I need new running shoes and I've been looking at the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus and some Adidas Ultraboost models. Prices seem all over the place between different retailers. Are there any websites or sales happening in September that usually have better prices on athletic shoes?
Worth checking Nordstrom Rack and other department store clearance sections too - they get overstocks from the main stores and mark them down pretty aggressively. Since you're looking at specific models, set up price alerts on a couple of comparison sites so you're not manually checking every retailer. Specialty running stores sometimes price match if you find a better deal elsewhere, which can save you the hassle of ordering and returning.
right now in september you're generally in that sweet spot where summer clearance stuff is wrapping up but fall sales haven't fully kicked in yet. shoes.com, zappos, and running specialty stores like running warehouse often have better margins than nike/adidas direct sites. check dicks sporting goods or foot locker since they usually run september promotions to clear inventory before Q4 hits. if you can wait until late september or early october, that's when back-to-school overflow deals tend to stack - but honestly if you find either shoe within like 15-20% off retail right now that's pretty solid since both those models don't usually crater in price.
Nike and Adidas both do price drops on their official websites if you sign up for their newsletters - I've caught some solid discounts that way! One thing folks miss is checking outlet mall websites directly (like Nike Factory or Adidas outlet stores online) because they sometimes have deeper cuts than the main sites, especially on previous season colors of those exact models you're eyeing.
The thing that actually moves the needle for running shoes is waiting for Labor Day sales to fully clear inventory and then hitting the specialty running stores - they tend to have better discounts than the big box retailers because they're moving last season's stock harder. Dick's Sporting Goods, Fleet Feet, and similar chains usually run deeper cuts on previous models once the new fall gear drops.
Beyond what's already mentioned about newsletters, here's something most people overlook: call the physical stores near you. I know it sounds old school, but I've found that store managers will sometimes honor online prices or tell you about local-only clearance racks that don't show up on their websites. Plus they can actually check if your size is in stock instead of you ordering and waiting. The Pegasus and Ultraboost both run pretty consistently priced, so the real savings come from catching whatever the previous color run was - stores are usually desperate to clear those out by mid-September.
One last thing - check if there's a Nike or Adidas factory outlet within reasonable distance. Prices there can be legitimately 30-40% off retail, though selection is hit or miss. Worth a drive if you're flexible on exact model or color.
When I'm hunting for running shoes, I've noticed that the official Nike and Adidas sites actually hide their real deals pretty well - you need to dig into their clearance sections or wait for specific events. What people don't always catch is that return policies matter as much as the initial discount. Some retailers let you return stuff for free within 30 days, others charge restocking fees or have weird restrictions. That's huge when you're trying shoes on because fit is everything with running shoes and you might need to swap sizes or switch models entirely.
The specialty running stores mentioned in the earlier answers are solid, but here's what I'd add: check if any local running shops near you do gait analysis. Even if their upfront prices look higher, they'll steer you toward shoes that actually match your stride, which saves money way down the line because you won't be buying the wrong shoe twice. As for timing, September can be patchy - Labor Day sales are usually done by now, but October tends to have better inventory drops as brands make room for holiday stuff. If you're not in a rush, mid-October often hits harder than early September.
One tactical move: don't just compare prices across sites without checking what's included. Some retailers throw in free shipping or loyalty points that effectively drop your real cost by another 10-15%. And definitely sign up for those newsletters - they do work - but use an email filter so the marketing spam doesn't bury the actual sale notifications.
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