If you're having an issue with your bike and take it in to REI, be prepared to be upcharged for an issue that may not even be solved. 12 days ago, I had an issue with my bike where I was hearing a clicking noise when I'd ride. I live close to the REI in Burbank, so after the ride where the clicking started getting annoying, I figured I would ride my bike in and have it assessed. I told the repair shop my issue, and after their assessment, they told me that it would be 7-10 days for a turnaround, and it would require a tune-up so they could determine what the issue is. I said sure, no worries, and they told me that the total would be around 114 dollars. I wait around a week and a half, and I receive a call saying that they might've figured out what the issue is, and that it would cost an additional 24 dollars to have it fixed. The person over the phone said that it could be due to the back wheel being slightly bent & the spokes needing to be recalibrated accordingly so it can spin true. I say sure, hoping that this would get rid of the clicking noise when I ride, and was told that it would be ready the next day. I wait until the next day and don't receive any updates. The following day, I call REI seeing where they are with my bike. They tell me that they've been backed up and that they're finalizing adjustments, and that they were going to test ride it shortly. I receive a call later that same day saying that they took it on a test ride, and they didn't hear any more clicking when they rode it, and that it'd be ready for me to pick up! I let them know that I'd be by after work to pick it up in the evening. When I head down to pick it up, I paid 136 for the tune-up, and take it outside to test ride it. As soon as I get on the bike in the parking lot, I still hear the same clicking noise that caused me to bring it in in the first place. I take it back inside and let them know that I still hear it, and one of the employees comes out with me to the parking lot to test ride it. The employee lets me know that they also still hear it, and can't figure out what is causing the noise. They take the bike back inside and put it on a bike clamp to try and adjust the kickstand / clean the gears, to try and see if that fixes anything. We take it back outside and it's still clicking. I'm told by the employee that REI will need a couple more days with my bike (after lying to me about fixing the issue). I say sure, and ask if this will cost anything extra. I'm told that since this is part of the tune-up, this would be free and they'd give it back once they fix the issue. When I'm almost back to my home, I receive a voicemail saying that they tried to catch me before I left and that they're actually unable to futher troubleshoot what is causing the sound (the whole reason I took it in). They suggest that I take it back to the bike shop where I bought it from, and having it looked at there. Extremely frustrated, I call back and ask if there's anything else they can do considering that this was the main reason I brought it in (and paid extra for the tune-up). The employee understands, and puts me on hold while they speak with the shop lead. I wait on hold for about 10 minutes, and then I'm told that they would then have to charge me hourly (around 74 dollars an hour) if I wanted to figure out what was causing this issue. The employee then proceeds to tell me that this issue is not something I should worry about considering that they just assessed and tuned my bike. I respond to the employee that I understand this may not be a severe issue, but that this was the very reason I brought it to REI and paid extra in the first place. I walk all the way back to REI to pick up my bike, and the shop lead tells me that they feel sorry for not fixing the issue, but if I come back to their repair shop after purchasing a new wheel (that would potentially fix the noise), they'd install it for free. So essentially, I got overcharged for a tune-up on a an issue that wasn't even fixed, got lied to that they fixed it, and then am told that it would cost more to fix it because they're extremely busy. I understand that their employees are understaffed and overworked and I empathize with that deeply, but the way that I was treated by their bike maintenance team was grossly unprofessional, extremely frustrating and expensive, so please think about taking your bike to a local bike shop instead if you're considering getting your bike fixed with REI. read more