Lukewarm bathwater... not what I'd expected. - Sales Specialist REI Employee Review

3.0
18 May 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

For a large store I got the feeling the employees were great team players who shares a common vision - inspire others to get outside! I was shocked that I'm the most experienced "outdoorsman" in the store. Hey, it feels great...

Cons

Managers have to lie to corporate (to keep their jobs) and hide the real downside of working in a department environment. Why? I think they are afraid if losing their jobs. Personally, I'm already sooooo tired of not being able to leave my department and feel like I'm constantly forced to fit into a corporate machine without any soul or personality. REI is a great mega-machine I have to admit.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
21 June 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Open and nice to work for

Cons

Didn’t like that you won’t be able to take time off during sales and so people call out

3.0
20 June 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)

3
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