Academy Sports + Outdoors
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
This is a new, clean, and organized retail store specializing in outdoor sports gear, including items suitable for children like go-karts. While the store itself is new and visually appealing, parents should be aware of significant reported issues with customer service, price accuracy, and unreliability of staff promises, particularly concerning high-demand or large-ticket items. It's a place to *buy* gear for kids' activities, not an entertainment venue itself.
Key Highlights
- ✓New, clean, and organized store environment (Review 5)
- ✓Grand Opening event on October 11th and MVP night on October 6th (5PM-9PM) (Review 4)
Standout Features
- ⭐The store is very nice, clean, and organized with new inventory (Review 5)
- ⭐Opportunity to purchase large outdoor sports items for kids, such as go-karts (Review 2)
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Always double-check prices at the register as marked prices may differ and may not be honored (e.g., $14.99 vs $17.99 for shorts) (Review 1)
- →For large purchases like go-karts, arrange transportation *before* visiting the store, as the store may not accommodate holds or delayed pickup (Review 2)
- →Do not rely on staff promises regarding item availability or special pricing, especially for high-demand items or Black Friday deals; confirm everything immediately (Review 2)
- →If seeking detailed product information, an in-person visit might be more productive than a phone call due to reported poor phone customer service (Review 3)
Things to Consider
- ⚠Price discrepancies: Items like shorts marked $14.99 rang up $17.99; staff unwilling to honor marked price (Review 1)
- ⚠General price increases and diminishing value (Review 1)
- ⚠Extremely poor customer service by specific manager ('Erica') including refusal to hold or allow payment for items (go-karts) for later pickup (Review 2)
- ⚠Broken promises regarding item availability and meeting times, leading to sold-out items despite assurances (Review 2)
- ⚠Staff leaving earlier than promised meeting times (e.g., manager left at 4:30 PM for a 5 PM meeting) (Review 2)
- ⚠Rude and dismissive phone customer service, with staff interrupting calls to end conversation quickly (Review 3)
Price & Value
Reported price increases across the board, with specific examples of items ringing up higher than marked (e.g., $14.99 shorts scanning at $17.99). Overall value is described as 'not as good anymore'. Black Friday pricing was mentioned but not successfully secured due to store policies and staff actions (Reviews 1, 2).
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not applicable as this is a retail store; no food or drink policies relevant to a family entertainment venue context were mentioned.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific parking information mentioned in reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Implied busy during sales events like Black Friday, making it difficult to secure high-demand items (Review 2). Store staff mentioned having 'other customers in front of me' suggesting it can be busy (Review 3).
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features related to children's play or activities were mentioned, as this is a retail store. Standard retail environment safety expected.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Expecting marked prices to be honored if discrepancies occur at the register (Review 1)
- • Relying on staff promises for holds, future availability, or meeting times for critical purchases (Review 2)
- • Calling for detailed product inquiries if you expect a patient and thorough conversation (Review 3)
Pricing/Package/Events
🛡️Safety Policy
- • For some items, in-store pickup may require identity, age, or other factor verification.
📅Booking Policy
- • Buy Online + Pick Up In Store or Curbside is available.
- • Same Day Delivery is powered by DoorDash.
- • Free 1-Hour Pick Up is typically available (orders placed within 2 hours of store closing likely ready next day).
- • Alternate pick up person is allowed, must present valid government-issued ID and the order number.
- • Pick-up location and alternate pick-up person can be changed via myAcademy account/app.
🚗Parking Information
- • Not explicitly stated, but as a large retail store, ample parking is implied.
Recent Reviews
Perpetual Jazz Hands
in the last weekPRICES HAVE GONE UP!!! I had a pair of $14.99 shorts and took them to the register. They rang up $17.99. Rather than offer to give them to me for the price marked, the cashier just said "yeah...they're doing some markups". So, seems there are across the board markups happening...not as good a value anymore. Disappointing.
ACS
5 months agoTerrible customer service experience with "manager" Erica. We tried to buy a go kart for our kids on Black Friday but did not have a way to transport it that day (we both drive Hondas). Asked if we could go ahead and pay for one of the two they had in stock - she said no. Asked if we could place one on hold and return with a truck the next day - she said no. She assured us that one would still be available on Monday (3 days later) so we arranged for a family member to drive to Birmingham with a truck and figure out transport, plus left our contact info in case something changed. She promised to meet us at the store at 5pm and honor the BF price. Got there at 4:45, both had been sold, and she left at 4:30 - all other sales associates and managers were flabbergasted. We both work in retail - this is customer service 101. We will not be back.
AdventureswithJerrod
4 months agoI will never buy a gun from this place. I’m in the market for one. I called the store to ask them questions and as I was in the middle of talking the clerk interrupted me and said, “Sir I have to go I have other customers in front of me.” I have no words after experiencing that with customer service.
Jessica R
7 months agoWe are so excited to open up these doors to our community! So many of us have worked countless hours, traveled from far away to help and so much great knowledge is within these walls!!! October 6th 5PM-9PM is our MVP night and our GRAND OPENING IS OCTOBER 11th!!!!! Can’t wait to see you all there!
Givon Wayne Gilliam
6 months agoVery nice, clean and organized. Everything is new.