13 Unbelievable Stories From Sneaker Store Employees

We all cop kicks, but here's some of the madness that goes on behind the scenes in your favorite stores.

Sneakers stores all hold a special place in our hearts. They're where we get the kicks we're crazy about. But there's a whole scene that goes down in these stores that most of us aren't privy to. The people who work in sneaker stores have stories that you wouldn't believe and they're not just about sneaker releases.

We talked to a bunch of former and current sneaker store employees and asked them a simple question: "What's the craziest story you can tell us?" And they did. We thought it was just going to do be stories of customers getting angry or someone who wanted to return some worn, dusty kicks. But it went way beyond that. There are true stories about NFL players making it rain in the middle of the store, and about sneakers that couldn't sell no matter what. We've kept some people anonymous because they are still employed by the same employer and wouldn't want to jeopardize their careers. Trust us, these stories are all real, and they'll blow your mind. Here are 13 Unbelievable Stories From Sneaker Store Employees.

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Debby Peng, Nike/A Bathing Ape

Brandon Delgado, Footaction

"This group of three guys come in. I've seen them before at a few events in New Brunswick and I recognized them. Two of them were looking to replace their very comfortably worn-in sneakers. One guy loved Air Max 180s, one stuck with the high top Dunks since we didn't have the Pumas he liked and one said he wasn't getting anything.

After a bit of discussion and realization that we were out of stock in most of the things they wanted, I talked them into a deal with my manager. We agreed that if all three of them bought the shoes that we spoke about and they didn't like them, they could return them afterwards.

So all three wound up buying new kicks. But of course, a deal is a deal and so afterwards they said, 'OK,  where are you guys going to clear out some space for us to try these things out?'

I looked at my manager and she looked back at me. No more then 10 minutes later we had tables moved and though on shallow carpet these guys started to breakdance in the middle of the store.

Customers stopped asking for shoes, babies stopped crying, and the children started dancing. In the midst of all the top-rocking, six steps, and hollow backs, the last guy asked if we had any cardboard, and used it to execute this perfectly balanced headspin.

At that moment he stood up and smiled at me and said 'I'm sticking with these Chucks.' I had to laugh because still till this day, I have no idea how a headspin relates to the feel of a fresh pair of kicks on your feet."

Anonymous Foot Locker Employee

Matt Welty, Complex

Anonymous Store Manager

Adam Blaier, Foot Locker

Anonymous Foot Locker employee

Louis Songor, Reed Space

Anonymous Foot Locker Employee

Arthur Clark, Foot Locker/Nike

Anonymous Foot Locker Employee

Bobbito Garcia, Bobbito's Footwork

Joe La Puma, Finish Line