Strauss Skates and Bicycles — Local services in Maplewood

Just moved to the east side, and needed some gear. I always look to buy from local small business if I can. Went to Strauss to get gloves and shin pads. Asked if they had any size 13.5 gloves, guy there said "they don't make them," which I found interesting since I was currently wearing size 13.5 gloves. I walked around looking at gloves for 15 minutes, and no one asked me if I needed help. Mind you, they had like 8-10 people working that week day in the store, but they all seemed too busy talking with other employees and what seemed to be vendors. I finally asked someone for help, he talked to me for 2 minutes and moved on. I had to get gloves that day, so I found them on my own. Started looking at shin pads, couldn't get anyone to help me, so I bought the gloves and left. Looked online later that day and the gloves I bought were priced for less on their website, yet they sold them to me at the higher price in the store.

I went to Pure Hockey later that week for the shin guards. A woman there answered all of my questions, walked me around, showed me the options, gave me some perspective. Just went back to Pure Hockey this past week for a new stick, full shield, and some accessories. Once again, the guy there walked me around, answered my questions, showed me options, gave me perspective.

The service I expected to get from a local, smaller shop I received at the larger chain store. I can't believe how poor my experience was at Strauss. Whether I'm buying sporting goods, hardware, music gear, whatever, I always start with the local shops to support them and to get what I assume will be better service. Will never go back to Strauss. Shared my experience with guys I skate with, most of them said the same thing about Strauss. What a...

The only place I’ll go for a sharpening from now on.

I moved here recently and had some cheap Bauers I bought for $70 from a used sporting goods store.

I wanted some better skates so I bought some mid-tier new Bauer skates from a known chain of hockey stores where they said they sharpened the skates. The skates were not sharpened. I brought them to a store in Saint Paul that is supposed to be “the best” in town. They charged a good amount of money and after two different sharpenings, the skates still were not sharp.

I finally took them to Strauss and upon quick inspection I was told the inside edges were not sharp (one skate was sort of okay). 10 minutes later my skates were done. The guy that sharpened them also gave me a tip to note my boots all the way to the top until I break in the skates a little more. I took them to an open skate that same day for a quick test and it was a huge improvement! I got about 8 hours of skate time out of them this weekend so I just got back from sharpening them today and they feel perfect.

Strauss is the best. Taking your skates anywhere else for a sharpening is a waste of your...

Moved to the Twin Cities from a place where you don't grow up playing hockey. After getting some used skates and a cheap wooden stick off craigslist and playing a couple times, I decided I needed a decent stick. I asked my buddies where I should go and heard about Strauss. Came into Strauss one evening and explained to the guy at the counter how I was looking for a stick but had limited hockey experience. He showed me to a rack of sticks right in my price range and told me all I needed to know. Could not be anymore happy with this experience. No one tried to oversell me on a pricey new stick or pressure me into buying anything really. Got the feeling from the employees of "Hey happy to help you, this is what we got, I'd think it'd be great for you, let me know if you have any questions or need help" Which, I think, is the best shopping experience. I even came back the following week after purchasing my new stick (which I love) and told them that it might be a bit too long for me. They cut it down for free and also got my skates sharpen in no time at all. Not going anywhere else for...