I've been getting stuff from REI since I was very young when they were a mail-order, hard-core outdoors equipment store. No other place had the selection and quality. REI has a different focus now, but it's still a co-op, I think, and they still have very good gear, but some of it is ridiculously over-priced junk to subsidize their stores read more

The staff was nice and they'd try their best to accommodate you. My husband and I were looking for some winter gears for our trip to NYC and the staff members were very nice and helpful which we really appreciated given that we were running around trying to finish the errands. Too bad I couldn't find a coat my size (M) that was on sale. Pretty great deal though if you were a size XS or XL since I saw a bunch of those on the SALE racks. Nothing in Medium, but again appreciated the help by the team! My husband and myself were able to get some decent warm socks so we were happy about that! read more

This place is impressive for the active person. If you belong to a meet-up group or just like to trek locally or afar a bit, this place has so many great items. My gf mentioned the other day that men have it so lucky when outdoors to relieve themselves without getting undressed. REI and their knowledgeable staff lead me to some products that are for women that need that extra hand while hiking. (Trying to be delicate.) Anyway, product is purchased and it works fine. Be sure to look at all the features closely. Some are disposable, some are compact or mini. But some look like they would be iffy. I recommend you get skills at home so you can use it on the trail. They have something there for everyone. It is a bit pricey there. read more

This review is for the bike shop. The store itself is an REI. Nothing great, not horrible. The bike shop is probably the worst I've ever been to. And I worked in bike shops for about 10 years. I went in to have my tires set up tubeless on my mountain bike, and asked if they could replace the pads in my front brake. I had the new pads. It cost me $235 for the whole purchase, which was fine, they were new tires. The tires had been marked down and they initially tried to charge me the full price for them, and I always take note when businesses try to do that, because that's a lack of attention to detail, and a shady business practice. But the real bummer was they put the new pads in my rear brake. So the front brake still sounded like poop (which is why I bought new pads for it) and the rear brake, which I didn't have any issue with now had new pads. I asked them why they did this and they said the front brake still had some life on it. So I pushed the bike about 10 feet and grabbed the front brake and it sounded like heck still, so they put new pads on the front. Cool, but as I walked the bike home I noticed the bike had some resistance to it. Both new pads were dragging on the rotors. And not just a little. So I took it back, and the guy bleed my brakes a bit, and he really tried, I'll give him that, as these brakes are finicky as heck (they are SRAM), and I left with them a little better, but they pretty quickly snugged up again. I went for one ride, the rear brake drags pretty bad, and consequently sounds like poop too now. The REAR FREAKING BRAKE THAT HAD NO ISSUE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. So no, I don't recommend these folks. We also took my girlfriends bike in for a tune up and I'm pretty sure they wiped the bike down and gave it back to us. It had all the shifting issues it had when we brought it in, and they did address it when we brought it back, but come on. There's no integrity with these folks. DO THE JOB RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND NOT WHEN SOMEONE CALLS YOU OUT ON THE SHIT JOB YOU'VE DONE. read more

They didn't laugh at me when I, at nine months pregnant had the genius idea to sit in a chair that had no arms, and was waaay too low to the ground, and got stuck. Seriously, what was I thinking. Instead, as I struggled to get up in a not so graceful manner, one of the sales associates walked by and asked if I needed a hand. Hanging my head in shame, and silently cursing myself, I muttered "yes." Not sure if this type of thing happens all the time at REI, but he handled it well. 5 stars for not making me feel like an idiot. read more

REI - The culprit chair. Not recommended for pregnant women!! - Bikes Near Me - Corte Madera, California

Now that REI has an Outdoor School, I can learn how to use all their gear and have fun while I'm at it! Brad and Jean are the best instructors for the introductory mountain biking class. They designed creative drills to build your confidence for bunny hopping over logs and maneuvering through tight switchback turns on flat terrain in the parking lot during the morning. After practicing these drills, you get a chance to apply your newfound skills on the trails in the afternoon. The trail in China Camp from the Corte Madera store is relatively flat without any major hills for climbing. However, it still has its share of nooks and twigs on the dirt trail to provide some obstacles for a challenging 8 mile ride through the woods. It's a gorgeous trail site near the water with some wild life, such as deers, jack rabbits, and wild turkeys. The class from 9am to 3pm is $35 for members and it includes free Novarro bike rentals. It's totally worth $15 for a lifetime membership at REI because you're bound to buy stuff there and get dividends back on your investment in gear. Moreover, the quality of their gear is great. The bikes we used had very responsive disc brakes and Shimano deore components, such as the derailers. They also offered a selection of bikes designed for women. After taking the class, you'll learn how to prepare for a safe bike trail trip, adjust your bike, and ride it properly and effectively. I realized how many bad habits I had to correct after taking the class. There is always something you can learn from the guides and the other participants. I was surprised that I didn't bruise myself at all and they helped rebuild the confidence I needed to get back into mountain biking after falling sideways and forwards two months ago. Brad will get off his bike and make sure you don't fall by trying to catch you on the tight turns. As I said, the guides are educational, patient and super supportive. Let's not forget how fun and awesome they are! Best of all, we were good and time allowed the class to treat themselves to a scenic drive of Marin. This included passing by some historical sculpture landmarks near Lucky and Fifer Drive as well as homes of George Lucas and Sean Penn. Best of all, we made a pit stop at Fairfax Scoop for fresh homemade ice cream! This was a great idea for a class and the perfect way to end it on a sweet note. read more

Amazing support with the bike crew REI is wonderful Jensen and Robert get total props What amazing customer service Thank you Jessica and Daniel read more

Recently I was looking at Hoka's online and decided to wait for the recent 20% off sale. Prior to the sale there was a fair amount of Hoka's to choose from and during the sale there was I believe 2. Now that the sale is over there is a fair amount of Hoka's to choose from again. What's up REI did you take the Hoka's off of your site so no one could buy them at 20%? read more

The impression I got from my visit this past weekend was that you can't browse in this store. You need to know what you want, get in and get out. Totally understand everyone is doing their best during Covid but the lady upstairs in shoes was so rude to me when I said I was just looking. They didn't have what I needed so I went to the Nordstrom that's 2 mins away and had a totally normal and safe experience. read more

Today 8/6/17 I just had a duplicate experience that I had last time. Only 2 associates helping 17 people in the shoe area. No Service, I'm outta here. So disappointing. The leadership at this location better wake up, they are losing sales. Great product but not staffed to give service. We needed two pair of hiking shoes, $150 each. Unfortunately they had 1 sales associate trying to serve 7 customers which led to no service. We got frustrated and left. There's other places to buy our shoes that will give service in exchange for my money. Can't recommend this location. read more

I would like to give a 5 STAR shout out to Colton and Ryan who helped me out today with my purchase of a canoe. (4 stars to the store as they have a rather cold system of "letting you in" due to the current situation). Not only did these guys bring it out to my car, but they took off the yards and yards of plastic, tape and bubble wrap and discarded it on site so I didn't have to take it home. Then they hoisted it up on to my car and made sure everything was set just right before I headed out. Nice young gentlemen. I wish REI had a "contact" link so I could give these guys kudos to their store manager but not even the main REI site has a "contact" link. Very odd, IMO. read more

I walked in to REI the other day with my small dog. A man at the register asked me, Is this a therapy dog? I said no. He then told me, well then your dog should not be in the store. I explained that I've been bringing my dog in your store for 10 years! His voice got louder trying to say something about some law and food being in the store. I was beginning to get embarrassed as everyone in line was watching. He kept going on and on. I felt humiliated and shamed. So I left. And I will never ever return. They just lost a very VERY good and loyal customer!!! Almost every store I go in to I bring my dog. Even Cost Plus, which has lots of food in there, too. I had heard from others that they felt REI was starting to feel like a snobby store. I see what they mean. You can be sure that I will be telling all of my friends and neighbors about how wrong I was treated. read more

Nothing but good things to say about the R.E.I. in Corte Madera. First my girlfriend bought her first hiking/backpacking boots there. Then I bought a pair, or tried to anywyas. They didn't have my size, so they called Berkeley R.E.I. and had them hold a pair until I could get there. Next time we went, it was to get my bike tuned up, ie brakes etc. and purchase a bike for my girlfriend. Chris and Ross where a great help to us. Good team work! Thanks Kirk read more

We love being Co-op members (10 years +) and this particular REI in Corte Madera is great! Excellent customer service from really knowledgeable sales staff on just about everything they sell. Great prices and selection of outerwear gear, shoes and equipment. It's been a great source over the years for everything we do outdoors. It's great that there's plenty of parking at this location and that they always seem to have everything in stock. Can't really love this place more if I had too. read more

Staff here are so friendly and patient!! Always with a great attitude. And their covid efforts are 100%--thanks for making me feel at ease with all the extra protocol! read more

I love REI. But this store? Not so much. And the reason is that you are super dog-unfriendly. Really? For a retailer of dog products to disallow them inside, and furthermore to fail to have either shaded parking or a place to tie up an animal outside the store, is unacceptable. I'll shop elsewhere from now on. Other shops, and other REI locations, are not this way. I expect better from you. read more

Never have I ever been so amazed at the level of stupidity as experienced in the Corte Madera REI. Let's start by saying I've been an REI member for probably twenty years. I received a long-sleeved REI shirt as a gift from friends visiting from Argentina. I didn't ask for the receipt as that would've been rude. The very next morning I realized the shirt was a bit too small. I went to rei to exchange. Shirt for shirt. Same brand but since I had no receipt "proving that it was Paid for" (as per the cashier and manager), they wouldn't exchange my shirt. I spend a lot of money at REI ALL YEAR LONG and don't expect to have to prove I made a purchase if I want to exchange something. All after waiting 40 minutes outside because of Covid and being told by the girl out front and the man at the register that my team took would be completed. I am so upset. Not sure I'll give them my business again after that little eye opening experience. Bad customer service by some young punk who wasn't even born yet when I became a member. Not only that but the young blond cashier told me "thanks for treating us like lesser people." That's funny. I was the one treated as though I couldn't get an exchange unless I proved that I purchased (didn't steal) their $40 shirt. See ya. REI. read more

Why are the store associates rude? I had a gift card I brought into the store today. The associate said, "what's the date say on the email, dude?" while pointing to my phone? Full well the associate knew the date of the email coupon was for the 21st. Why not just explain in a considerate way? Why the condescending attitude? read more

There are several things going on: 1. Rebuilding an old Specialized. 2. Doing the Tallac hike again prior to the close of 2009. 3. Working off the butt flab. 4. Hitting up the sales at REI. REI is usually a lot more expensive than what I'm willing to spend on outdoor goods, but on a nice day like today, the potential bargains were too much of a distraction to miss. I'm also in the market for a light day pack, dog booties, and a pad to lay out on the grass to prevent the wet butt issue when catching Shakespeare in the Park. I happened to catch their "end in .83" 50% off sale but sadly, most of the goods were not applicable. The majority of the items were ending in .93 so despite it being a pretty large sale, the 50% off was not applicable regarding most of the items I was looking for, such as the day packs. Not a good selection of shoes on sale either. There goes my hiking shoe expedition. A nice store, but not too large compared to the other sites I've been to. A good selection of bicycles, tent gear, daypacks/backpacks, clothing and shoes. Sales staff here were a bit harried, but I'm not really seeing out sales reps when I'm browsing so it was all good. read more

Are you masochistic? If so, then this is the store for you to be spending your hard earned dollars at. Worst. Customer. Service. Ever. I've been here multiple times because every few months I forget how horrid my last visit was, and inevitably find myself needing some sporty tchachki (heartrate monitor, hiking boots, jogging stroller, etc) and not wanting to cross the bridge to go to Sports Basement. So, in a haze of temporary amnesia, I wander back to REI, only to be bit in the ass again by the most RUDE and INEFFECTUAL customer service. Have you been here and ever had to step over something arbitrarily left out in the middle of the sales floor? It was probably left there by me, or someone just like me, who reached their point of absolute exasperation at being ignored or spoken to rudely and just decided to leave. In truth, it's been ages since I've purchase something at this REI location. Oh, on my most recent forays, after wasting a lot of time hunting for that which I needed and eventually unearthing it on my own, I've stood in line with said important item in hand and, after observing the completely lackluster attitude of the cashiers as the final denouement of "fuck you" from this REI's staff, I've literally laid down the item for purchase where I stood and walked out. Also, what's with the quota of people who work here that are CLEARLY not interested in the "lifestyle" (outdoorsy, athletic... healthy) that REI caters to? There are a number of folks who work here who look like they'd fit in better as a waitress / line cook at an all night truck stop... or cooking meth in a trailer by the Salton Sea. I get that people need jobs and need to make money, but, as an employer, can't REI be selective in hiring folks who are actually interested in the stuff they sell? read more

I was never a fan of REI. This trip just proved that I wasn't wrong. Of course, their online customer service and return policy are great, even unbeatable. However, there are other places that carry several-fold more merchandise and have much, MUCH better deals. I came here to find out what size I was in climbing shoes for a specific brand. I was even going to buy a pair if I found the ones I really liked. Well, there were about 4 brands/kinds of climbing shoes. All were sizes 9 and up with prices ranging from $65 (on sale) up to $150. What is this a lifetime investment? I beat these shoes on real rocks, not in the gym. I need to replace them at least once in 6 months. Sheesh! I would pay $40 no more for something this dispensable. As a matter of fact, galoshes work well too for that matter. What I also noticed is the mess everywhere. Stuff scattered on the floor, no clear price markings, and to find someone to help - took me ages of running around the store. Oh, well. Unfortunately, I realized that local is not always better. Next time I will go to Sports Authority or to Sports Basement, if I really have to (ick!). read more

I tried to check in here on 3/17 by mobile, unable to download. looking for disaster stuff on my list (pancho's, hypothermia gear, etc) but the place has been transformed into a bicycle shop and shoe store. left without buying anything. If you can't get it at REI (and I couldn't), I wonder where do survivors go to find stuff? Also unrelaibility of mobile (just to buy survivor stuff) gave me pause to consider putting aside a wet blanket and duraflame log to send smoke signals. read more

Is it just me, or is this place a complete waste of time? Nothing from their website is stocked in-store. It feels deserted and over-priced with a limited selection. Not only that, but every time I do go in for a SmartWool sock or a hiking map out of desperation, the cashiers are obligated to beg you to join their "Co-op." The most recent trip, it felt like the guy ringing us up was being more than pushy about it. No, thanks, I'd rather not receive a ton of useless emails or pamphlets in the mail about all the money I'm not saving in your store. I highly recommend Zappos for all athletic gear...! Keep walking past this REI... read more

Love REI. Good products and assistance. Nice to see a co-op make it big. Quality stuff at fair prices. Found many items at less than at Amazon. read more

Do'h, REI - me far, so la.te, no dough. (My first and last sporting good tribute to the Sound of Music.) Which is why I prefer to shop via the online store; better stock, less pain, much closer, and dogs and cocktails permitted (often together). And hey, most items will be shipped to a local store for free (http://www.rei.com/help/shipping.html) so you can make the most out of the annoying Town Center experience. read more

I must say write a post for an amazing employee named Louisa! I was in looking for a new winter coat and was having trouble figuring out what sizes were available. Louisa not only helped me figure it out but she helped me look online for one available. I expect this is likely part of the job but she was like having a friend. Her help was genuine and she was interested in making sure I got the right coat. I can't say this about all the employees at this location but Louisa was fantastic and I will go back hoping to find her. Also the obermeyer coats with the fur are fantastic for taller longer arms! thanks REI read more

I've been in here once before and had a pretty good experience. Yesterday, very good. I walked into the store looking for a carabiner... rock climbing / keychain, it didn't matter. Just something that won't break in a few days was what I needed, and anything under $20 would've been sufficient. Not more than a few minutes into walking into the store, I was greeted by a very nice gentleman, asking me if I was okay or if I was looking for something in particular. I asked about the carabiners, so he showed me right to them... both sections. I looked through the two sections and found him again several minutes later. We went through the glass case for the rock climbing ones and sorta talked about them a bit. Just from the build quality alone, I had to go with a rock climbing one... so I did. I thanked him for helping me out with it and went to pay. At the register, the guy was nice and asked me how my night was... I told him... "it's gonna be a very good night." What happened after? Who knows? =P read more

MEAN MEAN MEAN! I gave them a star because I really like REI and am really unhappy giving them this bad review. I have to say that up until recently I have had great luck with REI. I went to the location in Corte Madera with my boyfriend and puppy and had lunch at Pacific Catch (really yummy and a good location-though I do have a soft spot for the one in the City on Chestnut Street). It's a pretty dog friendly area so we were having a really nice time going into stores after lunch and visiting with people. We decided to go into REI thinking they wouldn't mind if a dog comes into the store...boy were we WRONG! They DO mind! Because they have wrapped and prepackaged CLIFF bars in the store-they said it was food-and we couldn't bring our dog into the store because it would contaminate the product. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I have had restaurants treat me WAY better when it comes to my dog-and they actually make the food there! REI doesn't make the CLIFF bars on site and put them in little packages so my dog can't contaminate the bars unless I were to open them all myself and let her lick them! No-they are sent in boxes pre-wrapped. If they were nice about it I would have partially understood and not have been this upset-though I still think it's stupid-but no-they were really rude. This woman ran up and demanded we take our dog out of the store because of the CLIFF bars. It was really strange and made us unhappy enough to never go back to that location. I want to be clear about one thing-I have nothing against CLIFF bars-they had no part in the REI of Corte Madera's behavior. Just making sure CLIFF bars are not feeling bashed since I am sure they would love my dog! ;-) So beware of REI in Corte Madera and do not try to bring your dog or they will yell at you for no reason. NOTE: So far other REI locations have been great! :-) read more

I bought northface pants at the SF REI store over FIVE years ago (a little too tight now, and had some sunglasses with a broken frame from a faceplant mtn bike riding. with no reciept, I took them to the REI in corte madera, the looked up and found both items on the computer and gave me CASH, over $175. with money in hand i went upstairs and bought a smartwool top and shoes for my 9 year old daughter. There is no reason to shop anywhere else! In 1981 my dad bought me an REI sleeping bag, I bet they would take that back too. The return policy is totally insane!! read more

REI always seems like it's going to be better than what it turns out to be. The failure of a store to live up to its marketing perhaps? I came in looking for some running clothes and outerwear; the sales people had this general attitude like I was some sort of interloper, invading their beautiful scenic campground. Forget a friendly "hi"--you'll be lucky to get eye contact here. Uncomfortable really. Aside from the negative vibe I got from the staff, there really wasn't much in terms of selection. They had somewhat limited choices for running apparel, and it was definitely geared more towards camping and "hiking" than running. If I was into hiking, I'd probably give this place 2-3 stars. Since I was looking for more general running products, I'm sticking to my 1 star rating. Sorry REI. read more

The worst customer service ever! These days that is saying alot. However, the REI in Corte Madera, has claimed this title in my book. We went in to purchase a backpack for my dog. Makes sense to bring the dog. First there was not single person that greeted us, or even asked if we needed assistance. 10 mins into our visit at REI, we finally tracked down a sales person to assist us with the doggy backpacks. Having asked our question, the first comment was "dogs are not alllowed in this store"; un-frickin believable! Now the kicker to this is that my dog is an assistance dog and is allowed in their store. The only time we were approached at any point in the store was to be told that dogs are not allowed. Never did anyone ask if the dog was an assistance dog or assume that we had already be interrogated downstairs by other employees. Although that was the last straw at this store. Another time we purchased an REI branded product, a backpack. The first time we used it, the zipper broke. Brought it back to the store to exchange, with the receipt. Again, complete incompetance. First you have to get back into the line, the always very long line. Once you get to a cashier, you have to give your address, phone number, etc. etc. WHY? The inconvenienced us, we had to make the additional trip to the store for their poor quality product. Needless to say we did not exchange the product we got our money back and will never be back to this store again. I have never had these experiences at any other REI. In fact other REI's are completely pleasant and helpful, and even DOG-FRIENDLY, having treats to share with your dog. read more

I am a huge REI fan. Half of what I own is from REI. However every single time I have come to this store they have minimum people in the footwear department, making the customer service experience terrible. I have now been sitting here for 20 minutes, yet to receive help. With the world where you can buy anything online, this is ridiculous. read more

Apparently, Nordic skiing is not a very popular sport in the Bay area, judging from the availability of sport-specific clothes and gear in the area. I have been to 3 REI stores in the North Bay, and this one appeared to have the largest selection of clothing conducive to cross-country skiing. I should emphasize here that it wasn't actually clothing specifically for XC, but a few things worked (base layers and wool socks). I did appreciate the fact that this seems to be the largest of the REI stores in the North Bay area, so it was easier to find a few things here than at the Santa Rosa location. The staff are friendly, but not necessarily knowledgeable about the sport and the requirements of nordic ski clothing. I have always thought REI to be an all-inclusive sportswear store, but this is an area that is lacking. One would think that with XC ski trails at Tahoe just a few hours away and REI XC ski classes, that they would offer gear and clothing specifically for us nordic ski fans. Alpine is overrated. read more

I love this store in spite of one less than wonderful manager. Everybody else is great and the store is great. More than that, we went on an REI adventure trip that I had found posted on their wall. It was a kayaking trip to the San Juan Islands. Everything about the trip was first class from the minute we signed up, through the pre-trip, the trip and even the post-trip follow up. This organization knows what it is doing and how to do it. The two guides for our trip, Rider and Claire were so, so good. They made the trip fun, safe, and a real adventure. Camping on a bluff on Stuart Island was too much fun. Thank you Rider and Claire. read more

Friendly staff, excellent customer service! My daughter & I found all the items she needed for camping at Joshua Tree. Her extensive list included footwear, upper/lower body clothing (synthetic clothing), hand/head coverings, sleeping bag, ground sheet, insulated sleeping pad, etc. The staff walked around with her to find sizes and the appropriate tools she needed for the desert. I signed up for their lifetime membership without hesitation. read more

I had a great experience at this REI. The employees were pleasant and helpful and were able to help me with the gear I needed. This is the third time I've bought things from this REI location and all three times I've been impressed with the knowledge of the employees. I was surprised to read the other reviews till i realized what they were about. I mean come on if the store has a sign on the door saying no dogs allowed you shouldn't be surprised when they ask you to take your dog outside. read more

So I give them a big 5 stars because unlike other folks, I think their customer service and especially return policy is bar none. Its great. Now on the other hand, I've been a long-time REI shopper but just recently moved to the area. My experience with this REI is that it is small and more times than not, does not have what I'm looking for. So I end up going online and ordering...or occasionally I'm in the Berkely area and go there. Much better selection. read more

REI wins 5 stars for many reasons: 1st: The fact that you can test out just about all that they have in the store. If you want to buy a tent, they have space for you to put that tent together and try it out before you buy it. Sleeping bags, backpacks, shoes, etc. are the same. 2nd: returns, they take everything back if you're a member 3rd: co-op, enough said 4th: outdoor school. Depending on your location they have everything from lectures to "how to use this object" lessons to hands on classes. 5th: membership and the perks like used gear sales or scratch and dent sales The only thing I would take points off for would be the fact that this location usually does not have what I am looking for and the fact that they are pricey. read more

So uh...does anybody who work at this store do anything other than socialize among themselves? Thought I had just encountered one bad apple the first time I went in looking for a running backpack. After asking repeatedly for assistance, getting a vague "we'll send someone over", and waiting around for 20 minutes, I got frustrated and asked the associate if he even cared if I purchased anything in the store. "Nah...not really" was his response. Um what? Second time, three associates were all chatting among themselves. I approached, asked for the ski section, got a snooty look as if god forbid I'd intruded on their conversation, then was unceremoniously directed downstairs with no offer for additional assistance. Seems like the store manager should probably change these guys' incentive plans. read more

The Corte Madera REI reminds me of the REI of yesteryear! Super helpful and knowledgeable staff, lot's of inventory...and YES, they actually have BLACK items available in men's Large AND Medium! It's totally worth a drive over the bridge for this location. I actually prefer it to the Berkley REI now, as the inventory is less picked through, and the staff are plentiful and really actually helpful. Thumbs Corte Madera REI! read more