Survey: How Many Times Have You Shopped At SportsDirect In The Last Year?

A pointless quibble with Rolando got me wondering about the impact of Sports Direct's involvement with our team, and more importantly, the negative aspect of this relationship on his business in the North East. While being associated with a sports franchise is rather obviously a lucrative venture these days, how about when this becomes soured by the politics of that franchise?

Since our relegation year, I quite honestly have not bought anything from Sports Direct (AND YET I STILL HAVE AN EFFFING SD MUG SOMEWHERE!!!!). For a while it made me feel like a traitor to the cause to even walk near the shop, but my bloody old man's fear of escalators and lifts means I frequently have to use their staircase at the metrocentre. I remember there was a kind of small-scale movement on 606 which called on supporters to look elsewhere, and judging by the fact the shop in Eldon Square has been closing down for the last two years now , I wondered how much of an impact this actually had.

Furthermore, I wonder how SD does in Sunderland. I realise the vast majority of a Mackem's wardrobe will be dominated by the kind of stylish attire sold at his stores, but has Ashley's affiliation with Newcastle United hit the potential of stores in the land of our bitter rivals? Is there even some grim satisfaction in handing their money to the guy bending us over?


So... How often do you shop there, what kind of **** do you buy, and how do you consider the brand SportsDirect?

 

Well from what I've seen most people couldn't give a f*** about shopping at SD or not.
I only tend to see the shop at the Team Valley, and that always seems busy when you pass it.

I don't think NUFC fans boycotting SD makes the slightest difference.
I have mates who claim not to shop there, which is probably true - but it doesn't stop their wives. Money talks especially when you have kids, and that's the real world, not spiting yourself because of Mike Ashley.

You mention Eldon Square, of course its closing down, as they are in the process of opening if it hasn't already, the SD store on Northumberland Street.

I don't boycott because of choice, my youngest son is at an age where he doesn't want gear from there anymore, but, I've probably bought trainers twice in the last 12 months from SD.

The one that gets me and I have to laugh are those who wont enter a SD store allegedly, but, don't think twice of buying decent gear from USC - Jeans at £100 a pop etc. But they don't shop at SD I hear them say but they still fill Mikes coffers but much quicker and with more profit.

When it comes to USC, we've shopped there a few times over the past few months.

If you want to go further up market with SD, look no further than Cruise on Princess Square, yes, that's one of Mikes stores as well - not unusual to find Jeans at £500 a pair in there.

 

I'm a whore for a deal.

 

£500 for a pair of jeans?????????? I hope you can live in them and check facebook on them for that much!!!

And you're ****ting me? They're opening another one of those crap-holes? Ugghhhh... Not in that bit where they've re-developed the old mall?


Seriously, though, it's easy enough to shop online for sporting goods and you can get more choice (and better quality) as well (though trainers I can understand to be fair)... I'd rather use the Luxembourg tax dodgers than Mike

 

fixed

 

The **** I buy includes running tops, shorts, bike pump, toon tops and sports bags.

 

Have a look on the Cruise website, the prices are ridiculous.
Sorry mate, but yes they are opening one on Northumberland Street in the redeveloped Mall, prime site.
SD have also just opened there second store on Oxford Street in London, flagship store.
No stopping them from taking over the world.

 

Feel a bit like Hiroo Onoda right now

 

OH MY F***ING AMEOBI

£99 is the amount I spend on minimum 3 pairs of jeans, but that's the price of their cheapest pair

 

Lying bastard. You buy yours from Primark.

 

Bought a pair of cheap trainers. I think it was during the decent patch we had in the first half of last season so I felt a bit less guilty. It's an goddam unpleasant environment to shop in though.

 

I had to vote 0 due to the fact that I now live in Oz, but I will be putting an order together for delivery here as soon as I've got enough wedge cobbled together in my UK bank account to make it worthwhile paying the shipping costs.

As much as it pains me, there are just certain things that you can't help but buy from there...especially having 2 kids as well, coupled with the fact that the price of stuff over here in Oz is ****ing ridiculous and the range of choice is extremely limited.

At least I don't have the pain of having to endure the thick and slow as **** staff that he employs and the jumble sale environment that he insists on having in all of his outlets.

The golf stuff is reasonable as well, and way way cheaper than the stuff over here.

 

Never been one for "Sports wear" apart from the Toon tops which I would only wear to a match, I wear suits at work, jeans and Tshirts outside of work none of which come from any of Ashleys companies.

 

Just really hate the place, tacky crap and shocking service. I am proud to say l have never ever bought anything from SD, but as another poster said that's probably because my kids are grown up.
I have been into the store with a friend who was buying trainers and felt claustrophobic the whole time, well you would when surrounded by piles of stuff strewn everywhere. SD makes our local jumble sale look like Harrods!
My choice not to frequent the place and l don't think Fat Boy will lose any sleep over it anytime soon.

 

My husband did and Jesus I went off it. On the plus side the shoes he bought kill him and give him blisters.

 

I buy my golf stuff from there. It's a load cheaper than anywhere else and the golf balls are srixon which are a decent make. I don't think Newcastle supporters boycotting his shop will have much effect tbh.

Mind you, I still hate the bastard.

 

Makes me feel better though Sombrero, I buy nothing from club shop or tea bars in ground.

 

The world is no longer run on principals, it's entirely run on money. I've been in SD a couple of times, because it makes no sense not to. For things like golf gear, cheap training kit, football boots, socks and footballs.

If every Newcastle fan shopped elsewhere, it would make not on lick of difference to the company itself, it would still remain hugely profitable. My argument and point is that there is no link whatsoever between NUFC and Sports Direct - as the latter revels in the fact it sells the cheapest tat possible, with zero-hour contracts to ensure costs are an absolute minimum, with known links to child labour in Asia, having a glamorous, successful football team associated is a juxtaposition. HOLY SH!T. I've just had a lightbulb moment - let me explain.

So SD is supposed to appeal to masses - something for everyone. There's no point in being associated with NUFC, right? In fact, given SD makes - one would imagine - considerably more money shifting Man U, Chelsea, Real, Barca, etc., kits than it does shifting NUFC merchandise, isn't it in SD's interests to ACTIVELY DISTANCE ITSELF FROM NUFC????? Could it be that Mike Ashley has continually made these baffling decisions, Joe Kinnear, Dennis Wise, etc., to show the world that he may own NUFC but he doesn't like the club he owns. Isn't it in his interests to keep that club out of headlines for success? Because if "the world" suddenly thought "hang on - all this money I'm spunking in SD is actually going towards a rival football club - screw that, I'm off to eBay", what would the impact then be on sales?? Mike Ashley has created an image of himself as a loathed owner of a football club, thus it appears clear that he does not use SD money to back said club.

Christ I think I've solved the greatest mystery of our time.

 

I never buy anything from inside the ground. Always give the burger van outside a bit of trade though.

That'll have to stop, I had a heart attack last week.

 

Get well soon and yes keep off the burgers,mind you they are nice