With three kids playing various sports over the years, I’ve become well acquainted with the aisles of my local Dick’s Sporting Goods. I’ve also discovered that just walking into Dick’s and buying the first thing you see can be VERY expensive….but it DOES NOT have to be. Here are a couple dozen smart strategies to help you maximize your savings.

1. Make a Return and Score a GREAT Coupon

When you return something at Dick’s, a lot of times they’ll slap a $20 off $100 coupon right onto your return receipt.

But here’s the catch — you only get like 3 hours to use it, and you can’t stack it with any other deals.

It’s basically Dick’s way of saying, “Yeah, sorry you didn’t like that first thing… but hey, maybe go buy something else right now instead.”

Honestly, if you’re already hanging around the store, it’s not a bad deal — but if you leave, that coupon’s basically toast.

PRO TIP: COUPON TRICK

If you want to buy buying something at Dick’s with a price over $100, just buy and return anything and try to trigger this $20 coupon. Easy money.

2. Crack the Dick’s Price Tag Code

It’s time to start paying attention to the price tags at Dick’s, specifically the cents column.

Here’s how it all works so you can find a deal every time you shop:

.00 or .90 – These items are full-price, nothing special to see here.

.97 or .93 – These are clearance items and are typically a good deal. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

.98 – Prices ending in a .98 are sale items. Do a quick price comparison on these products and I think you’ll find them to be a really good deal.

Also, pay attention to Sale signs at Dicks, in particular the bottom right corner. This is where you’ll see the dates of the sale and know exactly when the sale ends. If inventory is low, and the sale is about to end, it’s probably a good time to buy.

PRO TIP: THE SCORECARD LOYALTY PROGRAM IS WORTH IT

One of the best ways to save money at Dick’s Sporting Goods is by signing up for their ScoreCard loyalty program.

It’s free to join and as a member, you earn one point for every dollar spent.

Once you accumulate 300 points, you receive a $10 reward to spend in-store or online.

ScoreCard members also receive exclusive coupons and access to special sales events.

3. Check Out the Weekly Ads

Dick’s drops weekly ads with all their sales and promos, but honestly, half the people shopping there don’t even know they exist.

You can catch some pretty solid deals if you actually take two seconds to check before you head in.

Instead of just wandering around paying full price for a hoodie, you can plan it out and hit the good stuff while it’s marked down.

A little sneaky planning = way more cash left in your wallet.

See Also: We Make Sense of the Dick’s Return Policy

4. Take Advantage of Price Matching

Dick’s Sporting Goods offers a best price guarantee.

If you find a lower price on an identical item at a qualifying retailer, Dick’s will match it.

This includes matching prices from select online retailers. Be sure to bring proof of the lower price when shopping in-store, or contact customer service if shopping online.

5. Shop During Clearance Events

Dick’s clearance sales are where you can really clean up if you time it right.

They usually happen at the end of a season when they’re trying to dump old stuff to make space for the new gear.

It’s the best time to grab sporting goods, clothes, shoes — all that — for way less than what you’d normally pay.

Sure, you might end up buying shorts in October, but when you get ‘em for dirt cheap, who cares?

6. Abandon Cart to Trigger Coupon

Dick’s is one of the retailers that will email you a coupon to complete your online order if you leave items in your cart and don’t complete the purchase.

The screenshot above is a 10% coupon they sent me to try and entice me to come back and finalize my purchase.

While not worth it on small purchases, it’s a clever way to save some extra money on an expensive item.

7. Browse Online Exclusive Deals

Dick’s website sneaks in a bunch of online deals you’ll never find in the store.

Sometimes it’s discounts on specific stuff, sometimes it’s like a sitewide percentage-off promo they don’t even bother mentioning in person.

Plus, you’ll usually find way more sizes and colors online — not just whatever random leftovers are sitting on the shelf.

If you’re hunting for a deal (or, you know, actually want your size), shopping online’s kinda the move.

8. Use Coupons and Promo Codes

While this seems very obvious, I often forgot to look for a coupon back when my kids were playing little league and they needed a new glove or bat.

So before completing any purchase at Dick’s Sporting Goods, be sure to search for coupons.

You can often find these through the Dick’s Sporting Goods website, email newsletters, or coupon websites.

PRO TIP: BE AWARE OF EXCLUSIONS

Unfortunately, the list of brand exclusions at Dick’s when it comes to using coupons continues to grow.

Before long, the list of brands that you CAN use a coupon on will be shorter than their list of excluded brands.

9. Follow Social Media Accounts

Following Dick’s Sporting Goods on social media platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram can keep you informed about flash sales, special events, and exclusive coupons.

Social media platforms may also host contests or giveaways where you can win free merchandise.

10. Consider the Dick’s Sporting Goods Credit Card

If you shop frequently at Dick’s Sporting Goods, check out their branded credit card.

You’ll score a $30 instant bonus reward, $10 reward for every $150 spent, earn 2x points on every purchase, special financing options, and no annual fee.

PRO TIP: RIDICULOUS APR

Be sure to consider the card’s terms and APR.

If you can’t pay this bad boy off every month you’re probably better off using your regular credit card as the interest rate on this card hovers around 30%.

11. Buy Discounted Gift Cards

You can often find Dick’s Sporting Goods gift cards at a discount through various online marketplaces.

Purchasing these gift cards for less than their face value can save you money before you even walk into the store or shop online.

12. Join Mailing Lists for Exclusive Offers

Subscribing to the Dick’s Sporting Goods mailing list can provide you with exclusive offers sent directly to your inbox.

These may include unique promotional codes, early access to sales, and alerts on new product launches.

13. Shop During Back-to-School and Holiday Sales

If you’re trying to score big at Dick’s, back-to-school season and the major holidays are where it’s at.

They usually drop some serious discounts around Black Friday and Cyber Monday — like, the kind where you wonder why you ever paid full price for anything.

If you can hold off and plan your shopping around late November, you can save a ton. Patience definitely pays off… and so does not panic-shopping two weeks too early.

14. Explore the Last Chance Section

Dick’s Sporting Goods has a Last Chance clearance on their website where you can find heavily discounted items up to 75% off.

These are last season’s models or overstock items that are priced to move quickly.

Any seasoned Dick’s shoppers knows the outlets offers some of the deepest discounts available, always “check it first” for deals.

15. Use the Mobile App for Exclusive Discounts

Downloading the Dick’s Sporting Goods mobile app gives you access to app-exclusive discounts and notifications about sales.

The app is famous for offering special “flash” discounts that are only available while supplies last.

16. Attend Grand Opening Events

If a new Dick’s Sporting Goods store opens in your area, attending the grand opening can be beneficial.

These events always have special promotions, giveaways, and one-time discounts as part of the celebration.

17. Trade-In Old Gear

Dick’s offers a trade-in program for used sports equipment like golf clubs and hiking gear.

This program allows you to bring in old gear and receive a discount on new purchases and is a great way to save money and recycle equipment you no longer use.

18. Look for Rebates

Many items at Dick’s Sporting Goods come with manufacturer rebates.

These rebates offer cash back or future discounts on products, adding another layer of savings. Always check the product details for rebate offers and follow the instructions carefully to claim your rebate.

19. Buy During Off-Peak Seasons

If you really wanna save at Dick’s, shop like… totally off-season. Grab your ski gear when it’s 100 degrees out, buy baseball stuff when there’s snow on the ground — you get the idea.

Dick’s loves clearing out seasonal stuff when nobody’s thinking about it, just to make room for the next batch. Yeah, it feels weird buying a snowboard in July, but when you’re paying half price, who cares?

20. Consider Lesser-Known Brands

Yeah, big brands at Dick’s are cool and all, but honestly, you’re just paying for the name half the time.

They’ve got a bunch of lesser-known brands that are way cheaper and still get the job done, especially if you’re just starting out with a new sport and don’t need pro-level gear yet.

Save the big money for later — no need to drop a fortune on a hobby you’re still figuring out if you even like.

21. Subscribe to SMS Alerts

In addition to email alerts, you can subscribe to receive SMS notifications from Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Text alerts include instant notifications about sales and exclusive SMS-only offers.

22. Purchase Multipacks

For items you use regularly, such as golf balls, tennis balls, or socks, buying them in multipacks can be more economical than purchasing them individually.

Dick’s often offers bulk buying options that reduce the cost per item.

23. Monitor End-of-Year Sales

The end of the year can bring significant markdowns as stores prepare for new inventory.

This is an excellent time to scout for deals on high-ticket items like treadmills, outdoor gear, and team sports equipment.

24. Take Advantage of Free In-Store Services

Some locations of Dick’s Sporting Goods offer free services that can save you money.

For instance, they might offer free bike adjustments, lacrosse head stringing, or golf club fittings with a purchase.

These complimentary services add value to your purchase and can save you from having to pay for these services separately.

25. Ask for a Price Adjustment

If you buy something at Dick’s and it goes on sale right after, don’t just sit there feeling salty — you can actually ask for a price adjustment.

They’ll usually hook you up if it’s within about 14 days, but you gotta keep your receipt and be ready to show it.

It’s totally worth checking prices after you buy, ‘cause nobody likes realizing they could’ve saved money and didn’t even ask.

26. Shop the “Best Price Guarantee” Items

If you see something at Dick’s with a “Best Price Guarantee” tag on it, you’re pretty much set.

It means they’ll match competitor prices and make sure you’re getting the best deal without you having to run around checking every other store.

It’s kinda like them saying, “Look, we’ve got you — just buy it already.” Way less stress, way less second-guessing yourself at checkout.

27. Plan Purchases Around Major Sporting Events

Dick’s loves throwing out sales whenever there’s a big sports event happening — Super Bowl, World Series, Olympics, you name it.

It’s honestly one of the best times to snag deals on gear and jerseys without paying full price.

If you time it right and plan around the big games, you can save a ton without even trying that hard.

Basically: sports = sales. Use it to your advantage.

28. Look for Bundle Deals

Sometimes, buying more can save more.

Look for bundle deals where you can buy a combination of items at a reduced price compared to purchasing them separately.

This is often seen with workout gear, outdoor equipment, or team sports items like soccer balls and cones.

29. Use the Store’s Layout to Your Advantage

Retailers are sneaky — they stick the expensive stuff right at eye level or wherever you’re most likely to walk by and grab it without thinking.

If you wanna find the real deals, you gotta actually look down (or up) and dig around a little.

A lot of the cheaper, better-value stuff is hiding on the bottom shelves or stuck way off to the side where nobody’s paying attention.

Especially in big stores — they’re banking on you grabbing the flashy full-price stuff and not even noticing the better deals.

Ask the Reader: How do you save money at Dick’s? Please leave a comment and let me know what savings tips I may have missed and I’ll add them to my article.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)