I'm going to need to think twice before coming to this location again for shoes. Maybe it was just today; the heat must be making people rude and obnoxious. So I was trying on shoes and found a bench to place the items. I was walking around and before I know it a young couple, who happens to be trail runners, is at my bench! The guy was just plain rude, not only was he standing OVER my worn shoes but then starts to comment on how crowded the bench was! No duh, the bench is in use! He probably thought I didn't speak English. They need a few more staff members or at least staff from other departments should help the busy departments. I had to step away from the area and look at other items because of the lack of staff and rude couple. read more

This REI is convieniently close, but I find the selections limited for small or medium men's clothing and gear; maybe because there are so many asian men in the San Gabriel Valley! Anyway, compared to Huntington Beach, this location can't compare. The tent sales are smaller and selections limited. I do have to say though that the staff are very pleasant and are willing to do what it takes to make things right. read more

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to the manager Victor, whom without him I wouldn't of been able to get my tent warrantee and replaced hassle free. Now as for service on top of that Jeff was awesome, intelligent, knowledgeable, and answered every single question I possibly could throw at him. It's nice to buy gear and have a company stand behind it and their customers. Thank you guys!! read more

I didn't think I'd be shilling for REI so soon, but they have definitely replaced EMS as I've moved west, and they are giving the LL Bean website a run for its money also. Probably the only other alternative around here is Big 5, but obviously that doesn't have the selection of specialized goods that REI has. And don't even talk to me about Patagonia, even Yvon Choinard says they are overpiced - and he's the owner! Anyway, back to REI. Best thing about this location? The entrance to Angeles National Forest is about 2 miles north of the store, a straight shot on Santa Anita Ave. (the forest ranger station is right across the street from REI). This makes REI a great stop if it is your first time heading up to the Angeles, as you can buy the required parking pass (called an Adventure Pass), as well as any bits and pieces you may feel more comfortable bringing along. The store has everything from tents and sleeping bags, to bikes and books, as well as food, water bottles, and tons of clothes. There is also a climbing wall, and the store hosts free clinics (including one just for women on Wednesdays). There are also regular events and outings run out of the store - all with a local focus. Check them out. read more

Eh. This particular REI is kinda small and good for 1. beginner cyclists -even a rank novice like me ended up going to Incycle and the Cyclery for better gear selection and info. There's no bicycle knowledge training required to work here. 2. Basic climbing gear - with a really shitty shoe selection 3. Stocking up on basic hiking/camping essentials: mmm... Backpacker's Pantry makes an awesome Pad Thai! 4. lots and lots of icky clothing like pants where the waistband buttons over your ribcage - eww I do NOT need to look like Ed Grimley, thanks! 5. my semiannual (ok fine, really semi monthly) prAna fix. 6. cheapskates who like to use their gear and return it for full price - some people have no shame Why do I come here? It's an ugly habit developed over many years at other REIs. What I really like about this particular location - there are some really, really knowledgeable sales people here in the climbing section. Much better than the typical REI staff. They make it worth my while. read more

For Christmas my parents gave my fiance a gift card to REI. He has this phobia that a rattlesnake will bite his ankles while hiking and kill him, so he wanted hiking boots. REI is going to cost you $$$ but you get quality with that $$$. Their products are going to be top of the line so you know you can trust them. Their employees are also very knowledgeable and helpful. While looking for hiking boots the employee who helped us based off how much hiking we do (usually 10-15 mile hikes on the weekend). He left very happy. So yea, you are paying more going here compared to other stores, but you are paying for quality of products and service. 79/100 read more

I love going to this particular location! It's on the way when we're heading towards Big Bear. Any last minute equipment we may need or simply using this location to rent out snowshoeing gear as we head to the mountains, their customer service here always nails it! Their snowshoeing equipment is ridiculously cheap vs. renting from sites near resorts, and are good quality snowshoes. The rest of the store is pretty equipped as well. I can usually find cool items when they have sales, but you do have to sift through them to find some amazing deals. Their camping items are fully stocked, so we love shopping at this location for any camping needs. read more

I love coming to this place! their staff is very knowledgeable on all products and the customer service is great. Ive been here plenty of times but this review is based on my 2 big purchases and one return. First, i bought a thule roof rack for my bikes and 2nd was when i bought a hitch rack for my bike. Both experiences were great and they even helped e to my car and loaded all the stuff into my car. Rei membership is only $20 and comes with an unbeatable return policy. So why did i knock off 1 star? I was trying to do an exchange/return. The manager at that time didnt seem as if he wanted to help me. He was trying to rush me out with no regard to customer service. Needless to say, i ended up exchanging what i needed and was on my way. read more

Helpful & friendly staff. The gentleman that helped me out was knowledgeable & even told me there were other colors available online for the shoes I was looking at. read more

I came here to get a pair of hiking shoes and a pair of running shoes. While the staff helping me were very nice & helpful, there weren't enough of them, and this is what the three stars is for. Since I was going to spend more than $200.00, I wanted to make sure I could ask questions comfortably, but right when I went, so many other ppl came too, making it take so much longer. The thing is you can't just try on the shoes by yourself. Someone has to bring them for you & if they're busy helping others, you got nothing to do but sit & wait. I suggest doing your research at home before going there & maybe getting there when a lot of ppl are still at work. read more

I'm going to review this store in comparison to other sporting goods stores in the Los Angeles area. It rules. Just being in REI is fun, even if you're not looking for anything in particular. The staff is very helpful. And if you've been to an REI you know that all the employees are wildery and love to talk about gear. Another plus: the big spring sale is coming up next week. I noticed that a shirt I bought last week is $15 off. I was kicking myself for buying it before the sale, but when I called REI they said I just have to bring in the receipt and they'll give me the $15. read more

I treat REI like my second home. The Arcadia REI is my local store, so I'm reviewing this one, but seriously all REI's deserve 5 Stars. Their return/exchange policy is incredible! I love that I can buy gear, get it extremely dirty, decide I don't want it anymore, and then return it! Not that I do this often, but it is having that piece of mind that makes paying the premium price @ REI worth it. Also, if you are a member, you don't even need a receipt to return or exchange your used gear! The staff is extremely knowledgeable, and will patiently walk you through every possible item in the store until you find what you are looking for. It is seriously an outdoor junkie's nirvana. Whenever I have a bad day at work, coming to REI and just walking around the store will make me feel a lot better! =D read more

This place has absolutely great customer service. I once came here a few years back looking for a Yakima adapter kit. They only had two partial returns in stock, but no full kits. The guy just put it together into one kit for me and had me on my way. Also recently ordered a pair of Electric EG2 goggles from them online. The goggles came slightly scratched, but since they didn't have any more in stock, I was given the option of an additional discount to my charge, or another pair of goggles that they did have in stock which would have been shipped out next day. Absolutely awesome service and greatly appreciate these people. The prices can sometimes be a little higher than others, though joining their membership also helps with their dividends program and regular specials. read more

Horrible customer service! On 8/30/13, I went into the store to order a BOB infant car seat. The cashier asked for my contact number & e-mail address and informed me that when the product arrives to to store, I would be notified by a phone call. On 9/7, I logged onto my e-mail, found out the infant seat had already arrived to the Arcadia store on 9/5...No one from the Arcadia store bothered to call me. I wonder if I would find out about this, had I not checked my e-mail. When I went to the store to pick up the infant seat, only to find out that dumb ass cashier managed to misspelled my last name. I had to present my ID, credit card I used to make the purchase, and e-mail notification to prove I am the rightful owner. On 9/8, I went to the REI website to file a complaint, the customer relations told me they would forward my case to the Arcadia Store Manager to "review"...whatever the hell that means. Today is 9/21, I guess either still reviewing or REI just don't give a damn about customer service. Apparently the employees learn it from the store manager: just ignore customer's complaint... Did I mention horrible customer service? Horrible like Walmart! read more

Helpful. Knowledgeable. Good shopping experience. Get the rei card. Worth it cuz its lifetime. Good service.

This place makes me feel calm. I still own and use everything I've ever bought here and they're my favorite things. The quality is better than anywhere else and while the price is somewhat higher than you'd probably want to pay for say a cheap piece of junk top from a lower priced chain, the lower priced piece of junk will have to be replaced multiple times during the single very long lifespan of anything I get from REI. Just get it from REI. It's better. read more

Besides this place being great all the time...I was able to attend a Zombie Preparedness course! Myself along with 20+ others were able to enhance our knowledge about emergency preparedness. Whether through Natural, Man-made, or zombies! Ray was the instructor and was very knowledgeable on the subject matter. No more being laughed at about my curiosity of zombies...we were all one and the same during the class! ha. Great tips that covered different scenarios/disasters, kits and supplies, proactive approaches in training ahead of time, and much more! Thanks again Ray! I hope this new course continues on! I don't know about the others, but I felt completely unprepared for anything after being presented with all sorts of resources that I had never taken advantage of. Awareness is the key and being proactive is always better than the latter. Ended up with a few things before I walked out the door...few things equaling $200 to the credit card...doh. Come and get me now zombies! read more

The best part about REI is the no questions asked return policy. I bought hiking shoes from them and when I found they didn't fit, they let me return them for my money back. And when it comes to hiking, you really need to be able to find a good pair, or else you'll be miserable with a crapload of blisters on your feet and $100 out of your pocket with a pair of shoes you can't wear. Customer service has been great for me most of the time, but I did get this one lazy guy who didn't want to help me get fitted for backpacks. We asked him to put 30 lbs of sandbags in my backpack so I could get an idea for what it feels like, but he said that it doesn't make a difference. Uh, yes, it does, because that's how much I was going to carry in my pack during my hike! WUT? REI is a bit too pricey for me, but keep an eye out for their Sidewalk sales, because you can buy the items that people used just once for a discounted price. But then you have the people who really abuse the system and return something after 10 years. You can't return the items you get from sidewalk sales, so make sure to inspect carefully. Also, they are no longer selling used sleeping bags in CA because of some stupid new law, so don't go to these sidewalks sales expecting to find one. read more

I love how they have discounts and sales online. They have the best customer service and return policy. If you are looking for any camping gear, go here. It is like a kids toy store for outdoor equipment. I like walking around and looking at all the stuff the sell. It is also a great place to go get ideas on your next adventure, whether it be camping, hiking, biking, climbing, or exploring. I order online and do free pick up from the store. Just walk up to the counter and the cashier will help you get your item in a flash. However, sometimes people return things or have issues and hold up the line. The staff are friendly and very helpful, so don't be afraid to ask for help or suggestions. They love what they do. read more

REI is a one stop store for all your outdoor needs. They carry the best lines of outdoor gear/products. The staff is extremely helpful and professional. read more

I came to this REI today to return a pair of water shoes and also to buy a doggy backpack for my dog. Right when I entered, I was greeted by a REI customer representative, who was nice and friendly. However, he told me dogs are NOT allowed because there's food in the store. He was nice enough to let me grab different sizes of doggy backpacks and bring them outside for my dog to try on. I am very pleased with them, I also returned the water shoes without any problems (and I bought them from a different branch). Will be back again for other outdoor gears in the future. read more

Great place to shop in general but their return policy really is the icing on the cake. My father got me a pair of binoculars from here for my bday....yes, really. I went to return the binoculars w/o a receipt and just the buyers name. REI pulled up the transaction on their computer by scanning the item and taking the buyers name. After confirming the buyers name and address they said they could return the item. I figured: store credit, not bad, but no. The cashier asks for a debit card so she can put the credit into my bank account! Seriously?!?! That's like the best return policy ever! I had no receipt AND I STILL GOT CASH BACK?? Now that I know how easy is it to return here I won't be hesitant to buy on a whim for myself or buy gifts for others....heck, if they don't like it, they can get cash back! read more

I went into the store to look for winter clothes for vacation in the snow. The staff there is knowledgeable and very helpful. She walk me through what I need from thermal wear to outer layer jacket. Told me down jacket is very warm but I will need something to cover it since I should not get it wet. They also have the best return policy. I would come back here if I go on another vacation and needed supply. read more

Great place. Scary because it always attracts me to loose (spend) money here. one of the better REI around Cheers, -Herbal Tea read more

I brought an old bike for a $50 tune up, tires got replaced, one spoke repaired. ( Paid for those in addition to the "tuneup") Happy with the repaired spoke and tires, but not feeling I got any value for the tuneup, bike was much cleaner, but the wheels did not seem to be trued ( brake pads rub slightly as wheel turns.) Wouldn't bother with any "tune ups" in the future, they didn't seem to do any adjustments. Staff is nice. read more

Good store. But bad experience with the bike service. I was scheduled for a major ride on a Sat so I took my bike in for a warranty checkup on a Tuesday. I told them I needed it back by Friday and if that wasn't possible I'd bring it some other time. They reassured me it'd be done by 5pm on Friday. 5:30 PM Friday I walk in and the service manager tells me he was planning on getting to my bike the next morning...Saturday... ...seriously... Fortunately he threw the bike on the rack and did a rush job. Not sure why they had to hold my bike all week though. read more

There isn't a REI store close to where I live so I drove to their Arcadia store to try on hiking shoes that I reviewed on their website. I found only one pair of shoes that I saw online in the store. I wanted to try them on, but had to wait quite a while before an employee came out of the back room. The woman brought the shoes, but told me that the shoes ran narrow. She asked me to give her more information about what I wanted in a shoe. I said that I had a list of shoes that I reviewed online and simply wanted to try on those shoes. I didn't remember the particular perimeters. Regardless, she continued to ask me the same question over and over until I agreed to try on some of her suggestions. First, the only pair on my list that they had in stock she insisted would be too narrow. However, they fit just fine. Second, she said that one of the pairs that I wanted to try on was only available in men's shoes, but a smaller size would fit me. I found those shoes way too big. She told me that the women's version is available online, but she did not offer to have them sent to the store. I later found out that I could have had them sent to the store with no shipping charge. Third, another pair she said would fit well was way too narrow. Not only did i feel as if I was in "The Goldilocks and the Three Bears" story, but I was convinced that this woman had no knowledge of the shoes that she was trying to sell. This store is low on all stock, which is not something I expected. For example, they only carry 9 pairs of women's hiking shoes. Big 5 has a significantly greater selection. My suggestion is to pass on this store and go to Sports Chalet where you will find better stock and employees that have more knowledge about what the store has to offer. read more

Went with my fiancée to check out packs for an upcoming backpacking trip. We're total novices, and Tony in the backpacking department was THE MAN. Kind, courteous, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. By the end of it, we felt way more confident about the trip. read more

Came here three times in the past two weeks for Chacos. Twice on a Monday early afternoon - apparently this is a busy time - and once on a Wednesday evening. They were understaffed in the shoe section all times, but especially the Monday's. The first time they had only one guy working the footwear section. He didn't seem very well versed in the brand, Chacos. I had specific questions about the fit (which is why I came in in person to try them one) that he couldn't answer knowledgeably and neither could his coworker at change of shift. Secondly the store is HOT and stuffy. The customer next to me who was also waiting patiently to be attended to was burning up as well, so I know it was not just me. Every subsequent visit I broke out in a sweat in that shoe section... The other customer ended up leaving without buying a pair of shoes because sales associate who was supposed to bring her back shoes just didn't attend to her. She and I were newbies to hiking shoes and we ended up guessing between the two of us in regards to fit because the sales person was so absent. When I called later in the week Danielle and Patrick were very helpful on the phone. JP was pretty helpful on a Wednesday evening as well. Seems like the most helpful people work the latter part of the week. I'd advise to not go there for footwear in the beginning of the week, especially not in the early afternoon. You will not be paid very much attention. Another super helpful person was the woman who appeared to be the visual merchandiser. She didn't even work in footwear but actually gave me the time of day and had more insight in terms of Chacos and fit than the guys working in the shoe section -_- What also bothered me was the cashier saw me struggling with a small child trying to make a return and offered no kindness, no humanity. A handful of the males who work here have this pretentious attitude; I get it, it's REI, it's fancy outdoor equipment but come on, this company is supposed to be well known for their excellent customer service. That was definitely not my experience. Very disappointed read more

They have the worst customer service. On multiple occasions I waited over 15 minutes for help. Each time there are 0 employees anywhere to be found except for the cashiers. HORRIBLE customer service. Don't waste your time people. REI is only good for window shopping. Buy it online without the hassle. read more

I went to REI this weekend to get some hiking boots for an upcoming trip. I'm not a hiker and I have a lot of factors to consider when buying shoes. Folks in the shoe department helped me for 3 hours and I walked out of there with a pair of boots I feel good about. I would recommend REI at least to anyone who is clueless about what they need. Staff is friendly and knowledgable. They have a whole procedure for helping the customer pick the right boot. First they measure your shoe size, which for me ended up being a size larger than I usually wear. Then they evaluate your needs in terms of inserts, (I guess the inserts in the boot are meant to be replaced). They pick a few different styles for you based on your foot shape (wide, narrow, etc) and give you thicker hiking socks to try with the boots. They show you the proper way to tie your boots on. Then they have you walk around the store and do a few tests on the rock they have. They want to make sure your foot is fitting the boot just right. I looked online for reviews of the boots I wanted while I was there, and noticed the boots were $25 cheaper on Zappos. I still decided to buy from REI because they are a cooperative business and ended up being such a great resource for me, as I was pretty clueless walking in there. I don't think they make commission, so that's always nice, but they will ask you to become a member. $20 for life. I got a $20 off card for signing up and I have more stuff to get for my trip, so really didn't cost me anything. read more

I love REI! As an avid runner, hiker, and surfer, I feel that REI has everything I need to live outdoors life and survive! I come here often to browse for what I need (or want just in case). Recently, I bought my first hiking shoes, Merrells. I've been hiking with my running shoes so that was a big no no. The associate who helped was very knowledgeable of their products. She didn't bother or push me to purchase right away, so I took my time walking around the store testing out different pairs of hiking shoes. 30 minutes later, I made the purchase. On my way out, got to meet Terry Crews so that was a plus. I think the location is also perfect since the mountains are north of this store. So for those who likes the outdoors, you'll appreciate this store just like many of us do. I'm pretty sure I'll be coming back here some more for camping gear! Just think of REI as a toy store for adults with more and better selections of gear, clothing, and also more informed and friendly associates. Don't forget that if you're a member of REI, you get 10% dividend back from your purchases at the end of the year! That's like putting away small amount of money so that you can spend it to get more toys for yourself or for others! read more

Great, Spacious, Organized. The staff are friendly and helpful here for the most part! I like coming in here

A friend of mine are hiking the JMT later this year came in to get some advice. We spoke to Rodney who basically walked us through the whole store and gave us suggestions of what we will need. Rodney was super sincere and went above and beyond what I was expecting. Great customer service. read more

I went here with Debra R and Jose R. We bought a camping cereal thing, energy gels, and a water bottle. The store was nice, clean and it has friendly customer service too. read more

There is a guy with a ponytail who works in the shoe dept. who does not make customers feel good! He is too opinionated. I had many people tell me to buy childrens shoes, and I have bought some before, and been very happy with them!! He told me the shoes are not for me! He kept talking to me, when I didn't want his opinion. I would have given REI one star, but I really liked the woman who works in the shoe dept. who is in her 50's like me. She was very helpful and my son and I really liked how she treated us. The other guy just kept talking when I preferred her helping us. She did not pressure us to buy anything, and in fact told us about the anniversary sale. read more

Called ahead of tune to ensure the item I was looking for was in stock. They put it aside for me and made sure I had the correct items for my adventure. read more

There's a lot of construction going on Santa Anita Ave and we had to reroute ourselves to find the REI parking lot, but when we did, it was spacious and easy to find a spot. The store layout is overwhelming at first but there are a lot of helpful staff all around to assist you. The store was suppose to close at 9pm but someone in our group still had a few more things to get and we weren't the last to leave the store but we diffidently were there past 9. The staff was graciously patient. I would recommend this location to anyone looking for outdoor sporting goods and rentals. read more

I've been here a few times for random camping/outdoor gear. Service has always been great and they have a huge selection. Water bottles I usually buy for cycling and other products have good pricing but some things are expensive ...minus 1 star for that read more

Great costumer service n very helpful.. I like going there especially for shoes. Even is a little expensive from other places, but there return policy is great... 1 year warrant instead of life time warrant read more