Love working with great people at REI! - Customer Service Specialist REI Employee Review

4.0
Oct 9, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I love working with people that share my interest for the outdoors and interacting with customers who are excited to be headed to the trail or to the river. Pro deals and employee discounts are a big plus here. I love the culture and history of the Co-Op.

Cons

Pay is not the best and only provide part-time hours, but work environment and additional perks, such as employee discounts/pro deals, are a big plus. My advice would be to hire fewer people and make them full time so that they can be fully committed to the company. Several people that I work with only work one or two short shifts a week and, as a result, do not keep up with things going on within the store and company. Most people need to have other jobs to make ends meet and as a result are not available to help cover shifts when needed.

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

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