Last time I visited REI I brought my dog with me and was confronted by an employee who instead of telling me REI changed their policy insisted that she get management involved. I just walked out the store disappointed at how she responded. I was non confrontational but she took a combative approach. Also I have tried calling during business hours and get a message saying the store is closed. Prices are too high in relation to customer service and products. read more

I love all REI! I shop their constantly and always on a hunt for their sales. Because we know their prices are up there. Typically not affordable for the average person. I like online shopping at REI.com Customer service is usually on point. Every since they changed their return policy, I've been very disappointed =( read more

I have to admit, I've only been to two other REI places, both of which are in the Chicagoland area. Thus, my review may be off but as I visit more REI places here in this area, I'll update this review. From what I can see, this REI store is located next to Highway 5 off of Samish Way. It is quite small compared to your other outdoor shops such as Bass Pro Shop or Field and Stream. I went specifically to look at the bikes. Their selection was very limited in terms of brand, style, and color. The prices ranged from $500 to $1500 with limited selection. I then headed over to the shoes section and looked at Men's boots. They have a better selection of shoes and clothes for outdoors. If you are coming here, just expect to find the essentials of what you need, but not much more. The staff there are also friendly and helpful. read more

Staff are helpful and they have great products, was approached asking if I had any questions almost every time and anytime I had a question or wanted help comparing products I could definitely ask. Went there more than a few times with friends and bought a bag from there that has lasted me a few years and looks like will last me many more in the future. The reason for the not-five stars though is that I've been to larger REIs that have a huge selection, so I just want to say that though you'll probably find something that you'll need, you might not find that perfect 'fit' for you (I don't mean this literally, their clothes are ok). Also every time I go in there to buy something the lines for checkout has been very, very long, so maybe try to time when you com here at non-busy hours. read more

I love REI anywhere as it gives you a dividend back when you shop. The employees are super friendly and helpful. There is always something on sale and you can find great deals in the clearance racks. The REI brand items are usually at a better price and good quality. read more

MEC has better deals overall but when in America REI is good choice. They also carry more name band items for you brand loyal types. Fun Location to Bike too from Peace Arch Crossing :) read more

Pros: -Great customer service, willing to help and knowledgeable ( like the MTB dept). -Great location -In-store pickup from online orders -Garage sales! Cons: -Most things are pricey -Certain depts. lack diverse product selections (location-specific) -Return policy shortened to one year All in all, I really like REI and the staff are great. I have been an REI customer since the good ol' days, it is too bad that the return policy was shortened, due to a small % of members abusing the return process. I have relied on the longer grace period in the past from my extensive traveling, sometimes over a year. (It was great knowing that I could always get something fixed later, etc) Another gripe is that depending on the store location, the inventory/stock can differ greatly. For example, this location used to carry a larger selection of the Nalgene pill bottles, especially with liquid dropper tops that flip closed. The current ones that they carry don't lock and spill the contents all over the inside of your pack. I have had to order all mine from Amazon as a result. Pro tip: Arrive at least an hour early to get in line for the garage sales. I used to come by 20 mins prior and get in at opening. No longer :D read more

I went in to buy snowboard gear. The guy who came over to help me was incredibly straightforward, knowledgeable, and responsive to my input. He really took the time to get me in the right board, bindings, and boots. And far from trying to put me in the most expensive ones available, he really weighed the options and recommended what he thought would be best for the money and for my needs (none were close to the most expensive offered). I also bought a roof rack there, which was a very quick and easy experience. Definitely 5 stars. read more

Friendly staff available and making eye contact in all areas of the store. Chris gave me some great advice and opens my mind to a product I had ruled out in my head, but loved the boots he recommended once I tried them on! You get what you pay for. Quality products with amazing benefits for members and above average customer service. read more

Went there today to drop off the box my mountain bike came in per the directions on the box..."reuse-return to REI". Arrived right as they opened, 3-4 employees looked dumbfounded when I said I was just returning the box as it says on it. They finally got the attention of the manager who from halfway across the store says "we don't take boxes". I told her I just drove almost 50 miles to come drop this off like it says. She repeated a little louder "we don't take boxes"! So I asked if they have a dumpster then I can just dump it in instead of dragging it back to my house? She replied "nope". That's it. Terrible customer service. Not going to spend one more cent in any of their stores. There are plenty of others that have great service. read more

Typically quality (but spendy) merchandise & generous return policy. Here's my gripe. I visit this store at least once a month. I'm usually in the store a minimum 15-20 minutes. In the past 2 years I have been approached by a sales person exactly twice. They're always helpful when I track one down with a question, but they do not initiate contact with me. It's not that they're busy, and they engage with customers around me (once literally looking right through me to help the guy walking up behind me). Maybe it's the "women over 50 are invisible" syndrome: the 2 times I have been approached have been by women who appear close to my demographic. Maybe it's just me??? I've given up. Now I use their store to touch & try on, then order from their competitors where possible. This is terrible service. read more

This is kind of a smaller REI. I've been in a few times but never had an employee offer to help me find anything. Also for bike accessories they seem over priced. Though my husband likes this company in general because of their return policy. read more

I found out that they won't give their employees over 24 hours a week. Shame on you REI manager Ray E.

I went to REI last week to pick up a new tent. The staff was very helpful in recommending the perfect tent for me. When I got to my campsite and took the tent out, I was very to surprised to find that the tent had been previously used and returned. How did I know this? Let me tell you: When I took the tent out of the bag, it was soaking wet and covered in sand. I could immediately smell the mildew. Since I was already at the campsite, I had to use it. As I was setting up the poles, I saw that one of them had been bent. When I went to stake the tent, there were no stakes. I get that people buy and return things, but I would expect a store to check the returns to make sure they are good to be resold. When I returned the tent to REI, the staff was very sorry and offered me 20% off of my new tent. I decided to purchase a different tent as the "used" one was a little too short for me. I felt pretty good about the service I had received after I had left the store. Later that night I was looking at some more things I wanted to purchase on the website. The first thing I see on the website is a coupon for 20% off your most expensive item. So much for the customer service! Offering me something the website gave everyone! I set the new tent up in the store before I left, by the way. The tent looks great. The products REI offers are great, but the service for their members??? Hmmm. read more

I've spent probably almost $2,000 here in the last year. I went to return a shirt that I hadn't used, still had the tags on it. I had been in a hurry when I bought it, so had not put my membership number in and there was no proof of purchase. They refused to let me return my shirt, or even get store credit for it. The manager was too good to even come talk to me about. So, over a $60.00 shirt, REI has now lost thousands of dollars in future revenue, because I refuse to ever shop at one of their stores again. Apparently nobody making business decisions there has ever been to business school, and they don't care about helping their customers (or themselves out). read more

Boo! You guys suck. I went in there just the other day to purchase 2 new pairs of running shoes and some workout gloves. The gal who was checking me out had a hissy fit because I wanted to use my mom's REI membership number - even though we LIVE in the same household and have the same last name. I asked to talk to her supervisor who was a nice lady, but she also said that I should purchase my own membership even though my mom doesn't use hers and they do not give "NAME TRANSFERS." I'm sorry but give me a break... Even Costco lets people of the same household have more than one account through their membership.... And the supervisor acted as if I didn't have a choice but to buy one of their membership.. New flash, you don't have to have a membership in order to purchase items at REI. Next time I go spend $200+ on new shoes, I won't be going to your store. I'd rather support a local business in town than a greedy company which bad customer service. read more

I needed a winter coat and came here 'cause it was $170 cheaper than what it is in Canada, however, for general items, even at the CND to US comparative prices it's still expensive. Customer service is great. I've been here a few times to get stuff and so has the guy I am dating. Huge selection of stuff and they're never out of what you need. I needed a coat in a timely manner, however, save some $$$ and do some proper research. If you have a US mail box than some places will ship free of charge to your PO box. I am all about the most cost effective. read more

Just like every other REI. Lots of stuff for outside activities. You can find better deals online if you don't have to have it today. The folks in the action sports counter are really cool and helpful. Forget about getting any service in the shoe section. My wife has been looking for new hiking boots since the end of summer. Every time we go in, we leave without her being able to try any boots on. The staff doesn't even acknowledge that you are there. Nothing like "thanks for your waiting, I'll be right with you". It seems like they could call on there little radio things and ask for help. If they are overwhelmed with customers. read more

Terrible customer service today while calling to ask a question. I believe his name was joe - extremely rude.

They didn't have any auto locking pulleys for rock climbing--pretty standard fare. Great customer service, but sub-par selection.

Very difficult to find any assistance and when you do they all complain to be too busy. This location has limited choices.

Bought a pair of Vibram toe shoes from here that started falling apart after 2 months. I knew they had a 100% satisfaction guarantee so I took them in. I went up to the counter to see if I could exchange them which was a question i couldn't get across because the clerk was far to busy talking to the other cashiers about how drunk he got the night before. Apparently he was quite hungover. When I finally got it across, he snickered at me with a roll of the eyes followed by "we don't do that." So I got a refund, a 4/5th's of the price refund mind you, but I was so done with him I took it. I had spent quite a bit of money there in the past.... They lost a valuable customer that day. read more

My wife is riding in the 2016 RSVP and her bike blew a tire an hour after she'd finished the first day in Bellingham. After dinner we drove over to REI to buy a new tire plus a spare. Joey in the bike department helped us almost immediately, installed a new tire and tube on the rim we brought and we were on our way in less than half an hour. Bravo and thank you Joey! You are the reason we have been loyal REI customers for so many years!! read more

I love me some REI. Came in and found everything I was looking for with the exception of one item, which an employee was happy to dig through the stock room for. She found it! Thank you read more

Coming from Vancouver this store rocks! Much better prices and service than our MEC. Also just a wider range of selection, I always have major issues buying size 13 shoes and boots in Vancouver even though there are 100 stores they all seem to stock one pair of 13. At REI I had my pick of all the ones I was looking at. Picked up some awesome Merrel winter boots for 100 cheaper than in Canada. Love it. read more

REI is a great store. REI has plenty of choices for your outdoor and exercising needs. I was surprised when I went in to the store to find out they have bicycles and tents as well. I went in to the store hoping to find a light spring time jacket to wear at work and I found exactly what I was looking for. The prices of course are a bit on the higher end but the quality you get is high as well. Customer service is very good, not the type of service that is pushy but very helpful for sure. Membership costs in $20.00 dollars a year which comes with good benefits for returns and specials. Glad I chose REI. read more

REI is, in my opinion, totally overrated. They may have once been a great company but their products are overpriced, their customer service is mediocre, and their once-vaunted 100% satisfaction return policy is no more. It's sad to see a company go down hill but that's life. Greed and a desire to maximize profits overtake a culture that was once focused on excellence and they use up their goodwill over time. read more

Hands down the best retail customer service I've ever had. I came in on a whim after loosing the key to my Yakima ski/cargo. Immediately upon entering I was warmly greeted and directed to the right person. Jeff helped us out in no time and saved our ski trip from being an epic failure! While knowledgeable about the Yakima gear, he was incredibly kind and patient in helping with our gear issue. Thanks again, Jeff!!! read more

I've been shopping Rei member for over 20 years and have slowly seen the quality, customer service, and giving me the third degree in a rare return or exchange due to a faulty product, not neglect! In Bellingham they are the only game in town and they have the attitude that goes with it. The icing on the cake today was when I politely asked for an exhange of a new $3.00, camp spoon that I broke putting it to my mouth. Okay its just a silly camp spoon no big deal. The thing that gets me is the immediate accusation with amplified voices "Its your Fault you have misused that product!" I'm literally chuckling thinking WoW, they are really trained well for that go to line. read more

what can you say REI is one of the best places to buy outdoor gear!

Great customer service. Very informative and helpful. Garret did a great job helping me. Thanks, I'll be back!

Bad customer service. I'm a newbie to the world of REI. I have had to get most of my information on the shoes and equipment I've bought from the website which is great. Ask the sales people, not so knowledgeable. Also, yesterday they had the membership garage sale. I found some really great shoes and I was surprised that the tag said it was $10, but who was I to question it. So, I go to pay and the guy tells me its not $10, but $30. I'm wonder where the hell did he get this price from. He gives me no explanation, but tries to force sale by telling me "Its thirty dollars, do you want it or leave it? Someone else will buy it if you dont." Since I have been given no explanation and its a garage sale in the store I ask for him to reduce from $30 to $25. Then a managerial type lady, steps in grabs the shoes and says the same thing to me. Again no explanation, and she starts to take the shoes away from the counter. Now, I dont know about others but I hope this type of sales tactics on used, garage sale shoes is not the standard customer service recommended of REI employees. Then I tell them I would like to try them on again and think about it a little so I take the shoes out of her hand. I go around the corner and sit on the floor to try them one. At this point, a different sales person follows me and starts looking at me every now and then while rearranging the energy bars. This guy was watching me to see if I was going to try and steel these used shoes! They were good shoes so I bought them any way, but I will not be returning to REI. read more