Sports Basement Berkeley — Local services in Berkeley

There is a growing trend around the country as America seems to be growing cruel and less caring, and that is fat shaming. It is something that happens regularly in businesses and especially clothing stores. You see, it seems that someone incredibly shallow in the upper management at this company and a handful of others that I have run into in the past have decided that the image of having fat people in their store doesn't put forward the kind of image they want so they do whatever they can to keep the "right kind of people" coming into their store in order to keep up their trendy image.

What am I supposed to think about myself when I goto a sporting goods store and they tell me through their selection that they do not want people like me as a customer? There was literally not one item of clothing or shoes in the entire store that I could buy. I am only a 4XL or maybe even a 3XL on a good day, and this store didn't carry a single item for anyone larger than normal.

I talked to the manager and pleaded with him to get bigger sizes, he tells me he has no control and can only recommend to the buyers they get bigger sizes. I am told to leave a note (of which there were none lying around I had to ask an employee to find me one) in this dusty old comment box up front that the manager promises he checked just last week...

The manager has told me that I am not the first to complain, to which I replied then why isn't there a single item of clothing for bigger people? Again, I am told it is the buyers and all he can do is pass along the word... So here is my word...

This place discriminates against heavy people and refuses to carry any size larger than a 2XL despite being told repeatedly by larger people there is a need for the items. If you have a social conscience and have read this message I encourage you to please go somewhere else. I am 6'8" and 330 pounds and face accidental discrimination all the time. This however does not seem accidental. The manager himself admitted on numerous occasions he has been told he needs to carry sizes for actual athlete sized people and those pleas have gone ignored.

Of course, its hard to really tell what is true, and what the manager was just making up on the spot to get me out of the door... One thing is clear though... They have no intention on stocking any sizes larger than XXL.

Finally, if you have read this review and my pleas for social justice are not enough for you to not shop here; I encourage you to at least point out to them that they are essentially shaming fat people by telling them they are not welcome in their store by not carrying a single item a overweight person could wear.

I went in with a friend so we could get a workout outfit. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is when you are told there is not one single item in the largest sporting goods store you have ever seen that fits?

This place has really made me feel bad about being big. It is obvious they don't want people there like me and if you are above a 2XL they don't want people like...

Buying a bike could be a great experience. The excitement and fun adventure you will have when you are out there riding. So when I purchased my bike at SB Berkeley I was disappointed with the service I received. I don’t expect a red carpet roll-out, but at least the basics of fitting the bike with the customer. Learn about the customer’s technical experience in relation to the bike. Explain the basics of components that came with the bike that is different from manufacturer’s list. None of that happened. I wasn’t going to ask the moon of information but enough to equip me with knowledge and confidence of owning a new experience.

Here’s what happened. I arrived there. SB guy was behind the counter in front of the computer. I was the only customer. I waited until he finished what he was doing. He saw me. He asked me “are you here for the bike”. I said “yes”. He went to get it. Rolled it out and leaned it against the counter. He asked me if I needed pedals. I said “yes”. He pointed me to the area where they are. Then he went back to his computer who knows what he was doing. No questions from him. No customer service type of interaction. I asked him about how to get my discount refunded for my online purchase. Boy, he punted that inquiry faster than I can say another word. He was hesitant with a tone of irritation of why are you asking me this question kind of thing. He said that he only build bikes and he doesn’t do online stuff. He commented to call the customer service. So. There’s this SB kid who was there cleaning up. I asked him for a favor to install the pedals. He was happy to oblige. Man, this guy (not the kid) just lost an opportunity to sell me more bike stuff by just being that. I know. I know. Don’t expect this kind of service from a non-bike store. The service mainly provided is a “rental service” mindset. Can’t blame him. He was just doing his own parameters. And I’m asking a lot. Yeah — basic customer service and I was the only customer there at the time, not that I was holding up a long line.

Oh yeah I have thoughts about their online checkout process. It needs more clarification of how discount is applied when paying.

Cheers. And happy trails. PS. Kudos to the kid who helped me install the pedals. Thank you. I appreciate you.

BTW, I have no doubt he is an excellent mechanic. But short on...

I am a Berkeley native and use to skate on that awesome rink, so of course if I need rain gear I will think of Sports Basement first. They do nice things for the community and have a good reputation.

For me, it was the WRONG CHOICE. I thought I would actually find what I was looking for, choose it, pay for it and leave. No. Sports Basement is good for shopping if you have plenty of time and money and love to browse.

I came to shop purposefully and leave. Instead I got completely confused on every level. The music was so loud I couldn't even think. It was so cold - I should have remembered to dress as if I riding the zamboni itself.

Though there are a million signs in the place, I turned around and around to find the men's section vs the womens section because its NOT MARKED. I felt like a mouse in a maze getting sensory torture. where is the cheese? I couldn't find it.

After searching around and around, I got over to the section labeled rain. But there was no rain gear. Lots of snow gear. So I wandered around more. The music was so loud I really felt assaulted and couldn't even hear my own thoughts.

It became clear that there was no rain gear anywhere near or around the sign. It has been raining since December without stopping and no rain gear!?

I finally asked someone: "oh its upstairs, under the camping sign. thats bad sign placement" they said.

I proceeded upstairs to the small rain section and didn't find anything I liked. $300 for rain pants? no thanks. Normally I would have hunted around. But it was too hard to find the women's options in that section, the prices were so far beyond what I wanted to pay, and the music gave me no ability to even see what was in front of me.

It was just all completely disorienting situation and drove me out. I have never in my life had a shopping experience like this. It really surprised me.

"did you find anything you liked" said the nice person as I left "No, with the music I can't think straight." To which she said "its not to my liking either".

And that is how I feel about Sports Basement at the moment. Its not to my liking. I'll head...