Great culture, still retail - Customer Service Specialist REI Employee Review

4.0
Dec 3, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

REI places great emphasis on work/life balance, offers great discounts, and generally has an open culture that fosters teamwork. They are a great to work for as an employee who needs an accommodation plan. The gear discount is the biggest benefit of working in retail there.

Cons

Availability requirements for regular employment requires weekends (at least Saturday or Sunday). The revolving door aspect, while a feature of all retail creates a feeling of being disposable. Can feel at times like the corporate office looks down on the retail side.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
Jan 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amazon place to develop real world skills

Cons

The holidays were Crazy busy

3.0
Jun 20, 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)

4
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