S.A. Elite

I’ve been here a few times, and, while it is a smaller version of Sports Authority (or any other big chain sporting goods store), they don’t seem to make the same mistakes with their customers. Each visit, I’ve been able to shop without intrusion, yet people were available to answer my questions. The pricing isn’t bad, despite their location. They specialize mostly in athletic clothing and shoes, so if you’re looking for actual equipment, you may be left wanting. Overall, I plan to shop here again.

I purchased $ 15 running socks here last week. They slipped down into my shoes. Tried to exchange them last night for a different brand at the same price. I had my original receipt. The employee at the register was unable to exchange the socks without a «code.» He spoke via headset to (presumably) a manager with a code. The manager was not in the store. I waited eight minutes. No manager. No code. I suggested to the clerk that he call again. He refused. The manager was «busy doing things for the store» somewhere else in the mall. I suggested he take my name and number, then have the manager call me when he’s back. Nope. The employee could only suggest that I come back later (later…perhaps I should call first to make sure the code-​bearing manager is available??). I refused, took the new socks, left the old socks, and left the store.
#1 — an even exchange shouldn’t take more than ten minutes
#2 — if the manager leaves the store, s/​he should leave someone with the magic return code
#3 — train your employees to solve simple customer service problems, like an even exchange, without management input
If I were in Sports Authority management, I would fire the store manager and retrain the young man who was working the register. Disappointing. I won’t be back.

This place is trouble for me. I love coming here because I get to indulge in my love for comfortable but stylish and fresh gear. There is one employee here in particular who is cool as ever but since I took so damn long to write this review I can’t remember her name. I always chat with her when I go too. Anywho, this is my spot!

I found the shoe collection – it’s along the back wall. And they have a treadmill so that you can try them out. I ended up buying a pair of shoes during my latest visit :)

This spot is quickly becoming my go-​to for athletic gear of the non-​Lucy or Lulu variety. Nothing wrong with these usual suspects, but sometimes a person just needs to change it up, especially now that the aforementioned two retailers seem to have reached critical mass. To wit: A fiftyish guy in my gym was wearing Lululemon shorts, leading me to wonder if what is happening here is just another version of what happened about a decade ago with guys wearing premium denim… I digress.
When I stopped into Sports Authority elite earlier this week to redeem my $ 20 off $ 100 coupon, I pretty much had the run of the store, as it was just before 4 pm on a weekday. The staff were helpful when they needed to be and let me browse in peace the rest of the time. I was surprised by the great sales going on all around the store – I managed to score a puma zip up and tank on discount to help me round out my purchases and bring me up to the $ 100 mark. The items are stylish vs super trendy and geared toward the performance end of the spectrum. Bonus points to the workers for letting me leave behind flyers for a run without any rolling of the eyes or attempts to turn me out of the store.

I just returned from my first visit to S.A. Elite. It was a very pleasurable experience. They honored a 10 dollar check in reward even though I did not have a confirmation number. The staff was very helpful. They may be working on commissions. I feel a little guilty because one person helped me at the beginning and someone else helped me the rest of the way.

Not quite sure what Sports Authority is going for here with it’s «SA Elite» stores, but given that I love all things relating to workout gear, I popped in one day while in the building.
They have employees at the front explaining to you the store concept: basically all higher-​end workout clothes and footwear. No gear, no equipment. Think Nike, Under Armour, Adidas etc. Pretty much all full price.
Quite a large selection of footwear, which should be the draw. For me, I jumped for joy when I saw they carried Salomon Speedcross. Granted, I already have two pairs, and they are much cheaper to order online, but it’s nice to know there is a brick and mortar store in Chicago that carries the Salomon line.
Overall, I get the impression that SA is trying to «class it up» and have a knock lulu-​esque type of store. Perhaps there’s a draw for it, but I’ll stick to my regular SA for the time being.