sad. just sad. this co-op is going in the complete wrong direction. I put 2 1/2 years of my life working for this company and I wanted to transfer to another location and they just never called me back after I followed up and even introduced myself. Save your money and buy from Amazon. They make you think you're saving money with the 10% back for members, but in all reality, they just charge more for their stuff. read more

Great store to get quality camping / outdoor gear. Dropped by one weekend afternoon to pickup an outdoor toiletry bag and was easily able to find the product & the staff were very helpful. The store layout is really open and rustic looking. Pricing was comparable to your typical chain outdoors store, but I liked the layout and feel of REI better. They have a loyalty reward program if you are a frequent shopper. Overall, would recommend stopping by if you have any camping gear needs! read more

DO NOT SHOP AT REI store #48, Madison, Wisconsin; or any other. Tonight a REI bicycle mechanic employee grabbed me from behind as I walked out of the store with my bicycle and receipt in hand, PAID in full ($260). I have been a REI Member for 25 years or more--even had two memberships at one point. To be sure, his action was a battery of me by pulling on my bike I was walking holding to go home outside their store front door. Unbelieveable! Apparently he, Neil H., thought he had a right to grab me physically since I declined to sign a total release of negligence liability form they try to force on you to sign at the end of service to return your bicycle. Clever way to force customer to give away legal rights at the end! Even a week after working on it; and after paying for it all ($260) and getting your receipt in hand and emailed to you on your Membership number! Nah, nah; no bike returned if you don't waive your legal rights if injured if they do negligent work. And they apparently threaten to keep your property as if some sort of mechanic's lien if you don't sign on the dotted line and waive home state law so instead they can use Washington State law to strip your rights if they did negligent work that injures you in your own state? Neil insisted while grabbing me, so I agreed to walk back in with the bike and let his manager speak to me. Elizabeth, fairly young, started lecturing me for raising my voice. You know, the psychological tactic to gaslight the disagreeable customer/Member who won't just sign away his legal rights! Gee, I cannot understand why I would be upset after physically assaulted by their employee. Then she coerced me back to the bike shop. When I asked, do you insist you have a mechanic's lien under Wisconsin's Commercial Code so as not to return my bike to me? After I have paid for the service in full since I declined to sign your release of legal rights form? She played ignorant and apparently again spoke to me as if a child. She did say if I didn't sign the form to waive my rights in the future they would never work on my bike. Wow!!! Then the whole don't raise your voice thing. Then she had to do the whole ask you to leave the store thing. And I assured her, after 30 years as Member, I will never again shop at REI! Outside, I called city police non-emergency to report the assault and battery. Not surprisingly, the cop, pleasant as was, was dismissive, assuring me the employee grabbing me did not assault or batter me because 1) he grabbed my bike in hand as I rolled it and not my body and 2) nobody injured me! I corrected the legally ignorant yet otherwise professional cop after identifying myself as a lawyer by education and trade. Nevertheless, he assured nothing would come of it, but he would write up a report all the same. But for the cop being ignorant of the simplest law he is employed to enforce, he might have been better off understanding what he was trying to say; which is it is not a big priority to pursue as a criminal case when nobody got hurt. Would he have said the same had I been female rather than male? To close out, LOL, "REI store #48, Madison, Wisconsin," signed on the customer signature line of the form and emailed it to me. I guess to waive my legal rights for me? LOL!!! Either way, DO NOT SHOP AT REI! read more

In our quest to find a ski boot that fit a unique situation (short person, strong calves), we looked many places. The nice young woman that helped us at REI was super friendly and willing to help us learn about boots and what we needed to look for. She found ONE pair of boots in stock (bad time to boot shop, unfortunately for us) that fit. We were on our way to try on some used boots elsewhere, but thanked her for her time and maybe we'd see her again. We weren't looking to buy NEW boots (for a new skier), but we were running out of options. After striking out with a Craigslist listing, we shopped around some other stores, but ended up back at REI. Our salesperson recognized us and hopped over to see what was up. We got the boots and, thankfully, they were on a great sale. I've shopped REI a bit before - they feel expensive, but they carry good stuff. They are always friendly when helping us, and we've never had issues with products or returns. They're doing a good job with social distancing, hand sanitizer, etc. I appreciate those efforts. read more

The website said dog were welcome. We were going specifically to buy a dog life vest. I was asked "Has anyone talked to the two of you yet?" I told her what the site said and also showed her. She said she has no control over that, service animals only. Then we were told as my husband was walking to the register,"Lets take the vest off and bring our little friend outside." My husband then asked the employee permission to take the dog with him to the register and she grudgingly agreed. The employee was a bit rude. Their loss. We were looking for some winter clothes for us. read more

REI - Sports Wear Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We got there at a good time. There was a garage sale going on but not much on it. We did find a footprint for our backpacking tent though. It was all we really needed. The only thing about this location was the lack of variety in men's clothing. It seems there are so many options for women but when it comes to guys stuff everything is plain, way overpriced or the REI Brand, which is never really that good. It seems like this is kind of a dying location. The mall area and location isn't the best. I was glad to find what we did at least and the staff was very friendly and helpful! read more

Horrible customer service over the phone. Felt like I was an inconvenience. I called to inquire about rollerblades that the website listed as in stock. The representative said they do not carry any roller blades in stock and recommended that I purchase two sizes from online so that I can try them on both when they arrived and send one back. I explained I didn't have $700 to buy two pairs of rollerblades. He suggested I try another store. I asked about other stores in the area that sell rollerblades, to which he replied, he doesn't know as he does not shop for rollerblades. Again, his tone was such that I was an inconvenience to his day. read more

I had a great experience at REI in Madison yesterday. Steve and Anna in the backpack area patiently walked me through the different types that might work for my purposes and physical limitations. They spent more than 1.5 hours letting me try out different backpacks with heavy weights in them and wander around the store to check the comfort level. Both were extremely knowledgeable and personable. They didn't have the model in stock that I wanted, but made sure to give me the exact model number so that I could order it online or at check out. Very much appreciated ability to try things out and the suggestions they made for packing for my future trip! read more

Great customer service. The service department was incredibly helpful and very friendly. They did the quick binding adjustment on the spot. Also found a nice pair of ski googles while waiting. read more

We planned a spontaneous backpacking camping trip and was in need of some supplies and schooling. REI swooped in and saved us, possibly our lives. Not to seem dramatic, but they do offer classes for the beginners, trip planning, how to pack your overnight bag, and wilderness first aid. Most of the ones we attended were free - I believe even free to non-members. Class times are flexible, there are 9 am ones and 6:30 pm ones. Let me back up, there's a lifetime fee of $20. With the $20, you get a 10% dividend on all your full-price items, discounts to bike/ski shops, and exclusive coupons in your mailbox. For the backpacks, they will put sand bags to weigh your bags down so that you can simulate what it will actually feel like on your shoulders and body with all your gear intact. It was a really helpful experience as the bag I had researched over and over and basically stalked online didn't turn out to be a good fit. Say even if you did make a online or blind purchase, REI has a year warranty on all their products. And if your item has a manufacturing defect in its materials or workmanship, it's covered under a lifetime warranty. They also carry other items not related to camping, such as running gear, brand name clothing (The North Face, Nike, UGG, Under Armour, etc.), Go Pro and Go Pro accessories, fitbits, paddle boards, and dog clothing and accessories. Basically, anything to do with the outdoors, REI's got you covered. The staff! Wow, I've never had such customer good service from retail before. They are knowledgeable, patient, at times playfully teasing you on your impulsive ambitions :oP Everyone that we've encountered seemed genuine and just wanted you to have the best gear to fit your needs. I haven't magically grown a beard and turned into Bear Grylls, but at least I know I can stop at REI if I'm missing any adventure gear. read more

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First it looks like they're going out of business. Second the person running the going out of business has no idea what they're doing. Third no one came to help my wife when she was in their clothing section or when she was looking at the shoes on the "shoe wall". But they were getting the canoes out, I'm writing this in November. That's my second trip there while shopping for winter clothes. I didn't buy anything either time nor did an employee approach me. read more

Staff were super friendly and helpful. We went to get fitted for cross country boots and skis. Although they were out of our sizes, they helped us figure out what to order online. Excellent 5/5 online customer service!! We had some issues with delay in delivery of one of our skis and they went ahead and shipped another pair to us. Would highly recommend becoming a co-op member- just $20 for lifetime membership. You get access to garage sales, rental discounts, and each year you get 10% back on eligible purchases. read more

I love this store. It has everything you need to explore the outdoors. We rode our bikes from East Madison to take advantage of a sale going on. It was a Sunday and the store was somewhat empty. We were both asked if we needed help once during the hour and a half we were there. Not necessarily a bad thing, but having a lot of experience shopping at REI in other cities, we were a little surprised. We found what we needed and left. The store is reliable and dependable. Most of the staff know what they're talking about when it comes to any questions about merchandise. If they don't have something in the store, they'll order it and ship it to you for free. That's a bonus. read more

This a really nice store. I have mainly spent time looking at skis and ski boots. They helped me mold my inner boot liners. One member of staff walked me through a boot fitting and was very knowledgeable. Prices are relatively high but it is clear staff knows their stuff! Fun place to walk around and look at inventory as well! read more

Mixed reviews of REI. I've been to REI in several cities and this is on par with those. They carry a decent amount of camping, hiking and outdoors equipment but a lot of it is over priced. They have a great selection of packs and a sizing chart which makes it easy to get the right fit. I looked at a few things and found them cheaper elsewhere and didn't buy a thing. read more

Bought an Osprey backpack/computer bag. First zipper for main compartment went last year. Second one this week - stuck so bad and needed laptop had to rip it open. (Also dicey going through airport security.) Has a lifetime warranty - Osprey will fix or repair. Took it back to REI. They only handle for one year. Now you have to go through manufacturer - find something to ship it in, ship, wait. Seems like REI should handle, not the customer, especially when you are paying for supposedly better quality. read more

I have had an REI credit card for YEARS. I have it because they give you 1% back in cash every year. I spend alot so this year I was supposed to get 100 back. Well they switched card from BankOne to CapitalOne and now they REQUiRE you to use it at REI !! While I do shop there occasionally I don't regularly and much prefer the cash option. It would be fine if they said GOING FORWARD they would do it this way, but they are not. The money that I should have received as cash they now REQUIRE me to spend in their store !! I am CANCELING this card asap and getting a CapitalOne card DIRECTLY (not through REI) and which has 1.5 cash back. read more

I had the misfortune of being waited on by Elizabeth -who's the sales manager at this Madison, WI west side store. No returns or hassle on my end, just making a simple purchase. She had just finished tending to a lady before me and was as nice as could be to her. It gets to be my turn and her whole demeanor changes, despite my being very friendly and polite. Not sure if it's because I'm a man or of color, but none-the-less I was clearly mistreated by her for absolutely no reason. I know REI claims to be inclusive and welcoming, but that doesn't mean just treating the minority of the month kindly! Brick and mortar stores are going out of business all around, so if you want to keep the few people left coming in through your doors, learn to treat everyone with the same level of respect! read more

Even since I started getting into backpacking and hiking, this has been one of my go-to places for new gear, advice on current gear, or just some basic necessities for a trip such as first aid or freeze-dried food. Getting started with a new hobby can be intimidating. But the staff at REI are awesome at channeling that fear away into excitement. They take the time to show you how wonderful things are without once pushing you to get any. It helps a lot that they are being paid by the hour instead of commission-based. You are always welcome to test their stuff. They encourage you to pitch tents, test out sleeping bags and pads, try on backpacks and hiking shoes on sample rocky incline surface that resembles a trail. They even have a mountain biking test trail around the corner from their store where you can test drive mountain bikes! I guess the only thing which may be lacking is a lake to test the kayaks =) One time I was looking at camping chairs and wishing I have one of those. The associate at REI came over, told us all the good stuff about those comfortable and light chairs, but end up saying: Even thought there are a lot of lightweight camping accessories out there, the weight still adds up, so only get what you really need. Such honest advice are so hard to come by ~~ No wonder they are listed as one of the best places to work at. All my experience there have been very positive and I always walked away with exactly what I need, some times even more! Note that the Madison store is smaller than the stores in the larger cities so even though they carry a variety of items, your desired color or size might not be in stock all the time. But that is not a big deal as the staff are very helpful at helping you order online and REI will ship it to your doorstep for free. I strongly recommend a stop by for all your outdoor needs. read more

Just bought my first Patagonia jacket from here, and I couldn't be more impressed! They had my size my color and answered any questions I had. read more

It's all too easy to walk into an REI thinking you're just going to pick up a water bottle and walk out with a $200 North Face fleece. If you don't fall victim to the titillating down jackets, -20 sleeping bag pods, or Chaco sandals, REI is simply nice for browsing around for all those outdoor-type things that would be nice to have but probably aren't worth paying $$$ for. Contrary to 99% of retail stores, the staff at REI are well-trained, friendly, and genuinely helpful. The store has a good return policy and stands behind their products. Product selection is not always the same as their website, but you can buy something online and have it shipped to the store for pickup at no additional cost. If you find you don't like it, you can return it without much hassle. I suppose my only critiques of REI is that its abundance of technologically advanced products might suggest that one needs to have top-end gear to in order to properly enjoy outdoor activities, even simple things like hiking and camping. I certainly don't agree with that, so buy what you need and window shop the rest... read more

Normally, they don't open until 10 :( I generally like REI - they have a very cool selection of outdoor gear, staff tend to be knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic, and they are great about ordering items, and returns. Prices are generally high, unless you hit the sales. If you are a member, which I am, you do get the member rebate. This can be especially nice for large purchases. You also do get good member deals via email, etc. I also generally like the REI branded merchandise - pullovers, gloves, socks, etc. Hint: Hit the sales, the return tables, and during change of seasons, when they can have great close-out deals. read more

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Thanks Tom, Gerry and David! High quality products. read more

I originally bought a road bike from Budget Bicycle and each year it would be such a hassle getting it into them for a spring tune up, both in convenience of location and time frame. It sometimes took up to 10 days to get my bike back. This year a friend recommended REI for my spring tune up. I didn't even realize that REI had a bike repair shop. Turns out they do and it is fully stocked with quality bikes and bike parts along with knowledgeable and friendly staff. I hadn't ridden my bike for over a year and I thought it needed a lot of work and I said as much. But, the awesome bike guy took a look at it and said I only needed the basic tune up. No upselling, no haggling, no long down time for repair. They were professional, friendly, knowledgeable, fast and thorough. I will go back to them for all my bike needs. In addition, they have a member co-op program that offers discounts on repairs and dividends back on all purchases. You can't go wrong here. read more

My go to store for everything outdoors! Everything is high quality and the sales people are both friendly and knowledgeable. I've never been disappointed by something I got here. Rain gear, shoes, hiking gear, camping gear - it's all so much fun! OK, I'll admit that part of the reason I enjoy my trips to REI so much is because I'm usually getting something for an upcoming trip! I know not all store points type plans are worth it, but REIs most definitely is! Come on, who doesn't love getting a dividend?! read more

The staff is very friendly and helpful in the dept that I needed assistance in, which was hiking/climbing shoes. Those guys and gals are very knowledgable and the person I had asked originally didn't know but they directed me and found me someone who was familiar with hiking stuff. I also ended buying the display shoes since it was actually my size and the last one they had in stock so they gave me a small discount because it was on display. These stars are for the excellent service but I can't rate it higher because of the lack of inventory. It seems like they are doing some construction so that may change I hope. read more

Got trail outdoor shoes for just 99 bucks. Rented cross country skis twice. 3 days just forty dollars. Service e best. A great store. read more

The staff here were rude, annoying, and aggressive. Me and the person I was with felt like we were being targeted, and watched by the employees, and we still cannot figure out why. A manager came up to us and was extremely rude, and showed microaggressions towards us. We could not be left alone for even a minute without an employee coming up to us, it was extremely annoying and uncomfortable because of how we were treated. The entire time we were there was extremely uncomfortable, and was such an unpleasant experience. I never want myself, or anyone else, to feel as uncomfortable as we did at this location ever again. read more

I brought my skis to be sharpened. My husband had called some shops in town prior to deciding on REI. He told me to bring them in as I had a few days off. I brought them in and was told it was 20 dollars per pair.... not knowing the price my husband was quoted on the phone which was 12 dollars. When he was home from work I told him how much it cost and we both thought if I told them when picking up the skis they would honor that price. When I go in and nicely explain this to the girl working. She goes in the back and some guy comes out just acting like I was trying to pull a fast one. He didn't even know the story and was pretty rude and made it seem like I was wrong for even asking about the situation. He also said it was a lot of work and he walked in the back in the midst of me explaining myself. I honestly was thinking he saw something out of the corner of his eye and had to leave but nope.... he was gone and not coming back. Then to put icing on the cake the girl (who wasn't there when I dropped off my skis) says that they increased the price after looking at our skis. I am 100 percent certain our skis never left the counter for an exam to determine the price. In fact the employee had to go in the back and ask about the price because they don't have a standard price on the sheet. This would explain why my husband was probably quoted a different price. When she said the thing about the exam I just had to leave. I can't stand someone who is lying. Like why even say that? She wasn't there and it definitely didn't happen. It's hard to explain in words how I felt after this. To be treated like that over asking about a mistake they made is crazy. I would have been fine if they would have apologized and explained how much work goes into it. I wasn't trying to argue or fight. But when you are mean and then lie... that I cannot tolerate it.I know REI is supposed to be about customer service but I had the exact opposite experience. Update I just called the rei in brook field wi and guess what price I was given...$12! read more

BOO! My girlfriend and I went there looking for a winter coat. While walking through the store, we passed by an associate. My girlfriend said "Hello" to the girl, to which she did not respond. Immediately afterwards, the girl approached another customer in a super friendly manner, which kind of said "Eff You" to my girlfriend. Now, truthfully I cannot say that she 100% did hear her, but she would have had to have been in some kind of daze to not have. It seemed deliberate. Anyway, the rest of the time we were there, we were not approached by any associates to see if we needed any help. It was just a bad service experience. They DO have nice clothing, though. I always have been a fan of REI, but that makes this experience all the more disheartening. read more

I like REI as a whole but had an experience with a super rude cashier at this store. Went to return a pair of hat and gloves I had purchased two months ago and had never worn. The cashier told me I couldn't them just because I didn't think I would use them. What?! So much for the almighty guarantee. She was also extremely rude in her mannerisms. Luckily I went back a second time and this time had a cashier who actually upheld the company policy. But I don't think I'll be stopping back at this particular store again. read more

We've been co-op members for at least 15 years. They have a wide variety of brands, including their own house brand, and good pricing. I try to catch the sales and have had good luck with some great finds on clearance over the years. They also have FANTASTIC staff who are well-educated on their products and eager to help you make good decisions on products. Their return policy is good but not the lifetime warranty they used to have. The staff have phones that are equipped to quickly order any item they don't have in stock. You can even take classes on things like bike maintenance and snowshoeing. We shop there often - probably too often - and are huge fans. read more

Maybe I do not look like I can afford to shop there (which I can't). Nevertheless, I used to try to make it to their after-Christmas sales. The staff over the years have been disinterested in greeting me or, well, some of them... maybe just a little pretentious. On one outing there, I asked a clerk for all-cotton thermal underwear (like the kind you wear ice fishing). I was told superciliously they were "out of style" and hence, no longer made (not actually true). I hung my head in disappointment and shame at being so behind the times. I was encouraged to consider instead their line of silky, lightweight, to-my-eye, somewhat feminine synthetic under-layer tops. I asked for "choppers" last winter during the depths of the polar vortex. They were unable to help me since they had not heard that term before. In a state of mild torpor from the extreme cold, I struggled to describe what they were with their impatience mounting. Apparently I made a fool of myself because I overheard my salesperson mocking me to a colleague later as I browsed around. I was too astonished to confront them. "Choppers" for the record is a snow belt term and is understood and used for one by LLBean. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/60315 read more

We went there a couple of years back to purchase a winter coat for our 2nd grade boy. We called ahead and it took over 5 minutes just to determine if they even had children's coats and when we arrived we were greeted at the door not with a greeting but with "were closing soon" and nothing else. When we finally, on our own, found the children's coats we didn't receive very enthusiastic help. Our experience did not live up to the image their brand carries. read more

Nice staff! They are very helpful and friendly. Store is nicely sized and located near the West Towne Mall. A must-stop for your outdoor needs. They also do rentals for winter sports like snowshoeing and cross country skiing. read more

Poor customer service I've experienced downright hostile "customer service" in the shoe department on more than one occasion recently. Earlier this summer I had the intent to purchase a pair of hiking boots and trail shoes. The clerk was so unhelpful and annoyed that he had to work that I purchased my shoes online. This week I went in to the store twice with the intent to spend over $600 in equipment for a camping trip. The first time I was in search of clothing. The women's department has about 30% less than it had two years ago when I planned for a similar trip. None of the brands like Prana and very little Kuhl was available. When I did find something of interest, they only had XS or XL over and over. (This was five days BEFORE the sale started.) I gave up and purchased $10 worth of runner's goo. When mentioning my frustration to the clerk, he just acted annoyed with me and told me I could "always order online". Today I made the 60-min trip to town to purchase a back pack and insoles. Again, the shoe clerk was so downright hostile (beyond rude) that I walked away. I could get no one to help fit me for a backpack, though I waited for 15 minutes, so I just left and decided to find another store that might want my business. Not sure if they just got word that the store is closing or something. They acted like they all hated their job. read more

REI used to have the best customer service. Over the past few years, I've had several negative experiences with the Madison store. First was a defective REI jacket zipper which they refused to warranty, second was a ripped Big Agnes tent seam - they refused to facilitate the warranty (had to go through the original manufacturer directly, which worked out fine). Most recently, I bought a roof rack that came with a defective part (small metal adapter ring with stripped threads). I live an hour away from the store, so I called to ask if they could warranty the part through the mail, and they told me no, the only option is to bring the part into the store. Fortunately, Yakima was kind enough to mail me a new part directly, so I'm back in business, no thanks to REI Madison. In the future, I think i'll shop online. read more

I just want to start off by saying I haven't truly taken advantage of all REI has to offer. I have shopped here a few times but mainly for downhill ski equipment and apparel. During my past visits, the employees there have been extremely helpful and polite. The prices are always reasonable. I also like the fact that you can become a member for a small fee. I will definitely continue to shop here despite them being on far west side! read more

In case you didn't know. REI is the bomb. Reasonable prices, excellent store-brand quality, helpful, knowledgeable staff, and great selection. Sign up for the $20 lifetime membership, and get 10% back on all your purchases over the year. Lastly, and most importantly, they have a fantastic return policy. Not that it should be abused, but it allows you to buy with confidence and know that, if something doesn't work, you can just take it back. Great for watersports, camping/hiking, and cycling. Pretty good for ski/snowboard and running as well. If you need outdoors gears, look no further. read more

The staff is always friendly and willing to give an opinion to indecisive people like me. I went there with a jacket in mind, and walked out with only that jacket -- although I could have bought so much more. So tempting. And, I didn't know this going in, but right now you get 20% off a full-priced item if you're a member :) read more