Strauss Skates & Bicycles

Meant to review this long ago, but I was too busy riding my bike with the siiiick new tires I got at Strauss skates. Place is great. I was immediately greeted and asked what I needed help finding. This is an overlooked quality in a place of business. Ever since I started working retail a couple years ago, I've come to expect this type of service. Now before you go labeling me a Karen, know that there is nothing over the top or wrong with expecting to be greeted and asked what I need help finding. It helps cut down on a lot of time wasted wondering aimlessly.After being led to what I needed, I was honestly and earnestly vetted on what tires I needed. They were also open honest and transparent about the price which I thoroughly respected.Overall, place is dope and they have so much stuff. It's worth stopping in just to check out. But be careful of the dog! I accidentally ran into him, but it's cool though. He forgave me because I was told he was "a good boi."

Friendly, knowledgeable service and sales here of electric bikes. We were in the market for an ebike and called our nearby bike shop (that does NOT service/sale electric bikes). They recommended Stauss Skate & Bike, instantly and without reservation. We had to check them out, and I'm glad we did. They were wonderful about explaining the e-bikes they have and let us test ride a great bike. It wasn't the bike we were looking for, but I did feel like they were really concerned about finding the right e-bike for us.

I've been buying gear here since 1972. Last weekend they sold me skate guards that were too big. Today I go in to ask for a smaller size or how can we resolve it. The answer was no box, we cant exchange. Is there any other solution? Now I'm stuck with nothing. I might as well throw these away. The customer experience stunk. I'm going somewhere else for my hockey gear. That was terrible.

Strauss made up for the inaccurate info someone at their store provided me with over the phone. Before making the drive out there recently, I called first to ask about the availability of women's figure skates (for recreational use) that would fit a typical 8.5-9 shoe size and I was told they had plenty from which to choose. Once I got there that same afternoon, though, I found they really did not have much to choose from (a young man assisted me). When I mentioned that one of their employees told me over the phone earlier something to the contrary, an older man over-heard. A few minutes later, he returned from their backroom with a pair of skates a slight bit bigger than what I required and said it's a now-discontinued model, but it was "better" than the replacement model because it was all leather, and he offered me a considerable discount on it for any inconvenience - if I felt the fit was good. So I tried on the skates and walked around a bit, and noticed some movement in the heel area. They offered to do a heat treatment in their heat box which helps mold the skate more to a foot. I accepted their offer, took off the skates and waited several minutes while the skates heated up. The young man returned to help me quickly put on the skates and lace them up and then sit 5 minutes while they cooled down, leaving me with the impression that he would return when the 5 minutes were up so that I could walk around again to see how the skates felt. I probably waited more like 10 minutes and the young man did not return; however, the older man came by to tell me I could walk around now. The skates felt better after the heat treatment. Since I was offered a deal I found hard to refuse, and because of the apparent good quality of the skates, I decided to purchase them. Next thing, the young man brought the skates to the back of their store for sharpening. I waited for what seemed to be an inordinate amount of time and after a while, even asked about the status of the sharpening. A few minutes later, the skates were brought to me. I found there was a burr on one of the blades and I voiced my concern. I walked to the back of the store with the young man and asked for the burr to be smoothed. After a tentative attempt by the young man behind the counter, the job ended up receiving the attention of the seemingly more practiced man to remove the burr and he did so quickly and confidently.

Fast, friendly bike repair!Brought my son's bike in for repair. The chain had come off and he managed to tangle it into a mess that couldn't be unraveled. I dropped in on a Saturday morning and was helped right away. The employee looked at it, asked if I could wait 15 minutes while he fixed it. Sure enough, 15 minutes later and he had repaired the chain and had it functional again. They only charged $5 for the repair. Good luck getting friendly, fast repair while you wait at a bigger bike shop! Thanks, Strauss!

Had difficulty getting my order despite multiple trips to the storeIt took four trips to the store from the southwest part of Saint Paul (taking as much as an hour round trip each time) to obtain the item we ordered through our hockey association. After receiving emails that my item was in, I waited a few days and then called to confirm before I took the trip out there. I was told on the phone that my item was in, "it would be unpacked the next day" and would be bagged and available on the day after that. Then when I arrived at the store on the correct day (actually a couple of days later, for my first attempt) I was told that the item still hadn't been unpacked yet (but "it would be unpacked the next day" and bagged and made available the day after that.). No joke -- this happened three times. Finally, our family got the item on the fourth trip to Maplewood. Advice to customers wanting to pick up an order: wait a while after being notified that your items are in. Advice for staff: don't tell customers when the in-store item can be picked up if you have no idea when the boxes will be unpacked. The customers don't all live down the street.

Back home visiting my folks, played in a pond hockey tourney this weekend, an attempt to relive my HS hockey days. Broke both my blades, I think the plastic failed under the cold weather. Being repaired and shipped. But more importantly they knew my dad, my area hockey, and we talked old time hockey. How can you rate good people with years MN hockey experience. Even though I live in CA now, I always try to stop here when I'm in town. One important note, I asked the kids if they felt the boot was worth saving. Composite just doesn't last as long as leather. I left the decision up them. They had the parts and saved the boots. I wear top of line, EE sized CCM tacks. I need a wide boot, I used to wear Microns when I was younger. They could have told me to buy new skates, they didn't. That should count for something.

Haven't skated in 30+ years. I now have a granddaughter that is in Mini-mites so I wanted to be able to skate with her and assist with bringing her though the process of being the next Bobby Hull (ok, maybe not) so off I go on a skate purchasing adventure. Well first off, I was a goalie during my young life so I recall trying to skate on forward skates after living on goalie skates! Ya, I looked like I had two left feet. Knowing this, I was going to just get a pair of goalie skates. Man, skates have changed slightly over the last few decades!! I went over to a hockey chain-store and wasn't impressed with their offerings as I didn't think $650 + blades was the best thing. Plus they had very low stock levels anyway. I knew about Strauss so here we are. Walked in on a weeknight and was greeted immediately. Chatted about my situation and was shown a pair of CCM Vectors. These are able to be heated and fitted so that's what I did. They had a very good supply of skates so I could have gone for just about any pair I wanted. I need a wide (EE) boot so that really seems to limit my choices but the Vectors fit well and after baking them in the skate oven, on they went and man, I've never had a pair of skates that felt so good!!! They lined me up with a helmet (cuz I'm old and the ice has gotten pretty hard over the years) and a set of really sweet blade guards. Moose was a pleasant chap and very knowledgeable. This was a great experience and will definitely be headed back to Strauss for future purchases. Thanks a for putting up with my antiquated questions and dry sense of humor! Now on to the NHL!!! Andy

Strauss replaced my bicycle inner tube in 10 minutes and charged three dollars less than Eriks Bike Shop. Eriks wanted three days to get it done, ha ha Ha! Matt, the bicycle mechanic is one gnarly dude and helped me with an amazing customer service attitude!

Excellent service. I was looking to upgrade my figure skates and Allan was very knowledgeable about the Edea and Riedell boots they stock. I ended up purchasing a pair of Edea IceFly and he patiently adjusted the boots until they fit perfectly. It is really nice to be able to try on in stock boots instead of having to order boots and wait to see if they fit. In my case it was a huge timesaver. I measure as a 245 in Edea but due to the width of my feet the 245s were painful. I was able to try the 250s and they were snug but not painful. A few adjustments and they were perfect. I am waiting for the coronation ace revolution blades to arrive (manufacturer back ordered due to change in supplier). Allan was good in keeping me updated on their status. They even sharpened the blades on my old skates free as a courtesy! I am very happy with my experience at Strauss Skates.