Really wanted to like them, on our first time there, we had great service and we really appreciated their help in finding the right shoes.
My hubby has flat feet, his podiatrist recommend a Hoka ($140) shoe so we went to REI. Sales person told him his feet is better fitted for a pair of ALTRA ($250) and then tied his shoe lace in a pattern that is better for his feet. The Altra was almost twice the cost of the Hoka but was happy cuz hubby finally had a shoe specialist that recommended a shoe he would be comfortable in.
At the check register, they upsold us on the $30 membership, said if we were "unhappy with the shoes for any reason, we can come back and exchange/return them." Sure, sounds like they stand behind the products they carry.
One month later, the shoes fabric started tearing on the upper heel area. Took us about 1 week to find time to bring them in. Hubby approaches the check stand, was told they don't do returns/exchanges on worn shoes and to talk to the shoe people on what they suggest. He goes to the shoe area, the salesman (who was very nice) told him that was the wrong shoe and wrong way to tie it for his flat foot. ummmmm, ok...it was what was recommended by them on our first visit, laces tied by their salesman.
He then recommended the Hoka's that the podiatrist initially recommended.
He said he didn't have the specific size and to go up to check out and have them order it as replacement.
Hubby goes up to check out and the lady told him she could not do an exchange/return. This is where it starts to get really sad. She started a barrage of gas-lighting and accusations:
"You didn't put on the shoe correctly" -
"wow! how many miles did you put on these shoes!"
"You didn't tie the shoes correctly"
"Look at the wear on the soles! How many miles have you put on these shoes!" - to which hubby replied, what wear? You can still clearly see the brand name and all thread pattern on the shoes. He's worn shoes his whole life and never has he been told so many rules on how to wear a shoe. Even worst, half her accusations was what the REI salesman on our first visit recommended and did for us.
She told him these were not returnable due to the one month wear and that the type of shoe we purchased only had a 200 mile lifespan. We had no idea....never seen mileage life printed on a shoe. She accused my husband of everything he MUST have done wrong with the shoe in 1 month of normal daily wear. She also said the sides have a bit of dirt (the shoe literally looks brand new). I mean, he can wear it and walk through 1 unpaved parking lot and create the same dirt. He's owned many pairs of Brooks, Nike's, New Balances etc and none have ever torn like this on the upper heel.
We were more than willing to pay for a new shoe but just wanted a good shoe that would last more than 1 month. Instead, the lady spent her time accusing us, gas-lighting us, all to get out of any responsibility for the shoe or their membership satisfaction policy.
After wasting an hour of our time and creating such frustration for us, we just told her, look....Just let me know what you would like us to do. She kept ping-ponging us to the salesman in the back. Even the salesman told her the fabric defect is not caused by the way the shoe laces are tied or how hubby puts on or takes off the shoe. After much frustration and hubby feeling completely drained, he just asked her, ok, I'm just here to get this resolved. I need shoes that are comfortable and will last more than 1 month. Finally, she offered us a 30% coupon off for the Hoka's which we happily obliged to. They upsold us on some inserts too, lol!
It's not about the money. We would have bought the second pair anyways had she just been nice and said, I'm so sorry it didn't work out but what I can do is offer you a discount on the second pair. Instead she accused us and gas-lighted us relentlessly to try to shame us just to get out of their seemingly "we take responsibility" policy.
1 month. We had the shoe for 1 month. Daily wear - probably 2-3 miles a day at most, he doesn't go to the gym. Just to work and home, normal everyday 1 month wear. We've never owned a pair of shoes that lasted for less than 6 months unless for some reason it was due to direct impact damage.
We thought we found a place that would offer us tailored knowledge and help to get my hubby comfortable shoes. We understand its trial and error because of the flat feet but that lady ruined it for us every going to REI ever again. We've purchased so many without ever returning one - because never had one tore in the 1st month of normal wear. We came here based on their shoe knowledge, which was highly contradictory. Everyone will have their own experience and this was ours. Our advice is to stay away from the membership and don't trust that they will ever back their return/exchange policy without a brutal, mean-spirited fight by REI. read more