Hall of Shame service: Dunham’s Sports customer service

by David Eckoff · 9 comments

Dunham's Sports logoFile under customer service complaints: I recently purchased two pairs of ASICS Kinsei running socks, from online sporting goods merchant DunhamsSports.com. Great high-end running socks, but poor customer service from the online seller.

Dunham’s Sports correctly charged me for two pairs of ASICS Kinsei Quarter socks – but incorrectly sent only one pair of the item I ordered, along with a pair of less expensive woman’s socks that I didn’t order. I can easily accept that shipping mistakes happen. But dealing with Dunham’s Sports customer service after the fact was an exercise in frustration nearly every step of the way. While things worked out in the end, Dunham’s Sports succeeded in transforming me into a vocal detractor.

As a result, while I recommend these running socks from ASICS, I suggest not buying from DunhamsSports.com.

Having said that, these are great running socks from ASICS, specially designed to create a seamless connection between your foot and ASCICS GEL-Kinsei running shoes (see my shoe review here).

Who to buy from instead?

I can enthusiastically recommend RoadRunnerSports.com, a company specializing in running gear that has consistently shown good customer service in my past interactions them.

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Wayne Baldwin December 9, 2009 at 6:09 pm

I just purchased a marlin 30-30 w/ scope from the Richmond, KY store. The little girl that was responsible for the department had not the first clue about weaponry or ammo. She told me that there was a lever lock that locks the lever in the wide-open position that she was not allowed by federal law to remove, so the brand new gun would not fit, open levered into the box. She gave me the empty box and walked to he front door, handing me the rifle, lever in full open lock and walked away. I went to my truck and looked through the box. there were no instructions on how to remove this locking mechanism that was wedged under the scope and into the loading chamber. It was securely jammed into the gun and bare handed, it would not budge. I took a screwdriver and pried it off, scratching the blue off part of the barrel doing it, in front of the store, in the parking lot. They have a no return policy, I have been told. All I got out of this was a “sorry”. $500 brand new gun. I am soooo pissed.
I will never shop there for anything again.

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2 Steven December 23, 2010 at 7:37 am

Wayne,

You could’ve been in the store at a time when there were no “gun department” workers on shift. All Dunham’s employees are expected to work every single section of the store, and because there is usually one guy there, most girls don’t have to work there, thus they don’t know much about the guns. As company policy, she truly can’t remove that lever lock, if she did she would immediately be fired. There are always a set of keys for the lever locks inside the box, and she isnt supposed to put the gun in the box if she does not know how to dissassemble it. There is absolutely no way Dunham’s can take returns on guns. Sorry you had a bad experience, you should give another Dunham’s a try, don’t be turned away by a single bad experience.

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3 Dunham Sucks December 23, 2010 at 6:58 pm

The check-out girl at Dunham’s today was so incredibly rude to everyone. When I was leaving I said, “Merry Christmas” & smiled at her & she rolled her eyes at me. WOW! The woman that was behind me in line came up to me in the parking lot and said, “Even though she couldn’t say it, I hope you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas.” I will not let this dampen my spirit, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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4 Louis G March 1, 2011 at 4:50 am

I was in the dunhams sporting good store in southgate mi to purchase a couple of pairs of gym shoes i waited for twenty mins and recieve no help what so ever but yet there was three dunhams workers at the cash register and no costumers at the register explain that.I then walk around the store other costumers recieve no help what so ever i walk out.On the web site it says pride themselves with costumer service appearently that day there was none.Working in retail for five years we all know costumer comes first…welll at least i thought so til i went to go purchase some gym shoes that day costumer serv\ce was God awful ……

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5 steve June 9, 2011 at 9:34 pm

I Never received a response to this letter sent two weeks ago, policy states they will respond within five days

On 05-23-2011 I went to the Dunham’s store at;
2500 ROOSEVELT
MARINETTE, WI 54143
to purchase a shotgun, 12ga
after selecting my purchase I filled out the paperwork
and question #10 asks for my race
I believe that it is wrong to ask questions that are race based and did not want to answer question #10 but was told I “had to”.
So I read the instructions to #10 and they said that if none of the listed “races apply then to check the closest one.
So I crossed out the word “African” in the box African American leaving the word “American” and completed the form.
The young man behind the counter said that I couldn’t do that and said that,”you are white ,right, so just check white”, I’m not white.
I said that I don’t want to buy the shotgun then and asked for the form back containing all my personal information.
He rudely stated that I couldn’t have it back , I then asked that he destroy it then since it contained so much of my personal information.
He then said no and dashed back behind another employee and said that “they” were go to keep the info on file.
I pointed out that I did not purchase anything and that I wanted the information destroyed.
He refused , I then explained all of the above to the manager and he ,(in a less rude manner), said basically the same thing.
I said I would not shop at Dunhan’s any longer and left.
I am sending this note to inform you that I believe that my civil rights have been violated and that you have no right to my personal information which includes my SS# among other things.
Also you are not true to your own policy which states;
”Dunham’s Athleisure Corporation, dba Dunham’s Sports , values and respects your right to privacy. “

respectfully
Steve Dufek
WI

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6 roger June 30, 2011 at 8:27 pm

just fyi, its federal law that we keep the 4473 form (the form to buy a gun) even if the purchase didnt go through. i worked at shithams, and im not arguing the fact that they lack a lot, in a lot of different areas, but that is the law, and anywhere you go the same exact thing should happen. Dont give the sales associates hell because you dont know how to buy a gun, they get paid 7.40. lol

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7 Robin Bowen August 3, 2011 at 11:03 pm

I recently encountered a very frustrating experience with Dunhams sporting goods. I called the store in Holland Mi to confirm the availability of a trail camera, I was told they were in stock and asked if one could be held for me. The employee said he couldnt hold one but not to worry because the store had many. After a two hour drive to the store I was given the wrong camera and was told they could have one the next day if it was available from South Haven. I was not going to return for a two hour trip after I had been asured the camera would be in stock, I have worked with the public for over forty years and can tell you i would not return or recomend Dunhams to anyone I know.

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8 Carma August 24, 2011 at 3:58 am

I am a former employee of Dunham’s Sports and I will honestly tell each and everyone of you that it is a bad idea to shop there. I worked at a store in Zanesville, Ohio. I began there as a naive 18 year old just starting her freshman year of college. At first the place was great; organized, good customer service and associates got along well. Last Christmas season, I was working one day a week. I was on Christmas vacation so it wasn’t like I was unavailable to work. After weeks of hounding the store manager I was told that it was because I did not socialize well with my co-workers that my hours were cut down to nearly nothing (1 3 hour shift a week). By ‘socializing’ he meant that I refused to go to his house with everyone else to get completely wasted and pass out on the floor. To me, a manager having a party with his employees is very unprofessional- and to discriminate against the specific person who chooses not to do so is even worse. Finally, I gave Human Resources a call after speaking with a lawyer, I did have a case for discrimination. I made this call in NOVEMBER and did not hear from corporate until MARCH. They drove down from their offices in Michigan to ‘investigate.’ Instead, they told every employee that I was having issues with everything that I reported to them- the report was supposed to be anonymous. Corporate’s solution- get a new store manager who knows nothing about retail at all. I had worked for this company for almost 6 years AND earned 2 college degrees in the process. Dunham’s NEVER promotes from within. However, just a month ago, a girl who has worked for the company for about 3 years (verses my 5 1/2) was promoted to key carrier. This job was never open for anyone but her, and it was given to her when corporate came down because of my complaint. This company discriminates on the basis of sex, race, and sexual orientation. I’ve heard it all. Everyone in the store where I worked was white. Applications from people of color were thrown away the second they walked out the door. The girls generally are not allowed off of the register to learn anything about the gun and ammo department. I highly recommend to steer clear of this poor excuse of a company.

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9 Brian February 12, 2012 at 10:32 pm

Stopped at Dunham’s on Hall Rd in Sterling Heights Mi…..The store is a shambles and the staff working there is rude and doesn’t seem to have a clue what customer service is all about..The store is a shambles and the selection and Quality of merchandise leave alot to be desired…
I stopped there today to look at the golf Dept…The guy working the dept was rude…When i went up front to pay for a box of golf balls the line up was down the aisle with only one clerk working……it was that way the last time I stopped in to get winter gloves….
Even with a 20 percent coupon and 10 percent off team discount I am done with that store….I will take my business and my team’s business elsewhere..

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