A lot of parking spaces and good quality collection of sport wears and shoes. Nice customer services.

The minute I stepped into this REI, I loved it. I was looking for paddling boots that keep your feet warm and couldn't find any in the Manhattan Beach location. I walked in and saw the giant store spread before me. It was like looking out onto a field of recreational equipment, a nature lover's dream. A nice REI employee pointed me to the paddling section in the left corner of the store and I found a huge selection of paddling boots, and found one in my size. This is one of the biggest REI's I've ever seen, but I've only experienced a couple. They had a wide assortment and variety of everything, so it's a good one-stop-shop place. I had just gone to the North Face outlet prior to this visit and couldn't find anything to my liking. All the employees were nice and very helpful and even though the line was about 10 deep, it moved pretty fast with their many cashiers. read more

We were heading to the NF Outlet, but it wasn't open yet so we thought we would kill a bit of time in the REI "toy" store. Browsed the clothing aisles, the bike aisles - found a very nice carbon fiber bike there that I would love to have, if anyone has a spare $800, then to the camping area - I like the new dri-down sleeping bags. The had a few clearance aisles filled with winter gear and some killer deals on snowboard gear! In the end we didn't purchase anything, but it was fun to window shop. Can't really comment on customer service as we didn't really run into anyone and they didn't really offer any help. Prices are always decent at REI and I love their refund policy, especially as a member! read more

Yes Yelp, I know I've checked in a bunch times. Okay, okay, I'll review it. What's not to love about REI? Most recently I needed to gear up for an 8 mile, 1900 vertical ft hike in the pouring rain (coastal trail in Marin - no coverage at all). I actually went online to research options beforehand so that I knew what I wanted when I got there. Except I was still wavering - poncho or rain jacket and hat? So I stood in the raingear aisle looking at hats and gaters and ponchos and trying them on (yes even the ponchos) and looking at all the things available to me to keep the rain off. Nobody cared. I could have geared myself up head to toe and walked around and that would have been cool with them. Ultimately I decided to get a great jacket that I had seen online but which I didn't think they had in store but they did - on sale for 1/2 off the original price...yay! I also went with a great $5 poncho as a backup. And finally, the piece de resistance: the Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero. This turned out to be my favorite purchase and I'm now in love with this hat. Not only did it brilliantly keep the rain off me, but when we had breaks in the rain, it kept my sweat out of my face because of the sweatband. Super lightweight too. Anyway, my last concern was covering my pack (2 bottle fanny pak with lunch inside etc.) if I didn't wear the poncho. When I asked an employee his advice, he said - cover it with a trashbag! Ponchos are great around the campfire, but not that fun to hike in. Simple, easy, smart. And guess what? I did use the poncho as well, to sit on the ground when we stopped for lunch. Hallelujah. Anyway, every time I've been to this REI over the last 20-ish years, they've been great. Love it here and never hesitate to come back. read more

Wow, we love this location because of the helpful staff and inventory - but we had an incredible experience with Fry who helped us with backpacks. He took the time to size us, recommend packs and give us helpful tips. Stellar experience! Thanks so much, your staff have all been wonderful when we come in. read more

Finally wore out my Merrell's... after 8 years. Let's see how long these new Tevas last, on sale for $80. This REI is pretty much like most I've been in, if not just a wee bit smaller and dingier - but it's just showing its age. Also, it appears that a couple of children had been running amok in the kids' shoe section, and there was detritus everywhere - not the store's fault, obviously - this is just a gentle dig at parents that don't look after their own kids. Anyway, the staff here was friendly, attentive and prompt. I was done so quickly I thought about looking around a bit more, just to get my dose of REI-ness. read more

I really love this particular REI. I think overall it is the best one in the Bay Area, and I've been to just about all of them (except for Concord and Corte Madera). I believe this one is the largest and it seems to have the most complete selection of clothing and equipment for snow sports, water sports, hiking/camping, and cycling. I'm a little bit biased since hiking and cycling are my things, but the Berkeley REI seems to have the best selections during clearances and member-only sales. This one is very popular, so during sales, there can be some really long lines. read more

REI - Bikes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had extremely mediocre customer service and the reason I am posting this is to hopefully allow space for better customer service for future customers like me. The woman at the counter when I had a return (first time at this store) immediately mentioned that I did something wrong by bringing my exchange to that specific counter (No signage posted anywhere about this, or signage needs work) and was made me feel like a chore... I also purchase over $100 in items as well and she just wanted me out of there. I understand it is the holidays but I think something is fundamentally wrong w the store if employees are burnt out and lackluster. I know that all it takes is a smile to make someone's day. read more

I think everyone that loves the outdoors can agree REI's awesome. The store is great for finding almost any type of gear for outdoor activities. The Berkeley store is located on a pretty busy corner (between San Pablo and Gilman) and in a plaza with a Chipotle... so parking can be somewhat scarce at times. Although you can probably find most of the stuff online for a fraction of the price, REI's return policy is hard to beat. It used to be that they would take back anything, anytime pretty much regardless of the reason. They recently changed their policy to 1 year, unless the item is defective. Still a pretty good policy if you ask me. I often like to browse the clearance section as they have some pretty good stuff there. My last trip, the sales associate mentioned there was a used shoe sale going on.. I'm not sure how long that will last, but if you're in the market for some cheaper used shoes, you should check that out. If you're new to the store, sign up for $20 membership and get 10% cash back on all purchases at the end of the year. This is definitely worth it, especially if you're buying a big ticket item, like a bike. You're basically saving on the sales tax. read more

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We put REI's return policy to the test. Some hiking boots was definitely too stiff and hurt. So we picked entirely different hiking boots and returned the previous set. Granted, the hiking boots being returned were purchased recently and were not worn very much. The staff handled things in a respectful, courteous, and expeditious manner. Buy with confidence at REI! Recommended! read more

I walked in here an hour before close to try on some backpacks with my mask on. I have compassion with my rating b/c I came in on the clutch with no research and it's COVID. However, I was stopped by a woman at the front talking to another customer who made me wait for 5 minutes until their conversation is over. No one else was in line. She asked me what I wanted: a backpacking backpack. She told me there were two types: one for travel with laptops and the other for backpacking trips. I told her twice I am going on a couple days backpacking trip through the jungles of Mexico tomorrow. So I want a backpacking backpack. She finally let me in the store. I went to find an older gentleman to help me with backpacks. He kinda half helped me then put all his attention on a father and his daughter. It got to the point where I was asking strangers what they thought. Most probable cause: understaffed. I walked to the sleeping backs and an older woman helped me. She was more helpful, but it was already 5:38 p.m. she said I needed a medium and not a large pack. I eventually left, returned the backpack, thanked the older gentleman and walked away despite being willing and able to drop $500 on all this. I didn't go full Karen because again I know it's the year of COVID. I had bought $170 hiking boots in Fresno, CA on my super socially distanced camping in King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks a few days before this. I was in and out of that store in 20 minutes. I wore this into the store in question that day because they give me height and show I've been here before. I cleaned them with disinfectant cloth to remove any dirt before going in. I realized it's both too much pressure and I'm not getting helped. I did buy a backpacking backpack in Seattle's REI HQ over two years ago. I was hooked up. Now since this is Berkeley and you are all known for your progressiveness I am going to turn this review up a notch: The intersection of racism and the environment is very much alive in the USA. This is coming from an ethnic minority born and raised in Seattle that travelled to 48 US states during the Trump administration. I've visited over 30 of our 62 National Parks. Our smallest and newest national park in St. Louis, Missouri, the Gateway Arch National Park, literally has a infographic pictured saying the US government broke over 400 treaties with Native Americans. 1. President Andrew Jackson's Trail of Tears in 1830. 2 Native Americans being forced onto reservations and told they can no longer hunt in their lands while white men could. 3. Virtually all lynchings being taken place in the woods and slaves running through the woods to escape plantations. It's pretty well ingrained in African-American consciousness but it manifests as something seemingly innocuous as, "Black people don't go outdoors." 4. Chinese building our railroads and risking their lives in our mines. They were the first race to get an all out immigration ban with the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. 5. Segregation and redlining practices. 6. Advertising in Bass Pro Shop, Cabela's, REI, etc. the most minority you see is that light skinned African-American man on the Mountain House dehydrated food packs. Otherwise, it's all a bunch of white dudes in camp holding some sort of weapon in nature. 7. Etc. It's pretty clear who the environment is geared towards in the USA... I can also say I've received the Evil Eye many times in our national parks, but no violence has come from it. It's more subtle like a ranger not being so willing to help you or an old man at the desk constantly saying things are illegal and you realizing the subtext is probably talking about my legal status in the USA (this was in Arizona...). One guy in Yellowstone National Park called me "boy." I asked where he was from and he said the South. I smiled and said good luck. Then I noticed him having a deep talk with his son probably about not being ashamed of being from the South. And experienced at REI's in over 15 states have not all been clean cut either. Ohio was where I probably got the worst customer service. read more

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I bought a brand new bike a couple months ago and I really want to credit the REI Bike Shop for all the hard work they've put in. I had an unfortunate incident with the derailleur soon after getting it, and luckily the bike shop fixed it for me. They were even kind enough to install a different size derailleur, ensuring that my bike was unrideable. This was a real boon to me because not only did I learn all about the derailleur system, I also learned how to index the gears myself and how to spot a chain that is all of a sudden too short to change gears, but that's REI! They always have my best interests in mind. So I went back to the bike shop, foolishly thinking they had made a mistake, not realizing the level of 4D chess they were playing in order to fulfill my destiny of being a self-sufficient bike mechanic. After 2 visits, the Problem was solved. Derailleur works. Chain works. Gears work. Everything is going okay, but one day I take a bit of a tumble and I need my wheels aligned. Luckily it's nothing too crazy and REI is supposed to give new bikes one free year of adjustments. I take it in and get a call back the next day saying that the wheel needs to be replaced (sad, but understandable), and that the cassette and chain are also worn down and need to be replaced. You might be thinking that I certainly have a lot of problems with this bike given that I have only owned it for a few months, but what you haven't considered is that REI cares about its customers so much, they will purposely break all your stuff just so you know how to put it back together. Josh, the Bike Mechanic, was kind enough to explain to me that because I am a large man (6'5", 220 lb), my XXL size bike is going to completely break down every few hundred miles I ride it and there is nothing I can do about it. He was also kind enough to tell me that nothing is under warranty and honestly, thank God! I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to give 10% of my salary to charity! Now, what Josh was really trying to do for me was to get me to research how long drivetrains are actually supposed to last (thousands of miles), which means that when it completely falls apart again (every 200 miles), I will already know what to do. I now have more bike knowledge and bike tools than REI themselves, and really, I think that might be the point of this whole game they are trying to play because when I went in to pick up my bike the next day, it was an I SPY of "What's Wrong With This Machine?" Now, Josh must have known that I was a bit of a n00b, and so he was kind enough to replace my nice new bike seat with a small, rock hard version perfect for working on those butt callouses I'll need to be a real biker! And he did it all without even telling me- he's a real sweetheart He was also kind enough not to include the nut or cap on the inner tube he installed because he knew (I don't know how, but he did!) I had some extras lying around. He was also kind enough not to actually align my wheel, which is fortunate because my wheel truing skills have only been gathering dust (Thanks Bud!). Lucky for me, no one knew why my saddle and seat post had been replaced, or why the price tag was shoved so far into my bike frame, I thought it had been given a prostate exam. Double lucky that no one could find my old saddle either and TRIPLE LUCKY that Josh was now on vacation for 10 days and no one could reach him. Have I mentioned that I'm preparing for a bike tour down the coast? It is just like REI to do their best to prepare me for my trip by making me face difficult circumstances when I least expect them and giving me a quick lesson in always being prepared. I talked to the Bike Shop Manager, Andy who promised me he would give me a gift card to compensate me for LITERALLY LOSING PIECES OF MY BIKE. I didn't really want a gift card. What I foolishly wanted was a place to do all the dirty work for me. I have since been cured of such delusions and now see the beautiful, musty light that is Recreational Equipment Inc. REI, I salute you for making me into the strong, independent man I am today. Had you actually fixed my bike in any way, shape or form, I would have only had a bike. But you taught me how to fish. If I could give you more stars I would. Still waiting on that gift card. read more

This store is where I became an REI member two years ago. I used to think REI was expensive, but you can get really good deals there: 1. member dividend (around 10% back for full priced items) 2. order online through fatwallet.com and get 3% cashback 3. use the REI Visa and get 5% cashback on every purchase (sale or full price) 4. used gear sales and year-end clearance sales (really great deals there) Fake deals: the clearance bin when you first walk in. Have yet to find anything good there. Note on the Bike shop: The hubby thought the mechanic was condescending and rude. Props: Great return policy. read more

I was in a bit of a rush when I came in here looking for a snowboard bag, but I waited a while and was able to grab a worker who was knowledgeable in winter sports gear. He answered my questions about the bag and I was able to get out quickly. The bag was a bit pricey, but luckily it was on sale for $50 (which is the price I would have paid for it normally). Apparently there is a lifetime membership fee of $20 that gives you discounts on new items and lift tickets. I opted not to get it this time around because discounted items do not gain additional discounts. read more

I rarely go here. In fact this was my first time coming here to really shop because I have a trip to Iceland coming up and my sis and I did not know what to lack for our upcoming adventure! We came in an was immediately greeted by 2 super friendly REI folks. One of them then introduced us to a another REI Rep who spent a good 2 hours helping us figure out what to pack...and we are talking about different layers of clothing a to wear in a super freezing country! He was super patient and was very knowledgeable. Whatever the store didn't have he would track down other nearby REI stores to find what we were looking for and I'm sure he's made probably a dozen phone calls for us! We later on needed boots and was helped out by another person, and a different person over by backpacks. Overall I find the people at REI to be very pro active, enthusiastic and friendly and of course knowledgeable. I had a wonderful experience at REI...I must have spent a total of 4 hours there in a day (2 trips). Thanks REI! read more

My three cents: prices have been rising steadily for years, as our wages have stagnated and economic divisions have widened. This probably explains why a store that used to be a fun splurge for a quality item is now more of an anxious hunt for a defensible overinvestment. On my visit this week, in search of a good flannel shirt for my SO, this sense of oligarchy rising was amplified by the slow trolling through the store of a uniformed, expressionless security guard. She lingered nearby as I dug for sizes, reminding me of how lousy it must be to be a POC in almost any fancy store. Doesn't happen to me very often. Later, I saw her patrolling outside the Walgreen's, so she's probably been retained by the entire strip mall. What a buzzkill. Really, REI, do you really need a guard? You have a bazillion cheery workers to keep an eye out. If the homeless need your stuff, donate it it quietly to the needy. Seems a new low. read more

Nice selection of sports gear. Sports gear is a little pricey. I'll check back when I'm looking for something other than a jacket. read more

Great choices for outdoor gear. Service people are generally helpful but rushed. Don't expect to get the help you might want or need. I recently bought a bicycle there and even though I spent $600 which may not be a a lot to bike aficionados it was a lot for me. I was transferred from one person to another, I think I was forced to interact with 5 or 6 people, as they went off to serve others or didn't have the information I needed. I appreciated that there were some who could answer my questions and got good advice. Afterwards I went to Blue Heron bikes and got great, patient service with a knowledgeable salesperson. REI has a great policy for servicing a new bike. In all, I got a bike which I like but paid a huge, unfortunate emotional price and unnecessary time in it's purchase. read more

TL;DR huge store, lots of variety of everything I went to REI on the lookout for climbing shoes. I was hoping to score some at their Garage Sale, but they were all used, and no return policy. Not wanting to take the risk, I went into the store hoping to grab a pair. I found the climbing shoe area towards the right back from the entrance. It was a Saturday, and there were so many people! I had trouble finding a staff member to help with finding a pair of shoes. The first associate I tried to ask gave me the stink eye, but luckily another friendly associate swooped in. She was very friendly and gave a lot of helpful advice on how to find a good climbing shoe. In the middle of this, however, she had to go on her lunch break and left us with another sales associate who ignored us for a good five minutes. I ended up not getting a pair of shoes because I was uncertain about what to get. I'm sure on other less busy days, things are calmer, and the associates are nicer! They have a parking lot, but a spot is hard to find because there are so many people! read more

Walked in yesterday trying to get some help with a purchase and was ignored by the staff there. They dont seem to want to help customers who are not white. Won't be spending my money there in the future.Do better, REI. read more

Every time I go back, I love this place more. Good service, good selection, good sale section, great biking resource... I can't complain. Sure, their prices are sometimes not the best bargain you can find. But since I became an REI member ($20 for the lifetime) I was willing to forgo some of that for the location (REI is 2 minutes away from my place), store hours (open 'til 9 most days), and the fact you can shop at REI-outlet.com and have free shipping to the store. Also, they'll let you return anything, anytime, *in any condition* without receipt. From time to time, you can also find coupons online, and scope out their used gear sale which occurs a few times a year. And the 10% back for all members at the end of the year is pretty awesome too. read more

Decades of shopping here, with knowledgeable help and customer service, led me to think this would be the first place to go to get bike shoes to replace my old ones coming apart. Big mistake. I thought I would walk in, look at shoes on display, speak with a salesperson, have them get a couple of very average size 10.5-11, modestly priced men's shoes for me to try on, I'd sit, try them on, buy the pair that fit, and walk out. (BTW, this is exactly what happened at Encina Bike Center in Walnut Creek today. Helpful guy asked my size, brought out two pairs of 10.5 and 11 shoes at a little over a $100, I tried them on, and in 15 minutes walked out wearing the new shoes and was on my bike in an hour.) Not at REI. One very hassled person in the bike department trying to deal with five customers, finally gets to me, tells me they have no bike shoes in stock (despite a display of maybe a dozen on the wall), I'll have to--get this--go online to their website, order what I want--sight unseen, mind you--figure out the size I want by converting European sizes to American sizes since they are only listed in European sizes on their website, pay for them in advance through a pending charge that will hang out against my bank balance until they arrive in 2 weeks at the store, at which point I then will have to go BACK to the store, pick them up, try them on, and guess what, if they don't fit, I have to repeat the process all over again. Incredulous, I call Mike's Bikes downtown, get some "dude" on the phone there who tells me, after I described this insane process, "Oh yeah, that's pretty normal." Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining. Stupid me, I go over to customer service, actually order two pairs in different sizes (while having to go online with my own phone at their customer service desk to figure out what European sizes I should order because of course no one in the store has any clue or expertise around Euro/US conversions, no less the hapless computer tapper behind the customer service desk who doesn't even work in the bike dept.). I then get a $220 charge against my account for two weeks, but after a day, I'm thinking "F**** this" but then find out, guess what, you cannot cancel an online order with REI. You have to wait for the item to be delivered to the store for two weeks, and then "return it" before they will remove the pending the charge. Seriously? You can only order them online, pay for them in advance and then cannot cancel it? Given no choice, I show up two weeks later like an idiot of course to pick them up. Customer service person won't let me walk with them over to sit down and try them on--"I can't let you go there" (see above reviews about their paranoia around shoplifting at this location evidently and add my experience to the pile)--but of course there's nowhere to sit down by customer service to try them on out of the box, not a chair, not a bench, so they literally LET ME SIT DOWN ON THE FLOOR and try these shoes on. Yup, three "customer service" people watched a 63-year-old man sit on the floor, while apologizing lamely that "they" took the bench away. This is what REI has come to. They shift the cost of carrying an inventory to the customer, provide no assistance, not even a bench to sit on, and when neither pair of them fit (of course), they have the audacity to tell me I can order other sizes, wait another two to three weeks and THEN get peeved at ME when I express my enormous frustration at all of this, ending with customer service dude yelling at me across the store as I walk out "it's not our fault the shoes are in the middle of the ocean." So that's the excuse, supply chain? So how come literally from REI, I drive to Encina in Walnut Creek--not a big store, a small locally owned bike shop recommended to me highly by friends--and this little operation has an inventory of shoes for me to see and try on right there, they have knowledgeable salespeople to talk to about other equipment, and in fifteen minutes, I'm wearing a pair of standard issue size 10.5 American shoes from Specialized. It's not "supply chain." It's ZERO awareness or care concerning the customer's experience, needs or convenience. Why the hell would I ever go back if their retail philosophy is simply "order it online blind on your own with no assistance and when you come pick it up, figure it out yourself?" What's the purpose of the store? Or the staff? There's a hundred websites I could do that from. Why should I ever patronize REI ever again? They've given me NO reason to. So I won't. I wish them luck with this business model. My guess is there will be a 5-story condo-retail development in this location within a few years, after they either go out of business or close this store, as has happened all across Berkeley. Sad. read more

Terrible customer service. My dad needed quick help adjusting his brakes, probably a 10 minute job, the store was completely empty, they were not even working but they refused to help without an appointment. Lost a customer for sure. read more

On Halloween night, I attended the "Zombie Preparedness - Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse" course, which REI presents annually as a free public service. I was initially concerned that it might be a painfully unfunny class. However, from the moment veteran zombie instructor Julian Geritz crawled out, continuing on through the classroom mini-invasion by bloodied and freshly-dead zombies (who looked suspiciously like a few of the REI employees I had passed on the way in), and until the final detailed PowerPoint slide, I was enthralled. It was invaluable being able to get hands-on with the many REI products recommended for the apocalypse. Be aware though that Julian is very opinionated, so this course is not for everyone. For example, he is explicitly anti-firearms (due to concerns about noise attracting unwanted attention from the reanimated dead) and recommends instead the old school close-quarter combat use of the well-balanced Schrade Kukri Machete ($44.95 at REI). When this course comes up again, I recommend that you sign up for it while you still can before this type of important knowledge becomes illegal. read more

I bought the SUUNTO CORE all black (awesome watch) a little over a year ago on my birthday to be exact and I became a member to save 10% off all of my purchases. Which is Saweet! They also keep all your receipts on file a HUGE plus! My watch band broke recently and even though it was 3 months over the year warranty they replaced it with a brand NEW WATCH with no questions. Asked. And it was just the band that was faulty. Now the bezel and front glass definitely had share of wear and tear over the year, scratches and nicks but the watch still ran perfectly. Nathan at the customer service desk was friendly and helpful and excited to help me. If you're not a member at REI yet and you do a lot of outdoor activities and buy a lot of gear I highly suggest you becoming a member not only do you get 10% dividends back every year off of everything you purchase but the customer service and the warranties are exceptional. read more

REI - Bikes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Will shop here for now on! Sports Authority=Crap Foot Locker=Crap Big 5=Crap Most every type of athletic shoe imaginable! The staff, very helpful too! read more

This REI is my favorite location - they have great used gear sales, great seasonal sales and I have been very happy to be a member for the past 15 years or so because of the excellent return policy, friendly and helpful staff and quality merchandise. In case you were wondering about my outfit - yes - I bought these things at REI and I'm ready to go out to the woods now. Or work. Do I have to wear different things for those two places? read more

Ah, REI. If I am a sporty and rich person, I'll be here everyday. Would love to buy me and hubs new bikes from this place since they seem to have good selections, or maybe a complete camping equipments from tents to mats or cooking things. Since all I can do is hope and window shop for these items, I settled to buy small lawn chairs for me and the hubs. They were awesome and reasonably priced. will come back for more window shopping and hopefully that new bike! read more

I wanted to buy a specific item. I looked on their website and decided to come into the brick and mortar store to purchase it. Walked in and was greeted by someone at the front door. Said he'll have someone come over to the display case. Within a minute I was assisted. He knew the product in question and with that I had in hand what I'd come for. Then my family and I headed for the clearance rounders. We didn't buy any clothing as we thought it still pricey. The signs should say "sale" versus "clearance". Clearance to me means almost giving it away versus sale which means marked down. Hubby has been a member for so many years that his membership was grandfathered. No annual membership fee due. REI has a yearly ten percent rebate based on your total spent. It's great if you purchase big ticket items. read more

Who does not love REI? Yes, expensive, but their stuff is top notch quality and their membership really can't be beat if you're an outdoorsy, adventurous person. Their community room had a "garage sale" during our visit that consisted of used items that were marked down, full with descriptions of defects if any. It was nice to browse around the store and see a bunch of goodies for summertime coming up! :) read more

Really frustrating experience trying to get ski boots here. Danny didn't seem to understand that there's different ski boots for different calf volumes. And didnt know at least one of the boots they carried had adjustments for calf volume. I walked out before wasting $500 on boots since I didn't really feel comfortable taking his suggestions. Called the manager after to let her know but she kept making the same arguments as him and didnt seem to want to accept the criticism ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I got a zipcar just to get out there and burned an hour. Just go to california ski company down the street. read more

Went in 2 weeks ago to purchase indoor cycling shoes because I trust REI for their service and selection. I found this REI lacking in both. I regret traveling out of my way and will instead visit other stores like the Emeryville Decathlon. read more

Occasionally I will come across a business that I've been patronizing for nearly 40 years and will be surprised I've never reviewed it. So fitting that REI will be review #900. I've probably bought at least 10 backpacks here over the years, 12 pairs of hiking books, 12 pairs of shoes, dozens of socks, numerous hats, other stuff like gloves, hats, caps and even a neck gaiter. I'd buy clothing if they carried larger sizes. One of amazing things if you're a member is they have a great return policy (even if items are worn) in that you don't even need your receipt- they have a record of your purchases. Their stuff can be in the expensive side but they do have sales and if you're a member you get one or two coupons per year plus a dividend on your previous year's purchases. And as previously mentioned they stand behind their products. You can rent things like tents and even take classes there. And it's a coop. read more

They didn't let me in because I had my dog with me. I go with my dog everywhere - never had any issues. Didn't expect from this company to have so conservatives views. Went to Sport Basement where I was able to shop with my furry friend. read more

Ordered two ski bags to compare -- on line, ship to store. When I picked up the second bag, a clerk told me the first (on the same order) had been returned already! [Why not hold item 1 of 2 for the other to arrive?] When I phoned weeks later looking for the credit (on the first), was told my bag had been picked up. When I protested HAD NOT, then after a 12 minute hold, was told the item is actually in the store awaiting pickup! [We don't know where we store stuff, or even update the computer?] ** Get your process together, please. ** With Sports Basement across town and Amazon customer service, you're not long to survive with this vibe. read more

I'm done with REI. I've been a member for 22 years. They are lacking decent customer service and their prices are too much. I can't get what I want from them because they are too stupid or too lazy to help me. Plus they stopped selling certain brands because of their affiliation with gun manufacturers. They need to stay out politics and sell stuff people need. From now on I go there to check out gear I want to buy and then I will buy the gear from Amazon. read more

This review is for the bike shop. I recently had a bolt snap that holds my saddle to the seat post on my Cannondale CAAD13. I brought the issue up to the counter and was greeted by Astrid and Art (Arthur). Art is clearly an old school mechanic (i.e. a good one) and he explained to me what the usual corporate response is. Something like "we can't replace a part of a part... everything is proprietary.. blah blah. We don't carry individual replacement bolts." Basically, they are rewarded by companies for forcing costumers to replace an entire carbon fiber seatpost ($100-$300) instead of simply providing a $2 replacement bolt. But, Art smiled, rifled through a draw and found an old bolt. The washer wasn't quite the right size to seat properly against the clamp, so he proceeded to file it down to the proper size and handed it over to me. Charged $5 and saved me a bunch of money and hassle after trying to deal with corporate Cannondale prior to coming in. Thanks so much, Art. You're the man. read more

I went into REI for the first time to shop for bicycle pedals and shoes. Looked like the store had a decend selection. Since I assume the products I needed where in the back room and they only had sales samples on the wall. Two sales people helping a customer with a purchase so I waited. I waited longer I actually waited 45 miniutes for one of the sales persons to walk out from the back room where they where having a conversation. I would rate the customer service if I had any contact with them, but it seems their conversation was much more interesting than working. I left. I really dont see a need to return to REI. Wouldnt want to interrupt a good conversation now would i? read more

Art at the bike shop provided me a great lesson on how to properly maintain my new tubeless tires. Really thankful for the help. Wonderful experience as always at REI! read more

It used to be such a good, reputable store. However, my last shopping experience was horrible: on Friday, July 16, 2021 I've bought "Windproof, breatheable" jacket for 131.00. On the checkout, I was harassed by the cashier who persisted on getting my personal info (phone number). When I refused, he became rude. I tried the "breatheable, windproof" jacket at home, zipped it up, and lounged in front of my desktop; after 5 minutes, I could hardly take a breath. I happily took it off. When I was returning this defective item to REI store in Berkeley today, July 20, 2021, the store customer service employer tried to withhold the full refund from me; however, I convinced her to give me the full refund. I am out of this REI Berkeley store for now, since it turned into junk store. I advise all good people to stay away from REI Berkeley, unless they clean their act, and become, once again, a nice and friendly store. read more