NFR - Sports Direct and sporting goods

[FPT]

Just doing some research for my studies, would appreciate your thoughts and time!

What are your thoughts on Sports Direct? Do you like the company, store? Positives and negatives?

Same applies to JD Sports.

Where do you purchase any sporting goods from and why?

What do you value as a customer?

Do you prefer to purchase sporting goods online or in store?

Do you purchase sporting goods (equipment, clothing, footwear) frequently?

What was the last sporting good you purchase?

If there's any more info you can give me, that would great!

[RaySmith]

I use Sports Direct quite a lot, as someone who does a lot of sport - running and cycling, but is on a low budget.
I use them because they are far cheaper than anywhere else - and their Karrimor range is very good quality for the money.

They seem efficient in despatching items quickly, though they charge quite a lot for postage - but they are still usually a lot cheaper than others, and I usually group items together, so as to only pay one lot of postage.

I only ever shop online.

I purchase cycling/running clothing and footwear, but more often buy specialised footwear from other suppliers, but it's the clothing I mainly use SD for.

The last items I purchased was just the other  day from SD - running shorts, and long compression socks, for £12 total.

I do have a bit of a problem after the publicity lately about the way SD treat their staff, which I certainly don't approve of, but reckon 1/ That in my experience  it isn't much worse than is general these days for low paid work 2/The mainly Polish, apparently,  people, who work there are probably glad to have a steady job.

But I obviously would like to see a climate where the low paid had better conditions and pay, and would vote for this.

[alfie]

My son worked for sports direct as a store manager, he was involved in a car crash and badly damaged his back was signed off work for 3 months, after spending time in hospital, and they sacked him for being unable to perform his managerial duties, my son has now consulted a solictor for unfair dismissal
.

[bill taylors apprentice]

I don't like the company, how they operate or some of the staff I have had dealings with.
Not my first port of call when I'm buying.

Without wishing to appear flash If I'm in the market for sports goods I'm usually looking at the higher end which they don't stock.

[Burt]

In my local shopping centre (Kingston) there is both a JD Sports and a Sports Direct.

I tend to buy stuff for hiking, tennis, running, biking and swimming.

I only go to Sports Direct as they have a larger range of stuff than JD and are generally cheaper too (that's just my perception, rather than any detailed pricing analysis!).

I never buy this sort of stuff online, as I prefer to see it before buying it and couldn't be arsed with the hassle of returning stuff if the shoes were a bit too small, etc.

The last thing I purchased was adaptors so I could use my bike pump to keep my football and rugby ball inflated!

I would struggle to say that I enjoy the shopping experience... The stores are generally quite cluttered and the place generally does my head in. But it has what I need and I don't have to pay through the nose for it.

[FPT]

Thank you for all of your replies so far, they've been incredibly helpful!

In terms of alternatives to Sports Direct and JD Sports, could you name another competitive sports retail store? And what would you like in an alternative sport that you don't get from those two companies? Whether that's cheaper products, or a cleaner website, or a certain chain of stock items?

[King_Crud]

Sports Direct and JD Sports sell sporting gear? You're having a laugh. They might sell trainers and hoodies but that doesn't make them a sports store. Lillywhites used to have a whole floor for cricket gear, now they just sell some Slazenger (owned by SD) cricket whites. SD is only good for cheap sports socks, and JD only sells fashion trainers, so no need to go there.

[Baszab]

Sports Direct have an incredible business model

They buy up bust or for sale brands - pick a price point - go to China and buy the crappiest spec they can find (e.g. a driver for £19.99) irrespective of quality
Then they stock up with different own brands at varying price points (e.g. Karrimor/Firetrap/Lonsdale/Slazenger>...) -

so to the average punter this appears to be a shop with different brands but in effect - designed by the same people with slightly different spec - all owned and bought by SD

Then the genius stroke, buy last year's branded stuff from Adidas and Nike to make it look a real sport shop - plus a few up to date football boots

Double genius stroke -- buy up other specialist retailers - Blacks/Millets, Sweatshop etc etc to steal marketing ideas

Very clever .......but stinks

About time Monopolies Commission examined their stake holdings more closely

[FPT]

Sports Direct and JD Sports sell sporting gear? You're having a laugh. They might sell trainers and hoodies but that doesn't make them a sports store. Lillywhites used to have a whole floor for cricket gear, now they just sell some Slazenger (owned by SD) cricket whites. SD is only good for cheap sports socks, and JD only sells fashion trainers, so no need to go there.

So where would you go for your sports gear? A shop nearby, an online service?

[rubbernecca]

Sports Direct have an incredible business model

They buy up bust or for sale brands - pick a price point - go to China and buy the crappiest spec they can find (e.g. a driver for £19.99) irrespective of quality
Then they stock up with different own brands at varying price points (e.g. Karrimor/Firetrap/Lonsdale/Slazenger>...) -

so to the average punter this appears to be a shop with different brands but in effect - designed by the same people with slightly different spec - all owned and bought by SD

Then the genius stroke, buy last year's branded stuff from Adidas and Nike to make it look a real sport shop - plus a few up to date football boots

Double genius stroke -- buy up other specialist retailers - Blacks/Millets, Sweatshop etc etc to steal marketing ideas

Very clever .......but stinks

About time Monopolies Commission examined their stake holdings more closely

Spot on.  I can't see this as a long term business model as customers catch on.

[King_Crud]

Sports Direct and JD Sports sell sporting gear? You're having a laugh. They might sell trainers and hoodies but that doesn't make them a sports store. Lillywhites used to have a whole floor for cricket gear, now they just sell some Slazenger (owned by SD) cricket whites. SD is only good for cheap sports socks, and JD only sells fashion trainers, so no need to go there.

So where would you go for your sports gear? A shop nearby, an online service?

What are you looking for? If you're after a pair of trainers or clothes for the gym then they're fine. If you want equipment like cricket bats, golf clubs or tennis racquets then go to specialist stores.

I play cricket so I go to Fordham Sports in Wimbledon for my kit. You can speak to experts and you know they supply quality items. If I need generic items like cricket balls then I may look online.

[The Equalizer]

Sports Direct and JD Sports are not what I would describe as 'sports' retailers. They are high street fashion retailers who happen to stock some sporting items.

When I grew up in Fulham, we had proper sport shops where you could go and buy good quality sporting equipment for any number of sports. Apollo Sport and World of Sport on North End Road were superb for it. If you wanted darts, tennis racquets, rugby balls, football boots, cricket bats, swimming goggles, judo outfits.... they had it all, and the selections were great. Sports Direct sells crap, as simple as that. Each and every sport item they sell is extremely limited to being poor quality. The issue is that these 'sports' retailers have swallowed all of the competition and you cannot buy decent quality sports gear anywhere anymore.

[FPT]

Bump.