8 replies to this topic

[Angus]

Hi everyone

I'm in Brisbane, and am looking for a new pair of running shoes. I've been to InTraining previously...[edit, we all know why...]
I now have orthotics, and pod. told me to look for relatively neutral shoes. I still would like to have them fitted at a running store, but I guess my experience at InTraining put me off a bit.
So my question is this: what is the best running store in Brisbane?
Thanks, and have a great Easter!

Angus

[clairie]

Hi Angus, I am suprised you say that as Intraining is the store that actually helped me with my feet with other stores were not as accurate.

I have learnt however that it is absolutely necessary to be honest and provide as much information as you can about how a shoe feels when you put it on. Also to bring in old pairs etc so they can see the wear/tear patterns.

Sometimes people still go into running specialist stores and ask for a certain pair of shoe (what they are used to or have had before) without trying other brands/styles on. This doesnt really allow for anyone to make a recommedation to you...

It is only through your feedback that any shoe fitting specialist will find the best one for you.

In Brisbane there are a number to try.
Intraining (all brands)
Run on Down (Nike specialist)
The Run Inn (Asic specialist)

Other CRs may know some more that I am not aware of.
But perhaps now that you have bagged the store publicly you might give them the chance to do you a service.

[Steve 'The Footman']

Angus, I am sorry to hear that you feel you had a poor experience finding shoes at our store. We feel that our sales process is the best way to make sure that you end up with the right shoe. By looking at your old shoes and your feet and then running in each pair of shoes that you try on, and being served by runners with a high level of knowledge and training, you should end up with the right shoe. However sometimes it does not work out, even if we get it right more often than other stores.

I suggest you come back in the store with all your shoes and have a run on our treadmill. We can video you to see how severe the pronation really is and you can see it played back in slow motion. If we really stuffed up that badly we will give you a free pair of shoes. And even if we did not I would like to extend a 20% discount. It is much harder to get negative feedback than positive feedback so it makes it that much more important for us to know when someone is unhappy. If you call up beforehand you can make sure that you can come when I can see you personaly - at no fee of course.

The only other comment I would make is that overpronation is the most overdiagnosed condition around. While it might be a good reason to recommend orthotics a certain amount of pronation is necessary to avoid injuries. You would think that if you have orthotics for severe overpronation than it would be best to at least get a stability shoe rather than a neutral shoe which does not control pronation.

It all becomes obvious when you have a run in shoes with different amounts of stability what your feet are really needing. I hope that a thorough 'running' gait analysis was done prior to getting orthotics.

I also hope you take up my offer for curiousity sake if nothing else. Our goal is to do everything possible to make sure we have satisfied customers, and I hope that you could be included in that category once again.

Sincerely

[Cirque]

Hi Angus
I'm also surprised that you had a negative experience at InTraining. Can I suggest you give them another go?
I bought some shoes there when I moved down from the Sunshine Coast a couple of years ago and I was so impressed with Steve's knowledge and advice that I now also consult him as a podiatrist. He has replaced the dodgy orthotics I was given elsewhere and fixed many of the problems I was having. I'm not aware of any other store in Brisbane that offers better service or greater expertise.

[Angus]

Sorry, don't have time for a full reply now, but have looked at info you guys have provided.
Main reason for this short post - I'm sorry for bagging your store, Steve - realise in retrospect it may have been better not to name your shop. My apologies.
I will come back and have a look at all this in more detail later. Thanks for replies!

[undercover brother]

agree with cirque and clairie.
intraining is the only brisbane store where you can try on different brands of shoes and get the good advice that you need.
take steve up on his offer.

[Angus]

Hmm ok now I am just feeling bad about even posting in the first place - can we please have a mod delete this thread??
It doesn't seem to add much to anything, and really only seems to bad-mouth Steve's store - which was not my intention, nor should it be seen as such...
Should have thought before asking the question the way I did.
I will pop into InTraining at some stage soon. Thanks for your replies everyone, and yours in particular Steve.

[Jogger]

Angus,

We don't delete stuff just because someone asks us to. I should say here that InTraining comes out very well with the shopper support they have been given on this thread. They know that every single shopper presents different needs/issues and you may have been short on time or didn't fully explain something etc.

I am sure they realise that despite trying very hard there may well be people that feel they didn't get what they were looking for - that's part of life - no one is expecting absolute perfection.

I am sure you will now be able to visit the store and get the great personal attention from "the footman" himself, and then you can come back here and write about how good/bad they were this time round - you will have the opportunity to sing their praises or whatever.

That might show that something positive can always be redeemed, and just think, if you didn't post at all or we removed it asap we would all have missed this great opportunity.

Don't worry about it.

[Puntermatt]

On the same subject, I'd like to warn CR's that the Athlete's Foot's much vaunted FitPrint gimmick is unreliable. It completely misdiagnosed my shoe requirements ultimately leading to injury.

Runners are much better off having an accredited podiatrist recommend the correct shoe type rather than utilising gimmicks such as the FitPrint.

cheers
PM