Big 5 Sporting Goods

I bought a 100 lb heavy bag & a stand for it. The total was about $ 202. Two days after my purchase, I was unsatisfied with purchase so I decided to return it for my money back. However, I threw away the box, but I still had the receipt. I called in to ask whether or not I could return and the lady I was speaking to told me that generally I wouldn’t be able to, but she transferred me to a manager. The wait took over 5 minutes to be transferred so I hung up and called again. Finally, she transferred me to a manager and the manager told me I could return it in, even without the box. The lady was a bit demanding when I got there, but she quickly made the exchange for me. I got all my cash back despite leaving all the parts without the original packaging at the store. That was something that they didn’t have to do and I appreciate that.

They need to hire more people here. Preferably people that can at least pretend that they aren’t annoyed by you asking for help. I went here to try and buy cleats on a Saturday morning. I knew my size, and wasn’t picky about the type of cleat. I asked if the cleats came in black which the employee said «I don’t know» and walked away… ok, well… like…are you going to go check? It was weird. Eventually a different employee, who looked equally displeased by me just standing in the shoe section, told me that no, neon orange was my only choice. I said alright, thanks, thats fine and walked to the line to check out.
OK, here’s where I started to lose my patience with Big 5. I waited in line for about 20 mins and there were only 2 people ahead of me. This was NOT entirely the cashiers fault, there was some joker in front of me getting a fishing license but didn’t seem to really know what he wanted or anything about it and she wasn’t exactly an expert. That’s fine. The only thing is that she kept paging for someone to come help her and no one would or could. I think on the weekends they could stand to up their man power. Other than that, the store is decently priced and small enough so it is easy to navigate. It is a bit small, but they at least have probably one of anything you are looking for. And plenty of parking is a bonus.
Big 5, get more employees, and in the process, might I suggest hiring people that don’t look 100% miserable at the site of a pretty chill customer.

they would not sell me a shotgun i am not a felon nor am i a fuck up of any kind. i paid for the gun i picked out then i came back and they said they cant sell it to me. to contact dmv so i did dmv said i dont owe any money or anything like. the store worker told me i passed the doj background check. but their was some other hang ups. they are rude and very snobish and have been that way for along time they kept the 35 bucks for the back ground check and said sorry buddy with a smile on his face … fuck that store and the assholes that work there. i hope they all burn in hell. fuck them cock suckerz… oh the manager is super rude and stand offish. for all you gun haters on here get a life. if someone breaks into your house to hurt you or your kids what are you gonna do pussys??? call the apd. lol or throw one of your crocs at them??? lame ass cunts. yell out ima call the cops better leave. pussyz.
obama loving pukes fuck em.

Terrible customer service from the tall guy with ridiculous facial hair. First I heard him loudly swear and complain to himself, half muttering under his breath – half sighing. Then I explicitly heard him complain about a customer to a fellow employee, peppered with f words. I’m certain I’m not the only customer who heard this.
In general, this is a very bitter individual who should likely consider other career choices if this is how he takes to human interaction. I will go out of my way to avoid this big 5 in the future.

Overpriced and rude staff. If there was another choice in Alameda for a sporting goods store, we would go there.

Went here today to buy a bike for our company to use when they visit and was told since the bike we wanted wasn’t the last one they had we would be forced to buy one in a box and assemble it ourselves. This is so ridiculous… Saying that they aren’t liable to put bikes together yet all the bikes that are on display there were assembled by staff so how does that make sense… Never returning or going to another big 5 again.

Went there to get a hunting license. Lady behind the counter was not versed at navigating the website. So, she made me feel like I was stupid. She did not want to figure it out. Maybe because there was a line of 5 behind me and they were understaffed.
Went to Sports Authority and the lady behind the counter had trouble navigating the website but she was cheerful and together, we figured it out.
In this day and age of buying stuff online, if I come to your store, you better be cordial. Never going there again.

This store is constantly understaffed. Went in today to get two small things and not only couldn’t find a salesperson on the floor to help me find something, but when I finally went to check out there were only two checkers, despite a long line building up, and then one left saying he would «be right back.» I ended up leaving without buying my items because it was taking them so long.

Alicia at this particular Big 5 store was very helpful, courteous and professional. She located the shoes I eventually purchased, shown in the weekly ad but not on display. She emerged 10 minutes later with the shoes, found in the storeroom somewhere. I am delighted; my running shoes are top quality at a very reasonable price. Thanks to her persistence, I found the shoes I wanted.
Parking is not difficult if you go in the morning, even on the weekend.

I had to pass my rifle & shotgun licensing since CA law now requires a separate long gun license apart from the handgun. I passed the test and was happy with the service. I’d like to see a bigger selection of firearms but hey here in alameda at a chain location I didn’t expect much.

I love this place. I read through the comments on all 40 post. Some people shopped at this place when the management & staff were not good. Some gave negative reviews based on them having guns NOT on the stores general qualities.
I find there are always good and bad with every store.
Location: limited parking on saturdays due to shopping center having food trucks during the summer and ice rink during winter. NOT the stores fault! Beach location ideal for everyone! Get your car washed while you shop.
Space: The manager said if the shopping center would allow them to expand they would. The store opened in the 90’s… You did not need much space back then. Now the more items customer need, the more crammed the place seems. I would rather have choices then space!
Staff: I find the staff fluctuates all the time. You can’t have everything perfect. I found some gems in this place! If you treat people nice, I find you get the best service. Say please and thanks too. They work retail with aholes, thief’s, & kids all day. Sometimes they get sour attitudes, so be polite unless warranted to do otherwise! Bad humans and good humans are still HUMANS!
FINALLY… GUNS:
just because YOU don’t like them or don’t support adults right to buy them, does not mean the store is at fault for selling them. They are behind the register area for very good reasons. 1: Space is limited. 2: They are out of reach of customers, and locked up securely. Easier for managers to keep an eye on them and store at the same time.
OVERALL: I have had a blast shopping here. I can honestly say that this place is like home. Sometimes I want to leave, but I can’t resist the temptation to just stay! I love the staff. They are family. The «regulars» are the best! I would rather go here then Walmart any day and twice on Sunday!

Pretty good rifle selection in the store. But their fishing stocks need improvement. But over all a really good sporting store.
It’s funny JULIE C gave this place one star just because big five sell rifles. It’s people’s right in this country to own firearms. Ever heard of the 2^nd Amendment? God bliss America.

My Avia sneakers were worn and ragged. I went to Kohl’s first because that’s where I bought my Avia’s. Apparently Kohl’s no longer sell the brand (boo hoo), but the very nice saleslady referred me to Big 5 Sporting Goods.
I did not see any Avia’s on display. I have been wearing this brand for over 15 years because they are the most comfortable sneakers around besides New Balance. Forget Nike, no matter how expensive it is. It takes about 7 to 10 days to break in a pair of Nike for it to become comfortable on my feet (and this was info that was passed to me also many years ago by an employee of Foot Locker).
I had a wonderful salesman who was assisting another customer in the shoes department, who was able to multitask to also assist me at the same time. He found a pair of Avia for me (and it was on sale with another 20% off — woo hoo). Well, I also wanted to try on two other brands of sneakers — Dr. Scholl (made in the USA) and Starter. Both those brands were comfortable, too.
Since this salesman was very helpful, I ended up buying all three pairs and the total price was great…$ 113.29 (tax included)…averaging out to less than $ 40.00 a pair. I love when I land a bargain at Big 5.

The bad:
–I hate the huge wall of firearms. I won’t bring my daughter in there because of it.
–Staff is mostly indifferent, inattentive or error-​prone.
–There’s only one dressing room.
–It is so crowded in there.
The good:
–I’m a lapswimmer, and they have an excellent swimsuit sale during the summer. You can get lap suits, kids suits, fashion-​y suits, plus size suits, and the prices are great.
–They have great variety of goggles and bathing caps.
–Bad and good at the same time:
–One of the mangers did an incredible thing. When I came in to return a couple of suits, one of which was a tankini top, she asked where the bottoms were. I told her I didn’t even know it had 2 pieces; no one had ever said anything about it being 2 pieces when they rang me up and bagged it. I started to wonder if maybe there had been bottoms after all, and I’d misplaced them in my house? In any case, the manager said she’d look into it, and call me on Monday – and she actually did! She asked me for the date and time on my receipt. I gave it to her, and ten minutes later she called me back. Get this: she reviewed the videotape they take of the cashiers, and saw that, indeed, the cashier had not put any bottoms in to my bag! I really thought that was going above and beyond. I went in and was able to refund it. Then, however, back to the bad: when the cashier refunded it, she refunded the wrong price, ten dollars less. WTH? I had to point this out and, the manager still right there, corrected it. So, clearly, the cashiers are not paying attention.
I will probably still go in there for those summer suit sales, and when I do, I will watch the register, receipt, and what they put in my bag. If they did not have those suit sales, I wouldn’t go in.

Big 5 Sporting Goods works well when you need something in a pinch. It’s great that it’s close to South Shore, yet far enough to not get caught up in all the major traffic.
Prices are typically MSRP and the shoe selection isn’t the best, but if you need something fast (gloves, sparring tape), this is your place.

Okay place when I’m in a pinch to grab a sporting good item and don’t want to leave the Island. This store is small and cramped. Service here is okay…

Time: 3:35pm
Purpose: I’ve been wanting this particular baseball style shirt and saw it on their website. Going on a hunch to see if they carry it since I was in area why not? They did carry it and I bought it no question ask.
Staff: They greet you as soon as you walk in I think it was a meeting on that and was consider mandatory to do so. I can tell the staff really didn’t want to depending on what type of customer you’re. They will run around trying to find your color, size, or style so A+ for them. You heard of no child left behind right? Will here is like no customer left behind kinda say.
Cleanliness: It’s quite clean but stuff seems over flowing spilling on to sales floor and isles. Most items are salable condition just stuff to the max on the peg and one drops on the ground.
Products: Sporting’s goods, hunting, basketball, baseball, football, weightlifting, tennis, rifles, ammos, shoes, skateboard­ing…etc.
Expectations: Nice small store with most items for home or team use equipments. Can be out of here within 5mins max if you do your home before coming (online). You can try out most items before buying other than ammo and pellet guns in this case if you load it up and fire it even at no one police can be call and you will enjoy a free ride to APD.
Final Thoughts: Great sporting goods store and might be the only one on the only there’s no sports authority or sports basement. So this place will serve the whole island and beyond for people who may not want to leave for other cities looking for goods.

Guys wake up its 2013
This place looks like he is from the 70s
But the workers are very nice

I went to this store to buy a shotgun for home protection.
I had to go 3 times because no one was qualified to sell a firearm.
The third time I went, the clerk was sloooooooooooow. I politely asked him to hurry it up a bit, whereupon he refused to sell me the firearm.
He said I was rude and that I should go somewhere else. My wife was in the store as well, having picked out some inner tubes for us to take on our honeymoon. (we are 2 days married). They refused to sell the tubes as well, even though she was not by my side and conducting a totally separate transaction. Which upset my wife a lot. The clerk was seemed to be about 18 years old, pompous, self righteous and refused to give his name. i will never go to any big 5 again after this cruddy experience.

I went to Big 5 hoping to score a couple of items for an upcoming trip to the snow. First impression upon walking in was this store is dimly lit but it still couldn’t hide the narrow aisles bursting at the seams with product. In some places you couldn’t actually look at or touch the clothing on the racks as there is no space between to walk. Should I call OSHA?
I wouldn’t say you are going to find the best quality items but if you find yourself in a bind needing a sleeping bag, gym shorts, golf club, fishing pole, balls for a myriad of sports, or a gun you’ll be able to find something. Speaking of guns. I had one pointed directly at me by a potential buyer. I glanced up to see it aimed down the counter toward the camping/​fishing area which is where I was standing. Then the buyer ‘pumped’ the action. I strongly suggest that Big 5 management educate the employees on proper gun handling. I don’t care if it is ‘unloaded’ point that thing in a safe direction.
As someone mentioned in another review, the only reason this Big 5 gets customers is the lack of any sporting goods in the area..