Sales Specialist - Anonymous employee REI Employee Review

4.0
Sep 26, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

REI has a great overall culture. The types of people that want to work here share an enthusiasm for the outdoors and are generally at REI because they want to be. If you are motivated and interested, there are options for advancement within the company.

Cons

Although you set your availability, your working hours may vary greatly week to week, both in terms of totals time and specific schedule. The pay is not great, and the path to advancement is fairly narrow in scope. Because REI is large, there is a top down structure, and even store managers have limited flexibility in how they do their job, so those at the bottom are pretty much a peg in a hole.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
Jun 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good managers, deals, coworkers, products

Cons

No cons, I really liked my time.

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

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All