Common Ground — Local services in Philadelphia

Unfortunately I can’t give 0 stars. Showed up 30 min after they opened and had to wait an additional 40 min, while an employee said that only the one who could approve buying anything “the boss” wasn’t there. Employee couldn’t put my dead stock sneakers down then the person I thought I was waiting for, the owner arrived. I asked if this was who we were waiting on, he said the employee didn’t know “ his schedule.” Barely got so much as a hello other than him saying he makes the decision there. The authenticity test was done, he asked me to look up “proof of purchase”, then said he wasn’t interested while I was doing so. Something I was actively doing when he made this decision. So after a 40 min wait I couldn’t get 2 min to find the receipt from years ago in email. I asked was there a reason, again what I consider a fair question after the such a long wait with authentic sneakers, and he said we were arguing. I spoke one sentence. By we I assume he meant his issues were the deciding factor. All I said to him was I would have had it ready if I knew he needed while I was waiting, seems like a pretty logical and reasonable statement. Again I honestly thought all verification was done during that 40 min period by the employee because they stayed in his hand.All authentication items with matching barcodes. Should have been a very smooth one way or the other in a timely manner. Highly recommend you pass if you don’t want your time wasted. Sometimes arrogance closes doors. Can’t speak well about thier selection or employees based on my experience. The wait, deferring, lack of professionalism, all seem like it’s to be avoided. Lesson learned, trust the reviews. I will never attempt to patronize again. Sneakers sold elsewhere for asking no issues. It was definitely this establishment. More likely than not they trade sneakers to keep operating costs low and can’t afford to pay just for sneakers without a trade. Now an employee will come behind this review like all the other negative reviews and attempt to make it seem like this was not the case. Don’t...

Brought in a pair of bapes last summer to their old location. Never saw an Instagram post or any sort of promotion. Went to their new location this summer to pick up my bapes because I found a buyer. I was told they were in the middle of transitioning stores so they were still trying to get their inventory in order. Told me to come back the next week. Came back the next week and was told by an sales associate that the shoes were either sold or lost. Therefore, they would pay me the money they were originally posted for. Told me to come back the next week to retrieve the check because I arrived came by in the middle of the pay period. Came back the next week and was told by the manager that he didn’t know why the sales associate said that and that the “boss man” would text me when the money came thru. This was 2 months ago. About to file a police report or something because the shoes were worth a significant amount of money.

Update: owner responded. Was told they had checks(?) for me for weeks. Yet when I went in 3 separate times the guys working said there were no checks for me. Told me to email to try to square away (I did). This was last week and still...

From a buyer standpoint Common Ground was the best shopping experience I’ve had in the city.

I went to three different shoe stores yesterday and Common ground was the only store that seemed like they wanted to sell me sneakers.

As soon as I walked in it was business. The associate listened to what I needed and began grabbing things off the shelf. It was exactly what I was looking for.

The other two stores weren’t interested in me at all as a customer and lost potential money because of it.

Specifically I went into Lapstone and Hammer and went straight to the lady near the shoes. Told her I needed sneakers, don’t know anything about them, don’t own any, want something respectable, and she simply pointed at the wall of shoes and said “there you go”. 🙃

Glad common ground has people who actually want to sell you things. Can’t wait...