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1.3 49 Reviews

Big 5 Sporting Goods Complaints Summary

4 Resolved
45 Unresolved
Our verdict: If considering services from Big 5 Sporting Goods with a critical resolution rate, extra caution is advised. Examine detailed customer feedback to understand the severity and nature of unresolved issues. Be prepared for the possibility of unsatisfactory responses and have contingency plans, including seeking assistance from consumer advocacy groups if necessary.
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Big 5 Sporting Goods reviews & complaints 49

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4:38 pm EDT
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Big 5 Sporting Goods hiking boots

The heels of the hiking boots I had purchased from the Big 5 Sporting Goods in Oceanside store became unglued and flopped half way through a moderate hike. This happened the first time I wore the boots! I have been given nothing but a great deal of hassle, run-around, grief and frustration since I brought these boots back to the store for a refund or store credit.

I brought the defective boots to the store about a month ago and asked for store credit since I no longer had the receipts. The assistant manager (Jordan) examined the boots and agreed that they were in brand new condition, except of course for the heels which were completely detached. However, he stated that they no longer carried this brand and hence the Company had removed from the store computers the information he needed to process the return. He asked me to call the headquarters for assistance and handed me an 800 number to call.

Jessica answered the phone when I called the headquarters. She was most unhelpful, unprofessional, disrespectful and extremely rude. She denied me access to the district manager overseeing the Oceanside store, or anyone else who could help bring the matter to a resolution. Instead, she continued in a series of outrageous remarks, claims and opinions; such as "I must have not used the boots for a while and that it is normal for heels to detach when the boots sit unused!" She became quite rude -- repeatedly interrupting me in the middle of each sentence, and eventually hang up on me -- while I was trying to explain to her that I, like the majority of hikers (e.g., members of the Sierra Club), go hiking once-in-awhile and no more than a few times a year, and that a pair of boots normally last a good few years regardless of how often they are used or set aside unused.

I called the store and explained to the store manager (Daniel) the ineffectual telephone conversation I had with Jessica. He told me to bring the boots back to the store in order to see what he could do. When I did, he examined the boots and seemed satisfied that they were still in brand new condition. However, he stated what I had already heard before -- that the store no longer carried this brand and that the information he needed to process the return had been removed from the store computer. I told him that I had paid about $35 for the boots and will be satisfied if he gave me store credit for that amount. From what I understood him saying, he agreed. I spent an hour or two to find another pair, but when I brought them to the cashier, Daniel said that I had misunderstood and that he had offered to provide a voucher toward the purchase of another boot. The voucher happened to be only $5.00 for the pair I had selected!

I left the store frustrated, disappointed, and dissatisfied. Before leaving, however, I asked him to contact the headquarters in order to get the support or authorization he needed to process the return. Subsequently, I kept in touch with him once every few days. But, to my utmost disappointment, he informed me yesterday that he had been unable to get the support he needed and has given up trying.

The store does not seem to have a clear warranty on the hiking boots it sells. By blocking every possible avenue from getting a remedy, I have no choice but to feel defrauded for the boots I have purchased and can not use. I have written letters to Mr. Steven Miller, CEO of the company and several executive management complaining about the matter. But I have not received any replies.

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5:38 am EST

Big 5 Sporting Goods scam, don't use them

I bought sporting shoes from the company Big 5 Sporting Goods. I hoped to pay for the order with the check, but they denied it and no one explained me why. I called the agent and she tried to explain me, and when I hoped to cancel the order and get money back. The agent refused to return money, because it was their politics. I won’t recommend this company to anyone. These people are scammers and liars, who take money and provide nothing. Please post your comments about this company.

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Big 5 Sporting Goods racial profiling/discrimination

I am a 35 year old African-American female. Saturday morning I went into Big 5 Sporting Goods in Beverly Hills to purchase a new pair of sneakers. The cashier rings me up and when he sees I am paying with a $100 bill, he calls for a manager to verify before finalizing the sale. The manager, Jennifer Brighton (Caucasian female) came to the register. The cashier give the bill to her, she begins to thoroughly examine the bill. She rubs both sides, she puts it up to the light, she crinkles it. Then she puts it under their UV light machine and turns to me and asks if I have another form of payment. I stated, No…and asked what was wrong with paying with cash. She said that she could not except the bill because it lit up in the machine telling her it was not a good bill and that I would have to pay some other way. I was absolutely outraged. She hands the bill back to me and I examine it too. I can clearly see the security watermarks within the bill when I hold it up to the light. I am arguing with her because I can see no reason why she wouldn’t take the bill.

She then says it is Big 5's policy not to take money that is suspect. I asked her how she cannot take a bill that I just got from the Wells Fargo bank just three blocks away. She told the cashier to help other customers and that she would take care of me. Upset, I did use an explicative word and she then told me that I had to leave the store. I left the store, went to the Wells Fargo bank, asked the bank manager and teller to verify that this was indeed a valid $100 bill and they provide me a print out where they scanned it three times and showed me under their UV light that it was valid currency. I went back to the Big 5 store, asked for the store number and her name.

I then went to another Big 5 in a more predominantly black neighborhood. I picked out the same shoes and went through the same exact process. The manager came out to verify the bill, and she told the cashier to proceed with finalizing the sale. I stopped them to ask for the $100 bill back, because I just needed to see whether or not a different store, with the same scanning machine, would have the same problem and they did not. I felt as if Ms. Brighton racially profiled me and decided she was not going to take the cash from me based on the way I looked. I was wearing a black hooded sweater, grey sweat pants, no make-up and my hair in a bun.

Later Saturday evening I took a Korean friend with me, gave her the same bill, asked her to walk into the Beverly Hills Big 5, grab anything and attempt to pay with the same “suspect” bill and the evening manager (Hispanic) gave his approval to proceed with finalizing the sale. My friend got the bill back and left the store. I needed to prove a point that it wasn’t about the bill, it was about me. I would understand if I was paying with a check or credit card and did not have proper identification, but cash, US currency, that is clearly valid money. If it is Big 5's policy to profile specific patrons and assume that however they pay is suspect something has to be done about this.

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8:38 pm EDT
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Big 5 Sporting Goods bait and switch

Don't go here! They never have what they advertise, and are notorious
for pulling a bait and switch everytime. My mother went there 3 years ago to purchase a Swiss Army watch that they advertised in the paper. When she got to the store not only did they NOT have that item, they tried to sell her a cheopo watch that wasn't even the Swiss Army brand(they didnt have ANY Swiss Army watches at all!) Then mom wrote to the company HQ and within a few weeks she was contacted by HQ and she was told that the problem store had her item available.
Today we went there and she wa looking for a particular jogging suit. Well, big surprise...they didnt have that item in stock, and yet again they tried to sell her a crappy brand that looked like someone had beaten it with the ugly stick. So after getting all upset, the clerk said he would give her a raincheck. I then told her loud enough for every clerk in that store that we would be filing a complaint on Complaints board.com, and any other consumer complaint sites that we can find. A man came from the back of the store and was being real pushy and wanted me to give him my e mail address so that he could send me coupons! Yeah right! He did not want to take no for an answer and I finally told him that I didnt want any junk mail on my computer. Stay as far away from this store as you can. I also got alot of bad vibes from there too, right when we walked in.

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12:00 pm EST
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Big 5 Sporting Goods area supervisor is a #

My fiance worked for Big 5 for almost 8 years. That was up until recently when he quit. He was a first assistant manager and got crap from the area supervisor Joe. This guy has picked on my man since the day he started. My fiance's work was never good enough or done right. All his co-workers have said nothing but great things about him and why doesn't he move up in the company? Why isn't he on the list for a promotion when a store manager position opens up? Because Joe shmo hates his ever being. This guy Joe is a bald, egotistical ###. He breaks a TON of rules and never gets in trouble. He drives the company vehicle for pleasure! He was going to fire my fiance, saying that he is more of a liability than an asset to the company. My fiance was so upset and worried that he just put his two weeks in to get it out of the way. That company doesn't care for it's employees or how long you work there. It's ###.

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longterm
Los Angeles, US
Dec 27, 2014 10:47 pm EST

Raises Never even so much as match inflation. $50, 000 a year isn't much of a family wage these days. Supervisors are not afraid of anything except lawyers. There are some really really bad ones.

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Discoteca124
, US
Feb 24, 2011 10:22 pm EST

100% true. I have been working their since 2007 and have received a 15 cent raise I earn 8 15 an hour and get 5 hours a week on a regular bases manage is nearly impossible to work with and basically expects you to be on call to work so you whole life is basically ruined. Even when you are on call you still hardly get any hours. Their is not surprise what so ever as to why Big 5 is doing bad. Bad management, bad customer service, bad employ treatment just over all bad in everything except for perhaps returns that is about all Big 5 is great about for customers firearms are basically over prized other then that you are better off going some where else especially for quality materials.

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9:45 am EDT

Big 5 Sporting Goods discrimination

I purchased SEA TAC ROLLING BAG and shortly after the wheels wore down. But Ted, Operations Manager refused to exchange this product because of my race, African American.

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4:02 pm EDT
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Big 5 Sporting Goods price deception tactics

I was in the store yesterday looking at pocketknives they were advertising on sale. in the display case was a Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops folding knife, model # CKG105 that had a price tag of $59.99 and a sale price of $9.99. I purchased two of the knives thinking I was getting an incredible deal (saving $100 off of the retail cost of the two knives).

When I got home from work today I Googled the knives and discovered that in almost every store or online shop the knives are retailing for between $15 - $25 apiece. I cannot find any outlet other than Big % Sporting Goods that has them listed for $60 and feel that Big 5 was deliberately misrepresenting the retail price to deceive consumers into thinking they were getting a better deal than they actually received.

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Eric Evans
, US
May 24, 2019 7:50 pm EDT

This kind of thing happened to me to.

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adaminbtr
Walker, US
Mar 30, 2011 2:01 pm EDT

You still ended up purchasing a $15-$25 knife for $9.99. What's the problem?

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6:48 pm EDT
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Big 5 Sporting Goods gave me a refund and took my money!

I am writing this so no one gets in the same situation I was put in. About 3 months ago I had a $50 purchase that I needed to return to Big 5 Sporting Goods . A younger girl helped me with the refund, and gave me a receipt print out that she said I needed to bring back when I wanted to use the store credit. Two weeks ago I went in and found something I wanted to purchase with the credit, and I was informed that the piece of receipt looking paper I had was not valid. I got very upset and asked to speak to the manager. He told me that whoever helped me months ago should have given me a gift card with the money loaded on it. We went back in forth, with me saying "I never got one" like 10 times. He said, "That is impossible because she couldn't have printed this out without first issuing the card." It came down to me finally saying "what can you do for me because I am owed this money?" He took my receipt and told me that he would call me back after he looked over the security tapes to find out who it was that had helped me because I couldn't remember. Needless to say...it has been many days now and he never called back. I have gone in several times as well and the manager is always gone.

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Arianna Gonzales
, US
Sep 29, 2019 11:30 pm EDT

The employees were rude to ring up my shoes I was buying and when I asked to check for a shoe size in the back she didn't yet another employee went right after to check and there were multiple in that size. Name was Yolanda and Yaratzis so rude and unprofessional ladies

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Deathstrike
Smallville, US
Jul 29, 2014 1:22 pm EDT

Everything that is written here is true, but then again Big 5 is a complete and utter scam anyways! Their so called "sales" are simply that they lowered their very high markup to what most stores would charge for the item in the first place. Kohls, JC Penny, Macy's and other stores are NOTORIOUS for marking up their merchandise considerably above the national average and then "lowering" it calling it a sale when in reality, its not much better than most brick and mortar and online stores. And the quality of Big 5 Merchandise is subpar at best. If you love made in China and the fact that Walmart and other stores charge the same price, then by all means go to them, but if you want subpar merchandise, lousy service, and prices and refund tactics that are dubious at best, criminal at worst, then Big 5 is the store for you.

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If extremely bothered I post
vislia, US
Mar 10, 2011 7:34 pm EST

There is a manger named Jennifer at the Visalia Big 5 store. She is a total [censored]. Excuse my language but she really made me mad. I was standing in line, it was a fairly busy day. I was not in a hurry or anything. She was rude to the customers, saying "I NEED you on this side" in a harsh tone, instead of saying "I can help you over here." Not only was she rude to the customers, but she was also harassing this young cashier, she was only trying to do her job. She was hovering over her and telling her to move quicker. She was literally breathing down this young cashiers neck. She was a disgusting sight. No joke. She is fake. I am a customer so I can see the big picture, Im just standing back in line watching. As soon as a male approached the counter she got all giggly and giddy. As soon as he left she turned back to being rude. Her voice is annoying, only because she is trying to act nice but its rude and way too forward. She is not manager material. I've have worked as a manager in department stores, and never have I seen such rude behavior towards employees and customers.

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7:11 am EST
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Big 5 Sporting Goods unethical bunch of micro-managing idiots

Unethical bunch of micro-managing idiots who run the Riverside Distribution Center. Long time employees mean nothing to them, they are marched out by armed guards. Surveillance cameras everywhere, including by the rest-rooms. I got the ax for some very minor paperwork errors. Our illustrious gutless Teamster Local 578 ('Our motto-don't rock the boat-EVER') is in bed with management and will help throw you under the bus. 9 years down the toilet, throwing cheap Chinese crap off the back of a truck. This company could care less about it's customers and holds it's employees in utter contempt. They run the business like it's still 1972.

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KymC
, US
Feb 16, 2016 6:01 pm EST

DO NOT TRUST ANYTHING YOU BUY FROM THEM. They sold me a new tent that had no poles. Drove all the way to Death Valley and opened up the new tent and there were no poles, so needless to say this was a huge inconvenience and it could have been super dangerous. The assistant manager had no sympathy when I returned the tent. I call the national customer service and they apologized and only offered a $20 store credit.

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Lisa Clark-Urbon
, US
Jan 02, 2016 6:31 pm EST

Big Five Rancho Bernardo is a dirty unorganized mess of a store. manager Charles Mitchell and his rotating crew are dumb as a rock and consistently rude and lack efficiency or sports knowledge. Avoid this store and spend your hard earned cash at Dick's or Sports Authority.

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TeresaB4466
, US
Aug 04, 2015 12:26 am EDT

The Manager (Cody) at the Minden, Nevada Big 5 should not be a manager at all. I do not think a Manager is suppose to tell his employees that they are lazy to the employees face. That is so unprofessional and I am appalled that Big 5 employs managers like this. Cody is not a manager, that is a bully of a boss and I will be writing to corporate about this person and to the BBB.

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Youthinkimthatstupid
San Bruno, US
Sep 10, 2011 6:36 am EDT

Managers are now disposable too.

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Mando M.
San Bernardino, US
Feb 19, 2009 11:23 pm EST
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The management team at the distribution center are unethical and malpractice their management skills. So many employees have been fired and continue to be fired at the distribution center. When I first started, there were approximately 400 employees. That number has dwindled to approximately 270 employees and continues to decline. The economy has definately affected the sales at Big 5. Instead of laying off employees, the company invents reasons for firing its employees. It seems that the company is trying to mislead its investors by stating that the economy hasn't affected its operations, yet the firings of employees say that the company is trying to reduce its operating costs due to a decrease in sales. Management tells its employees that the company is not affected by the downturn of the economy. If that's the case, where are the replacement workers needed to fill in the vacancies left by the fired employees. I agree that Teamsters Local 578 doesn't back up workers, but instead holds the front door open for Big 5 as employees are escorted out the door when fired. For a company that's been around for over 50 years and has a unionized shop, why do the majority of the employees have less than 5 years at the company. The company has perfected the skill of firing employees and hiding the truth from its investors. Not to mention the abuse of power by the management. Employees are harrassed and intimidated by supervisors. When someone files a grievance, the employee always lose because the Union allows the company to win or is incompetent to protect employees. How is it fair to file a grievance against Big 5 when the very same people involved in the complaint reside over grievance and decide the outcome of their own fate. A neutral third party needs to reside over the grievances filed at Big 5 instead of the same management team who inflicts terror and abuse on the employees. At Big 5, it pays to be in management because the company gots their backs. The employees are just a number and are disposable.

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No f n way
, US
May 22, 2017 1:55 pm EDT
Replying to comment of Mando M.

I was a driver at big 5 sporting goods distribution center in Riverside. Everything said here is the apsolute truth. You can and will lose your job if you don't circle the am or pm on a time sheet even though you are clocked in and out by computer. Drivres are told to drive over DOT hrs rules when it suits the company and management changes your recorded time on the computer so they don't get fined by DOT. every Friday you are worried the they have a write up waiting for you, so you try to get in as late as possible miss management. I had to have a surgery that my doctor wanted done right away. They made me change the surgery to a month later because it was not convenient for them at the threat of losing my job. One of the drivers had to leave town because his mother was dieing. He informed them was told ok, them fired when he returned for not calling in every day. These people are heartless.

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