairly high priced items. I had my research completed, conviction in my heart, and my AMEX in my hand. This purchase would total about $1600 + $400 in tax stamps. If you know what a tax stamp is for, you know what I’m talking about.

I went to the Shooting department and found the case with the items I wanted. Stock appeared low, but I knew this wasn’t Al’s fault, these products are hard to come by these days.

A blue shirted employee was nearby, helping another customer. I waited, but when that customer left, the employee immediately assisted a group that had just walked up. Ok, I took the Ted Lasso/Goldfish tactic on this one and waited while wondering if some strange body odor kept the employee away. No, I distinctly remembered showering not two hours earlier. The employee finished with that group, turned and walked away.

Now, I get it. I’m kind of easy to miss. My 6’3”, 240 lb frame is pretty diminutive in the wrong light, and he may have just missed me standing there. I waited for another 10-15 min hoping like a poor kid on Christmas the employee would return. This was not to be.

I walked about 10’ to the register/counter to find three employees discussing something of great importance. It had to be something serious otherwise surely one of them would try to sell me something. Certainly they would take my money as a means of satisfying their duty as an employee of Al’s Sporting Goods. Nope, they looked in my direction and must have concluded my credit card would given them an STD or signal the apocalypse because they were not going to risk uttering the words, “Can I help you.”

I went to the front of the store and asked an employee if a manager was available. Asst. Mgr. Scott showed up in just a few seconds. He was cordial, understanding, and concurred that employees should do better. Sadly, he brought no F*&ks with him, because it was crystal clear he didn’t have one to give up over this unfortunate but irreconcilable issue. Scott was truly impressive as he had an ability to seem genuinely concerned while not having the slightest care what his employees were doing rather than selling merchandise, or what might get my credit card out of my wallet and into his hand. Scott has a future in government work if Al’s ever releases him from his responsibility of sporting goods leadership.

As much as I wanted to believe Al’s heartfelt apology, and their loving desire for me to have a good shopping experience, I’m afraid I’ve lost trust in our relationship. Al’s is the O.F. wife who promised she would stop after the ring went on, but I walked in on yet another f-fest only to be humiliated once again.

My conclusion through all of this is that Al’s is less of a sporting good store and more of a sporting goods warehouse where employees jealously guard their products so customers can’t arrange payment and walk out with anything. It’s a bold move, Cotton.. but I don’t think it’s a winning strategy.

Smith and Edwards Co., 45 min away in Ogden will have to suffice. The drive will give me time to think about how the f--- Al Larson managed to keep this place in business all...

Al's has to be the most fun sprouting goods store on the planet! They blend the perfect amount of total sports equipment from climbing and cycling gear to kayaking, snowboarding and skiing. They have an amazing selection of fishing gear for all types of fishers, young to expert Craftsman fishers. Al's has the very best firearms prices in the State and will meet or beat anyone's price. There is an excellent archery selection and even an in store range to learn how to use your new hunting apparatus.

Paint Ball guns, air soft, baseball, basketball, excellent volleyball selection, top choices in bicycles from inexpensive children's bikes to the very best in adult machines.

Al's clothing selection is amazing and their prices are always fair, but the sales are amazing. They have the best name brands in outdoor wear out there for women men and children. There shoe selection is excellent. Everything from the best running and basketball shoes to ladies boots with heals.

Every piece of camping gear, bullets, arrows, and lures can be found at Al's.

I love that there are experts everywhere. In each of the sections you will find employees who really know their stuff. And are will to go out of their way to listen to what you think you need, then help you understand what they have that will meet or exceed those needs.

I think my favorite thing about Al's is that it was started on a wing and a prayer decades ago as a cycle shop and has grown into a beautifully crafted pantheon for outdoors persons'.

I just heard they opened a store in Orem, UT as well. I am excited that a smaller retailer is doing so well against the big boys. Nothing against the boxes, but you will never get the atmosphere of care as those, that you get at Al's.

Super great place just to browse, or to plan your next excursion. But beware, there is almost surely something you will find that will grab you, find you at the register and then needing extra trunk space.

Hint: if you don't like crowds avoid the major sale days! Al's always has great prices on their merchandise. So its safe to skip those unless you are a major thrifter and bargain Hunter. Then brave the crowds and go. Al's always adds extra folks to make the expirence as quick and easy as possible to go along with all the amazing deals.

Al's is the PLACE! I hope you enjoy your trips there as much as I do mine! Thanks Al's for being awesome in a sea of places that don't care about the...

I have consistently been disappointed when trying to shop at Al’s. I’ve attempted to buy shoes from them multiple times, and I have never actually been able to make a purchase.

I wear a women’s size 6, which I understand isn’t the most common size, and many stores have a more limited selection in that size compared to other sizes. However, Al’s makes it nearly impossible to find shoes in this size.

I’ve tried several times to find running shoes there, only to be met with little to no selection. Most recently, I wanted to buy a pair of Hoka running shoes. The only reason I gave Al's another try was because it's one of the only places in Logan to buy running shoes. Before even going into the store, I checked their website to see if they had the model I wanted. Sure enough, there was only one color available in my size (which is obviously an unpopular color no one wants). I even looked at other models I didn't want as much and there were almost no options for my size in those other models as well.

I reached out to customer service to ask if they knew when a restock would happen and if there was a way to be notified. They had no idea when (or if) restocks would happen, and my only option to know about a restock was to constantly check the website. Most retailers at least offer an email notification for restocks. Al’s doesn’t, making the process unnecessarily frustrating.

I also had an experience a few years ago when I was trying to buy a different type of shoe and was immediately told to shop in the kids section because Al's didn't have the brand I was looking for in that size. That brand sells women's shoes in a size 6, and even a size 5. Al's just isn't very inclusive with their sizing.

On top of all this, their prices are high. Every time I’ve tried shopping for anything else at Al’s, I’ve been able to find the same or similar items for cheaper somewhere else. Between the lack of selection, unhelpful customer service, and overpriced products, I am hesitant to ever shop at Al's...