Great Company, Great Benefits, relocation for promotion - Sales Specialist REI Employee Review

4.0
Feb 17, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people you work with are fantastic filled with passion about living and going on adventures. You have people that only work there part time and have careers outside of REI. Training is ongoing and most of the time throughout the year by employees and company reps. You can have the work life balance at REI. I was never affected by this but full time employees would not get full 40 hrs, but just become a point person early on and you will be scheduled full hours. Benefits are fantastic for part time and full time employees. Profit sharing 401k and health benefits are very affordable. Pro deals are a bonus.

Cons

Personal growth was there if you were willing to move around the country to be a supervisor and you will work your way up the ladder. The Denver Market was EXTREMELY competitive. They claimed that they would hire for a supervisor from your local market but the person that would get it was from outside your market and then when someone would apply for a position outside of your current market they would get hired. I still have friends that work there and say they have changed this, but no personal experience. The compensation is equivalent to retail, which is not fantastic. Hired at $9.25 and when left $12.75.

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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