Big 5 Sporting Goods

Like many reviewers I live nearby and have been using this store as a last resort for sporting goods the last 20 years. Their product selection is mediocre at best. The store is a disorganized mess and it’s hard to find things. With very few exceptions these last 20 years the staff has proven useless. To top it all off the store manager, just as so many other reviewers have experienced, is indeed rude and offensive in his manners beyond belief. This Saturday’s visit was my last to this store, period. This place should go and leave much needed space to a business that works.

Truly horrible service from the management. I wanted to get a replacement for shoes I received as a gift (for sizing). I was told that I could get a replacement by a few workers. These associates let me try a bunch of shoes out and were very polite.
I was going to check out and was being rung up by a manager. He proceeded to tell me that I had to pay an extra $ 15 to replace the shoes. I was taken back by this because I was told otherwise by the other workers. When he saw my response, he started nagging me about not having a receipt. He tried to look something up, got distracted by something else, then went back to me after a few minutes to nag me some more.
It’s a horrible customer service practice to nag your customers, especially when you don’t know their circumstances (like the fact that I received these as gifts) and don’t even bother to explain your exchange policy. I didn’t experience any rudeness at another store, which is good because I know that there are other Big 5 stores that won’t treat me like a disappointing son-​in-​law.

I just had the worst customer service experience here. Unfortunately I had to enter this establishment and will not be returning. If I need any of the odd items this store carries I will now be taking my business online even though I am a true shop local person… I can not continue to support a business with no pulse.

My DH purchased a ladder golf, corn hole set approx. 1 month ago. The product cost was $ 50. After very little use, stored outside but in a covered patio, the thing fell apart. I went to the store with the intention of alerting their buyer that the product was of poor quality… that they ought to stop selling it. I did not have a receipt and was not expecting a refund. As I was in line, an older gentleman behind the counter yelled at me «if you don’t have a receipt, we can’t do anything for you.» It was incredibly rude. I tried to tell him that I only wanted to show them how bad the product and that they shouldn’t sell it. He would not let me get a word in and just kept repeating that if I don’t have receipt, he can’t do anything. Ugh! It was such a poor customer service exchange. It’s too bad. I try to buy local (vs. ordering on Amazon), but they lost me as a customer for life.

Extraordinary selection, with constant sales of heavily-​discounted items. I routinely find excellent deals on shoes, sleeping bags, etc.
Customer service is generally very good. You may occasionally have to hunt for an employee, but they are very helpful otherwise.
Good store representing a great company.

This place was really good to me! :) i needed to buy 14 soccer balls as the prize for the winners of my soccer camp and they were so nice! I couldn’t carry them all, and the manager helped me up to the register as we as out to my car. Thanks guys i really appreciate it! :)

They have a lot of stuff. That is the nicest think I can say. Prob ok if you know exactly what you want… not ok if you need any help/​advice. (and if you don’t need help/​advice, than I don’t know why you are not just shopping online in the first place)
Very few associates to help. The associate I could find did not know how childrens shoe sizing worked, did not seem very confident in helping me fit a 4 yr old. There were no loaner socks to try and when I asked that he bring a few diff brands for us to try, he brought one — I am almost certain the most expensive not on sale one.
We left without buying shoes — no one noticed. That sums it up.

I was fumbling through a rack looking for shorts in my size, saw the girl at the counter look at me then look back down. thanks. for nothing. After walking past her, I realized she had been doing her homework so she didnt have time to help me or acknowledge me.
Won’t be returning.

Unlike Target, they actually have a boxing/​martial arts section. And for me, it’s the most convenient sporting goods store… This area seems kind of light on them, surprisingly. The prices are fair, at least for what I bought ($ 6 for lady boxing handwraps). This would be my first stop for any sort of sports equipment or apparel!

I Love this place! All the employees are very nice, and helpful. Never had a bad experience here, and iv been going here since I was a baby to buy shoes and sporting equipment

Just like the Big 5 close to home, this store has great service and a nice selection of running shoes. They always have good sales too. I found a nice pair of New Balance Trail Runners for $ 75 — bargain! Hubby bought two pairs of shoes and a couple of trinkets. Easy parking too!

They may not have a lot of any specific thing, but they have a few of everything! I buy my soccer stuff here and I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve bought. Today I bought some indoor soccer shoes and the Persian guy who was helping me was really nice. My experiences here have been sufficiently good that I don’t feel the need to explore for another sporting goods store.

Just went to Big 5 to get my son some new baseball cleats and a bat bag. I have not been there in a few months but something has changed.
We were greeted when we came in the door.
The customer service was excellent.
A young man named Matt helped my son with his new cleats. He was knowledgeable about the different brands and if they ran narrow. My son tried on three sizes and styles and Matt took the time to see how each one felt. Matt also helped us pick out a bat bag.
We went up front to pay and they immediately opened another cash register because there were 2 people in line.
It was so nice to see plenty of personnel ready to help and answer questions.
It was a great experience from beginning to end. We were in and out in 15 minutes!
Very, very impressed!!!

The management at this Big 5 knows how to handle customer service. I have grown up with this store, and somehow they are able to keep up with my changing needs.
A great store and a great team.

I’m not a sporty-​type, so I haven’t needed to come in that many times. Both visits for something particular were successful, in part due to good service.
I just bought new shoes for kickboxing. My running shoes weren’t cutting it and I got some advice from the fitness instructor. A sales associate quickly asked if I needed help and when I explained my problem, he said the same thing that my instructor did. Answers my questions well and quickly got me the shoes I was interested in. He was also helping other customers during this time. When I was done he pointed out where the socks were, if I was interested.
Last year I went in for softball mitts. I had to seek out an employee (who was helping many other customers too) but was able to get good help on choosing a mitt. They had some great sales and I’m very happy with what I bought.
The store itself is relatively dingy/​old, and doesn’t have a huge selection for any one item since they carry so much. In a different (less connoisseur) area, this place would seem great, but if you expect a Palo Alto or Menlo Park «type» of store, you might be disappointed.

Great selection of goods. and nice staff members

Last week I went into this Big 5 to check out a piece of equipment they had on sale. This is an item I’ve been researching for a long time. Many diff brands to choose from. The high-​end model costs around $ 300. But I really didn’t want to spend that on something that might not work out anyway. So I looked at the Big 5 weekly ad (it’s online, and searchable… how cool is that?) and found two models for just under $ 100.
I went to the store, but had some Q’s. Steve helped me out. He gave me very honest answers about why one might be better than the other. These were things I hadn’t even thought about. He didn’t rush me, and he kept telling me more and more. After I made my decision, he then rang me up and loaded the huge box into my car. In all, he spent a good 15 min. with me with no rushing whatsoever.
It’s now five days later, and I’m thrilled with my purchase. It’s a very solid piece of equipment that works really well. Inexpensive, but nothing cheap about it. The $ 300 version just couldn’t be that much better. In other words, I’m one happy customer. While I was in the store, I saw a lot of other customers getting excellent service. I’m impressed, and will be back next time I need sporting goods.

5 stars for…
1. Absolutely amazing friendly service.
2. The most unbelievably cheap sporting goods ever.
Coming to Big 5, you have to set your expectations straight. This is no REI, so you won’t be seeing every variety of every product on their shelves. No road bike gloves and shorts, no World Cup 2010 official Fifa soccer balls…
What you WILL find are unbeatable prices for basic running and hiking shoes, great prices on assorted goggles and tennis rackets (even cheaper than those on sale at Sports Authority), tons of brand name athletic clothes on sale, among other things like bocce balls!
While this location isn’t as big as some others, they are one of the friendliest. Big 5 is the Trader Joe’s of sporting good stores. Love it.

According to Wikipedia, the definition of Customer Service is as follows: the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.
According to Sparkely, the definition of Big 5 Sporting Goods in Menlo Park, is as follows: Customer Service.
Needing a new tennis racket and court shoes, I have been scouring the sporting good store ads and saw some amazing prices for pre-​strung rackets at Big 5. While there I was helped by three different store personnel and walked out paying pennies for some nice equipment. I love being able to ask questions and get more than, «I dunno.»
It’s a small, jam-​packed store, and it’s my new go-​to for sporty stuff. :)

I agree with Lu’s review on the kinder side… I have made a lot of purchases at this Big 5 Sporting Goods over the years as it’s one of the closest sports stores to my house. These include:
— cool speedo and TYR swimsuits (often on sale)
— googles
— swim caps
— a reasonably-​priced ping pong table
— ping pong balls
— white leathery old-​school-​style converse shoes
— a pink sports bra
— a yellow hoodie (hard to find anywhere!)
I also love the posher Palo Alto Sport & Toy but it’s much pricier!
They also support some great non-​profit causes which earns them points with me!