Academy Sports + Outdoors

Academy is a good sporting goods store, but I would probably emphasize the "Outdoors" part of its name when coming here. I came in to look at some golf equipment, but their selection was quite limited. If you're looking for "outdoors" merchandise like hunting gear, fishing gear, coolers, guns & ammunition, etc. this is a great store. If you're looking for specific gear for a particular sport like basketball, baseball, football, or golf, I'd probably pick another option like Play It Again or Dick's.

I’m just disappointed with the way academy handled my situation last night. Normally I get great service when I go there. I have an academy credit card. I’ve bought many items from here. My very first handgun was purchased from this store. I’m hoping someone in management will see this and reach out. I went in last night looking to purchase a paintball marker(gun) for my son. There were two options. I asked the guy behind the gun counter his thoughts. He didn’t know much about them. Fine. So I picked one and headed up front to purchase it. I leave the store, walk out to my car and open the box. Two things are in the box. A paintball marker and a co2 cylinder. No hopper, no instructions. The actual marker itself was not the marker that is displayed on the outside of the box. I immediately walk back in the store, not even 5 minutes after walking out, and show the manager. She sends me back to the gun counter. He asks for my receipt which I must have put down in my car while opening the box. So I run out there to get it. I come back inside and I don’t see anybody except the manager. She says to hang tight and the guy from the gun counter we’ll be out in a minute. A good 15 minutes go by and he comes out and asks to take my name and number and says they will have to investigate why the wrong marker was in that box. I give him my name and number and ask if I’m out of my $200 until they investigate. He says I’m sorry but yes. Do I walk out empty handed. As I get to my car he runs up with the box, the wrong marker, and the co2 cylinder that I originally bought and says I must hold on to this until the investigation is complete. They were the same price and I would just give him the one I have but there’s no instructions or hopper for this one either. Plus the co2 cylinder don’t fit this gun. I feel like I’m never going to hear from them and that sale was final. Why would someone switch boxes when they are the exact same price. Makes zero sense. I just want what I paid for. I guess I’ll start opening boxes before I get outside from now on. Any paintball guys out there that can show my son and I how to use this thing? What co2 cylinder to buy? What a way to take care of a longtime customer. Oh, not to mention after going to retrieve the receipt from my car I came back in and was being looked at like I did something wrong. Even the cashier that just checked me out and was eager to help after coming back in wouldn’t even look at me straightforward. I started questioning myself like I did something wrong. Should I not have brought it back in. Maybe it was the right one and I was looking at it wrong. No, it was the wrong one in the box and stuff was missing. Step up your customer service or I nor my friends and family will be back to your establishment. They have responded with no resolutions to me being out $200.00. I went to the other Academy and looked around and they had both paintball markers with no security alarms on them. I wanted to go get the one i bought and just switch them out but no. That's not the right thing to do. I never heard anything from the store manager that took my name and phone number and told me they would be in touch after they investigate. Investigate. Check cameras. Do something. I'm out $200.00 I bought the marker, went outside to my car and opened it, walked right back in after I realized it was completely wrong and missing parts. 3 minutes tops. It had a wire alarm on it prior to me purchasing it. It obviously happened before I purchased it. I don't understand the problem with giving me what I purchased, what you just witnessed me purchase, and figure out why this one is wrong and missing parts later. Why make the customer suffer? I have spent a lot of money with Academy but if that's how I'm treated then I won't be spending another dollar here.