Sometimes bad things happen for the better. It's amazing how a sporting goods empire came to be from the actions of the boss of an 18-year-old kid employee named Dick, who asked the kid to come up with a list of ideas for products needed to get into the fishing tackle business, and after having been presented with the kid's suggestions, calling him a dumb kid who had no idea what he was doing. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Dick's Sporting Goods in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Just the other day a good friend of mine recommended me some comfortable HOKA Clifton 10 sneakers he had bought at this Dick's Sporting Goods store. So after finding those sneakers in their app that I had in my cellphone, I drove to their store today in my pearl white Lexus to try them on. This Dick's Sporting Goods store located next to the Valley View Mall in Roanoke, Virginia, is majestic in size to the point of being intimidating. After entering their gigantic entrance, it was like arriving to a whole new world where everything sports reigned. Absolutely everything you could think of that had to do with sports, they had in their infinite inventory very well arranged in categories throughout the store. At the end of the store, they had this relatively new and well designed open area where the sneakers department was. When I arrived, I saw a couple of tables with HOKA sneakers on display. They also had a small, easy to use computer to help customers find the perfect shoe they were looking for. But what I couldn't find was a sales associates to assist me to find the sneakers I needed. An order gentleman finally came out and didn't even greet me. I had to ask him if he could help me find the shoes I needed. He didn't seem too friendly, but he went back to get the men's HOKA Clifton 10 in black size 9 for me, in regular width and wide. He brought the two boxes and laid them on the wide bench where I was seated, not being helpful at all to put them on. I asked if he had a shoehorn and he said not at Dick's, like if I was crazy to ask that question. All the time he was ignoring me and not giving me his attention. It was the worst customer service that I had ever received anywhere, especially here that I thought was a high-end Sports category store. He looks at his watch and tells me it's his check-out time, that the other sales lady could help me. She was a bit kinder and knowledgeable but also delivered lukewarm service. After trying on the sneakers I had gone there for and feeling comfortable with them on, I walked over to the front cash register to pay for them. On my way there I saw one of the managers and asked if I could take some photos of their store for this review and he told me it was not allowed, that I had to get permission from corporate. I don't understand how a store of this nature could have employees and managers with such poor customer service skills. I guess they remain in business just because they have a well stocked store with a great variety of good quality products nicely displayed. The young gentleman in the cash register was also the same. Very serious and didn't even say thank you for shopping here. What a pitty, all the employees in this store seem to be treating their customers just as the boss of the founder treated him when he was a kid, disrespectful. I hope that corporate reads this review and takes actions in the recruitment and development of their employees, starting from their store managers and down the line. And that they listen to their customers and treat them with the respect they deserve. read more

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* Please note i have previously posted about this issue at the Christiansburg store. As it also involved the Roanoke store I am posting about it here as well. Went to the Christiansburg location to buy an in-stock bike. I was told they could not sell it to me in the box. I explained I was from out of town. Didn't matter. I explained that my wife bought a bike in the box in the Roanoke store the previous week. Didn't matter. It's listed in stock and available for pick up. Didn't matter. It's right there. Didn't matter. Is this the policy because Roanoke did it. Not a policy... it's our "preference". Great, please sell me the bike. Didn't matter. Manager intimated that I wasn't being "professional" (not cursing or yelling on my part... just flabbergasted that it's this hard to hand Dicks money), and threw his staff under the bus -"I thought my employee could handle this" (I wasn't looking to be "handled" just wanted to buy a bike). He also said " I was going to offer you a discount". I explained I do not want a discount... I just want the bike so I can go riding with my wife this weekend. Didn't matter. I asked if it could be transferred to Roanoke in the box. He said that if Roanoke "wanted to get in trouble they could" and announced he had to go pick up his brother. Told him to drive safely. OK, is there another manager? 2nd manager refused to sell me the bike. Can you transfer to Roanoke? 2nd Manager (Ryan... although I don't believe this is how he spells it) said he would if it was OK with the Roanoke manager and even offered to drive it down in his personal vehicle after his shift (well done Ryan). Didn't matter because the manager in Roanoke would only do this if I picked it up at closing time. Can't I pick it up tomorrow? Only if it's "9AM sharp". But I'm out of town. Didn't matter. Roanoke manager "didn't want it on their floor". So I have to pick it up by appointment at your convenience rather than tomorrow afternoon? Didn't matter. What gives? Obviously not a liability thing- they were happy to sell me the bike in the box as long as I was willing to wait a day, go to a different city, and show up precisely when they preferred (when I was out of town). As they had told me the regional manager was coming into town and the communication seemed to oddly revolve around winning rather than selling me the bike I told the 2nd manager to give my number to the regional manager and that we could either work the issue out (wherein I simply hand someone a credit card and receive a bike) or I would just return the items purchased last week (incl. helmet, gloves, chain, vehicle rack, etc ). If I could have returned the first bike I would have (although it wasn't ridden it had been purchased over 24 hours ago). Interestingly, I was told that 24 hours was the policy but the store manager could override the policy. So the manager can override policy? Uh... OK. Having spent an hour and a half of my life attempting to buy an in-stock item, my desire to attempt to assist a third manager in a second store to understand this incredibly flawed internal logic had vanished. No call from the district manager yet so in the end I returned the above items to the Roanoke store as bike accessories do me no good without a bike. Despite my best efforts, and an hour and a half of my life, I could not hand anyone at Dicks my money today. Weird. read more

I went in there very specifically to try to find a book bag/backpack. For every day use, not for hiking. I knew it was off-season and had already been to two stores that didn't have any. Mel was working folding clothes, and I felt bad interrupting her, but she was incredibly friendly and very helpful. She explained the two areas that they still had the smaller backpacks but also noted that there were a few in the back that actually were the ones I was looking for. She was kind enough to go into the back to get one for me, which ended up being the exact one I wanted and purchased. She definitely saved the sale and was very friendly and professional. thank you :) read more

I tried once again to gain support for a set of irons bought 4 months ago. Manufacture provided document that iron set was a 2 year old model and they could provide a new iron but old model was not available. The store management at this Dicks will not provide support and stated they did not want me calling Callaway customer service to verify the 2 year old model. This store would not even give a trade in number. Glad I don't treat my customers this way. read more

This location of DSG has a good selection versus busier stores. Here in Roanoke it seems that every single item I wanted was available in UA's Medium size. I sometimes run into problems at some other locations. Other than the availability, it's your run of the mill DSG. As for service inside the store, I visited this store at 2:40am during the recent retail madness (don't ask) and several times before. The service is nothing to write home about. read more

I doubt that I will be returning to Dick's after my experience there today. They have plenty of product but the display of it leaves a lot to be desired. It looks like stuff is just randomly placed all over the store. This is the second time I have been in that I needed help figuring out where something was and the associate acted like what I was asking was silly, that I should have known where the product was. However, my big complaint is the staff at the registers. I have shopped here many times in the past couple of years and have NEVER been treated kindly at the registers by anyone. Every single time the cashier has had a smug/superior attitude. I just don't need that kind of attitude so I will either find what I need elsewhere or go without. read more

One stop shopping for your sporting goods needs. Convenient location neat Valley View Mall.

Aptly named big-box corporate nonsense. Total run around by this location's customer service after calling ahead, explaining my situation and having them confirm they could "take care of me". When I got there, complete different tune. Told me they'd call me when they got replacement in... Haven't head from them since. read more

Online states they have a product, they don't. Every. Single. Time. Trying to find anyone who can help you is terrible. When you do find someone, they are rude, and it takes forever. read more

Absolutely the absolute worst customer service ever! I think the two managers that were on duty that day must live in the office because it took forever for them to respond when asked to speak to a manager. Chris was the most arrogant individual ever and Terri wasn't much better...although she was more interested in flirting with the guy on the register. The store was a disaster....no one was working...nothing priced, signs over the wrong items and was refused the sale price. It's a shame. read more

I have to admit that I avoided going to this Dick's Sporting Goods store after reading the previous YELP reviews. My husband and I went to five other athletic shoe stores and did not find what we needed nor did we encounter anyone really knowledgeable about running shoes. As a last resort we went to Dick's. I am so glad that we did. As soon as we made it to the back of the store we were greeted by an associate named Dee. He not only educated us about the most appropriate running shoes for my husbands training, he also provided excellent customer service. Before leaving the store, we decided to purchase new headphones. We inquired for help and with in 10 minutes we reviewed several pairs of headphones and were in the checkout line. Dicks was anything but a disappointment. read more

One of the worst dicks stores I have ever been to. They are very dis-organized there is a whole sale section in the back that is basically just stuff thrown everywhere. The staff is very unhelpful and rude read more

Bought a basketball hoop and between the incompetent staff at Dicks and the ridiculously bad installation company they use... it's been a terrible experience. Still not installed a month after purchase. Stay away from both of these companies. read more

Every time I try to purchase shoes at this Dicks Sporting Goods, it turns out to be a miserable experience. There is absolutely no customer service and while the bulk of their shoe selection requires someone to retreive sizes for you, there is rarely anyone to assist customers. On my last visit I complained to the manager which did no good. This was after waiting for help, walking back to the front of the store to ask for help, then going back to the shoe department. Still no help. When I talked to the manager, customer service clearly was not a priority. On this most recent visit, I had basically the same experience. There were a few shoes with a selection of sizes out and I was able to find a shoe that worked for my son. There were several customers milling around but no help in sight. Making matters worse, I needed to use the restroom while in the store. It was trashed. If you are shopping for athletic shoes, do yourself a favor and find another option than the Roanoke VA Dicks Sporting Goods. read more

I love Dicks sporting goods !its my fav store for bball and other sports.i could never live without Dicks

I went shopping in Roanoke for a new pair of running shoes, with a pair of Brooks specifically in mind. We went to the mall first and hit several shoe stores there, but they might as well have all been the Nike store: huge wall of Nikes, very little selection of other shoes. No Brooks. None of them. The clerks didn't even know where I could buy Brooks. Finally, I went to Yelp to find out if there were any more stores worth checking out, and Dick's came up as a possibility. The reviews were terrible! There were only four reviews, though, at that time. So four people had bad experiences. I decided to give it a try anyway. It turned out I should have just saved myself a lot of trouble and gone there first. Dick's had a large selection of running shoes with an entire panel of the shoe wall dedicated to Brooks, as well as floorwalkers willing to help fit me with the right shoe. The clerk who helped me, Dee, was cheerful and explained to me the differences between the shoes. He asked me about my gait--whether I am a heel-first striker, or toe first, etc.--and then told me why I needed to look at particular shoes. Although he was already selling me on one of the higher-priced shoes, Dee did not automatically encourage me to buy one of the Glycerin models, which is the most expensive Brooks. I came away with a pair of shoes I love, and a good impression of the store overall. It's inventory is huge, so the store in all likelihood has what you want. Why go anywhere else? read more

This is the second time I've gone to Dick's when they have been very understaffed. I wanted to buy basketball shoes for my daughter. There was only one salesperson working and he was way too busy. I felt for the guy but we left because it was taking too long to get waited on. We had more success at Foot Locker. read more