REI

Agree with other reviewers — terrible customer service in-​store and web ordering even worse… on two separate occasions they actually charged my credit card three times to process one order.

Come here to shop once every month. Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. They are very fast when I come to make returns.
They have a wide selection of outerwear, outer sports, and camping gear. Love this store.

Staff good as always. I just feel REI is going downhill in terms of quality, availability, affordability, and variety of gear. You used to be able to get almost anything outdoor related from them or order online for store delivery. Hard to get top of the line and cutting edge gloves, hats, or boots. Seems like backcountry and moosejaw are taking over the higher end climbing/​mountaineering/​backpacking market, and REI is diversifying and trying to appeal to the mainstream, maybe weekend adventurer. And in Chicago, they are more into the biking and cold weather gear for winter commuters. Some ski stuff too. Free parking at this place is great. I just find I can’t get what I need through REI anymore, but they do have a lot of good stuff. Just depends what you’re into doing.

As far as REIs go, this is a 2.5 star. I am rounding down to 2 stars because the customer service is virtually non-​existant until you get to checkout.
I’ve been to many on the east coast to fulfill my cycling and active wear needs and this store just does not meet the mark. The store is very small. It only has one level and they don’t have full size ranges on the floor. Come on, where is a women’s XL? You guys can’t be out of that size all the time. More importantly, where is a sales associate for me to ask for my size? I have never experienced this in any other store and I’ve shopped in a NYC flagship location which was super busy.
They also don’t have sun guards for your legs for cycling. I am always cutting myself on my pedals and since it is now getting warm and humid, I really can’t use the leg warmers. I would get too hot. Instead of ordering sun guards for me, the sales associate let me walk out of the store empty handed. Again, would not happen in other locations. I almost feel like they don’t care or want to be there.
Here is the reason why I am awarding 2.5 stars instead of a straight 2 stars. They had outerwear and I needed outerwear. I was woefully unprepared for Illinois weather when I got here and needed rain coats and a light weight puffy coat. They were at least stocked in the cheaper REI and Mammot Gear and I didn’t need to spend a fortune on North Face. I would go elsewhere but who wants to drive? Not I!
If you need a basic item, you can go here. Also, if you know what it is that you are looking for and won’t require assistance this store is for you. Otherwise, you are better off finding another REI to patronize. Meh is the word.

a little pricey, but I’m told the dividend once received after a year of being a member and buying stuff on my membership will equalize the price. A little complicated but we shall see if it works.
USAA insurance does the same thing and I’ve stuck with them for 15 years!
This review is intended for the snow board people. I’m more than pleased with the package they set me up with. The sales guy (I forget his name) was very knowledgeable on their suite of products, and even gave me a tip to find a good bump to board on out here in the mid west. I’ll review Cascade mountain next.

The best camping store in the world hands down. This place is great because the customer service is wonderful. You never have to worry about not being assisted here. there’s always a friendly face around the corner to assist you with all of your needs and if that person in particular can’t help you out he or she will get someone that is more knowledgeable in the certain area that you’re looking at. They have a variety of brands and equipment. They also have the REI lifetime membership for $ 20 which allows you to get 20% off on all merchandise that is not on sale at four different points throughout the year. This is pretty awesome because I know of a lot of stores that make it to have Brand exclusions on their coupons, not REI though. They also have the garage sales that allow you as a member to take advantage of buying used gear that is usually in great working condition but cannot be replaced back on the floor since it is open. I’ve saved 80% on certain items by shopping at the garage sale. Just make sure you get in line early if you want first dibs on unavailable items. They also have classes some free and some that are reasonably priced. Ive gone to a backpacking light course, a backpacking food course, a compass course, and a bike repair course. Sometimes the courses are about basic knowledge that you might already know about but other times you can learn a thing or two. They also have lectures, for instance like the one I last attended involving a person that completed the Appalachian Trail. If you’re into the outdoors definitely check this place out it blows Dick’s sporting goods, Sports authority, moose jaw, erehwon, uncle ben’s, and grander all out of the water with their large selection and customer service. Oh and I forgot to mention you have a year to make returns on equipment that malfunctions or that does not meet your expectations. That is a very kind return policy in my opinion.

Don’t let the strip mall madness fool you, this location is small. In fact this REI is probably the smallest one I’ve ever been to, the one in Lincoln Park is bigger!
The selection here is pretty weak and it’s only one floor. I’ve had both excellent and weak customer service the two times I’ve been here.
I would rather shop online than come to this location.

Was I really just in REI? my usual favorite place to gear up??? We are members. This was a terrible experience tonight. Terrible selection & terrible customer service. We were shopping for ski kids coats, ski pants & gloves not one person acknowledged us, offered help, we were there for over an hour & they were not busy at all. In fact not one other soul in the kids dept. Size & color selection was poor. I hope this was a fluke I am so disappointed with this experience.

Horrible customer service. Gone to many rei stores and never treated so rudely. The man in the area that was doing pack sizing was so rude. My boyfriend and I we’re just looking at one and he was so condescending. We didn’t ask for his help but kept telling us what we didn’t know about packs. Funny thing is my boyfriend was in the Marines for 8 years and he fit people for packs. But the sales man was to busy talking and trying to up sell to even ask us if we needed his advice. We just walked away. Everyone serene more into getting to to get a credit card then help you. wont be back to that location ever.

The products they carry are all high quality, but what sets them apart is the knowledgeable staff. I was helped by Paul B., a seasonal park ranger. He knew the shoes so well, it made selecting just the right pair a breeze.
What I particularly appreciated was Paul’s willingness to assist me even though I walked in two minutes before closing on a Sunday night. He was very patient and even suggested I try on other shoes to get a comparison.
I also learned that a lifetime membership there is $ 20. That got me 10% off my shoes (actually it is a rebate check they send every year).
Needless to say, I’ll be back.

I am a very large fan of the REI company to begin with. I like the Co-​Op idea and love the inventory they keep. Definitely proud to be a member.
However, when it comes to retail, regardless of a rewards program or great inventory, the most important aspect to me is customer service… Issues inevitably arise at retail stores, but its the nature in which they are resolved that make or break a store.
Recently, I had an issue at this location with an in store pick up for an item I had on hold. My wife was provided the wrong merchandise when picking up and was unable to make it back to the store before our scheduled trip. When expressing our frustration with the situation, Kristin, the manager on duty, suggested that she drive towards my wife’s work to exchange the sleeping bags. Thanks to Kristin, the issue was ultimately resolved and my wife will now have her new sleeping bag for this weekend.
It’s this above and beyond customer service that sets retail stores apart from their competitors. Thanks to Kristin for representing REI in a positive light and ensuring our continued business going forward.
…i’m at work so i guess that’s why i sounded corporate in this review. whatever.

I’ve been a REI co-​op member for years & frequent this location because of its proximity to where I live. They carry great products and have amazing sales. The customer service here is lackluster at best. I’ve yet to encounter someone who works here that has wowed me — from the people working the floor to the check out cashiers. Can’t recommend their bike service department here either. Came in for a minor bike repair and had to return the following week with the same issue. They fixed it the second time around but still a pain to haul the bike in twice. I find myself wanting to shop REI online instead of coming into the store. Not a good thing.,.

I totally agree with Julie F. My needs were few on my last visit but I couldn’t find anyone who could assist me with my two questions. In the bike department, the guy barely looked up from his paperwork.
I have, however, found some great things here, when left to my own devices.

This place is a great place to get cool adventure stuff like space pens! I wish we had a store like this in Hawaii. From camping to yoga, this place has everything. The great thing about this place is that their online and in store customer service are also great. The people here are helpful and d you need an answer and can’t get to a store (like me), you’ll be able to chat with an online representative.
The one thing that I truly believe that everyone should have is the insulated klean kanteen, it keeps your liquid goods either cold or hot for a really long period of time, perfect for people that are constantly on the go.
The great thing also is that they carry all sorts of outdoor brands under one roof, making this place a one stop shop for your outdoor adventure needs.

I’ve been to a lot of REI’s across the country and this is, by far, my least favorite one…
While the selection is there, the service is seriously lacking. I’ve also found this to be one of the messiest stores around. I think I’d rather shop online than visit this store.

Love this store, great products and good service. I go here once every couple of months and always get what I’m looking for. Their people have good knowledge on their products

I called a few bicycle repair places to get a quote for a repair. REI had the best price. This was until I went to pick up the bike and was presented with the bill. A extra charge was included which the salesman presented. He then said that the extra charge was missed due to their error and that he had to charge me for it. I wont be going there again.

Browsing REI is a part of my weekend routine. They sell the higher end outdoor gear (e.g., Patagonia, SmartWool) so the MSRP aren’t budget friendly. However, their clearance selection is updated regularly so it’s always worthwhile to take a peek. They also have a ridiculously generous return policy so buyer’s remorse is impossible.
The product selection is more than adequate for your average outdoor needs. If you’ve researched a specific item and can’t find it in the store, they most likely have it online which they’ll ship directly to you for orders greater than $ 50; otherwise, you can pick it up from the store.
Their variety in running gear can’t compete with a running store but they’ve got the basics down. The running accessories (e.g., fuel belts) were recently moved into the cycling section but the running clothes are still in the back in between the kids’ and shoe sections. I’m a fan of SmarWool running socks so I stock up whenever they go on sale.
The folks who work here are super friendly in a good way. They also have specialists for the areas that require it (e.g., backpacks). I haven’t seen the guy who’s a hardcore camper in awhile but I bet there are others who are just as knowledgeable. And I love love love how proactive they are with getting additional cashiers when the line gets long.
5 stars for an enjoyable shopping AND checkout experience.

OK, sorry, but comparing REI (a very long-​standing and well-​run CO-​OP) with WalMart (which, at last count, has 42 class-​action lawsuits against them for their employment practices) is just absurd.
I have shopped at REI for about 30 years, starting out in Berkeley, CA, where it started. Last year, when my husband was on crutches over the holidays and I had to drive him to one store to do all his shopping, REI is where we went. The staff is good and knowledgeable overall (and there were plenty of them over the holidays, which was nice and not totally expected), the returns policy is as good as it gets, the 10% annual dividends are nice perk (as is lifetime membership for a one-​time fee), their free classes and lectures are fun an informative, and the inventory covers a wide range of outdoor sports and activities decently.
My only minor complaint in recent years (as noted by some others above) is that the clothing selection seems to be trending towards pricier — and not always more practical — items. Case in point: I went to look for long-​sleeved base layers, and found one or two styles at under $ 45, but mostly I found a couple DOZEN styles of cotton t-​shirts for MORE than that! $ 45+ for a cotton t-​shirt? Umm… no thanks; I’ll go to Target.
That said, they have great outdoor fitness gear — from socks to binocs — and they back it up with info and classes. If you’re looking for a pair of real gloves that’ll keep your fingers from freezing, go to REI (preferably during a sale); if you’re looking for a cute cotton t-​shirt for your yoga class, go to Target.
PS – They were SUPER nice to my husband, even in the middle of the Christmas rush last year, when he was slow-​moving and clumsy on his crutches. That scored bonus points for REI!

REI has so many different sporting sections that their selection of goods is decent, but not great. Their merch is also on the pricier side, especially if there’s not a sale going on. Still, I have bought everything from my road bike (on clearance!) and a fuel belt to snowboard wax and burton socks from here (30−50% off ski/​snowboard gear sale going on RIGHT NOW).
Staff member knowledge is spotty. I’ve talked to associates who helped answer tons of bike questions, but have also been led around the store — the scenic route — supposedly being guided to where all the fuel belts are shelved and then been referred to someone else.