Adidas quietly sold me shoes which is for display/trial Time line: 7/9/2024: I bought a pair of soccer shoes from here, brand new, original price at $140, with 15% discount which is from my membership. The same day evening I wore it and played for ~90min. This was the only time I wore it. Receipt and shoes are in pictures.
7/14/2024: I found the 'F50' pattern was almost gone on the insole of the left shoe, while the pattern on the right one is complete. Given the fact that for soccer shoes the left one is on display/trial here, I thought this is the one for display/trial.
7/15/2024 and 7/16/2024: I went to the store twice requesting for exchange/refund, got rejected by the store managers.
Brief conversations:
Me: (Show receipt, shoes) I think you had sold me the shoe for display/trial and it was actually tried many times, given the 'F50' pattern is almost gone.
Store Manager: well, it might be when we removed the price sticker the pattern gone with it (then she did the experiment and know it's impossible)
Store Manager: but since you have wore this pair and it looks like we could not resell this pair later on, we won't make any change/refund.
Me: I understand. Given most part of the outside is white, I can do nothing to make it look brand new. But you should not sell me this pair in the first place
Store Manager: you should look carefully before you pay. We checked very carefully and we do not sell display/trial shoes, and when we need to sell it, there is a sticker on the shoe box indicating this pair is for display. I do not know exactly who sold you this pair
Me: You got the video recorded, and exactly whom sold this to me does not matter to me.
Store Manager: We have no access to these videos. You can call the costumer service, I will give you numbers.
Me: then I spent 20min calling the customer service and after they put me on hold, they told me to settle this issue in the exact store where I made the purchase
Store Manager: We can call also for you. You need to mention the word 'Defect'. Go to the first floor. Then an employee on the first floor called and I left my email. But I did not get any response until now
Store Manager: Again I could not resell this pair so I could not help
Me: Is this a good reason? Can you confirm the policy implies "if customer has wore the shoes once, and after one week they found it was for display/trial they could not exchange/refund"
Store Manager: I am not sure...
Me: ...........
Since I have already spent about 1 hour and got to go back to work, I left the store without any solution.
For me this experience is really uncomfortable. I usually bought adidas shoes online and no issue with exchange/refund. But this time the store manager gave me the impression that he is the final decision maker, and whatever reason you have, he can just decide with his own judgement. As a customer I felt helpless.
I went through the reviews and found that I'm not the first to complain the display/trial shoes issue. This store is an Adidas Flagship Store on Fifth Avenue of Manhattan, with many visitors including lots of tourists on a daily basis. Those customers might found later on evidences that the products were for display/trial, but since they already left NYC it was very difficult for them to take any actions. I guess this is why this store was successfully playing these tricks. I hope people who read this comment will be more careful when they shop here.
I also hope Adidas can investigate given they see this comment, and given they have access to their own videos (do they not have access to their own videos?!) It was on the third floor in the soccer cleats part. I was there on 7/9/2024, 7/15 and 7/16/2024, all between 12:00pm-13:00pm, given Adidas.
I will hide the names of the store managers but at least three managers were involved. One of them were pretty rude and one was very helpful. However, the only help they can provide is asking me to call the customer service, while they understand clearly it was an issue that should be resolved onsite in...
Read moreThe adidas Flagship Store on 5th Avenue in New York is a must-visit for sportswear enthusiasts and anyone looking for the latest in athletic fashion. The store is impressive both in size and in the range of products it offers, making it a great destination for shoppers in the city.
Pros: One of the standout features of this store is its extensive selection of adidas products. Whether you're looking for the latest sneakers, performance wear, or lifestyle apparel, you'll find it here. The store is well-organized, with each section clearly laid out, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. The displays are modern and visually appealing, adding to the overall shopping experience.
The customer service is generally very good. The staff is knowledgeable and approachable, ready to assist with finding sizes, offering recommendations, or providing information on new arrivals. The checkout process is also efficient, which is a big plus in a store that can get quite busy.
The store also features interactive elements, such as customization stations where you can personalize your gear, which adds a fun, unique touch to the shopping experience. The atmosphere is lively, with a mix of tourists and locals, which gives the store an energetic vibe.
Cons: However, the store’s popularity can also be a drawback. During peak shopping hours, it can get very crowded, making it harder to browse comfortably. The high foot traffic sometimes leads to sections of the store being slightly messy, with items out of place or low on stock in popular sizes.
Additionally, while the prices reflect the quality of the products, they are on the higher side, which is expected for a flagship store on 5th Avenue. Sales and discounts are less frequent, so it might not be the best spot for bargain hunters.
Overall: The adidas Flagship Store in New York offers a four-star shopping experience that is well worth a visit for anyone interested in high-quality athletic gear. The wide selection, helpful staff, and modern design make it a standout destination, despite the occasional crowd and premium prices. Whether you’re a dedicated adidas fan or just looking for the latest in sports fashion, this store delivers on its promise of a top-tier...
Read moreToday, I want to kick things off by saying I felt like I was treated differently at this store. It was a really frustrating experience. I bought a pair of shoes online, but they didn’t fit. I checked the Adidas app and saw there was a smaller size in stock. But when I got to the store to exchange them, the staff told me there was no stock available. So, I said I wanted to return the order, and that’s when they told me other stores accept online returns, but this one doesn’t.
I decided to call another location and the official 800 number, and both confirmed that this store could handle the return. That’s when I started to wonder if it was because I’m Asian. I called the store again to double-check about returning or exchanging the shoes, and they told me I could. When I confronted them about why the staff in-store said I couldn’t, they changed their story and said the item was out of stock but that I could exchange it for something else.
So, I went back to the store to see for myself. I found a pair of shoes on the first floor, but the staff said I needed to go to the second floor to check out. Then, when I got to the second floor, they told me I had to go to B1 to handle it. Finally, I managed to exchange the shoes at B1. At that point, I really felt like I was being treated unfairly.
After that, I went back to the first floor to find the staff member who had refused my return. I asked to return the new item, and suddenly he had no reason to say no and avoided eye contact with me. What was even more ridiculous was that while I was returning my new item, another customer came in to return an online order, and the staff didn’t say a thing about store policies—they just processed his return without any hassle.
I hope that if anyone else runs into this kind of discrimination in the future, you...
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