Today, for the first time ever, I ordered my first ever pair of running shoes on-line.
Okay, I know that for many runners that's no big deal but I've always been a firm believer in supporting specialist running stores. The only specialists within easy reach for me are Achilles Heel and Greaves, both in Glasgow. I've always felt (and still do) that if we aren't prepared to pay a bit over the odds for shoes (that subsidise the service that specialist stores provide) we've only ourselves to blame when they shut up shop and we lose a valuable resourse.
So why have I gone against my pronciples this time. Well.... (wishy washy justification coming up), firstly, like a lot of more experienced runners, these days I'm not so wowed by having the latest version of a shoe. I'm also less inclined to experiment. If a shoe works for me, I'll stick with it. Consequently, I'm not really interested in any of the "extra" services offered by the shop.
Secondly, the shoe I want (the Asics gel Landreth) is, I feel, a good "cooking" running shoe. It fits my foot well and is nice an comfy. It does have two faults though. Namely, the price and its durability. Every pair of Landreths I've owned have headed into the bin because the upper starts tearing away from the sole near my little toe which is long before there is significant (visible) wear in the rest of the shoe.
Okay, I know that for many runners that's no big deal but I've always been a firm believer in supporting specialist running stores. The only specialists within easy reach for me are Achilles Heel and Greaves, both in Glasgow. I've always felt (and still do) that if we aren't prepared to pay a bit over the odds for shoes (that subsidise the service that specialist stores provide) we've only ourselves to blame when they shut up shop and we lose a valuable resourse.
So why have I gone against my pronciples this time. Well.... (wishy washy justification coming up), firstly, like a lot of more experienced runners, these days I'm not so wowed by having the latest version of a shoe. I'm also less inclined to experiment. If a shoe works for me, I'll stick with it. Consequently, I'm not really interested in any of the "extra" services offered by the shop.
Secondly, the shoe I want (the Asics gel Landreth) is, I feel, a good "cooking" running shoe. It fits my foot well and is nice an comfy. It does have two faults though. Namely, the price and its durability. Every pair of Landreths I've owned have headed into the bin because the upper starts tearing away from the sole near my little toe which is long before there is significant (visible) wear in the rest of the shoe.
I'm still getting 4-500 miles out of them but it annoys me, particularly when they cost the between £70 & £80 quid in the shops. On-line, I can get them for £39.99 (+£3 p&p). That's a big saving and one I find hard to ignore.
Do I feel guilty? Yep. Will it keep me awake at night? Probably not. What'll probably happen is that I'll feel duty bound to buy something hideously overpriced from Achilles heel in the next month or so to assuage my guilt. ;-)
Do I feel guilty? Yep. Will it keep me awake at night? Probably not. What'll probably happen is that I'll feel duty bound to buy something hideously overpriced from Achilles heel in the next month or so to assuage my guilt. ;-)
1 comment:
Interesting post Tim (yes, you are aggregated so I don't comment too often but always read).
Have found a similar thing with bike shops in the past but know my local one very well now and they are happy to price match where appropriate to get business in.
Andy
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