Mel Cotton's Sporting Goods
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
28 Reviews for Mel Cotton's Sporting Goods
I love Mel Cotton's...when they're having a sale. I've walked out of there with great new hiking boots for $30 on clearance. I've never managed to find anything in the way of clothing on clearance though, because they usually have nothing smaller than L or XL left, or the "marked down" prices are still outrageous. I'm sorry, but $125 for ski pants is not a deal, no matter how cute my butt might look in them. They also don't have a huge selection of women's stuff, at least in the way of running shorts, socks, and sports bras. Are there any dudes out there wearing sports bras? I don't know, and I hope I never find out.
If I'm looking for something specific that I need right away, I hit the Sports Authority instead. I'm almost guaranteed to get the same stuff at half price.
I get most of my fishing gear here. The staff at the fishing department are friendly and knowledeable. They can pretty much answer any questions you may have, if they can't, they'll find someone who can. they have a huge selection of everything, hunting, fishing, hiking, whatever outdoor stuff you need.
This is a good place to get camping supplies and what not. Much better selection than Big 5. The people that work here know what they are taking about, unlike some of the other places. They have awesome sales in the parking lot occasionally. They even have sporting events. I took my golden retriever to the dock dogs competition here a couple of years ago. They set up a pool with a ramp for the dogs. The dogs jumped off the ramp and competed to see who had the greatest distance. My dog Lovey Dumpling came in 14th out of about 30 dogs. Not bad for a novice.
Mel Cotton's is great and exactly what one would expect. A large store with tons of outdoor sports equipment and mom & pop store feel and service. Don't expect to pay under full retail price on stuff aside from their occasional sales, though.
Bought my hiking boots here and the guy who helped me was incredibly knowledgeable and walked me through choosing a boot. Walked out with a pair of North Face shoes from Mel's despite having looked at them at the actual North Face store earlier (they weren't helpful).
Very informative workers. Made my journey of finding a snowboard super easy for my amateurness.
Got a board and bindings on sale for 300 bucks!
Definately gonna hit this place up for the Winter Expo for some Boots!
big selection, nice workers. Muy bueno. I'm happy!
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My first time here was awesome, like heaven almost. I felt like a five year old girl at a candy shop. I found everything including the kitchen sink. The place is huge and worth the exercise. I recommend this place in a heartbeat. What can be better than this.. sex? Cool joint.
April 5, 2008:
Mel Cotton's Sporting Goods 13th Annual Fishing Expo
I had a fun time here even though it lasted fifteen minutes. There was this huge tank filled with fishes where a pro fisherman was showing us the ropes on how to fish the correct way.
Then there was this big pool filled with fishes for kids to fish out. Sort of a sad sports game, but hey, they exist and why not let the kids take a whack at it.
As for food, there were these cute boy scouts selling their wieners. Hey, that only sounds nasty if you have a dirty mind you pedophiles. Aw, how adorable and best part, they were affordable. Not like those ball park dogs that are sold from vendors intentionally knowing that they are the only food stand there so they jack up the prices.
This was a no sales tax day and clearances up the yin yan. Yahoo!
Oh, did I mention the free raffle? I didn't win anything because I only stayed so long, but it was cool. I wish I won something, a fishing rod, coupons, bait, a dog on a stick, anything damn it! =/
Thank you to Bobby, John and Al for the entertainment as you shouted I recall, "Farm-er" or Farm-er-John" down the isle. Ugh, go do your sisters some more, you damn pussies. :O)
http://www.yelp.com/ev...
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I've lived in San Jose for 27 of my 28 years and had my first expereince at Mel Cotton's yesterday.
Let's just say I can wait another 28 years.
We went in there looking for a neck warmer. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, it seems no one in the store knew where to find them, but all insisted they did carry them. I looked for 20 minutes and still nothing. Oh well. Let's check out the sales items. Everyone loves a sale.
The place was/is an absolute wreck, with clothing everywhere, nothing arranged according to size or style. Kids jackets mixed in with adults pants? Please. Cramped doesn't begin to tell the tale of this place. The prices were ridiculous and the sales rack was all XS items "discounted" to what REI or Any Mountain will charge you.
The one nice thing about this place is the discounted lift tickets, but even then I'd be there early to avoid the messy lines.
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My husband and I venture here about once a month to check out outdoor gear for our trips we have planned. The store dosen't carry everything we want but the prices are decent and some of the people working there are friendly and helpful. Daniel in the snowboarding dept helped my husband for at least a good hour or so finding the perfect boot fit. He was knowledgeable and took the time and care to help him. Don't let the young kids fool you that work there...a lot of them are avid athletes who know what they are talking about! Some of the other employees there are just so-so. I had one guy try and help me with skis and I really don't think he knew what he was talking about and I haven't found one friendly female working there yet. I guess we were lucky to have found Daniel!
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So it's a little pricey but the employees are extremely helpful. I have a large foot for a female so finding snowboard boots is pretty tricky. I have to admit that I need to order some that'll fit better online but in the meantime the salesperson took a LONG time to show me almost every boot until I could find one that fit as best it could. I also got a good deal on my board there too.
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I'll have to agree with David C. Mel Cottons used to be cool....when I was like 7. $200 for a simple down jacket? Urrr....please. In preparation for a ~-20 deg 11,000 foot ascent I've scoured the racks at 2 REIs, Mel Cotton's, Sports Basement and the Army Surplus store--oh yeah, and Sports Authority. Let me save you the trouble and ruin your surprise--all the stores carried the same crap. North Face, Mountain Hardware, Columbia. Is this China? Go to five stores and they're all selling the same communist made gear? Only difference was that Mel Cotton's had the highest prices. Sports Basement had the best selection and lowest prices, but the sizes were all too big (seems everyone in America is getting fat but me?). Anyhow....call me stubborn, but I wasn't about to get ripped off at any of these places. I'd rather get hypothermia.
And then after I resigned myself to even getting a sub zero jacket, I found the perfect item at Costco--yes--COSTCO--for $39. I know--sounds totally ridiculous, but the fucker is hot as hell, has a removable fleece liner, pukka zippers, a breathable/waterproof shell and enough pockets for a shortwave radio, a headlamp, GPS, supplies, keys, knives, etc. Absolutely the best (and perhaps ugliest) jacket I found and I didn't pay a cock-in-the-butt price for it.
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It's a funky San Jose landmark, but man is the service bad. They hire plenty of people and give them what's apparently their first job, but don't train them on customer service and how that might be more important than discussing music with their cute coworkers.
On a positive note, the merchandise selection is broad, covering both outdoors and sports. Prices are OK: not a steal, but don't seem as pricey as REI. And you may be able to find an expert in the specialty areas, like fishing. All the newbies seem to work in the clothing and shoes sections.
i hit mel's about once a year to pick up fishing supplies and some ammo for my home protection kit. i have never been in here and not been helped right away. my questions are always answered and they always have what i need. the only downside i can think is that the prices in my experience are about average.
Thirty bucks for quality snowboard bag! Sweet!! I also perused the section with day packs, snowboarding pants, sunglasses and camelpaks, and was satisfied with their discounted prices. The organization of the store reminded me of a flea market or a garage sale. Some things were in disarray, others not so. The sales staff were pretty much nonchalant, but I didn't mind since I already knew what I wanted and just had to look for it. I don't know if I'd go here if I actually needed some sort of service, but I'd definitely make a stop to pick up necessities for my outdoor adventures.
Oh yeah, I forgot...they've got guns and ammo! Yee, haw!
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Huge selectionof discounted gear, boards, bags, and pretty much everything else you need. It's really packed and messy, so you sort of have to search. If you have a lot of time, it'll be fun like playing in a toystore, but if you're busy, it might get on your nerve.
They also rent out skiing/snowboarding gear and clothes (yeah, a bit strange, but whatever) as well as waxing your boards.
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I went to Mel Cotton's today for the first time in probably ten years. Some people on yelp complain about the sales people not asking you if you need help but I'd rather be left alone as I walk around and look through the isles. It's better than having someone follow you around like they expect you to steal something. When I did ask for help, the person that helped me was extremely helpful; he showed me exactly where the product I was looking for was located and gave me some insight on how to use it.
The prices are higher than Walmart or internet pricing but the selection of fishing and hunting stuff is huge, no other store in the area has nearly as much as they have in stock. They would get five stars if the prices were a little lower.
This place is a mess! Its so cramped in there you can't find anything. The clothes and merchandise was all over the ground. Not to mention their selection here isnt too great. Their prices are also not discounted by much. Its about a 10% discount at most. I would recommend you to go to Any Mountain in your area. The selection in gear, aside from clothes is superior.
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The staff in the hunting department are knowledgeable and patient. I have bought ammo and also 2 guns from this shop. The staff were very helpful with my waterfowl, upland game and hog hunting needs.
When you ask to see a certain gun, they show it to you. They each have their personal favorites, but they leave that decision up to you on which gun you want to buy. I've also asked about special orders for guns and they will call their distributors for you to find out if they have it in stock.
This store also have a lot of snow sport equipment, although I don't shop for those items.
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So I've just discovered this place and it's an outdoor person's playhouse!! I'm mostly interested in the snowboarding gear they have. Although the store is pretty crowded to all the merchandise, you can't complain about the selection. They are currently having a huge sale on snow related gear up to 50% off retail price.
The only draw back is that the store's retail price is higher than the MSRP. For example. the MSRP for a Ride EX binding is 149.99. Mel's retail price is 199.99. So even though they are having a 50% off sale, it only brings the price down to 99.99
Other than that the selection is great, service is pretty good.
Only reason they don't get a 5 star rating is because of the increase in retail price and Sierra Snowboards in Sac is better.....
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While Mel Cotton's provides decent discounts (usually around 10% from what I saw), I have serious issues with how they do it. On all of their tags they have a "Value Price," "Mel's Price," and the "Sale Price." What I would take from that is that the Value Price is the MSRP, Mel's Price is cheaper than that, and Sale Price cheaper still.
In actuality, Mel's Price is usually inflated about 10% over MSRP and the "Value Price" is some exorbitant arbitrarily chosen number. So they might sell a $300 MSRP snowboard for $270, but list the "Mel's Price" at $330 and the "Value Price" at $400 to make it seem like you are saving more money than you actually are. I understand that as an independently owned store they need to charge more than the chains, but that sort of shadiness makes it much less likely that I will ever support them.
While the selection is decent and at least some of the staff helpful (I saw one or two giving solid ski advice, a bunch of other just dicking around and avoiding customers), their store is extremely cramped and claustrophobic. Unfortunately, because of that and the aforementioned shady nonsense, I will be avoiding Mel's from now on.
I would suggest that anyone in the area go to Sports Basement in Santa Clara instead... the selection is similar, the place is larger and less cramped, the staff is wonderful, the prices are better, and it's a green business. In short, the Spots Basement is superior in pretty much every possible way (and it's closer to where I live anyway).
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I've been going here since I was a tiny kid. My parents also shopped here as kids. The Cotton's are actually family friends who have had a life long love for outdoor adventure, so they really know their stuff.
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This store is the love of my outdoor life. I don't know how I lived in the area so long without knowing it was here.
There is a massive selection of all things outdoorsy (camping, ski/snowboard, backpacks, boots, clothes, etc, etc, etc.) complete with knowledgable and helpful folks in every department.
I came here on a Sunday to check out some skis with my roommate. Al in the ski department was very helpful and knowledgable. They had a great selection of skis, but mid-season did not have either my size or my roommate's size in our desired style. Still, Al spent well over an hour with us, discussing the relative merits of the various skis, advances in ski design, and how to find a proper-fitting boot. I was so impressed, that after I bought my skis elsewhere, I came back to Mel Cotton's to buy my boots, poles, and a sexy new ski jacket.
I wish I had been able to wait for the skis to be ordered from here, I would rather give my money to a knowledgable, well-stocked shop like Mel Cotton's than to any of the big chains.
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Sharpest place for sporting goods in the area. The store just goes on and on and just when you think it can't go anymore, it turns and goes even more. Lots of knowledgeable sales help for any outdoor activity you can think of. Fishing, hunting, hiking, you name it and more....this is the place to go. Nice selection of clothing items that are practical and reasonably priced. Something about supporting an independent shop makes my purchasing mean so much more to me!
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www.melcottons.com
This place rocks! Its huge!!!! It may look small on the outside but don't let that fool you. It has a LOT of things you need for the seasons. Went here for my snowboarding gear stuff. Definitely had a lot of things on sale and cheaper than retail price. Got my anon realm for 64 and Oakley crowbar for 74. SO MUCH MONEY SAVED. They have a nice selection of goggles, eye wear and everything. They carry a lot off different brands of boards but more so Burton[ EWWW I HATE THEM]. Wish they would organize their store more but what can you say, it was a sales weekend so it was messy. Service is really friendly and helpful. Fun to talk to and learn things about from them. They advertise a lot in the Wave Newspaper, so you can always find one of their coupons. The best time to buy stuff from them is right at the beginning of the snow seasons or really late in the snow season.
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Not a huge store but it seems to have everything, seasonally per usual! Tire chains, snow boards, winter gear, hiking gear... staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and able to help u find items that can seem elusive considering the cramped isles...more of a down home old style store feel rather than the giant, glaringly bright, ghost staffed, factory feel of some larger chain stores.
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This is an old-time sporting goods store which makes it special. I live in Walnut Creek and do runs to San Jose just to shop there. They have the best selection of hunting gear in the Bay area (for Waterfowlers specifically). Also their selection of camping gear is outstanding. Check their pre-season sale the first weekend each August to stock up for Waterfowl season.
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I love that the sales person who helped me out really told me the whole story behind base layers and wool. He really knew what he was talking about and wasn't just trying to get me to buy stuff. He wanted to help educate me on the benefits and downfalls of getting pure wool products and the companies that make base layers. I have a Tahoe card so they gave me a discount. I spent $100 and snowbomb.com hooked me up with free lift tickets. The guy was nice and since the bf was with me we got two lift tickets instead of just one.
They have a pretty large selection of snow stuff and its good to know you can ask the employees questions and not get a stupid answer.
edit: i had to note that when we went into ask for our boards to be waxed that day they weren't that plesant. I feel that the other guy made up for it with his infinate knowledge of base layers and because of their pretty large selection of snow gear.
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Been here a few times for the snowboard gear. One of the few places that actually carries a lot of Oakley apparel (not just sunglasses). Besides that you can get camping, hunting and numerous other outdoor sports equipment. One of the few locally owned non chain stores left.
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I was looking to buy a sailing kayak (Hobie Adventure Island), and Hobie's website only showed dealers an hour away. A websearch showed up Mel's. So I called them this morning and asked if they could order an AI, and they said yes. I explicitly asked if they could sell the sailing version of Hobie kayaks, because I had heard fishing shops can only order the fishing versions. Again, they told me yes, they can order any one, they had done so before, and no big deal. BUT, they added, I would need to come down this weekend and pay in full because they were placing a large order Mon morning. So I load the family in the van and drive the half-hour to Mel's. When I get there, the same guy I spoke to on the phone says, sorry, he isn't allowed to order the sailing version. Only the fishing version and a conversion kit. (More labor, more bucks). Needless to say I was not very happy. The whole point of the phone call was to avoid a needless trip. To make matters worse, the salesman couldn't care less, and as I left I overheard the other salesmen who overheard the conversation laughing. While many Sportsmen in the area really like Mel's, I will not be giving them any more of my business.
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