I have read so many people talking about Rei and from UK we don't have the store.
Great place for good value equipment.
Pleased I visited. Lovely staff helpful and friendly.
I purchased three items, and when the cashier asked if they were a gift, I said yes. However, the prices weren’t concealed, and no bag was offered, despite the purchase totaling over $200 (which doesn’t go far at this store). So I left with three items in my hands and no bag. Additionally, the store was heavily decorated with trans flags.
I came here to try out a bike after researching online for the best options that fit me. This was especially significant to me as my first-ever bike purchase. Despite coming in a little late, Eric (sp?) helped me out with the bike fitting, and I was pleasantly surprised when the store had one remaining bicycle in inventory, which Eric helped to prepare by installing the lights and U-lock and checking to make sure it was in suitable condition for me to ride home. Thank you for going above and beyond! Can’t wait to come back to this store to buy more accessories.
The head mechanic was straight up just lying about the price, I was going to get my brakes installed and he said it was 90 dollars but it said(including bleeding the brakes), I specifically told him I don’t need the bleed, since I already did it.
I went earlier today to get some advice on ski gear, and Mimi was so incredibly knowledgable and helpful. She gave me great advice on what to look out for and how to approach purchasing each piece of gear for my specific skill level and size. I left feeling equipped with all the information I needed to make my purchases and very excited for ski season!
I had a heart warming experience at this store thanks to Himel Patel. He handled a tricky return super efficiently.. and from his manner I could tell he cared about a customer and that he was going out of his way to try his best.. Just knowing that a store you love also cares about its customers and their money .. makes all the difference to the shopping experience..
thanks Himel
If your personal hell is buying something online for a quick pickup but then waiting in a 13-person deep line for 20+ minutes, this is the store for you! Definitely a “never again” experience. Store also seemed sparse, disorganized, understaffed, overall a laughable nightmare. A total opposite experience to other REI’s I’ve frequented. Too bad this is my local one :-( wah wah, Sports Basement and e commerce it is
Been to 6 different REIs and this is the only one that made me feel like the employees aren't genuinely nice. They're just acting nice.
And this is after interacting with 5 different employees, and somehow it just feels like it's originated from their culture being toxic.
Hey manager, you might want to teach the male guy at the check out counter to help customers putting many items in the bag. Apparently he just put two hands in the pockets and did nothing but just waiting?
Went in for a visit today to prepare for a backpacking trip. I was helped by Aaron to find a couple things I needed and asked about the fit of my backpack. He really spent a lot of time with me going over options, fitting me, and showing me how to properly load the pack. I have always found the service at this location great, but today Aaron went above and beyond and I deeply appreciate it. I will be back again and recommend this store to anyone for their outdoor needs.
The employees are extremely pushy about signing up to their co-op membership program. I just wanted to buy shoes but had to listen to a super pushy sales pitch from two different employees. Give it a rest, people.
REI is the best place to collect your gears. However, customer service is really bad.
I just called with REI SF customer service about to cancel the item of 1 person tent because I want to purchase 2 person tent. So, when he ask I was telling him I am canceling because I want to purchase another tent . He said I didn’t ask you or I don’t ask you that question or purchase
I am like “ oops! You don’t need to give attitude to the customers “ why some people are so rude . Last time I went there , there are 4 employees are nice and very helpful.
But some are scary lol looking at customers like aggressively
REI branded products do not offer a lifetime warranty. I would rather pay a bit more for a lifetime warranted product. One year warranty means nothing when most products fail after this period. REI Membership, which should be free has insignificant benefits, typically only 10 % on FULL priced items. It always reads as though the co-op must secure sufficient funding for their cannabis plantations in public lands.
I wrote a previous review about racial profiling at REI and today I experienced it again. The person working in the shoe dept was acting as if I was going to steal shoes so every-tine i decided to look at another shoe, i looked at 2 and tried in two, he hustled the shoe box away. I asked if he thought i was going to steal it and he said No i do t want my coworker to put it away. He was the only one in the dept at the time. I didn't believe him.
I spoke to the manager Dan who said he was sorry but made no apparent effort and expressed any way that he would follow up in it.
Previous email beliw
They have a lot of anti discrimination signs up but every time i go into this particular store, i am often greeted with indifferent staff who are often never really friendly and/or patronizing. I am a woman of African descent who has been a member of REI since the 1990s
I think ill try the Berkeley store to see what treatment I get from there or I will never shop here again!
Tried to return some brand new pants I bought online, never worn, tags on and still folded exactly how it came in the mail. There was some lint on the surface of the pants and the front desk employee wouldn’t accept them for a return as they were “soiled”. He told me to take them home and clean them before he would accept them. He finally let me borrow the store’s lint brush after asking multiple times and then finally accepted the pants. He also gave me a long and condescending lecture about how propane canisters end up in landfills when I presented an old empty can for recycling, despite telling him that I have moved on from disposable propane canisters years ago and an old can just turned up in my garage.
Honestly the whole interaction was unpleasant and made me feel like I was doing something wrong, and I had no interest in shopping around or browsing the store afterwards.
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I received at your San Francisco store. Despite informing the sales associates that I am not interested, they persistently pressured me to purchase an REI membership. Even after declining multiple times, they continued their sales pitch, making my shopping experience uncomfortable and frustrating.
Furthermore, after spending over $300, I expected a positive customer service experience. Instead, when I asked for a bag I was subjected to a lecture about REI’s environmental policies, which, while important, felt inappropriate in the context and tone delivered.
The aggressive sales tactics used by your staff are concerning. Discussions on platforms like Reddit reveal that other customers have experienced similar pressure to join the co-op.
I understand that REI emphasises membership due to the benefits it offers and the cooperative structure of the company. However, the pressure to sell memberships overshadowed my experience.
I hope you will address these issues to ensure a more comfortable shopping environment for all customers.
The store itself is great, great products and selection if a little pricey. The sales associates are great...
The security however..... judgmental, extremely unfriendly, insulting, unprofessional and ultimately have lost the company a customer permanently after being made to cry because I took too long to look at gloves according to the man doing security. My hands are very small and I'm looking for something that looks nice but is ultra warm and waterproof and not a glove liner and not over $50. They have a huge selection and obviously I'm going to want to try the gloves on if I'm going to buy them especially if I'm paying over $20 for them. I have to pick them up and look at the label carefully because I have extremely bad eyesight. I don't know whether I'm getting the right size or gender or brand without picking it up and looking at it closely. I'm not going anywhere to do this I'm not acting weird in any other way and I was really clear about the fact that I can't see well and that's why I was doing it.
Apparently that's not cool.
Apparently it's not cool even if you make sure that your hands are visible the entire time, you are not wearing bulky clothing and you voluntarily check your bag in at the front door without being asked with the guy who is now giving you a hard time.
As though I could get out of there with anything after I checked my bag in and make sure that I'm standing where I'm totally visible to both the front counter and the cameras and him the whole time??? I'm not a freaking shoplifter. In fact I have about 30 years of retail sales and management experience so I'm actually on the store's side.
Meanwhile they were getting robbed blind by some guy who looked more yuppie than me while the security guard was mean mugging me and only me the entire time I was in the store. After the way I was treated I didn't feel like pointing it out or helping and if I did I probably would have been accused of coming in with that guy anyway.
On top of that my parents were one of the first 100 members of REI co-op. My dad would be very disappointed if he were still around.
We recently visited REI for camping gear (sleeping Matt and sleeping bag) and had an outstanding experience. Mimi (the REI employee) was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, helping us choose the perfect gear for our upcoming trip. Her expertise and friendly attitude made all the difference. Highly recommend!
I’m kind of upset about my experience at REI. I wanted to buy snowboarding equipment: goggles, pants, and a jacket, etc. but every time I needed help, I had to beg for assistance. The representatives at the store were always too busy maintaining other items instead of helping customers. Isn’t the whole purpose of business is to sell and hence assist rather than just maintain the store?
No one was available to help with goggles (and I didn’t have many questions just basic ones about lenses), and the person who assisted me with the jacket kept leaving to run other errands. Frustrated, I just left. I’d rather check out Sports Basement or another store that actually cares about their customers’ questions and needs. Disappointed.
Very nice store. Bought a tent from them a few months ago for our Lake Tahoe camping trip, and we've used it several more times since then.
Their tents are really good quality and durable!
First time visiting this store .
Omg they have parking and it’s in San Francisco lol.
Store well organized, very clean restrooms section,team smiling everywhere, clearness section is small but you will find literally everything
Will definitely go back
In and out in 5 minutes. They've got everything you need here in his two story location. Clothes upstairs, gear down. I went during a weekday and there was no line or wait, lots of workers there to help out. The parking may is normally plentiful, as there is a lot on site with a good amount of space.
Made my third purchase here and have fallen in love with REI. Elijah was super helpful today getting my daughter a new bike and making sure I maximized all the sales possible.
I usually go to REI a lot, and Covid-19 is not going to change that! REI staff has always been smart, skilled and respectful, their Covid process is just another proof of that.
Their process is flawless and painless. You order online, receive an email when the package is ready for pick up. In that email you have link to notify your arrival so that they can prepare your package (what car you own, color, in order to identify you on the parking lot). Then they show up with a clean cart, with mask, gloves and disinfectant. You pick up your stuff (with a mask please, respect those nice people), and leave! It is as simple as that. Risk free, fast and efficient.
You guys are the best, see you soon, take care.
Very nice experience. We came here on a Monday afternoon. Various associates came frequently to check in and offer help. Great range of material that's very well presented (we were mostly looking at hiking clothing). Free customer parking is convenient.
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