REI Reviews

Pros

Decent pay, coworkers and management are likable, good company to work for as far as benefits, pro ,ect.

Cons

Forget getting to know your customers and what adventures they may be hearing up for, all the managers want to know is if they are a member. If they aren't a member you better get a slip with info into their hands. I feel like a pushy used car salesman and hate it. Also REI is very progressive, which can be good, but often feels like an overstep. I don't like mixing politics with work.

Pros

Good discounts on gear, enjoyable work

Cons

Low wages compared to other retailers like Target. Requires high degree of product knowledge and customer service/sales skills. Compensation does not match this level of skill requirement. Be prepared to lose hours after big sales and holidays.

Pros

Pay now begins at $15/hr, although it is less for warehouse employees and way more for leads & managers, and used to, about 15 years ago be barely above minimum wage at about $5/hour. They tried to improve but their history highlights their genuine motives and core values as a corporate conglomerate ate. You are only a number to them and you’ll be treated like you’re not human but a robot or a personality.

Cons

It is a corporate department store, no matter what the facade is they sell to the public and their employees. If you’re serious about a career in the outdoor industry, work for a local gear company, obtain sponsorship or start your own company. They treat you like a number, micromanage and are controlling via your hours and membership sales. If you don’t fall into their personality and ways of completing tasks expectations, they punish you.

Pros

-you get 2 15 minute paid breaks per shift -coworkers are pretty chill -customers are usually really nice -great discounts and prodeal access is awesome -you get to have nice conversations with customers about their outdoor activities which can be nice -pretty fast paced on the weekends and sales events -POS system is pretty easy to use and the side work is also easy -very liberal company politics which is a pro for me at least! they treat their employees pretty fairly and are all about equitable access to the outdoors, and learning how they can do better

Cons

-such a huge pressure to sell memberships. it can be overbearing pressure from management sometimes... it feels like the only thing that matters a lot of the time -it is retail at the end of the day -there's lately been a big push to sell the credit card which is something I never wanted to have to sell in a retail job.

Pros

Management and Staff are fine professional people to work with. You feel included in every aspect of store operation from day one. I have over 25 years of experience in high end retail. They were all high paying but came with high stress and Managers who were full of themselves. In contrast, REI is wonderful place to work for. There are no browbeating newcomers, no Senior Managers who skip out on work and abuse company benefits, no backstabbing each other like all commission based stores. I started REI as a full timer but I have switched to part time because I chose to collect Social Security at 62. When I informed management of my decision, they were very understanding and offered to work with me give me flexible but stable hours so I won’t earn over the annual salary limit imposed by Social Security Administration. I can’t say enough great things about REI.

Cons

I have been at my current store in Boca Park Las Vegas for 6 months. I have no negatives to talk about. I actually look forward to going to work.

Pros

Very cool how the company organizes for the vendors to come give their little presentations on new products in the mornings. As a morning shift worker I got paid to listen to them and be a sponge on the different ways they design products and have made adjustments adapting to their customers' needs.

Cons

Lots of the management seem tied to their very inspiring lives of being outdoors people but seem really avoidant when it comes to serious talks about store issues on store operations.