Review based on Customer Service Experience Went to look for snow clothing on 2/5 in the afternoon and had one of the worst customer service experiences happen to a friend. We asked a Sales Associate who was a male approx 40-year-old, with dark semi wavy long hair to his shoulders a simple question about the sale in the men's section and was given the rudest response. His response was "What does the sign say?" We're not dumb, we can read the sign but it amazed me how we were trying to clarify a question since Sports Basement has so many different sales posted throughout the store and were given a response with a smart remark. He could have given us a simple answer but he ruined the experience for us at this specific location. It truly felt that he had the attitude of a DMV Worker. If you are going to be in the customer service industry and work with people, please don't be a D**K. You choose to work with people and help them and it is a part of your job description. read more

Stopped by for a few specific camping gear items. It was my first time in at the Berkeley location. The first one for me was the Walnut Creek location. Customers are able to find parking either on the street or inside of their small private lot. I went when it was Summer and this store did not have A/C at all which made being inside kind of rough. There is a section on the upper level of items at a lower cost kind of like browsing through a second hand store. Coolers, camping gear and accessories are also on the upper level. Most of the apparel and shoes are located on the lower level along with bike rack options, snowboarding and bike gear. In comparison to the other location I had visited, I think this one is much smaller and does not house as much variation in merchandise nor did they have their shelves stocked with product as I was expecting them to (maybe I was there on a day when they were waiting to restock shelves). I was not able to use this as a one-stop shop for my needs, despite that, I came out of my visit with a few goodies and a fun first-time experience. You'll find a lot of the top name brands here. If you like shopping on your own and know what you want, this particular location would be good. I was never approached if I needed help on the lower level and I was able to help a fellow customer locate a particular item for them. One person approached me on the 2nd level. read more

My wife and I went to sports basement in Berkeley on Sunday night to learn more about replacing our aging backpacks and plan for some upcoming outdoor adventures. We were very lucky to meet Shawn! Shawn was super patient, knowledgeable, and sized us to perfection. He was incredibly thorough and even had me climb up and down the stairs with weight in the pack. Wonderful experience and we will definitely be back. Thank you Shawn! read more

Went looking for a new road bike. I was Pacifically looking for an endurance road bike with 105 groupset hydraulic disc brakes. I can say that I didn't ask for any type of customer service, and I definitely didn't receive any. So maybe I shouldn't have been annoyed watching the people working in the bike section just looking in my direction. I one person approached me after 20 or so minutes. that was to ask if I needed help, because they were about to close. I prefer Walnut Creek or SF read more

Sports Basement - Went to sports basement looking for a new endurance bike. Customer service sucked. Only one young lady tried to helped - Sports Wear Near Me - Berkeley, California

A little crazy on the inside. It wasn't very easy to find stuff. Staff was nice, that I spoke with. Customers seemed grumpy.

Huge thanks to the Sports Basement bike squad!! I ran into some trouble halfway through disassembling my gravel bike, brought it in and they helped me right away, free of charge. They also were happy to supply an old cardboard bike box and some disc brake spacers for travel. In the past I've gotten bike maintenance done here, and the prices are super reasonable. The team is also great at recommending the right product when you have questions. I love this store and am super happy with every experience I've had here, highly recommend! read more

Brandon and Brian in the Snow Gear department are hands down the best. Super friendly, educated, attentive, and patient. I brought a ton of questions to these guys over several visits and they were always incredible and helpful. I owe a lot to y'all, thanks! read more

Shout out to Brandon, in the shoe department. He is incredibly knowledgable, is able to make good recommendations for what brand is best suited for your foot, and the best shoe within that brand. He is patient, smart, and wonderful to work with! read more

I wanted to buy everything!! They had everything I needed from snowboard gear to triathlon gear. And so many tents to choose from. I only bought bike shorts because I need one for each day I ride. Lol The prices are reasonable.. i could buy it online but I'd rather support a local business. Their staff always checked up on us to ask how we're doing and if we needed help which was cool. read more

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This review is specifically for the SB Bike Shop - I haven't done any shopping there outside of some bike services. It's worth prefacing this story with a note that there's one guy who works at the bike shop, he's on the taller side and has gray hair, who has always been somewhere between curt and downright rude to me. Every time I've interacted with him, it seems like I'm bothering him by being there, and he's always been condescending with me, questioning my choices and why I want certain services done. That wouldn't normally be a huge issue, I'm a woman and I'm used to being treated like an idiot by mechanics. But... I bought a set of fenders from SB and had them installed there. I'd read that fender installation can be tricky, and figured it was probably outside my expertise. When I picked up the bike, everything looked good, but by the time I got it home, almost all of the stay ends (small plastic covers which go over the sharp ends of the stays, which hold the fenders in place) had fallen off. That meant there were incredibly sharp pieces of metal sticking out of my bike. I called the bike shop to ask if there had been a mistake, since it didn't seem right that part of the fenders that I'd paid $100 for (parts + labor) and just had installed that day would be falling off already. The guy who's always been condescending answered the phone, and was incredibly dismissive. When I asked if the stay ends were supposed to fall off that easily, he said, "I don't know what to tell you, stuff falls off bikes all the time." What??? To reiterate, I'm by no means a bike expert. But I've been riding multiple different bikes for many years, and without fail, any time anything has fallen off my bike, it's been a problem. It was just an unbelievably rude and dismissive response to an obvious problem (knives sticking out of my bike). He then suggested that I use band-aids or duct tape to keep from cutting myself on the product I'd spent $100 on the day before. After a quick internet search, I was able to figure out the problem - the stay ends have a loop on them so that they can be screwed in place to the stays, but the stays had not been cut short enough, so the loops didn't reach the screw. I figured this out from looking at a single picture of the fenders. I brought the bike in to SB, and my usual friend (sarcasm) was there. I explained what the issue was, and he informed me with his usual charm (sarcasm again) that actually, their manager had installed the fenders, and he is an EXPERT so he's pretty doubtful that he could have done anything wrong. I had the manager's email address, so I sent him an email asking about the issue. He told me to bring it in and he'd get some new stay ends installed for me. After some scheduling difficulties that were no one's fault, I was able to bring it in and he fixed the problem, but not before I managed to cut myself twice on the stays, badly. After that, I did put electrical tape on the stays so it wouldn't happen again, but I shouldn't have had to do that. At almost every step, this experience could have been better. The fenders could have been installed correctly, avoiding the OBVIOUS problem that the stay ends would immediately fall off if they weren't attached in any way, leaving very sharp metal protruding from the bike. When I called about the problem, the response could have been "oh no, that's definitely not how it should be, please bring it in and we'll figure it out." When I figured out the problem for them, the response could have been "that makes sense, if you leave it with us we'll get it fixed right away." But it wasn't. This was such a frustrating experience. I really wanted to like the SB bike shop; they're super conveniently located right on my commute, and their prices are pretty good. I had a fit adjust done on my bike there, which worked wonders for making the bike more comfortable and fixing some of my back pain issues. 2 stars instead of 1 for that. But I'm just sick of being treated like an idiot, and receiving shoddy work was just the last straw. I'll be finding another bike shop for any future bike work I need done. read more

I absolutely love this store. Has all my sporting needs and the service is top notch. I've done both rentals and bought equipment and I recommend it to everyone. Brandon in the snowboarding department is the man! He's so knowledgeable and willing to go out of his way to help. read more

Disappointing experience with rentals. Went in Thursday at 1:15 PM before MLK weekend to explore ski rentals for our immediate family and grandma and niece. Our trip was for Friday-Monday and we were expecting to return to Sports Basement on Friday for pickup to get a weekend rate. The sales associate convinced us to take everything that day (Thursday) to save ourselves a trip and help staff with the expected holiday weekend rush on Friday. We were there with the sales associate for more than 45 minutes because the number of items we were getting (which would have been a bummer for anyone behind us if we had come on Friday). We ended up going back on Friday afternoon anyway to swap out helmets that were too big on our kids. Monday morning, as we are rushing around stripping sheets off the Airbnb bed and wondering why Grandma is sleeping in until 9 AM when the kids have been awake since 6, we receive a call from Sports Basement asking why are the rentals late. Umm...... what?!? Parents with young kids on vacation with in-laws will understand what receiving a call like this can do - match to a powder keg. "Kids, any toys that aren't picked up and packed will be considered a donation to the rental" Suddenly, I'm taken out of the moment (which wasn't so super - as we were loading the dishwasher anyway) and now feel like some sort of ski rental criminal on the run with Grandma's size 8 ski boots. Not cool, man, not cool. read more

Sports Basement - Ski rentals - Sports Wear Near Me - Berkeley, California

Brandon was amazing. We needed a pair of walking shoes but didn't realize we'd get an education as well. "Feet are the foundation" he said. As a bodyworker I understand and see the impact of it on my clients' bodies everyday. Today I was thrilled to discover someone who could consult at that level for the right shoes to wear. His wisdom applies to tennis shoes, on and off-trail running shoes, ski boots and more. To get the right shoes for Your feet, ask for Brandon at the Sports Basement! We thank you, Brandon, from the bottom of our soles! read more

My wife and I came to purchase some backpacking gear. While all the staff were kind and helpful, Allen really went above and beyond helping us find the right gear for us. He was patient since my wife and I are total beginners. We're now confident that we chose the right items for our next trip. read more

Where have I been? I didn't know that this place existed. I didn't know that this one is housed in what used to be a huge ice skating rink in Berkeley. This place is massive. I went in looking for ball needles, and court shoes. I found ball needles, and they didn't have any men's court shoes, and haven't been able to get any for 3 months. They have an upstairs, too. They carry bikes and repair them, too. They carry camping equipment and tents. They of course have sports equipment, duh. They carry top brand shoes, and like REI. They resell returns at a lower price. They have wetsuits for all ages. They return money to the community. There is bike parking, and also some free parking for cars. read more

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Everyone here has been super friendly to me, they have a free pile inside, a free community gathering space you can reserve (i think online even!) for events, trade in for used camping gear, a section to buy used camping gear, they also have shoe recycling upfront with some really clean bathrooms. This is an essential community space! The used section is great if you're on a budget, and they apparently do very cheap renting for trips! Ann(a?) Marie was very sweet to me. I got a good Fanny pack for $3 from the used section and some sprayable bug spray (they carry deet, picardian, and the essential oil spray) whose price was comparable to Amazon. Glad I came in, definitely recommend read more

Security Guard has no idea how to do her job at this store. While I am leaving the store she asked if I got my shoes from there or not while immediately one of the sale person came and told her that they dont sell the shoes I was wearing She was trying to accuse me to take the shoes from the store they dont sell !!!! What the f..... was her problem. I called the store and spoke with manager and he said the have third party security company and he will make sure they will grade today's guard 0. read more

I've been coming here for years. Love the clean store layout and the abundance of items in every category of outdoor life you could think of. Also great membership benefits! You can also identify a non-profit to support. With each purchase you make, a portion of the proceeds is donated to that nonprofit organization. Today I specifically came to see if there were any deals on sleeping bags, and I lucked out! Big Agnes is my go-to sleeping bag, and the exact model I had been shopping for was in stock and on sale for 30% off. Score! I was helped by two different individuals on the floor, and both were friendly and knowledgeable. The cashier wasn't the friendliest today like others usually are, but maybe she's just having a rough time today. Come support a local shop while also supporting a nonprofit organization of your choice! read more

If you needs to get your snow gears. I strongly recommend see Brandon . He's super knowledgeable and spend extra time to find the right gears to fit your needs. By far he's the best. I wished I worked with him in my last 3 snow seasons. I came to store today to get a new snow boots for my 11 years old son and myself. Brandon took his time measuring my son feet's and mine then recommended a right snow boot options for both of us. My son currently had a 8.5 size and mime 11. After Brandon got alls numbers on both of us feet's. He came up with an idea to fix my son current boot and down size on mine. We spend couple hours there then went home with 100% satisfied. Brandon customers Sers and his knowledgeable unmatchable. I'll come back next season again for new gears. You must see him if you want a good result for your visits. read more

I love sports basement. And I particularly love this location. I love that they converted the former. Ice rink space into a fabulous store with space for community gatherings as well. The staff are always so kind and helpful. The store is always organized and clean. My seven year old always has lots of questions for the staff as well and they always listen with respect. read more

Service was terrible. Waited 30 min just for someone to help us find bikes. Super expensive. Just Terrible.

Anytime I need snowboard gear or advice, my first stop is Sports Basement in Berkeley. They have a good selection of in-stock items. More importantly, Brandon is a great guy and he's very knowledgeable and helpful! He will spend as much time as he can giving advice and explanations. If you need a lot of assistance like me, plan on visiting during less busy hours (not afternoon/evening) since there's usually only 2 employees working in this department. read more

I would never go anywhere else to buy snowboard equipment. Brandon is extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and friendly. The level of service and help I got really stood out compared to really any other store I've been to. Thank you Brandon! read more

The store is nice but the cashier today (Luca) was totally devoid of any detectable personality. I walk up and say, "Hey, how's it going".....got nothing but a blank stare from Luca. This man has no business in a customer service role. ZERO personally. Aside: when I travel outside of the Bay Area, people are nice, have personality, and treat others in a welcoming manner....not in the Bay Area. WTF is wrong with these people?? read more

love these guys. best all around sports store hands down. great hours. location. space. read more

I'm not one to do reviews, but the service I received today made me feel quite uncomfortable. I came in knowing what I needed to get, however one older caucasian man with short brown hair asked me if I needed help. I thanked him but declined. This was not a problem. What upset me was the fact that after I declined his help, he hovered around me and persisted in asking me if I needed help. Not only that, his demeanor was very cold and disrespectful. It felt more as if I was being surveilled, which made me feel very uneasy. This is not the first time he has treated me this way. I only returned because the service of everyone else working in the store made up for the bad experience I had with this employee read more

Huge thanks to Duncan in the rental department :-) He answered all my questions with kindness, intelligence, and taking the extra step in service. It is folks like him that makes you appreciate and keep returning back to your local brick and mortar stores. read more

I partially love this location just because it's the old Berkeley Iceland (and that they keep some of the old memorabilia). They have a wide selection of items across lots of different sports and outdoor activities...and options for renting equipment. They have a great return policy (which can come in handy) and very friendly and helpful staff. We used the curbside pickup option which was really convenient - there are a couple of dedicated parking spots where they will deliver your order to the car. One of the things to note is that the website product descriptions (particularly kids' sizing on items) didn't match up to the packaging. Luckily they have a great return policy as we had to return all of the items we purchased online. Another thing to note is that you should definitely avoid any bib pickup days which are absolute zoos (if you're not picking up a race bib, of course). read more

Huge fan of Sports Basement! Became a member immediately. I decided to go on a ski trip for my birthday weekend in Tahoe and signed up for a lesson for my trip. However, I had no clue about ski gear. Decided to check out Sports Basement and man was I impressed! I have to admit that I liked the Bryant street location in SF better than this Berkeley location. BUT this Berkeley store is super close to me and not too shabby. Shopping online on Sports Basement website is also convenient and I could choose pick up in the store which is great. I ended up buying a pair of ski pants online and got ski gloves and ski socks here in the store. I like how Sports Basement donates to local nonprofits when you become a member and pay the one time membership fee. I chose San Francisco Public Library for my donation. As a member, I get awesome deals and discounts. This is really a no brainer and win win for everyone! I'm totally coming back for all my sporting needs in the future as a basementee!!! read more

I had a complicated return and Luis spent almost an hour with me with patience and kindness. Sports Basement is an amazing store because of the people who work there, and it made me more of a fan of SB than ever before. Thank you Luis!! read more

5 stars for the employees!! Without a doubt some of the nicest, most friendly employees I have ever encountered anywhere!! And although I didn't meet all of them, the many I did were outstanding, it just makes me think they're all like that!! On to the store, this place is huge, it used to be an ice rink. I think they have almost everything outdoors related, huge selection. The prices are a bit pricey, but again, if you can't find that hard to find sporting goods equipment here, it might not exist!! Parking can be a hassle, because their parking lot is not very big, so make sure you read the signs if you park on the street. I always enjoy coming here, and I almost always end up buying more than I thought I would going in, great store!! read more

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The customer service here is awesome! I've gotten my tennis restrung and rented skis here. Anytime I've needed assurance the employees are so helpful and chill. I wanted my racket restrung faster than their normal turnover and the employee was so accommodating. Even with renting skis, they get you in and out very quickly and it's so affordable. Also they have a great sale section of returned items upstairs. Super great deals! read more

Brandon made my trip to Sports Basement very pleasant and he helped me find a solution to a unique problem. I appreciate Brandon's in depth product knowledge and his infinite patience to listen and explain. He is very familiar with the store's inventory and offered me different options informing me of all the pros and cons of each choice. Great shopping experience because of Brandon ! read more

I love this place. Why are the employees so happy at every Sports Basement? Sports Basement is like the Ace Hardware of sporting goods. Employees are always friendly and knowledgeable. Come to think of it, most sporting goods stores have pretty friendly and knowledge staff. What is it about sporting goods that makes people happy? Probably the exercise. read more

Excellent service! I found what I needed immediately and the value is high. Only great quality items here. Though the selection could have been better, I found what I needed. read more

If you're going to open at 11am, you should let people get their skis in advanced. Lower rating because you can't get them on the phone. However, I found that California Ski Company is willing to pick up the phone and offers a cheaper rental read more

Brandon was informative and has a lot of passion for snowboarding. If you're looking for boarding gear, he's the go to guy. I really appreciated his knowledge about snowboarding boots and insider knowledge.. look for the tallest guy in the building, that's him. Thanks Brandon! read more

I was happy to discover how much outdoor gear Sports Basement rents, including E-Bikes. There prices were reasonable. The staff were super helpful and very friendly. They explained how to operate it, and even went outside to help me get the rack installed correctly. Thank you! read more

I went to SB in Berkeley this evening to replace a pair of New Balance shoes. They didn't have the color though they had the style I wanted. My sales rep, Brandon, explained my options but also took the time to ask me questions about my experience in them to gauge if any other brands in the right color my be good alternatives. He measured my feet and even took a look at the wear pattern on my current shoes. Old-fashioned, customer-focused attention like this just doesn't seem to exist, and especially in someone so young. He spent an hour with me trying on various brands and styles until we found a couple pairs we think will work. I'm on my feet all day despite lower back and hip pain. I really appreciate his taking into consideration all the information I shared to inform his suggestions. I wound up trying a new brand and bought two pairs. I can't wait to see how these work out. This was my 4th or 5th visit to SB. None of the prior sales reps even came close. Brandon is the type of professional one expects in a specialty store which makes it worth the drive instead of ordering something online. I hope SB knows what an asset he is. THANKS, Brandon! read more

The cashier was very friendly and helpful and the selection was pretty expansive. That is about where my positive things to say end. The employee in charge of the helmets + goggles section was very rude and condescending. I asked for advice on ski goggles selection and was told to choose a pair that fits in sneering terms. No mention of lens color in regards to riding conditions, whether to get polarized v. non-polarized lenses, scope, just an answer that seems to preclude the need for a sales associate. When I asked about trying on helmets, I was told that that's what they're here for. All my questions were answered in similarly patronizing and uninformative fashion. It was very effortful to get any real information or help from the sales associate. read more