Special Deal at Dick's Sporting Goods

[Dugout Dad]

The big winner in the Chicks to Dicks deal was Jim Chick. Great timing in selling his 15 stores in 2007. He was $31 million in the hole with his large store expansion. Dicks comes in and offers to assume the debt plus offers $40 million cash for the chain, a $71 million deal. They were really hard up to get into California and willing to pay anything. During the store transition period the economy went in the tank and by the time the stores re-opened in May 2009, the chain was worth no where close to the selling price. The problem with Dicks is that their buyers are from back east and they basically have a poor understanding of the California market, especially the female market. Sports Chalet is trying to capture some of Chicks market by trying to sell similar lines, I think they are a better sporting goods than Dicks. There was something wrong when a couple weeks before the transition period they put all their Worth and Dudley softballs at 80% off, $15 a doz, I was able to buy the last 8 doz for our team. That meant that Dicks was not going to carry them anymore, btw, you can't find an ASA stamped ball in the store. Yea, I really miss Chick's Sporting Goods Stores

[smileygirl]

Chick's was a great Sporting Goods store. Dick's is a TERRIBLE Sporting Goods store. Nice coupon though.........

Totally agree!

Have to agree also - walked out - never to return ..... is NEVER too harsh?

[Dropn N]

Not to mention Chick's carried all the core surf brands. Dick's only carries a limited amount of Quicksilver...and there a sell out anyways!

[softball_parent]

If my memory serves me correctly there was some connection of Jim Chick to softball in SoCal which was why they had a large selection. His daughter, granddaughter someone I believe played for American Pastime. Could be wrong however it seems like I remember something like that.

[Rounding 3rd]

I Ordered helmets from Dicks and 2 days before the scheduled delivery date they call me to say the manufacture no longer makes them. 4 catchers bags took 4 weeks to get with an excuse for each week. Well---at least they got their name right

[blackjack21]

Yeah, Jim's grandaughters played for Pastime. If you've been around you'll Remember Mark Anderson's American Pastime teams. He married Jim's Daughter and thus the Softball and Pastime connection. Chicks was the best. The Upland store was the best one, not because I live there ,But because they turned the original Upland Chick's store into a store/outlet. I went in there and bought my DD a pair of softball pants,2 pairs of socks, and a pair of easton batting gloves for less that 20 bucks. Gonna miss them tho as I knew them personally

[BallsInComingDown]

Seems like everyone here loves Dick...

[MoeFoes]

Dick's sucks.....
Chick's sold the quality equipment I wanted. Dick's sells a good folding chair at a cheap price.
Chick's employees knew what they were talkin about!!!
Dick's employee's well...................
............ they don't know DICK

[HEADCASE]

A few weeks back I was invited to a Dick's show where they had all the top manufactures there with their new products in such.It was pretty cool to talk to the reps and pick their brains and see what new stuff they have coming out. I agree that they don't have the best softball selection but the one in Laguna Hills has helpful employees. JMO.

[softball4four]

I have a problem with a sporting goods store that doesn't even know the colors of the local high schools, to supply those schools basic needs, such as socks. The employee/store representative blames the supplier, "This is what they sent us." What happened to this is what we ordered, because it meets the needs of "our community"? Who's buying for each local store? Don't even get me started on the lack of customer service. Quality, no more. Service, gone. Want my money, sorry spending elsewhere.