Ames
Google
I’m honestly pretty disappointed with my visit to this Ariat store. The staff initially seemed friendly, but the experience quickly became uncomfortable due to how pushy the sales associate was. I was looking for some new boots and, while I understand they want to help, I felt pressured the entire time to make a purchase before I had time to think or try on other options.
When I mentioned I wasn’t sure about my US size and gave my EU size, the assistant was insistent on bringing out a size 10. When I said it felt too big and preferred an 8.5, she disagreed, telling me the 10 was perfect, even though I knew I needed a smaller size. Eventually, I was able to try on the 8.5 and confirmed it was the right fit, but the back-and-forth was really confusing.
The pressure didn’t stop with me—she was also overly pushy with my wife, offering only the discounted options even after she clearly said she wasn’t interested. When my wife said no, the associate insisted on showing her more.
I also felt like I wasn’t being listened to when I asked to try on different pairs. At one point, the assistant told me not to bring out more boots and was quick to push me toward a pair she liked. She also incorrectly assessed my foot as narrow when I actually have wide feet, which made the whole experience even more frustrating.
The worst part came when, after we decided to step away and look around for a bit, she approached us again, asking if we had made a decision, and when we said we wanted to keep looking, she mentioned the store closing early, which felt a bit like an ultimatum. I honestly left feeling like I wasn’t given any space to decide, and it was such an off-putting experience that I didn’t want to return.
I ended up buying because I didn’t have time to wait for delivery if I ordered online. I would have preferred to shop at a different store if there were options nearby. Unfortunately, this is the only Ariat store, and the stockists near me have limited options.
