Charm City Run Timonium — Local services in Timonium

I really want to shop local... I really do. But sometimes, local shops make it very difficult.

Charm City Run was one of my favorite stores! Sales staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Over the last two years or so, each time I went there, I ended up learning a thing or two about running in addition to getting my gear!

So, why am I complaining? Well, I feel a little bit cheated after my very last visit. In late April, I needed a new pair of shoes. I had seen many ads of Hoka but I have never worn their shoes before. I wasn't sure. Sales staff told me that I could return worn shoes in two weeks for store-credit. That was the assurance I needed. I got a pair of Ahari 5. In a week, I realized they were not for me. I went back, someone else helped me choose a new pair. But wait, apparently my Ahari 5 was on sale, so they did not accept the return. It was the store policy, it even said so on the receipt... The receipt spoketh, and even though I did not know I got a pair on sale, that was the end of the story. There was nothing they could do...I had just spent around $110 on a pair that I could not run in...

I vaguely remember reading that Hoka had a 30-day guarantee that applied to products bought elsewhere, too. I chatted with their customer service, ended up shipping my Ahari 5s back to them for a store credit on Hoka.com. It cost me $15 in shipping fees, but I got a new pair of Mach 4 and learned a valuable lesson: I should always read my receipt and learn more about their store policies.

Long story short, it is just really upsetting when I get more help / understanding from an online customer service agent than I do at a...

If there is one thing I cant deal with and wont deal with is attitude from a vendor who I'm giving them my hard heard money. I went into buy some running shoes, both gentleman who helped me out were awesome and rather knowledgeable about the various brands. Unfortunately I had to come back because they didn't have what I wanted, no big deal, they took my name and number and I was on my way. When I got a call the shoes had come in, I returned. There are two blond females who work in the Timonium store that just have nasty attitudes, its just their whole demeanor as if I'm wasting their time. When I walked in it was the undertone in the voice and asked what I needed, I told her, and she must have looked through six stacks of paper to find my information she still couldn't find so now it really annoyed her that she actually had to do some work and ask me some questions. She still couldn't find the shoes and her body language was matching the haste and discontent in her voice as she unwillingly showed me the sneakers "it might be because yours were sold". Lastly I made a joke that they make software for the paper issue, yes they actually make software literally for the purpose of tracking customer needs on the fly...her response "Um no this is how it has to be to work", it didnt work so well!!! I would give them one star but once again the men saved the day from these women and their nasty attitude.

BTW: I returned the sneakers and bought them at another store just because of these females. Several of my friends have...

I’m always so perplexed about just what to do in these situations – because it doesn’t happen that often and I’m still kind of shocked when it does. Decided to share.

The mostly short of it… I ordered a Brooks Dare Crossback bra online, the 1.0 version but the 2.0 version was delivered. Emailed customer service about initiating the return and was told I could bring it into the store for a return. I went into the Timonium store on 7/23/23 @ about 12:30 PM. As I made my way into the store with the box the package came in with the charm city tape still on the box – the girl that ended up completing the return did take a pregnant curious stare at me before asking did I need help with something. oooook I said I needed to return the bra (with all its original tags and unworn). She inspected it and asked if it was unworn – I said yes. The lady at the counter helping another customer did manage to make awkward glances at me and darted her eyes away when we made eye contact. I’m not sure, maybe they thought they were seconds away from being robbed or maybe they don’t get too many black women customers. Not sure – I haven’t had an experience like that in a store in years.

I gave them 2 stars because the year before, my partner was visiting from California (before she relocated) and I took her here. Great experience, she picked up a pair of Brooks Levitates, a few pair of Balega socks (which I too now LOVE), and a Brooks Bra.

Just an awkward and very unwelcome experience – so very opposite of RoadRunner...