Charlotte Running Co

A great local shop to support. All the running brands you can’t find in the big department stores, accompanied by a knowledgable staff. They’ll really talk to you and get to know you in order to get you exactly what your looking for. I only wish I lived a little closer.

I have to say, my overall experience as far as service, a team of workers that know running shoes and will help you pick out and find the shoe that works best for you… this is the place, they are very customer focused and are happy to work with you to find the right running shoe or accessories.
Pro’s:
Great location, great staff, fairly good selection of shoes and other accessories to meet all of your running needs.
Con’s:
And this is a big one for me and the reason I gave them only 3 stars — return policy. To me, customer service is not only about helping you find the right shoe or item you are looking to purchase, but to also have a great or flexible return policy. I was very disappointed that The Charlotte Running Company works off the philosophy that once they have your money, it’s theirs, no exceptions. Buy something, even a gift item never worn or even tried on, don’t look for them to refund you for your purchase, you have the option of a store credit or gift card. This to me is unacceptable. When I make a purchase and pay cash, credit, I expect if I follow the policy I get back my cash or credit, not a store credit that ties me to have to come back and find something within their store to be able to get my money back. It’s simple! You pay with money, you have your receipt, you make a return of an item that doesn’t work for you they return your money. NOT THE CHARLOTTE RUNNING COMPANY. And because of this, I can only rate them 3 stars as I am now stuck with a $ 125 store credit, found the shoes I actually want online because they didn’t have them and could not order them. I guess I know what my running friends will be getting for holiday presents… my store credit!
Because of the lack of flexibility on returns, 3 stars max and I won’t shop there in the future or recommend them. They have a competitor in Park Road shopping center that provides the same level of service, selection and is happy to return your money if the item you purchase doesn’t work out. Get with the program guys!

My first experience here. I walked in and the owner greeted me and made sure I knew he’d be helping me through the process. He asked me some questions. Looked at my current shoes. Watched me run and gave me 3 pairs of shoes in 5 minutes. The first pair he handed me were my favorite. I tried the others but went back to the first pair. He gave me some advice on my first half marathon coming up. I will be back when I wear these out!

We came in today, relative newbies to the running scene and had an awesome time. I have never been to a retail store where the people helped so much. They weren’t out to get just a sale, they were out to make customers for life. We had a bad experience at another running shop not too far away and we worried we would be treated the same here, but were happily surprised to have quite the opposite experience here. We will definitely be back!

The sales associates were extremely helpful over the phone despite the fact that I am not a regular customer. I had called a couple of days ago to inquire about a specific shoe style and the various models. The sales associate spent about 20 minutes talking to me over the phone about my gait, shoe preferences, and purchasing options. The best part, he wasn’t even pushy to make a commitment with Charlotte Running or to make a purchase with them.

5 stars for customer excellent customer service! Traveled 2.5hrs from Boone, NC and found this excellent store. Originally went to the Ballentine location and they sent me to Dilworth for a bigger selection in the type of shoe I was looking for. At both stores the staff were helpful and knowledgeable. They listened to what I was looking for and didn’t try to sway me. Mike pulled out tons of shoes for me and even pulled out more to show me some other things. I went in planning on getting one pair and walked out with 2 because they were so gracious to allow me to trade shoes (new) I ordered from saucony that I didn’t want. I returned home with one shoe feeling great and the other not after a short run. I called Mike a week after my purchase and he told me to come in. I asked if I could ship so I didn’t have to travel again and he was kind enough to allow me. I told him what I wanted including the color I preferred. he texted me the morning he received them and said he had the size but would have track down the color I wanted from one of their other stores. A week later they arrived and are perfect! THANK YOU Charlotte Running Company, THANK YOU MIKE!

I had no idea getting sneakers for workout was such a big deal/​science. I’m a dancer and I know the huge part on making sure you have the correct shoes, but wow. This place was amaze-​balls!!! The knowledge that «runs» (ha ha) is exceptional. Service was awesome. I was paired with a pair that suits me and my needs perfectly (and it took a bit of time there), but no rush. They want to make sure you are getting a product that is perfection for you now and in the future.
Just got the sneaks, but they have a lovely selection of items for runners or non runners.
You want perfect sneakers for your walk/​run/​jog/​class/​or otherwise… GO HERE!

I had an awesome experience today! I moved here from Northern VA and was very concerned about finding the true running shoe experience here in a new city. The folks at Charlotte Running company were EXTREMELY knowledgeable, very friendly helped me select the right level of stability for my needs (I have orthotics and needed a new neutral shoe). I had such a great experience… I even purchased some new capris, tank top, and sports bras. I will definitely be back!

I searched Google for running shoes and this store showed up close to my apartment in South End. I figured I’d give local a try since department stores will have the same pricing for national brands like Nike and Brooks and I’d seen the Charlotte Running logo around town.
Scott was so helpful and immediately had a few suggestions after I gave him some info on what kind of running shoes I was looking for. They have a great selection of men’s and women’s shoes and more color combinations that they don’t put out, so if you want a different color they may have more in their stock room. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely give them a chance– I’ll be a return customer for all my running needs!

Review is more for the runs that originate here than for the running company itself. Did the 4.5 mile Tuesday night run twice. Really like the course — good hills, run by Freedom Park, nice people. Running store itself looked nice, albeit a bit overpriced. Looking forward to doing more runs here!

I’ve been having problems with the last pair of shoes I bought, and Dana was so super helpful in finding a wide selection of great shoes for me to try! I’m very happy with the shoes I left with, and I’m looking forward to a future of exercising without foot pain!

I stopped by to sign up for the race fest and the service was a little standoffish as they seemed to just expect you to know what to do in order to sign up, so I had to wait a bit. Not very customer focused on my visit and there was only one other customer in the store. I finally got signed up and took a quick look around… shoes, and athletic gear are a little on the expensive side but they did have a few sale items. Hopefully, the service will be a little better on my next visit.

These people are super nice, super knowledgeable & super informed about everything running in and around Charlotte.
They do an amazing job of making sure you are in the right shoe for you!

Dana and Mark are always super friendly and helpful. The store has several «obscure to the mainstream» brands that runners will appreciate, like Newton and Karhu. Highly recommend these guys for both gear and nutrition.

First off, my review is biased since I scored a free pair of socks when I checked in and bought some kicks. But, that not withstanding, they took care of my needs perfectly. The woman who helped me was great, and talked me out of getting a more expensive pair of shoes and into something that would actually fit my needs a little better. Not a huge selection, but they have a wide enough range to cover all types and styles. And the best part is they actually know the shoes they carry and know how to recommend each on for each particular customer. My fiancé went back a week later and had a similar experience with a different sales rep, so my time wasn’t unique.

Any store that allows you to buy their merchandise, wear it a few times and return if you aren’t happy, is seriously awesome in my book! I decided to switch up my work outs and incorporate running (which I hadn’t done since HS soccer). So once I realized the shoes I was wearing were awful and causing me sever shin splints, I decided to pop in here on my way home one day.
As soon as I was helped the nice guy, I want to say Scott but am not 100% sure, took one look at the way my right foot was turning in and started grabbing boxes upon boxes of sneakers. I tried a few out on the treadmill and thought I found a great pair. I paid and left. I didn’t get the gait analysis but that was fine by me, I was just happy to have a proper fitting shoe.
I tested them out 2 days later and had to stop very soon after because my feet were in so much pain. It felt like they were being clamped in a vice! So I went back the next day and there was someone else who helped me but the same nice guy was there as well. I had some old Asics on so they helped find me some shoes that were similar. I soon found a pair that felt great and luckily has worked out since. However, when I made the exchange with the old shoes the guy told me don’t worry about the 7 day return period, where them as much as you need to on the treadmill to make sure you like them and if not bring them back and we will do this again! I mean that is some great customer service.
So far so good with my new Brooks, and I even have a bit of store credit to use from the difference in price. Oh they also take a real interest in what kind of running you are doing, how you recover, any scheduled races, and encourage you to come in and ask for advice if you need it. That is what makes this a great store!

After purchasing an awesome Groupon for $ 25 off some new shoes I was very excited to get into some tires! I had probably 400 miles on my old shoes and was in need. I know how dedicated running stores work and my experience has been that they will promote their preferences sometimes in lieu of what you may want. That being said I’ve learned to just force them to find a shoe model from the brand I prefer.
The staff was slammed so I’m giving them a reprieve but I expected a bit more friendliness. Honestly, they need a woman’s touch in customer service. Sorry, I’m a male but I can recognize too much testosterone when I see it. I felt like I was bothering them instead of being a profit center.
I’ll probably come back based on the selection I saw, I was very impressed and I like the treadmill analysis that they provide. That was helpful.
NOTE: Right now there is a check in offer that will score you a free pair of socks with a shoe purchase!

Reply to Scott D’s comments…
I was reached out to, but not via my Unilocal account, but rather another email address not related to the site and one I isn’t associated with my Unilocal account and don’t respond to such request… not sure why it didn’t come to my assigned Unilocal email account?
I was also hoping to get more information regarding his visit, including what shoe it was that he was interested in.
The shoe I wanted to the Lunar… something…I had the business card but since I found shoes at a place with a different engagement and inventory set up I threw it away… sorry about that one.
As much as I appreciate the granular approach to explaining the business, it isn’t the point of the review… the point was the customer experience, which was less than acceptable for both me and my wallet… regardless if I fall into the «meat sizes». *wink*
In addition, if the shoe wasn’t one they sell a lot then the person should have told me rather than make me call back in several weeks only to be again put off in a vague manner… and again, this isn’t about inventory management and whether you should have all your cash flow wrapped up in inventory but rather your floor staff being better communicators and trying to win the business while the person is in the store… perhaps this is the issue… is that you don’t get the issue?
I think your last reason… god knows you gave enough of them… was the «Because of the great demand, we haven’t been able to get any idea from the vendor as to when our next shipment might be coming in. They are essentially shipping them as they receive them. It’s not that we’re trying to be vague, we just honestly don’t know when we’re getting our next order in.» I was told some form of that reason and gave the business the benefit of the doubt of holding off on my purchase for 3 weeks and called them back, but the answer on the phone was worse than when I was on the showroom floor… even more vague.
So to return the favor, when you have a potential customer on the floor and you don’t have what they want, then try and sell them on something else by determining their requirements and needs, not just give vague answers that basically makes the customer think too themselves, «so do I just wait days, weeks, months??? And even if I do only to be told they don’t carry the shoe anymore?» I mean really, consumerism isn’t about that type of logic. It is about supply and demand and earning the customer business… you had the demand, but not the supply and in the end you didn’t try very well to earn my business. I think all this is comes down to is a great lesson learned that the business can use in some process improvement for their staff, not an exercise of making potential customers look like they don’t understand the shoe business.

Been here a couple times to sign up for races and whatnot. Haven’t really shopped around the store but it feels like a cool space and the staff is very friendly.
Great to have a store like this in the city that encourages healthy living. If running isn’t really your thing… you could still get a good pair of shoes to walk and just be active.

If you’re a runner — you need to sprint on over to Charlotte Running Company. This store has all the goods for the runner in anyone — top of the line shoes (they carry Mizuno, Saucony, New Balance, Nike & Brooks, just to name a few), running clothing, gels, Elete and plenty of necessary running gear.
It’s definitely a specialty store, as the employees are extremely well educated and offer a gait fitting and shoe analysis. This is where they put you on a treadmill and watch video feedback to try to get you the best shoe possible for your individual gait.
You will likely pay retail, if not a teeny bit more, here for most products. I personally think it’s worth it to spend a little more money to garner all the knowledge and gear to make my long runs more bearable. If you’re just starting to run or you are a seasoned racer, Charlotte Running Co. has the goods to get it done!