A Guideline to Shop for Shoes At BIG 5 Sporting Goods

Big 5 is a cheap company, believe or not.  It has many weekly sales as well as special sales that keep customers coming back.  Their ability to charge such at low price for many products is due to them buying large amounts of old inventory from other companies (Nike, Adidas), inventory from companies who's products were unpopular or defective (Atlas, Marcy), and inventory from companies that are exclusively made for sale only at Big 5 Sporting Goods (Rugged Exposure, Hi-tec).  They receive this inventory at such a low price that they can charge whatever they want to the consumer while still make a profit.

I've worked for the aforementioned company for several years now.  I am in part-time sales but that pretty much means I work in the shoe department.  The shoe department is normally always the busiest and messiest place in the whole store.  It's where most of the customers go.  I hate working there.  It smells.  Bad.  Customers also tend to be pushy and annoying.  They expect for you to wait on them hand and foot.  We could care less.  We get paid minimum wage to wear a tie and dress shoes.  We also don't get commision.  However, we do respect the golden rule.  "Treat others how you want to be treated."  If you're cool with us, then we'll be cool with you.  Be friendly and patient and we'll do everything in our power to get you the right shoe at the right price.

So enough with the background.  These guidelines are made to ensure that you, the customer, receive the best possible service when shopping for shoes at Big 5:

- Please bring socks before trying on shoes.  Do not expect us to provide them for you.

- Check the shoes along the aisles before asking for a shoe from the display wall.

- Do not bring paper cut-outs of your child's shoe size and expect us to know the size.

- If you ask us to measure your foot, make sure it does not smell like vinegar and onions.

- Do not try on the display shoes from the wall without asking.

- Only ask for a shoe one at a time.  If you find another shoe you are interested in, be sure you have tried on the previous pair first.

- Do not change your baby's dirty diapers on the benches where you are suppose to be trying on the shoes. (I saw this happen one time, and they threw the diaper in the garbage nearby.)

- If you do not want the shoes, put them back correctly in the proper box and leave them on the bench where you were sitting.

- When a shoe is already marked down to $19.99, do not ask for any more discounts.  (Employees even only get a 10% discount.)

- Do not knock on the door leading to the back room.  This is the ultimate kiss of death for service.

Them's the rules.  Learn it. Live it.  Love it.