Big 5 Sporting Goods

They do not know the law. The law in the state of California, and Big 5 policy is that to buy rifle and shotgun ammunition, you need to be 18, the legal age to purchase a rifle or shotgun. However this store manager doesn’t know this, and doesn’t care, as I was denied purchasing 5.56 ammunition, a rifle caliber. I tried to explain that I’ve purchased this before at this store, and the law is 18 for rifle ammunition, but she kept denying this and refused to sell me the ammo. I called other store locations to see what their policy is, and it is the same as the law, 18 to buy shotgun and rifle, and 21 for handgun. I will never purchase from this location again. I recommend traveling the extra 20 minutes to the Lake Elsinore store, they at least follow store policy and state law.

Store manager Margaret just cost Big 5 over $ 500. I went there to purchase a bike and accessories. I asked the «manager» about the cost for the bike to be assembled. She stated that the option is not available and the assembly is minimal. When I asked her exactly what type of minimal assembly was required, she became very frustrated. She ordered an associate to open the box and continued to make smart remarks to me. Finally, she announces that she is going to walk away in the same manor as a small child. I went to a different store and completed my purchase. I am not sure why she is a manager because her behavior and any level of professionalism is non existent. I would not recommend giving any business to this store due to its lack of respect for customers!

Worst place for costumer service. I was looking for an official baseball for autographs and had to wait 10 minutes and no one came to help me so I left. I am going somewhere else to get what I need.

Taking a winter camping trip next week, so needed to stop by Big 5 for a pair of cold-​weather gloves and a beanie. I had already tried a couple of stores but, due to the recent cold fronts, both stores were out of stock on both items.
Needless to say, my hopes weren’t too high.
Upon entering the store, a young man behind the counter greeted me with a big smile and a warm welcome. He sounded genuinely friendly in his greeting, so I decided to save some time by asking him where the gloves and beanies were.
SIDENOTE: I will be heading to Joshua Tree NP on Sunday for five days. Coincidentally, the helpful young man’s name? Joshua, of course.
After I made my purchase, I decided to shop around a little… mainly for camping gear. I like checking out the outdoor survival gear… never know what you’ll find there.
Nothing unusual or interesting this time.
Now I’ve been in this Big 5 store several times in the past, and though the employees are always helpful, I can’t ever recall being greeted as I came through the door. To me, that says a lot. Even if the greeter doesn’t ask you if they can help you find something, all of a sudden they’ve opened up that door. It’s much easier to ask someone for help when they’re looking you in the eye than if they have their back turned toward you. I believe Joshua was aware of this.
This store has never disappointed me. Always clean. Always have in stock what I’m looking for… which, trust me, in my case is saying a lot. Friendly staff always willing to help. I’m surprised nobody has reviewed it yet…
«Even in winter an isolated patch of snow has a special quality.» — Andy Goldsworthy