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Business Profile

Sports and Recreation

Spartan Race

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Sports and Recreation.

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 31 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 10 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:06/05/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I pre-purchased two photo packages from Spartan Race for $40 each (for myself and my girlfriend) for our first Spartan Race. We completed the Austin ****** on May 18th. We were advised that photos would be available to download within three days. Its been almost three weeks now and o have yet to receive the photos I paid for. I contact Spartan Race, and their customer service (while taking DAYS to respond to a single message) states that a refund is not an option while providing no helpful information or solution to resolve my grievance. How is a refund not an option when they have failed to provide the service I paid for?

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/28/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    This company is very difficult to deal with. I purchased 2 tickets for myself and a friend in the same transaction for the same race. The tickets automatically assigned different start times, which was a problem for me since I was planning this race with a friend. I emailed Spartan's customer service since this is the only way to reach them (no customer service line), and waited a week before they responded. The response was generic and didn't address my need to update the start time so I emailed back. It's been 1.5 weeks and still no response from Spartan. This company has taken my money, hasn't delivered what was advertised, and charges a fee to make a change on the ticket. The race is in a few days so I have no choice but to pay the fee. After attempting to transfer the ticket, I received an error message. Their system isn't allowing me to make any changes and instead just gives me error messages. If I'm not able to attend and unable to transfer the ticket, then I'll have to file a fraud claim with my credit card company. I welcome the proposed junk fees legislation currently in review with the **** Companies like Spartan Race have abusive and predatory practices and need to be held accountable.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/17/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Hello,Last year a group of friends and myself signed up for a Spartan race event scheduled for August 19th, 2023 in **** ******. The event was cancelled by the event coordinator, I am not sure why. The Spartan company would not issue us a refund, but said that they would move our entry fees to the 2024 Hawaii event. Unfortunately due changes in our lives my friends and I will not be able to make the ******************************************************************************** ******. Airfare is expensive. I asked the Spartan race Company for a refund but was denied due to their policy. I am wondering if you think it is fair for them to follow their policy and keep my friends and I from getting a refund when they are the ones who cancelled the original event and not us?

    Customer Answer

    Date: 05/28/2024

    I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/21/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    In 2023, I signed up for the Spartan Plus membership to obtain certain benefits including free HD photos of the races I participate in. In December I received an email stating that they were changing how they did photos. Photos would be a separate charge, but Spartan Plus member would receive a quarterly promo code or credit for a discount on the photos. The company is now telling me that there are other qualifications for this discount but they have not been able to produce any documentation that states this is the case. I am being told I have to be either a Spartan Season Pass holder or a Trifecta Pass holder to receive the discount. I cannot find this stated on any of the documentation I have received from them or on their website.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/08/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On September 3, 2023, I purchased 3 tickets not knowing that there were 3 in my cart. The chat bubble on Spartans mobile transaction screen was blocking the total of the transaction. Since contacting them and bringing this error to them, they told me they under no circumstances refund tickets, so naturally, i submitted a dispute through my credit card. after more messages back in forth with spartan they finally agreed to send the refund and cancel the tickets. The tickets were refunded but at no point did the refund go through. They claim, that the dispute was blocking the refund from going thru and once the dispute was resolved, that it would be sent. This did not happen. I contacted them again and told them to resend the refund and that my chase bank credit card did not show the refund was ever sent. They spent WEEKS not replying to any of my emails, and I could not call them to even appeal my case. This company has been ow to respond to anything. My credit card has not resolved the dispute in either of our favors yet. I am reaching out back to spartan again, as nothing has been happening, and my credit card company says that they are awaiting response from spartan. This is not acceptable to not communicate and to hold my money. I am requesting from spartan as well that they give me proof of the sent refund in the amount of $362, which they have not yet sent either.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/31/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I worked as an independent contractor for Spartan in 2023 and was issued a ****. Part of my payment from them was for reimbursements for travel which I provided receipts for and was reimbursed for. When I got my tax form I was taxed as income for these reimbursements which I should not be taxed on a **** for, just for the payment I was paid.I have reached out to the ***************************** email to get this corrected and was at first told that it could be corrected and am now being ghosted. Can someone please send me a corrected tax form for the correct amount.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/10/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I entered and completed a Spartan Race (Sprint 5K) with a Team on December 10, 2023, utilizing their timing equipment. A week or so after the race, my race times were not posted on the Spartan website, and it showed I had completed 0 events. I have communicated 4 times with Spartan, utilizing their website chat feature and e-mail, repeatedly answering the same questions about my race and team details. A month later, my results have still not been posted online, and they have not sent me pictures, as promised. They said to "allow **** business days to receive a response regarding your timing/results question," and it has been nearly triple that amount of time, and I have not heard a thing. I would like my race fee and parking refunded, since they have not fulfilled their repeated promise to me.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 01/21/2024

    [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does satisfy my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint #********. I understand that by choosing to accept the business response that my complaint will be closed as resolved. 

    Regards,

    *************************

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:11/30/2023

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I have previously done Spartan races. I received a text message about a Cyber Monday promotion (a two for one deal). I clicked on the link and selected the two races. I then entered the code and it one time it said Invalid and another Not applicable. I tried several times. I checked whether there was small print on the promotion and could not find any. I tried contacting customer service but it was simply a bot who offered no assistance. I then looked online and there are SO many complaints about people being ripped off by Spartan. The events are great but someone needs to get these folks to shape up!

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:11/07/2023

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    We purchased a refundable kids race ticket for our 7 year old son to attend the December 3rd Kids Spartan race. The Spartan Company Canceled the entire kids race for December 3rd. They are not giving us the refund as promised. This company is scamming children and families.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 11/17/2023

    THE Spartan company will not give my 7 year old a refund for the kids race that they canceled.    We purchased a refundable ticket but they are refusing to refund saying that the "refund" option we paid extra for does not include cancelations from the Spartan company.   ************ is scamming children and families.   Spartan canceled a race and are not giving refunds for what they canceled.   It's very simple:  1. We purchased a ticket to participate in an event on a specific day - the event is canceled.    2. We should get a refund.   It's Unacceptable that the Spartan company is not offering refunds for those children that no longer have the event option that they paid for.      

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:10/31/2023

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    This is the issue in a nut shell:"I have been racing with Spartan since 2018. I have paid for numerous races that I have participated in and have volunteered my fair share of time, for Spartan. I have also been one to always acknowledge how helpful the customer service department is and have often defended Spartan, on social media, for not taking care of racer questions and needs. At this point, I now have experienced, first hand, the poor service from your company. I reached out, in mid to late September, alerting Spartan that I have 2 race codes that are not working. When I sent the email, it was responded to, quickly and immediately shoved over to the volunteer department. I responded to that email, that same day, to make clear that only one of the codes was a volunteer code. The other code is a code that I paid for, for Tahoe, that was cancelled, due to wildfire. My hope, a month ago, was that my child and I would be able to race in SLO, which I stated numerous times. That is impossible now, as the race is 2 weeks out and NOBODY has even had the courtesy of emailing me back, even though I followed up at least 4 times since. I would appreciate a response, including 2 working codes, that I can use to race. I am tired of the run-around. I paid, full price for my Tahoe race and volunteered a whole day for the volunteer code."

    Customer Answer

    Date: 11/13/2023

    I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.

    I have not been notified, at all. 

Spartan Race is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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