You’re standing in the middle of a massive retail store, staring at a wall of cleats. You need a size 11 in the blue colorway, but the shelf is empty. Usually, this is where you give up and go home. But if you’ve got the dicks sporting goods app open, you just scan the barcode of the display shoe and—boom—it tells you if the backroom is hiding your size or if you can have it shipped to your house for free.
Honestly, most people think retail apps are just digital flyers taking up space on their phones. I used to think the same. But Dick's has baked a few features into their software that actually make it worth the storage space, especially if you're someone who already wears a Fitbit or an Apple Watch.
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The MOVE Feature is Literally Free Money
This is the part that most people miss. Inside the app, there’s a section called MOVE. You link your fitness tracker—Garmin, Apple Health, MapMyRun, or Fitbit—and the app starts paying you for being active.
It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. You aren’t going to buy a new treadmill just from walking the dog. But you earn 3 ScoreCard points every single day you hit a goal. The goals are pretty reachable: 10,000 steps, 3 miles, or 30 minutes of fitness activity.
Do the math. If you hit those goals daily, you’re racking up points for doing what you were already doing. 300 points gets you a $10 Reward. It’s basically a loyalty program that rewards sweat instead of just spending. Plus, they usually hand out 100 bonus points just for connecting your tracker for the first time.
Store Mode: Avoiding the "Is This in Stock?" Mystery
We've all been there. You walk into a store, and it's a ghost town, or it's so busy you can't find an associate to save your life. The dicks sporting goods app has this "Store Mode" that kicks in via geofencing as soon as you walk through the sliding glass doors.
- Barcode Scanning: See a price you don’t believe? Scan it. Want to see more reviews while standing in the aisle? Scan it.
- Aisle Maps: Some locations (especially the House of Sport ones) are massive. The app can sometimes pinpoint where an item is so you aren't wandering the golf section looking for pickleball paddles.
- The "Save the Sale" Trick: If they don't have your size in the store, using the app to buy it right there often triggers free shipping that you might not get if you just ordered from your couch later.
What People Get Wrong About the Rewards
The ScoreCard system is the backbone here, but it’s kinda clunky if you don’t know the rules. Points expire. It sucks, but it's true. Usually, they vanish after a year if you haven't hit that 300-point threshold to turn them into a reward certificate.
One insider tip: If you have the app, your rewards are digital. No more digging through your "Promotions" tab in Gmail while the person behind you in line huffs and puffs. You just pull up the barcode, the cashier scans it, and that $10 or $20 comes off the total instantly.
The Sneaker Drop Factor
If you’re a "sneakerhead" or just really want those specific Hoka or On Cloud colorways that sell out in ten minutes, the app is non-negotiable. Dick's has started doing App-Exclusive Drops.
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They use a launch calendar. You can set notifications for specific releases. It's much more reliable than trying to refresh a browser window on a laptop at 10:00 AM. They also have a partnership with Nike Membership. If you link your Nike account to your Dick’s account inside the app, you get access to limited-edition gear and sometimes a $10 reward just for connecting the two.
Technical Stuff and Common Frustrations
It’s not all sunshine and free gear. The app is a bit of a data hog. It’s around 250 MB, so if your phone is screaming for space, this might be a tough sell.
Also, the syncing between fitness trackers and the MOVE feature can be... finicky. I’ve seen plenty of people complain that their steps didn't sync for a Tuesday, and they lost those 3 points. Pro tip: Open the app at least once every few days to make sure the data "pushed" from your watch to the Dick's servers. If you wait a week, sometimes the data gets lost in the ether.
How to Actually Maximize the App
Don't just download it and let it sit. If you want to actually save money, follow this sequence:
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- Download and Link: Get your ScoreCard and Nike accounts synced immediately.
- Activate MOVE: Connect your Apple Health or Garmin. It’s a "set it and forget it" situation for the most part.
- Check the "Offers" Tab: Before you walk into the store, check the app. There are almost always "App Only" coupons—like $20 off a $100 purchase—that won't work if you try to use them on the website.
- Use it for Returns: The app keeps your "Digital Receipts." If you lose that crinkly piece of paper, the cashier can just scan the transaction from your phone.
The dicks sporting goods app is basically a tool for the "frequent flyer" of the sports world. If you only buy one pair of socks a year, don't bother. But if you're coaching youth soccer, running 5Ks, or just obsessed with having the latest Stanley cup color, it's a legitimate way to shave 10-15% off your annual spend through pure activity and exclusive coupons.
Your next step is to open your phone's health settings and ensure you've granted the Dick's app "Read" permissions for your steps and workouts.