Wholesale Sports is closing.

[Anonymous123]

Anyone have recommendations for finding good hiking shoes in WK? We don't want to 'go into town' if we can avoid it, besides The North Face store on Bernard is gone, Sport Check has lack of inventory/sizes, and Atmosphere has hours that just don't work for our schedules, unless we want to take time off work and ensure the purchase of two pairs of hiking shoes costs $500.

Amazon if you want it fast. eBay if you can wait a bit.

[Even Steven]

Just try it out locally, find the exact style you like, exact size that fits you, and order it from Amazon. You'll save yourself 30% at least.

There's also Zappos.com

[Huntress1992]

Sales will get better as they get down to their closing date, December 28th I'd imagine. Just as the Target did when they shut their doors. It's a strategy to recover as much cost as they can on products. They know people will buy the good stuff for less of a discount right away because they know it'll be gone if they wait too long. That's the way business goes.

[sulchie]

Just try it out locally, find the exact style you like, exact size that fits you, and order it from Amazon. You'll save yourself 30% at least.

There's also Zappos.com

This is the problem. You're already at the store with shoes in hand, just buy them. Or else the shoe store will have to close and you'll have nowhere to even try on shoes, except walmart.

[Bsuds]

Just try it out locally, find the exact style you like, exact size that fits you, and order it from Amazon. You'll save yourself 30% at least.

There's also Zappos.com

This is the problem. You're already at the store with shoes in hand, just buy them. Or else the shoe store will have to close and you'll have nowhere to even try on shoes, except walmart.

I have some neuropathy (nerve damage) in my feet and shoes are a tough buy for me. If they don't feel "right" then I can't wear them. I have tried ordering online with mixed success. It's difficult to impossible to get a proper fit/feeling.

I much prefer to try them on in person.

[kgcayenne]

I too have some reasons to need to try footwear, especially with the way there's so little correlation between brands. I don't mind paying well, but I expect quality.

[Bsuds]

I too have some reasons to need to try footwear, especially with the way there's so little correlation between brands. I don't mind paying well, but I expect quality.

This would be a separate thread but clothing/shoe sizing between mfrs is horrible. There is no way you can be confident something will fit properly if purchased on-line.

[Even Steven]

This is the problem. You're already at the store with shoes in hand, just buy them. Or else the shoe store will have to close and you'll have nowhere to even try on shoes, except walmart.

It doesn't cost the store money if I pop in and check things out. They're already open. They already have staff. They already have lights on. They're not spending extra money on me walking into the door.

And if they can't compete with online, they're dinosaurs.

[Symbonite]

Thats why are focusing their efforts on commercial. Consumers are too hard to deal with and they are never right...even though they are entitled to be. Commercial clients do not care as long as it works.

But a place like this probably would work better in the States than in Canada...

[ol goat]

It doesn't cost the store money if I pop in and check things out. They're already open. They already have staff. They already have lights on. They're not spending extra money on me walking into the door.

And if they can't compete with online, they're dinosaurs.[/quote]

That's the reason stores close is because of that sort of reasoning. The store do have to pay staff, rent, buying the product paying the hidden costs getting it to them i:e taxes, brokerage fees if imported, shipping
By the time most little stores do this , there is little if any profit left if they meet the online pricing

[ol goat]

Granted this store was higher priced than most local compitition

[sulchie]

It doesn't cost the store money if I pop in and check things out. They're already open. They already have staff. They already have lights on. They're not spending extra money on me walking into the door.

And if they can't compete with online, they're dinosaurs.

They have to sell stuff to keep the lights on and the rent paid and employees paid and the ceo needs a nice dividend too. Future Shop died because of this exact mentality you have.

[Even Steven]

Future Shop died because of this exact mentality you have.

Then they deserve to die. If they can't compete with online, they're not fit to be in the marketplace.

[lesliepaul]

10 years ago I thought MEC was a great store with pretty good prices at the time. Never went in one for 6 years until the Kelowna store opened and WOW!!!!!!........clothing and accessories are through the roof price wise. Will wait until next year when a trip to the U.S. is planned to buy clothing and other daily used items. By the way......the deals are better the further south you go from the border. Remember, Oregon also has no sales tax..........can't wait and will be looking at some U.S. money soon. Even at 15 to 20 cents on the dollar there are huge savings on lots of things we are interested in. Been in Cabela's and Bass down there and thank god I am not an "outdoorsman"........expensive lifestyle any way you look at it. You have to look at the smaller name local shops to save.

[Symbonite]

Future Shop died because of this exact mentality you have.

Then they deserve to die. If they can't compete with online, they're not fit to be in the marketplace.

Best buy killed it because they wanted to have the Best Buy name in all markets. US and Canada. No point to have "competing" stores.