Love the store. But was really irked when a young salesman kept trying to casually follow me around in the women's section. He kept pretending to organize the clothes. Then when I tried on a coat and looked in the mirror smiling, he was watching me and quickly looked away.. Kid, learn how to be more stealth. read more

I love REI. I really mean it. You know how some girls go crazy for Prada, or Gucci, or Tiffany? Not me, I'm all about outdoor gear & clothes from REI. I've bought most of my camping/hiking/backpacking gear here. Until recently, I had never been to one of their used gear sales. Those are where to find the serious bargains! While REI is great it is not cheap, so if you can find a pair of used Merrell hiking shoes for $5 at the used gear sale, you've just hit a major score. I love walking around the aisles & checking out all the cool stuff. For me a trip to REI usually lasts an hour or two. I dream of all the cool gear I could own, if only I were rich! I make mental lists of what I will get next time I can afford it. I recently finally took advantage (literally) of their generous return policy. Everything they sell (minus the used stuff) is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. That means you can use it & abuse it & then return it for a full refund. Not that I am condoning this behavior in any way. But when you find yourself with an REI brand tent with broken zippers, it is time for a new one, and why not return it for a refund? That's just what I did and besides the fact that I was a bit embarrassed to be one of THOSE people (the ones who use, abuse, & return), I got a brand new tent out of it & can't wait to try it out this weekend. read more

I am not, nor have I ever been, a true "outdoor" girl, though I am outdoors a lot now that I have two boys. Still, each time that I've been at this REI, I've found some cool things. Right now, REI is having a crazy sale on keen hiking sandals ($69 for adults and $32 or 36 for kids). We picked up a pair for each of our boys, in their respective favorite colors, and I predict that my boys are just about going to LIVE in those all summer long. In addition, they are having a 20% off sale for one full price item (I bought a water bottle in my favorite color -- pink -- all the better to dissaude the boys from stealing Mom's bottle). I"m removing one star for the crazy line. You'd think with a sale this good, they would staff accordingly! read more

Quite a different shopping experience at this location vs North Bay. But probably more related to many customers being on the newbie recreational outdoor types imprinting with the name. Was a frequent shopper of Whole Earth Access back in the day so was expecting more of the unusual REI selections vs things that can be found in the area for dramatically less. Stressing that this location is exceptionally different in products and experience than north bay! Try Sports Basement in Walnut Creek for more selection as well as knowledgeable advice from seasoned comptetive athletes and outdoors folks passionate enough to share their product experience! read more

Worst experience at an REI of my life. Couldn't get help, and I attempted quite a few times. The few staff I did see were wandering aimlessly looking like zombies. Find another location where the staff is upbeat and helpful. read more

I spend more time and money at REI Concord than I'm proud to admit. One year, I got $130 worth of dividend, and that accounted for 8% of SOME of my purchases. That was a good year for being outdoors and a bad year for my bank account. Okay, so about this store - I'm in love with it. I love the layout, and how the gear is on the first floor and all the clothes are on the second floor. Also, the staff here are very knowledgeable and approachable. These folks know their stuff. There is at least one outdoor nerd of each variety working at almost any time they're open. Need a hiking and camping nerd? Sure. How about a biking nerd? No prob - they've even got a bike shop inside. How about a running nerd? Yeah, they've got those, too. Oh, cool, you're into rafting and other water sports? Great! There are water nerds aplenty. What's that? Snow sports? Winter nerds run amuck in the store. Point is, REI will cover you. Sure, the prices are a bit on the high side sometimes. But, since it's a co-op, become a member and you get dividends every year from the company according to how much you spent (8% for credit card, 10% for cash or REI card). read more

Not like it used to be .... I used to love shopping here at the Concord REI, it is a huge store, there is something for everyone even if your just looking you will end up walking out spending money on something you have never seen. I came here on my lunch hour looking to try on a specific shoe that I was recommended, and after doing my research on-line I found that REI carried them. Well not Concord REI, the staff in the shoe department were inundated with lots of customers and only two people to help. After about 10 minutes I was asked if I needed some assistance, I talked to the sales associate gentleman for about 5 minutes and told him what shoe I was looking for and he had never heard of it, nor could he highly recommend any other shoe that offered cushion, padding and the support like New Balance shoes or Ahnu shoes. So I left frustrated and highly disappointed about my future shopping experience with REI. I know the Berkeley store is much more bigger and the staff is much more nicer and smarter. I've dropped a lot of money on camping gear, hiking gear, marathon gear and more than I have at any other store. I love the fact you get a rebate and that REI is considered to be one of the best eco-friendly stores for the environment and also teaches people about nature and various activities to sign up for. But public transportation does not really take you to REI in either Concord or Berkeley and I don't buy on-line what I have not tried on in the store. So I'd offer a tip to those looking for a specific type of product or brand that is on the REI website - call the store before making the trip seeing how expensive gas prices are and how unfriendly public transpiration is. read more

Great service. Spoke with Josh about a manufacturer problem and he used common sense and fixed the problem with no hassle. Good REI.

I was in the store to purchase a cell phone holder for my bike. The inventory showed there were 19 in the store but no one could find them. They offered to order the item and have it shipped to the store there in Concord for my pick up, which I thought was a good resolution. I verified twice with the sales person it would be delivered to the Concord store, not the home store or address of my daughter 100 miles away. I was assured it would be sent to the Concord store for my pickup. Today it was delivered to my daughter's address. I called the Concord store and was told my daughter would have to now make a trip to return it to her REI for credit and I would have to order another. This is a great inconvenience for her. I am very dissatisfied. read more

I can't speak for everyone but, I had a great experience at this REI, which is actually the first REI I've ever been to. Purchased some skis online. The next day when I went to pick them up and purchase boots, poles, and a helmet. The guy, Andy, mentioned how becoming a member would save me 10% on my purchase. So we refunded the ski purchase I made online the previous day, and purchased everything after I became a member so that I would get that 10% back. Andy was also helped me pick out boots, poles, and a helmet. I've never actually purchased skis or boots, I've already rented so, I wasn't sure what to look for and Andy really helped me out with that. I also have to give praise for the fact that they made sure the bindings on my skis were mounted and ready to go before my ski trip coming up in a couple days. At first they gave me an estimate of having them done the night before I was leaving or possibly even that morning I was planning to leave. Once I mentioned that I was trying to go on that particular day, Andy said he would personally look into it and make sure that I would have them on time. I gave them a call tonight just to check in. I cannot remember of the guy actually working on my skis but, he is awesome as well. He mentioned that he had finished up other tasks quickly just so that he could get to my skis and would give me a call when they were finished. That call came tonight and I couldn't have been happier, knowing my skis are ready for my trip. Overall, amazing experience I've had here at this location. Thanks guys. read more

Great place to shop. Awesome atmosphere. Staff is very friendly. I especially love the folks at the bike maintenance shop. All the mechanics are super helpful. I had taken an 8 hour beginning mechanic course and it gave me a great insight into my mountain bike. Since then, I ride a titanium road bike and brought it into REI at the spur of the moment to have my crankset replaced. The senior bike mechanic squeezed me into his busy schedule and performed the replacement. The cost was very minimal.....$10 I think....can you believe this?? I should do this more often. Even my great local bike shop can't compete with that. I only gave it four stars because the merchandise stock runs a little low. But you can order on their website and the delivery to your closest store is free....pick up at customer service. read more

Definitely aimed towards fit white folks. Nothing wrong with that at all... I went in to look for a pair of hiking Timberlands they said they had in store when I checked online... when I got there and inquired about the boots, they looked at me like I was smoking dope. Fudge this place. read more

Pros: This REI is pretty big with lots of good merchandise at your finger tips! I love the employees who work here... full of smiles and/or helpfulness! They have a good number of clearance racks but a bit spread out so you have to walk around the place a bit. As a member, they keep track of all your purchases with some special invites for sale events plus some discount/money back about twice a year. Essentially, this place is like a Nordstrom level quality and service but for everything active. You can return your purchase up to 6 months without tags or receipt and get a refund or exchange (assuming you are a member). Cons: Being a Nordstrom level store, the jackets and gear here are quite expensive/full-price but you definitely get what you pay for! Overall: Great store for high quality active gear! read more

I've come into this store many, many times over the years and have always found a well maintained store inside. The floor staff always seem busy working (which is good!), but are willling to help you find something when you need it. The cashiers up front have always been really sweet and friendly each time I've come. I think I've only encountered one sour cashier, and that's really saying something considering I've been coming into this store for over 10 years. The prices for many of the items aren't exactly cheap, but the quality of their products is top notch. I have items I've purchased here that are still in use 10 years later with proper care and storage. For how awesome and clean this place is I have to take off a single star because they are so expensive. I know, I know, you have to pay for quality -- I just wish they had a clearance section! I'm on a budget! Expect to spend some money if you come in here, unless you just buy a Luna bar like I did (which ended up being free with my rewards savings! Worth signing up for!). read more

I have a lot/hate relationship with REI. Love it because their selection is pretty good, the customer service is usually good and if you are a member, you get some money back every year. However, being that it's retail, there's a markup and while the customer service is good, I find that often there aren't enough REI workers on the floor to help others. I can't tell you how many times I've been left for dead in the middle of being helped so the REI worker could help someone else. Will I be back? Hell yeah, mama wants a nice, big dividend in July. read more

I love REI as a whole and their liberal return policy. I bought a lamp for cycling at night. The first time I went out on my normal 20-mile ride, I crashed within 2 miles of home because I didn't see a 1" crack in the sidewalk and my bike tire slipped right in. I flipped headfirst. Truth be told, unless it was a floodlight, I'd never have seen that crack. Nevertheless, my foray into night cycling was over. The light kit was in perfect working condition but had some cosmetic scratches from the crash. Having never returned a used item to REI, I was apprehensive. When I got to the customer service window, they asked me why I was returning the light system (with the packaging, of course). I didn't speak, I simply pointed to the gashes in my chin and my fat lip. "Good enough for me" the guy said and refunded my money without a question. Loves it. read more

I wish every store acted like this one. Every time I have gone in the staff has been so helpful. The staff is very knowledgeable about the products that they offer and are genuinely interested in making your outdoor experience enjoyable. I look forward to my next visit and getting exceptional service. read more

Here are my positives. 1. Very helpful staff, 2.Lots of variety to choose from 3.Clean & well organized Negatives. 1. Some items were out of stock. (But since it was snowboarding season, i don't blame them) 2. Small fitting rooms Overall my experience here was a very positive one. I was most impressed with the staff. Even though the lines were crazy and their were so many rude people around.. They still kept a smile on their face and gave excellent customer service. (and that's hard to do in retail during those peak months) read more

I can't really say enough about this this location. I am the General Manager at the UFC Gym here in the Willows Shopping Center and today specifically I was absolutely blown away by the customer service I received. Whoever the manager on duty was (I apologize for not getting his name) went completely above and beyond the call of duty to make sure I was taken care of. Not only did he help me but I was helping a refugee from Afghanistan and the actions of the staff today could be described as beyond humanitarian. Thank you so much and I know this young man will never forget how much you all helped him today. Respectfully. Jason Dunton General Manager UFC Gym Concord P: 925-265-8130 read more

Get your skis fitted by Darian! He was so very helpful and spent a lot of time making sure my skis and boots were perfectly fit. He did not rush me at all and actually slowed me down to emphasize the importance of a good fit. read more

came in to get water shoes with my brother. Darlene helped us and she was just so kind and helpful! brought out several options and knew a lot about the different kinds of shoes. read more

REI - Bikes Near Me - Concord, California

This is great REI, in terms of customer service. The people are really friendly, and as always, the return policy is so good, you can't think of shopping at any other retail store. My only gripe is it seems the selection of items at this location, specifically for climbing is a bit lackluster compared to other REI's, but that's not really something the employees can fix. Definitely coming back! read more

More than once I've been wandering aimlessly, trying to figure something out (kayak paddles, roof top carriers, water purification options) and the very kind folks there have been helpful and engaging without seeming artificial or pushy. I very much appreciate that. Pushy salesmen make one sale - helpful salespeople get me to patronize the place repeatedly. read more

So sad that I am writing this review. Everyone is going through this pandemic together, but when your job is customer service and you tell a customer we are to busy to deal with you, you ha e lost focus of what is important. I've been a member and past employee of REI, I've promoted the company to other people, supported its mission. REI made a stand, became political and stopped doing business with camelback as a company because they served the US military with hydration packs. A statement that means we as a company are anti-military and in turn anti-American. The men and women that serve our country might not know this, you might not know this. It was hard for me to make another purchase from REI, but according to their website they had the rack system I was looking for available for in store pick up. Unfortunately that was not the case, when I called to inquire about why, I was told one thing on the website and then another in the confirmation email, asked if the person could do a stock check for me for the item in the surrounding area stores, I was told no, I can't do that, I stated that, I myself have worked for REI and was aware of the process, I asked why she could not, she said she was too busy to. All it would have taken was a click of a mouse. Sad. I will be returning my over priced rack system, when it eventually arrives and no longer doing business with this anti-American company. I hope you do the same. read more

I just had the best customer service experience (4/7/21) I've had in a while. I wish I knew his name (I know he recently went snowshoeing near/in Soda Springs). He was so helpful, knew everything I needed to know, considered my budget the whole time, and even seemed to know a lot about surrounding areas. My experience was such a pleasure. read more

As an REI goes, it's a pretty good store. They don't have as much selection as the Berkeley REI does, but they are getting there. The boots I got for a summer backpacking trip there were great, and the customer service top notch. Now I work there, and have an insider's viewpoint of REI. It's a good place to work, and the managers are willing to work with you to get a good schedule. They understand many of us have a life outside the hours we work there, such as school and automotive pursuits in my case. What I enjoy about working here is the occasional customer who is engaging and enjoyable to work with. Too often I deal with people who are in a rush because they leave on a trip the next day when we're 30 minutes to closing, want to know where the Uggs are (we don't carry them, thank God!), or the TNF Denali Jackets, etc. Many people seem to have a gripe about the prices of equipment and clothing here. Maybe they didn't pay attention: 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Basically, when you get something from here, you have a lifetime warranty on it. Unfortunately because of that policy some think REI stands for Return Every Item Other than that, a great place to shop and work! read more

I went into the Pleasanton REI and they didn't have the shoes I wanted in my size. Luckily, they found me the shoes in Concord near where I live. When I walked in, I went to the shoes area on the second floor instead of the front. When I asked for my shoes on hold, one of the ladies informed me of mistake and fetched the shoes for me instead of making me walk to the front. I switched my shoes, wandered around the too floor, and tried put the "pile o rocks" for hiking shoes. While wandering around I was asked if I needed anything else in a nice manner even though it was close to closing time. After 15 minutes of wandering and jumping on the rocks, I switched my shoes back, did a quick run around the store and left right before they closed. read more

I'm no Sporty Spice. That said, I walk a lot, I even run some, but just so I can fit into those pesky euro-sizes that are so popular in the trendy WC shops. So, I'm not paying upwards of $40 for a running tank and another $40 for running shorts. And I have this thing about REI's clothes - I find the women's clothes to be very umm, boyish, much like Eddie Bauer. Isn't there a way to make sportswear more feminine, flirty, or even rocker?? - why not? I guess that's sportswear and I guess I'm not their target audience. It's probably cool for the more athletic/outdoorsy types though. enjoy. Probably not fair for me to rate them. read more

it's been a while since I've stepped foot into an REI!!! immediately felt welcomed by staff; open body language, sincere smiles all around. was approached in each category/area by designated staff, well played. if you are in need any sporting goods, REI is the place to go. suggest to price reference prior to purchase [saw a handful of things I got elsewhere for cheaper] got a black sleek camel back for 25% OFF [$65, $10 less then eBay & Amazon]. read more

REI - 25% OFF!!!! - Bikes Near Me - Concord, California

All I want to say is that Charles is amazing!!! Came in with my boyfriend to test out hiking backpacks and he knew EVERYTHING. Super knowledgeable and took his time to help me find the perfect backpack for me. We felt like we took a class with him on backpacks/backpacking as a whole. Give this man a raise! If you can see this, thanks again Charles, much appreciated!! read more

I'm a fan because it makes the MAN happy. This is his usual attire with the occasional cool tee shirt we bought on a trip to NYC, but that's about it. Now I do occasionally buy a nice dress shirt to wear to a function (that requires a dressier look) for the man, but what can I say they usually end up coordinated with those REI pants with the side pockets and a pair of Merre. Now what's nice is if I buy something for the MAN, or even someone else...the MAN gets points for what I've purchased! And at the end of the year with his points and any I've added he can get himself more REI stuff...oh joy.... I mean don't get me wrong it's super nice quality and durable oh yes durable. But I just wish my MAN would dress just a tad hipper, is that too much to ask? Well I guess because he likes their clothing I might as well sucumb to REI, I guess it's better than plaid shorts and black sock with white tennies (ahem...Dad...). The clerks are always helpful and don't treat you like an idiot if you have questions about gear or clothing, which is refreshing. The prices are moderate to high, but your getting quality and sometimes it's worth the extra dough. So yes I'm a fan. read more

I actually find this location to be a little better than the flagship Berkeley store, to be honest. Their women's section is 100x better, as I find the Berkeley one has mostly just coats and yoga outfits for women. It's a smaller facility (the upstairs is clothes, downstairs is more of the gear), but it still has the same stellar customer service and an even bigger parking lot, since it's in the Willows Shopping Mall. It's close to my work in Walnut Creek, so I can always shoot over here during my lunch break to pick some things up. read more

Went in with no intention to buy anything other than a jacket and walked out with lots of goodies. The staff was insanely helpful and so sweet. The lady working upstairs greeted me as I walked up and helped me with everything I needed and checked back in with helpful tips here and there. Super helpful. At the register, I was talked into a membership and had a nice chat with the guy. Overall this staff is going out of their way to be helpful and nice and it was just so awesome. Couldn't walk out without leaving a review :) read more

I ventured here with my fiance for him to pick out his Christmas gift. It was a couple days before Christmas and the store was busy and having sales of course. We were approached twice and assisted when the second person asked us if we needed help. It was a relaxing shopping experience as my fiance mulled over many Timbuk2 messanger bags (so I snuck off once to check out their exercise dvd and equipment :) ). We ended up getting a bag and it was cheaper than buying it online at the Timbuk2 website so props to REI for that. When we got up to the register we only had to wait a bit (given it was Christmas time but they have 3 people helping out) and when we were up they told us that the item was another % off for it being on clearance so major more props for that! I've been to this REI for other trips and found great selection and help. Tons of ski and snowboard merchandise and clothing upstairs. A great place to shop for your outdoor gear. read more

My wife and I spent quite a bit of time here looking for a new pair of hiking shoes. We found some that we liked, but they ended up not having the right size and called to hold a pair at the Brentwood location. The man who helped us was very nice and took a lot of time explaining different types of shoes and socks and what worked best for different feet sizes and hiking styles. If you are looking for this store, it is on the back side of the other stores in the area. You have to keep driving around the corner to get there. This is a great store for your outdoor needs; just be prepared to spend a very pretty penny on whatever you "think" you need on your adventure. The sales people like to sell you a lot of unnecessary stuff. read more

For as many times as I have been to REI I am surprised that I have not reviewed it! What do I like about REI? When you buy items, you can return it if it does not meet your expectations. Just like Costco. Know that the newer return policy is now limited to 1 year, since there had been so much abuse of the program. Join the coop, and get a 10% rebate on your purchases annually! The have free classes available. I recently attended the winter camping class. It was good. The down side? Items are a little more expensive, but hey you can return them and they are a better quality. As an avid cyclist, the bicycle department leaves me wanting. What did I learn today? Bicycle clothes are on clearance. read more

Called them last night and the guy I spoke with was EXTREMELY helpful. He was not bothered by my questions and went above an beyond to give me more options of items they had in stock when looking for a Kayak rack! I called their Customer service this morning to research coupons due to the upcoming holiday and because I was a day early they honored the discount to help me for my vacation! They are the nicest people! Highly recommended REI as a company read more

REI locations are few and far between in SoCal. Got the opportunity to visit this one in the Bay area to pick up some things. Their merchandise is vast, but it was very sparse for the particulars that I needed. The staff was very helpful and told me that a new shipment was coming next week (unfortunately, this was my only opportunity to visit this location). When checking out, the staff informed me of their $20 lifetime membership, which allows for 5% off purchases, notification of upcoming sales events, and easy return/exchange for 1 year after purchase. Great deal for anyone who frequents REI! read more

This REI seems a lot bigger than the standard locations as it's two stories. They have a pretty good selection of all of the items you'd find at any REI store. It's a little tricky to find because it's at the back of the complex, and you have to drive around the bend to get to it. Their service is really good. I came here and picked up a pair of hiking boots. The lady who was helping me seemed pretty knowledgable about the shoes and was really patient with me (I tried on 5 different pairs of shoes until I found the right one). Since it's pretty close to home, this will most likely be our to-go place for future REI visits. read more

When I spent more time outdoors in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranger, I probably spent an equal amount of time in this store asking questions. And guess what...you will get ANSWERS from knowledgeable staff who are friendly, helpful and really do know their stuff. Get the REI card and receive dividend $ at the end of year -- check out their sales and well -- it's a great place for gifts for your outdoorsy friends who have everything already. read more