Berkeley Luggage

Berkeley Luggage has a fantastic selection of luggage, backpacks, antitheft bags and storage bags!! Plus, the person who helped me (maybe the owner) is super kind. He opened luggage to show me the features inside, described the material, wheels and zippers of each luggage and answered my many questions. It was one of the best shopping experiences I’ve had!!

Great luggage store, with a very wide range of luggage - in terms of brands, stock, and prices. All of our luggage for travel in the recent years have come from this store. They also ship luggage that is covered under warranty to the respective companies for repair. They carry the entire range of Briggs and Riley luggage, which is awesome! They are a local small business and the best luggage store in the Bay Area.

I am now ready for my travels through Spain & Italy. Marianna listened to my concerns & needs, & directed me to the perfect piece for my 2 month trip. I learned more about global standards as well as options for an easier journey. I added a bag after Marianna showed me the utility of a piece I had not considered.
I will direct my friends yearning to take off to Marianna for superior gear.

Had a very positive experience and came away with two very good suitcases at the same price as online but with the benefit of an in person experience where we learned about the pros and cons of different suitcases (there are many subtle but important differences and options!) and got to inspect them carefully.

My experience last week with Justin was fantastic. First of all, he was very compenent about the items in the store and knew each brands wear n tear customs. He was aware of levels of customers satisfaction n dissatisfaction. Overall, he was just so helpful.

This store, a longtime Berkeley business, has an excellent selection of travel items. I needed packing cubes, the lightweight zippered bags for clothing. Mostly out of stock at REI; Pleasant Hill Luggage Store out of business; Berkeley Luggage Center had just what I wanted.

Berkeley Luggage seems to be one of the few places around that actually has a good in-stock selection of good luggage.

We had looked online, and finding retailers with anything in-store was a challenge. There are tons of online retailers, so if you aren't going to carry what I want, why would I bother coming in?

We went there for Briggs & Riley, but with everything they had in stock, we had a great selection to choose from. We ended up with an Eagle Creek bag at about the same price in-store as it was available anywhere online. (And in-store, we could actually see it in person before purchasing!)

The staff (owner?) is very knowledgeable about everything they have, and while he won't follow you around waiting for you to ask questions (which I never like anyway), he is definitely willing to answer any questions you have.

Would definitely recommend if you're looking for luggage or any of the various "travel accessories."

This store has an impressive collection of luggage options, both affordable and high-end. They have a great backpack selection and many last-minute travel items like adapters, neck pillows, and money belts. Support local businesses and shop here instead of online!

Berkeley Luggage has long been my place for luggage! The staff is very knowledgeable and they carry high quality products. Especially if you’re a frequent traveller I’d recommend it highly.

Didn’t have the bag I needed but were super helpful on the phone and saved me a long drive. Honest helpful folks.

Support your local small businesses!!! Friendly staff; great selection, reasonable price, high quality merchandise. Thanks, Jasmine!!!

Decent selection, no frills, convenient downtown location near BART.

I was delighted to discover that Briggs & Riley luggage was available at Berkeley Luggage. The holiday sale (ending on 11/27) included two pieces of luggage I wanted that were sold out on-line.

I came to the store (following a verification telephone call) on 11/26. A very nice young man (professional demeanor and product knowledge) assisted me as the sales clerk. The two pieces of luggage are holiday gifts from my family. I purchased one and my sister called, while I was in the store, to pay for the second piece. The transactions were completed smoothly.

Following the purchase by my sister, the salesperson called an off site supervisor with a question unrelated to the purchase. In the course of that conversation, the supervisor learned that my sister's purchase was made by credit card over the phone. Berkeley Luggage disallows these sales, but the sales clerk was unaware of this.

After several minutes of conversation, we agreed I would return to the store the next day while the internal paperwork problem was completed. I left the piece of luggage my sister paid for at the store.

When I returned on 11/27, I was met by a dour sales clerk who asked if I brought the credit card used by my sister. I said "no" and that my sister lives out of town. There was more conversation with an off-site supervisor. When that supervisor said he needed to make other calls, I asked the sales clerk to call me when all was resolved. The clerk called about 15-20 minutes later: to report that all was solved.

When I returned to the store, I waited for the transaction to be completed. I received a refund receipt (for my sister) and completed a new transaction for the luggage.

At no time did the sales clerk engage in conversation with me, much less apologize for my inconvenience or thank me for making two trips to the store. I asked if he'd like feedback; he said yes. I told him that all the joy has been removed from this purchase of new luggage ($750+) as I have been treated as if I am responsible for some inconvenience the store experienced.

He blamed the sales clerk from the night before for getting it wrong as a new employee. When I pointed out that this was not my fault, that he made no apologies or expressions of appreciation for the inconvenience I experienced. He responded that he's sorry I feel that way😡

What a complete disappointment. If you would like a pleasant sales experience, avoid this store. Only go if you have no alternative and then be prepared to be treated like a bother.

I chose two stars for this review: one for the extensive inventory and the second for the first sales clerk I encountered.

UPDATE & UPGRADE: 28 December 2023
Permit me to change my recommendation.

I returned to Berkeley Luggage to have the above-discussed monogramed. The experience was pleasant and smooth.

When I returned to pick-up the monogramed luggage, the previously unpleasant sales clerk was present. I had a completely different experience this time. The clerk apologized for my previous experience and expressed gratitude for my business

This was a most pleasant surprise! I appreciate the effort to "make it right." We all have frustrating days; however, it requires much more to acknowledge a mistake made in such a frustrating day.

Thank you Berkeley Luggage for hiring a sales team of people with integrity and fairness.

I highly recommend this local business for patronage! My recommendation is now five stars.

Wanted to buy a backpack last Saturday morning. Rang the bell to gain entrance, woman unlocked to door. Told her that I wanted to buy a backpack but she just ignored me and sat back down behind the counter. There were no other customers in the store.
Not once did she ask me what I was looking for, what type etc...nothing from her at all.
I did see one that I liked in the $250.00 range but I'll be damned if I were to buy anything from her.
I am a 70 plus year old man, not a vagrant, not a student, not a time waster and definitely not dressed as one of the Berkeley homeless.
The only words she said to me were to unlock the door when I left.
I know this store has been around for years, they have nice merchandise but I doubt they'll be around much longer with a staff like that. Horrible!