Great place to work for a year or so - Anonymous employee REI Employee Review

4.0
Apr 13, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great staff to work with. Fun atmosphere for the most part. Mostly cool customers. I didn't feel the pressure to sell memberships or felt my hours suffered due to times when I wasn't converting enough non-members. I've heard that from other stores. Sweet bonus if your store does well. Lots of free food if you work at the right store!

Cons

It's retail - weekends, nasty customers especially if you work in clothing and/or footwear. Management can be hard to get feedback from. Unless you want to become an Asst. Manager and work your life away for not much money then there really isn't much room for growth. Wages aren't great. Health insurance I was told was great but I don't agree after using it.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

very supportive management and team members.

Cons

sometimes, the hours are late. But very doable.

3.0
May 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Most coworkers, some managers, discounts, outfitting people properly without extra nonsense

Cons

Some truly horrible managers, pressure to sell credit cards is a morale killer, the union people. Employees drinking the union kool aid fail to see the company’s position, REI cannot give higher pay, better benefits , consistent hours, etc… with the erratic revenue stream that comes in , if a 5 year average is X in revenue and 5 year average is Y on wages and costs, how are they supposed to increase wages and benefits? It’s numbers and they don’t line up, if REI gives the increases which increases the expenses greatly, they will cut staff, a lot fewer employees which will eliminate a bunch of union supporters, an REI job is not supposed to be a lucrative deal, when you get hired the part time , part time plus and full time options are there and you choose what you want fully understanding what hours you are going to get at minimum, they will hire those positions on a need basis, to cry later that you don’t make enough money is your fault, the terms were clear and you signed off on them. The union is promising rainbows , reality will be far different, careful what you wish for

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