Great for what it is - Retail Sales Associate REI Employee Review

4.0
16 Mar 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I loved my coworkers! They are generally outdoorsy, always positive, and curious to hear about new adventures. Great energy. Management was super flexible with my schedule as long as it was working for both of us. The company put some solid effort into making pay appropriate for the local cost of living and the expertise they desire from employees. Deals are amazing.

Cons

Store management can be narrowly focused on the $ and lack inspiring leadership skills. Too much weight is put on membership sales and not enough on making sure customers get out the door with the right product. As employees, we are told that integrity is everything, and I saw that attitude every day from my coworkers. However, pay raises and bonuses were, and are again, based primarily on membership sales. It is frustrating to many to see what looks like the wrong priorities from a company we all care very much for.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
21 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Open and nice to work for

Cons

Didn’t like that you won’t be able to take time off during sales and so people call out

3.0
20 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Excellent coworkers - REI does a great job of hiring enthusiastic and personable staff - Slightly better pay compared with other retail in the area - Prodeals and discounts - Flexible hours - Good (although rapidly diminishing) healthcare benefits

Cons

- Once a (better) company known for its investment in knowledgeable and friendly staff via extensive training and investment, the company has been slowly slashing away at most of what makes it special since the pandemic - Hours and benefits are worsening, proper employee training is becoming hard to come by - lots of mediocrity and sometimes questionable ethical calls made by management - Punitive disciplinary policies that seem to be designed to create higher turnover (advantageous to them given the gradual pay, benefit and policy changes)

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