We've been going to this store for sometime now and although they often have very limited personnel to help out our purchase, the store is very convenient from our place so never really bothered by it. Until our last visit.... (Sun, 5/12/13, around 10:45 am - only 2 staff at that time and the male staff is friendly) I bought a hiking boots, a hiking socks and knee pad. After we paid, I asked for a plastic bag from the lady personnel/cashier because my husband and i are will be walking about 2-3 blocks and it will be very inconvenient to walk with a big box of shoes, etc. Hesitantly, the lady cashier gave us a bag and started saying, "Just so you know, most stores here in San Mateo are no longer giving away bags so next time, please remember to carry your own bag when you are purchasing, otherwise you'll be charged and usually it is $.10." Taken aback by her statement as: #1 I didn't ask for this information, #2 I know this because I live around the neighborhood. I then replied, "thank you for letting me know about that, so does Big 5 now charges bags for their customers?(thinking that I will charge for it, which is understandable)?" She then said, "No we are not charging. Big 5 made a decision not to charge, but just so you know, most of the stores are doing it nowadays (she even made hand gestures that is doubly irritating)" If Big 5 is not charging... then I really don't understand why she is telling this to us and had to repeat it like we OWE her the bag when we paid for our merchandises??? I was very frustrated that before I walked away, I also had to repeat, " I know about this policy and let me just be clear, Big 5 doesn't charge, right? She shook her head and said, "No". Then I walked away. When my husband and I were ready to step out of the store, I heard her saying this same thing to another customer. Speaking of unwanted lecture... read more

Well that's too bad. My mother and I came here a few months ago for swim supplies and a gym bag for work and our family reunion. We found lots of great deals, and the customer service was great. I did see young faces behind the counter, but it was an older gentleman who helped me with crossbows, and a woman who helped with bag selection and swim gear. We found what we were both looking for here. read more

I remember when they were building this location, I work in the area, I live in the east bay. I needed to return my pair of swimming trunks that I almost used for the gym, except it said " BOYS " and not " MEN " in the size. Yes, I do use swimming gear for the gym, who doesnt? when I was returning them I told the Asian Chick, that they were in the wrong isle, she responded back with a BLONDE GIRL attitude like from Clarissa Explains it ALL " UGHT LIKE NO THEY WERENT OK " Im like excuse? then she says " They werent in the wrong place, I know " after the whole refund transaction, I left. The " manager " didnt say a word or apologised! what a pile of shit! They should tear this place down read more

THE WORST!!! Didn't even go in. So I wanted to see if a certain item was in stock at this Big 5. To find the number I looked to Yelp. Call and get a busy signal. Then read reviews while I wait to retry. All bad reviews about the crappy good for nothing staff. Call back and busy. Read bad review. Call back and busy. So on and so on. Let's see, staff ignores customers that are there. You think they want to deal with a phone. 99% sure they left if off the hook so they won't have to answer. Owner should completely restaff. read more

TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. Was in the store with family and wanted to look at a $100 NFL jersey. Asked two 'managers' that were standing around chit-chatting for assistance. They smiled and went right back to their conversation. Store just lost a sale and a family of customers. Don't waste your time or money on these fools. read more

Employees were nice...went in to get my air mattress they had on sale (great deal Big 5!) and left.

@David - I looked up that cleat on their site and it's not listed in the sale area. Be sure you know what you're saying when you accuse someone of "bait and switch" or "false advertising" as those are pretty heinous things. I've been in retail for years and most people have no idea what a "bait and switch" actually is. Personally, I've found completely the opposite of these other reviewers. My experiences at the San Bruno location have been great! Management that knows their products, a greeting EVERY time I've walked in the door and a much cleaner location than most. Yes the women's clothing is in the back, and that does need help. At least there's lots of it! read more

I don't really have a problem with this store, but every time I go into a Big 5, I feel like I'm transported back in time. Their merchandise seems outdated and I get the video store like vibe that is barely hanging on while bigger stores and better technology evolves around it. For the basics, such as athletic tape, sunscreen, etc., it works. Anything else, I would go elsewhere. Reading other reviews, I could see people's complaints with the customer service, but more them lacking product knowledge than rudeness. read more

Walked in for a pair of baseball cleats and 2 pairs of baseball pants for my kids. They have good selection on baseball pants and cleats. I got what I needed within 15 mins. I'm happy. read more

Bought my first rifle here, great place for a purchase compared to some places, and much cheaper too! Their selection is limited however, but the store is small so it's understandable. They also need to improve their fishing section as they lack in gear for bass fishing! read more

My adventure started on the morning of 4th of July after I noticed a full page advertisement in SF Chronicles from Big 5 sporting goods. I needed a canopy for my upcoming camping trips, and wanted to get bikes for myself and my girlfriend. I looked up their website with item# to make sure this location had the goods in their inventory. However they still didn't have the canopy I was looking for, only bigger ones at a price higher than Amazon (same make and size). So I started looking for the bikes. There were only 2 (yes, ONLY 2) bikes on display. So I asked a store salesperson to help me find the bikes I selected beforehand from the newspaper advertisement. He said the bike was in a box, that I have to assemble myself. Also I have to buy it as-is, without knowing how it's going to look or feel, also that there's no way to try it before I buy. When I asked if they can assemble it for me, they declined to do so because in that case if something happens to the bike then the store will be responsible for that. He politely told me that the customers know more about bikes and they are better fit to do the job themselves. Perhaps that's true for professional riders, but I'm sure plenty of people walk into their store to start playing a new sport, and the salesperson in a sporting good store should be able to help them. Even though the guy I interacted with was totally useless, he was patient and polite, hence the two star generosity. read more

I went to this Store a few days ago. They have a great selection of everything i need because it's a very chill store. I got helped by Maithan. He helped me find everything I need. He gave me the best customer service I had in a long time. Nobody would do that amount of work of always being friendly to every customer to make them leave the store with a smile on their face. Best Employee I seen in a long time. read more

I meant to post this review a while back, I had came here with my mom to find her a bathing suit for her vacation, My mom who never really bought a bikini and never tries clothes on in a fitting room in a department store kindly approached the counter to have some questions answered about the one piece swimsuit size she had taken to the lady. They lady looked at her very confused and looked as if she didn't know how to answer a question and she pointed to the direction of the fitting rooms and told my mom to try it on then she would know her sizes, the A$$hole guy behind the register laughed at my mom when she was told this. By this point my mom looked hurt. I being the loud mouth that i am told him he was rude and inconsiderate and should learn better manners especially when talking to women! He then continued to inch towards me to see what the issue was. The lady by at this point really stood there like the store mannequin and didn't say anything to stop her co-worker. Im guessing she was the manager well even if she wasnt i told her she was a shit ass manager and that needs to hire people with better customer service all while the guy continued to laugh. My mom bought the bikini and we just left. EVER SINCE THEN i have not bothered to come back and never will at this point. I rather drive however far to the next sports store. read more

Was there a management change?!:( It used to be a good, friendly store. I've shopped regularly here since the store opened a couple years ago and spent a lot of money here, but tonight's experience stunk and I'll be looking elsewhere. I arrived on a Sunday night, 40 minutes before closing to buy shoes for my daughter. There were several sales associates in the store and almost no customers and after finally getting attention to try shoes sizes, I had to repeatedly hunt down help again (they hardly had any of the sizes displayed in inventory - there was one size 4.5 and one and a half size 5's out of about 8 requested). So it took way longer than needed and got no shoes. For the half a pair of size 5 shoes (display shoe) they made no effort to at least take that one off the shelf to save the next customer the time and aggravation of trying it on to be told, "sorry there's no mate". So we ran out of time and got rudely chased out by the "manager". After paying for our other stuff, I tripped over the bottom rail they had slid in front of the threshold for their security gate. They essentially created a safety hazard for us while we were checking out. They couldn't wait a minute to do this, or stand at the door and say, "watch your step". The manager just looked at me, no apology! She might as well as stuck her foot out! read more