This could take a while. Been here a long time. The erosion of REI is truly staggering for all that know the company well. The current push for credit cards is morale crushing and goes against so much of what this company used to represent. Some managers are very good and most of those have in the company for a very long time, the fall of the company shows on their face when discussing it.
Hours are so wildly inconsistent I feel terrible for my coworkers, who struggle to know if they can make expenses. Worker perks have almost vanished from previous years. REI buyers and product developers have to be some of the worst. Investing huge sums into garbage footwear that are almost immediately on clearance, garments that fit so poorly you wonder if they even research what customers want and what other manufacturers do, customers are puzzled on the fit after trying on a legacy brand, buyers also buy colors in footwear that my coworkers get complaints about knowing on manufacturer website more appealing colors are available, other rei gear doesn’t seem well thought out also. REI culture truly is a myth now, used for green selling , but hollow. The feeling from the floor staff is top executives really do not understand the former culture And ethos that built this company, maybe they they don’t care , they’re making tons and will eventually leave with their pockets full. I really have little confidence REI will survive as it was , most likely sold off to a giant conglomerate and turned into just another soulless entity.
