REI reviews

3.6

63% would recommend to a friend

(4,367 total reviews)
avatar

Mary Beth Laughton

35% approve of CEO

34% positive business outlook

REI has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 4,367 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The REI employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

4K reviews
1.0
Sep 13, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Discounts, and I had a short commute when I worked there

Cons

When I first started, things were looking up. It seemed like a great place to be. Then the recession of 2008 hit and everything soured. Many of my friends were laid off, but I can accept that as a necessary business decision. However, after the dip in 08, the entire culture changed. Gone were the days of "work-life balance" that they love to crow about so much. Work life balance in their case meant, come in to work Sunday...and also take Wednesday off so you don't get any overtime. You were crucified for requesting a day off. I had an enormous bank of vacation and sick time saved up that I was afraid to use for fear of management finding an excuse to get rid of me. No upward mobility whatsoever. I had friends who shed blood sweat and tears for the company, sacrificing weekends and working terrible graveyard shifts just to be seen as a good candidate, only to watch as some manager from a window company or Starbucks was hired for the position they had hoped for. When I left they were hemorrhaging good employees who sought greener pastures and hiring more and more temps. It felt like a family atmosphere when I started. Now if there is a way to save some money they won't hesitate to cut your job and send you out the door with a handshake and a severance. Work this job if you have another source of income and you just want to take advantage of the discounts.

4.0
Aug 20, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

REI offers a great discount to employees, hires cool people, gives days off when requested-- 2 per year paid, provides opportunities for advancement with responsibilities, and if you are sick, they will call someone in and tell you to feel better rather than forcing you to work.

Cons

As an REI employee, you will be forced to sell memberships, undergo unexpected cutting of hours, have few to no full-time opportunities, scrape by on minimum wage, and not get trained nearly the amount you will feel comfortable with (making customers suffer). Though I love working at REI for many reasons, the company has some big changes to make to be able to restore itself to the true co-op it was in 1938.

1.0
Aug 20, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great Benefits, Prodeals, and Discounts

Cons

HQ has become another bastion of Corporate America, gone is the feeling that this is a co-op our jobs should be fun. It is all about profit and no longer about people . REI should drop its Co-op Standing and go public if all that drives it is profit.

Viewing 211 - 213 of 4,367 Reviews

Glassdoor has 4,506 REI reviews submitted anonymously by REI employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if REI is right for you.