REI Co-op

As a diehard REI member this was my first visit to a “flagship” store. Getting to the Washington, DC store is a race in itself. Tons of construction and side streets to contend with. Once you get there the parking situation is rather tight, there is a parking garage with metered parking and a lot attendant. Once you get to the actual store, it’s worth the headache of the journey. Tons of merchandise is displayed so amazingly good. It makes you want to throw your credit card to an available sales person and grab everything in sight. Brands from Yeti, Hoka, etc. fill the shelves and there is a coffee shop located within as well. The staff were friendly, courteous and helpful. I would truly visit this store a lot more if it weren’t for the hassles of getting to the store. Would rate the visit a 11 out of 10, definitely coming back again.

REI Co-op in NoMa: A Comprehensive Outdoor Gear Destination REI Co-op in NoMa is a top-notch destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wide range of quality gear and apparel. The store provides excellent customer service, and the staff is very helpful. I had a particularly good experience with the bike team, who took great care of my road bike. The well-organized layout makes it easy to find everything you need for your next adventure. Whether you're into hiking, camping, cycling, or climbing, REI Co-op has you covered with high-quality products and expert advice.

Customer service rep (white male, early twenties, man bun) tried to refuse filling my online pickup because I had an UNLIT hemp (not marijuana) joint in my lips. He also threatened to take it from me if I didn’t put it away, though he’s lucky he didn’t try because it would’ve been a bad day for us both. If he had been more focused on manning his station at the online pickup desk instead of minding my business and making idle threats, then maybe it wouldn’t have taken over ten minutes to fulfill a simple two-item order. Also, their online pickup email says they have curbside (storefront) pickup but that is a complete lie which will look like it’s doing something but actually just leave you waiting forever. No identity confirmation was made for the order so anyone can just walk in and make a claim if they know the name. The front of store person just stands there, not knowing where any products are or apparently how publicly posted operations are supposed to be handled. This location is a poor representation of the brand.

Large store, backed by huge online business, where you can find new and used equipment and clothes/footwear - tried and tested. Unlike other retailers, staff are also tried and tested and my experience is that you often learn things after coming here from people that have lived the adventure you are seeking. Formal learning in the way of classes and actual tours are also a thing. REI stands behind their merch with a generous return policy; furthermore, they work with their customers - I have heard multiple hikers now getting mail dropped items while they were on long distance trails. They also have a nice coffee shop and clean bathrooms. This is the real deal!

Large REI. Always seems to be in stock with everything I want. Huge bike selection and repair program. Has kids stuff in many sizes. Glad it's in the neighborhood. Great coffee shop inside.

Wonderful place for outdoor activity. You could find almost everything you need. Great heritage and spirit. Nice member benefit system. Recommend 👌🏻

This place delivers. Best service of my phreaking life. It's a store where they treat you like a fellow human being. Unfortunately that has become a rarity to find in the DMV.

Very spacious, beautiful store in a historic building. This location is very close to the NoMa metro station - take the south exit to M Street and you're basically right there. This REI Flagship store has just about anything outdoors-related, but you can call ahead if you're curious about whether a specific product is in-stock. There's also a La Colombe coffee shop inside!

I had no idea that REI had their flagship store in the DC area. And for it to be so close to the place that I work made it even more shocking. I need to venture out more. The worst part about this place is parking. Mostly street parking and you have to be quick about it. Headed in here and headed right to the camping are to continue my search for Zippo wicks. This time it was much quicker to find what I was looking for. And this time, they had them on their shelves. In fact, at that time, they only had two and I grabbed both of them. With those in hand I made my way to the registers and paid. While there I was asked if I wanted to join their rewards program, of course I do not, and I was out the door shortly. Prior to leaving I asked if there was a restroom to use and it was all the way in the back of the store. I trekked back there and back up front, and I was out of the store. I wished there were more than one entrance to this place as it is massive. If you happen to park at the rear of the store, you still have to make your way to the front to exit.

In the heart of NOMA is the largest REI that I've ever been to. I came to pick up some items before an upcoming race and was glad to see that they had almost everything I needed and a great selection. The associates were friendly and asked if I'd needed anything. They had a variety of items for different activities including cycling, hiking, camping, running ... They had it all. Will definitely be back since it's warming up and I'll definitely be outside more. The items I got did seem on the pricier side but they are quality items so I didn't mind too much. This REI is also convenient to get to if you live in the area.

This place closes at 9pm and went there at 8:35pm like I use to do before but today the bike worker didn't want to take my bike because they said is too late and also the manager couldn't do anything. I'm bringing my bike for a regular service so I know that takes couple days but they didn't want to take it today so I'm bringing my bike home again. The manager is useless. This is the first time something like this happened to me at this store . Incredible .

Had issues (and a lot of tears) with another balance bike for our kid so had to return it and got a balance bike from this REI. De'Quann in the bike shop was amazing in putting it together and fitting it for their exact height. He did it quickly and helped explain all the adjustments. Smiles all around!!! Thank you!!

It is a huge store. Great selection of bikes and not only. Lifelong Membership - $30 one time payment. This is what I learned from their guy who was a bit annoying. But I liked this overall.

Inventory doesn't match their website. Employees actively ignore you. In short it's the essential DC experience: ineffectual and waste of your time.

REI comes through in the clutch again. Made it to the bike shop with a flat tire just about 30 mins before close. Instead of making me pickup the next day, Keon put an end to a fairly unfortunate day by fixing it on the spot and sending me away with a much needed win to round out the weekend. Many thanks to REI's bike shop staff for their consistent customer service excellence and service value.

Update: Picked up my bike today and everything was done as the bike mechanic and I had discussed weeks earlier. On top of that the wheel seized while it was sitting around for 2 weeks so they replaced the wheel with what I was told is a better one. The management also comped the parts and labor. I spent some time speaking with the bike mechanic - again, they're very good here - and walked away feeling better. This is a review for the bike shop at the flagship DC store. I added one star for the abilities, kindness, and professionalism of the actual bike mechanics/techs/repair people. The problem with this bike shop isn't the technicians, but that the bike shop is absolutely disorganized as well as overwhelmed with the amount of business they undertake, and that the manager isn't interested in doing anything about it. So the long and short of it is, the bike shop here can be a dumpster fire and the manager knows it, but is not motivated in the least to fix it - apparently because he has a ton of business no matter what. The bike technicians themselves can be enthusiastic, helpful, and are even willing to show you how to maintain your bike, which is just great: But leaving your bike there for anything complicated means it could fall through the cracks and nothing or the wrong things are done to it. The place is very poorly organized. Like Kristin H, who left a 1-star review on 8/22/23, I've been an REI member for many, many years, and I absolutely have to agree with Kristin's review of this REI's bike shop: They have too much work to handle properly, are very poorly coordinated, and as a result, the place can't work smoothly. I was flat-out told by Tim the manager there that they are way, way too busy to do be able to do their work competently because they're overloaded with the work they agree to do, and to do it right would require making people "wait 6 weeks" and not the 2 I was told (which they still messed up). I lost my temper over the complete managerial bungling of this bike repair job, but this was actually my third bad experience I had there - I keep going back because it's easy to get to on a bike and visit this location, and because I bought my bike at an REI and doing so comes with 1 year of free bike adjustments. But they are unable to keep track of the work they've agreed to do: When I called them they had misplaced, lost, or just didn't have the work order I saw the bike tech write out - it's as if they have a ton of tiny bits of paper, and they need to read through all of them and even then they cannot find what work was ordered. The manager of the bike shop was, even after half an hour on the phone, unable to find the work which the bike technician and I had agreed on weeks earlier. Although it is imho understandable for anyone to be frustrated about this level of leadship ineptitude, it was rude and inappropriate of me to take it out on the poor phone guy, and I later apologized for losing my temper over their jaw-dropping level of incompetence. That's on me and I need to work on that, it's not right to get verbally frustrated with some guy on the phone, when the problem is really the manager of the place who can't make the necessary changes so that the shop can smoothly handle the volume of work they take on. As a result of my outburst the manager told me he didn't need customers like me because he has a huge backlog of other customers. He had a point . . . I guess? Anyway, after the manager and I calmed down, Tim flat out told me that he and his people can't handle the volume of work they keep accepting, which he said is far and away above that of REIs in other cities. Tim also told me that, that even though purchasing a bike from REI comes with a year of free tune-ups, his store is so backed up that he would appreciate it if REI members go to a different REI (these other stores unfortunately would require a car or other transport to get to). I do believe that managers are responsible for their shops and the buck stops there, with the leaders. The manager of this bike shop at this REI knows that he can't keep his customers happy, yet he doesn't do anything about it; he wasn't responsive to my request about how I could help him do better; and the impression I was left with is that he is just fine with the fact that his shop continues to accept work that they can't possibly perform on time or even at all - the notes he had available regarding the work they were to do on my bike was missing about 50% of the work the mechanic and I agreed they'd do to the bike. All in all this place can be a dumpster fire and management doesn't seem to care about it, choosing instead to shrug his shoulders and say 'that's how it is.' So expect no improvements there over time. To quote Kristin's 1-star review from just yesterday 8/22/23: "So go elsewhere. You'll at least do a favor in lightening the backlog for the poor suckers that think this is your average bike shop. Or a normal REI."

This REI is such an asset to the community. Not only is it right on the red line, but it connects to plenty of cycling infrastructure! I've gone there for running clothing, winter clothing (coats and boots!), and cycling accessories. Their bike shop got me quickly repaired and on my way. Their Re/Supply selection is always good, and their employees are always kind and amenable to returns.

Great selection, knowledgeable staff. Prices are high. Parking is a tad tricky, free and available.

The most unwelcoming store from the greeters at the door to the manager. Will not shop here again.

I've been an REI member for many years. So many things about REI are great, and this store's bike shop is sadly not one of them. Go elsewhere: this store is too busy for its own good. Their bike shop and and customer service issues are entrenched, and they don't bother to fix them due to their high volumes. I once called the store to discuss a particularly concerning experience and was mansplained and gaslit by the guy ostensibly responsible for customer service. The conversation left me in tears. Yes, the location is convenient to the metropolitan branch trail. But you will have to wait in line (at a location not in the bike shop but the bike shop won't tell you that, they will just ignore you). You will wait in line for longer than you think to eventually find out it will take days to weeks to turn around a repair that another shop could handle in hours. And if your experience is anything like mine, you will have a technician unnecessarily remove a part that functions as a safety feature and be told you have to come back another time for a $150 service in order to deal with the loss of that part. I didn't want to post this because I have been a fan of REI for so long. But trying to resolve this with the store led nowhere because...see above. When I called the store to speak about my experience and give them a chance to make it right, I got a lecture about how this is the highest grossing store for bikes, and never had my concern about the removed safety part acknowledged, much less resolved. So go elsewhere. You'll at least do a favor in lightening the backlog for the poor suckers that think this is your average bike shop. Or a normal REI.

I went to pick up some items from the bike shop. There were three employees helping one guy, two employees slowly working on bikes, and a manager chatting with another employee. No other customers. 7 employees and 1 other customer. Stood at the desk staring at them hoping someone would look up and help out. Gave up after about 5min. Went to the boot deck. The guy there had no help and helped about 5 different groups of people get and try on shoes. Crushed it! Even found a better pair of shoes for me based on my plans. Back to the bike shop.... Couldn't find my account, had to find order numbers for them so they could find them. Got to the register and discovered that the bikes were 40% off now and had I not said anything they would have charged me full price. Guy at the register figured it out but this was a disappointing experience. I know I will shop there again because there are no other options for camping gear unless you go online.

For years, REI has been my go-to for all outdoor activities including hiking, camping, and cycling. This flagship location is my favorite by far. I appreciate the old go go posters which celebrate DC culture and the legacy of musicians who are no longer with us. This store has bright lights and lots of shiny things to satisfy your needs. I was in there browsing water purifiers & potable aqua tablets before my trip to Central America. There's also a large area devoted to cycling. Various brands of bikes, helmets, apparel, and tools are available to get you pedaling in no time. REI carries a nice amount of supplements and snacks that are clutch during long rides too. The staff is pretty knowledgeable and will call for help if they can't answer your question. I should mention that there is basically a skeleton crew during non-peak hours so pack your patience. More staff in the evenings and weekends, but more customers too. Sales & special offers for REI members make the shopping experience even better. Don't forget to mention that you're a member during checkout. Street parking is available for a fee and garage parking is free with validation.

This place sucks. Apart from being located in one of the most annoying parts of the city, their on-site stock does not match what's listed on the website. I just wasted a couple hours driving to and from this location just to find out they don't have the item I was looking for in stock, even though the website says they do and the staff's own stock list on-site says they do. They could not find the item. A mystery indeed. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I'm never wasting my time at this location ever again. What a sh*t show.

I always get ignored at the bicycle desk! Got here early and took a number. Techs hanging out and chatting, it's a really disheartening scene.

People walk in, take stuff off the rack, walk back out the front door and no one stops them. Why is this allowed? I realize REI has a great write off, corporately, but still?

EXCEPTIONAL bike repair service from Andrew! Despite spring being the worst time for bike repairs (none of the shops on the Hill were scheduling tune ups), my bike received rigorous attention and works 1000% better now with new chain and several other adjustments. Andrew also took time to teach me a few helpful maintenance tricks and highlighted some things to keep an eye on which may need replacement in the future. And repairs done while I was able to shop for a new helmet (on sale!), bike shorts and phone holder . Much more time efficient than going to the Trek store in Virginia and terrific on the spot service. Also the repairs were VERY reasonably priced. Highly recommend. Thank you REI!

I ordered online because I had a bonus card which I think is amazing to have from becoming a member. The membership comes with a lot of benefits that are worth it. I bought my hiking boots, yeti, and camelback for when I go hiking. I love this business. Plus it's around a brewery and coffee shop(located inside the store). The workers were helpful as well.

I came here to pick up my shoes that I ordered online, and after trying them out in nature, they were too big so I came back to return and get new ones. The staff helping me was very helpful, bringing me different shoes for me to try on. I finally got a pair that fit properly, and checkout was pretty speedy too. Parking on the street might be a bit tough, but it's not too bad!

It REI... duh. There really isn't much to say. They rock. Their staff cares... they know the product. It's like chick filet (spelled?). Just done right.

Needed some winter boots so to REI I trekked. I am from the neighborhood so I know parking is tight to downright impossible on the street, but REI validates parking in the attached public garage. Stepping into the store I was blown away by the old Go-Go posters from the time when the D.C. Coliseum (the edifice that was there just prior to being torn down recently in the pernicious wake of gentrification that has seized my beloved hometown) the place to be to hear D.C.'s homegrown sound. The second thing I noticed was the sheer size of the store. It is huge. I later learned that this is a flagship location in the chain. The layout could be overwhelming but not an issue for me. The footwear is located on the upper level and boy do they have a great selection of winter boots. The prices of some were too rich for my blood but they had over twenty winter boot styles that were in the $99-$175 range. The two sales associates in footwear answered all my questions, quickly retrieved the ones I wanted to try, and ensured a proper fit. I am stoked that I scored a pair of waterproof Timberlands for $99. Check out was a breeze and it was there that I learned REI is a Co-Op that pays a yearly dividend to members. For $20 one time you too can join for a lifetime membership, including 10% dividend from full priced items. Also, parking is validated by the cashiers. The entire shopping experience was easy, represented a good value, efficient, and delivered on courteous service. My minor quibble is the restrooms. The store is easily one of the biggest non-big box retailers in the city, however, the restroom was tiny. One urinal, two toilets, two sinks, and only one hand dryer. Perhaps they have more than one restroom (I hope so)? Either way, this REI will be my go to location for all of my outdoor needs, including bike servicing. Oh, the New York Avenue Metro Station is just a stone throw away. Four stars.

The REI store itself is pretty great inside. A lot of gear, more gear then clothing. There is a cool coffee shop attached to it. The big crip about this place is its location and no parking except for street(a block away) or paid garage. Great place just not the most convenient location

I purchased a bike from REI in March. It began skipping gears without my touching the shifters in June. I took it to be repaired (under the 1-year repair warranty) and was told by the mechanic "there's nothing I can do; the gear-jumping won't hurt the bike." This is an unacceptable and completely inane answer. I took it to Conte's Bike Shop, and while I'm out $30 (which REI should reimburse me) I have a bike that rides beautifully. Avoid the bike department AT ALL COSTS! The employees are incompetent.

They've got a great location right across the street from the Metro and a nice building. The selection inside never wowed me when I checked it out; to be fair I'm not that outdoorsy and my needs are not great; mostly casual clothing and shoes plus a few odds and ends. I did eventually try the idea of ordering a shirt on their website and getting it shipped to the store (I'd been waiting on it on Amazon and the price rocketed up). Somehow, the customer service desk where one picks these things up had a line at 3 in the afternoon. Even though there were two people working the desk, the pace was glacial; it seemed like they must just have their packages in a pile somewhere rather than organized in any way based on how long they took to find them. Of course, an extra ten minutes isn't a concern most days, but I was late to something because of it on this occasion, so I'm not happy. They seemed to have closed the fitting rooms on the men's side, so I put that off. Fortunately, I knew what I was ordering and it's a very nice shirt. I'm glad there is an REI in DC and I'm a member, but I could stand to see more interesting men's travel wear, better service with those pickups, and more things to draw me in.

This place is a disaster. No staff, staff that is there has no idea what they are doing. Clearly, changes in the labor market are affecting places like REI, as they are unable to afford the type of talent and expertise that they were once able to, especially to work in urban areas. Online pickups can take 20+ minutes due to inefficient processes and staff shortages. While the store cannot man enough checkout lines to avoid 30+ minute waits to buy their overpriced outdoor gear, they seem to have plenty of time to plaster the walls with woke, virtue-signaling posters about who even knows what. (Remember, though, that the same quality of gear that REI sells can be bought at Walmart for 1/4 the price. Which organization truly does more to make the outdoors accessible?)

This store joined the NOMA neighborhood around 2017. It is spacious. Parking is a little challenging during the day. REI has lots of community events and free courses. The clothing items and camping gear are somewhat pricy. The variety of equipment for sale is impressive. If you are checking into Yelp, do it at the door since you may not have reception in the store.

Well done, REI. Seeing banner ad after banner ad for months, all the marketing dollars paid off. The DC REI is your best yet (and biggest store on the East Coast). Here's why: 1) It's a neighborhood shop. It's in the emerging neighborhood of NoMa. It's HUGE but they divide the store into less intimidating sections sprinkled with couches and sofas. 2) It's more than a sporting good store. There's DC art inside and La Colombe's fourth DC location inside with plenty of seating to enjoy a good draft latte and book. 3) It's historic. This building is the location of the first Beatles concert on US soil. The vintage posters inside nod to how awesome that is. 4) they're friendly. They hired an army of your friendliest millennials to welcome you the moment you step inside. 5) They're a university offering countless classes from fixing your bike tire to camping with toddlers. If you haven't already, stop by. Find the DC flag inside and Instagram it. All the cool kids are doing it!

Love this business, easily in my top 10, and would be on my wedding registry if I had one. Nice, cop-esthetic products which are of high quality. I highly recommend you try. I only wish there was a physical store closer to my home. Thank you, REI.

"Petite" or "regular"-sized? You're in luck, because that's all that this location seems to carry! I love REI and shop here almost weekly, but if you're tall, don't plan on finding pants that come in tall sizes. I've come a few weeks in a row and the pants in larger (12-16) sizes seem to all be "regular" or "petite" lengths. C'mon, REI! Tall/curvy women need pants, too! I'm tired of having to find everything online, waiting a week to get it in the mail, and hoping it fits! Please do better!

I like this store and the selection at this location is unequalled. The prices are just a bit extreme in my opinion. Me & James went on a Sunday and they had a sale but even with that the prices were crazy.

Tl;dr REI needs to pay people better/put them on commission. We waited a ridiculous amount of time to spend some serious cash. Not a great business model! Long version: We have a camping trip coming up, and we have wholly inadequate and outdated sleeping bags and backpacks. We went to the REI in Eckington on Sunday, very excited to explore and load up with some cool gear. Walking into the store, it offered a very pleasant vista with neat displays, mostly geared towards camping, and my shopping salivary glands started working overtime. The Colonel and I headed to sleeping bags, and I learned, "wow" a good sleeping bag is expensive! So we started browsing, comparing using tags and signage. No one comes up to us to discuss these $250+ purchases. At the same time, one of the floor people is helping out another couple, and you can tell how excited she is to be sharing the love of camping and whatnot. Going from display to display with them, pointing out doodads and doohickeys. I have pulled out a possible sleeping bag, have it slung over my arm, and am looking around for staff. There is a sign that says we should 'try out' sleeping bags, but no idea how to do it. Nada from this lady. No held up finger, no eye contact, no, "I'll be with you in one moment" no, "Can I answer any questions you have?" Standing there, standing there. Finally I wander over to the adjacent backpacking area and gently inquire as to whether someone wants to help us buy "two sleeping bags, and also two backpacks" ($1000.00 minimum). Shortly thereafter Keith shows up (Keith is awesome) and helps us out with sleeping bag choice, pads, and some other stuff. He has it taken to the front desk while we head to backpacking. Jeez louise, there is that couple again, now they are monopolizing the backpacking guy. We are trying on backpacks, adjusting each other. 15 minutes goes by, 20 minutes goes by. Not a soul. It says we should have a fitting, but it seems like the 'rugged' couple is sucking up all of the oxygen in the room. Finally, we see Keith again, as he is apparently headed on his break, and he asks us if we are ok, "No, actually, we haven't been helped this entire time." So once again dear friends Keith steps into the breach. As we head over to the fitting area, the guy working there tells Keith, "Ohh man did you hear? They are going on an around the world trip, like from Patagonia to Bhutan." Um, what? Meanwhile, the 'rugged' lad is marching around with an 85 liter backpack that is way too big for him. He doesn't know the meaning of 'self-sustaining' or 're-supply' as we find out when they come back and TRY AND HORN IN ON KEITH. Oh hell no. Look, at the end of the day, we spend $1500.00 and just wanted to get out of there. Meanwhile, a couple of likely fantasists charmed the whole staff and I bet you bought nothing more than a canteen. We told the person who rung us up that Keith was very helpful. I hope he gets some credit for that! Otherwise, boo, REI, booooooo.

Had a negative experience at REI in DC Today. I was picking up an online order and waited for 30 minutes in the checkout line (store was understaffed) only to be told that order pickup was in the back of the store. There are no signs indicating this--and every other REI has online pickup and checkout in the same location. Please address this in the future.

The store has what you need. They cover most activities very well. The location and parking are typical city issues. The staff is hit and miss on knowledge and service.

Parking is located at an adjacent lot, currently you have to enter from the front entrance only. Store is nice, i went to get Patagonia clothing, so know that it's a bit spread out, not all in one area. Everyone appears welcoming, however they make it obvious they are watching you, i overheard one of the guys, say i was walking towards the entrance, which made me feel uncomfortable. I gave two stars one for the nice female cashier and young man on the floor. Though, Ill be avoiding this store in the future.

This review is for the bike shop at the REI Co-op, though to be honest, the themes run through the rest of the store as well. The folks that work at the bike shop aren't so much evil as they are ineffectual. They could care less and it shows. No problem making you wait for an hour in a pandemic line while they chat it up. No problem telling you that they are having trouble building your 12 inch kid's bike when you wait for another 45 minutes (but you spotted them grab the ones that are pre-made). I've gotten tune ups that came "free" with a $2,000 bike purchase, only to see that the didn't touch the brakes or the gears. They'd get three stars in most places that are surrounded by the other bike shop archetype (the too-cool-for-you-yet-we-still-dress-in-lycra-for-social-events gear shop). But the co-op gets just one, because not six blocks away is a five-starer. The Daily Rider. Everything REI's bike shop is not. Their review coming shortly...

This another store that opened in the area being developed near Union Market. It is a large store full of outdoor activity equipment and clothing. I wasn't able to spend much time on this visit. I will return when I have more time to look around. Very convenient to the NoMa Metro Station

To whom it may concern, My name is Nicco. I worked inside the cafe of your ULINE REI flagship store in DC for 4 years. I had my bike serviced only at your bike shop for the past 2 years. The bike I have is the brand Super 73. I came in yesterday to get my back brakes replaced because they were completely worn out. My bike was accepted and taken behind the counter to be serviced. Then while I was waiting a employee came up to me and told me they would actually not be able to replace my brakes because they are no longer allowed to work on the brand Super 73 because some have the ability to turn the limiter off. So instead of fixing my brakes you guys decided it was a safe option to send me on my way with bad brakes on the back. This is unacceptable, my bike was accepted and should have at the least been worked on then been told this would be the last time they would be able to work on it. Furthermore, this doesn't make any sense why you can't work on my bike. The bike shop has worked on my bike for years now fine. For the record I do not have the limiter taken off but even if I did or anyone else did that would not effect the state of the bike when it is in off mode. To turn the limiter off you have to do it in the app. The bike is classified as a Class 2 bike which is what your bike shop claims to be allowed to work on. When the bike is off it is technically a regular bike. There is nothing more complex on my bike than the electrical bikes you sell in your store. Also they have used my bike countless times to teach new bike shop employees how to work on ebikes. Go ahead and ask Tim, who by the way is the best bike mechanic I have met and truly only trust him to work on my bike (or someone he has trained). I really think this is unacceptable. When a ebike is turned off it makes it no different than a regular bike. And you would never be working on an ebike while it is turned on. So honestly that whole policy doesn't make any sense. Especially when the bike shop employees know how to work on my bike because the components are no different than a ebike you sell in your own store. I always referred people to your bike shop because you have good trustworthy service but I can no longer do that after being sent back into the streets with an unsafe bike. Honestly if I had got into an accident due to my brakes it would have been on y'all for accepting my bike and then turning around and telling me you can't work on it anymore. I will be leaving a google review also about how you discriminate against certain bikes and brands.

Not sure what happened to the old REI, but customer service and retaining good people is no longer a priority at this store. Go to Fairfax if you want good service

I was preparing for a trip to BC and wanted to invest in a nice pair of binoculars. I had a wonderful conversation with a gentleman in that section who knew SO much about the different lenses and types. I had no idea how many options were available. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I've been back countless times since them and am always treated with respect. And if they can't find an item for you, they'll figure out how to get it for you.

This review is long overdue, but I am so happy that this flagship store exists in DC. The staff are always friendly and happy to help with answering questions, offering advice, and never pushy with sales. Today Spencer helped me with some biking accessories questions and I learned a lot from his advice. The courtyard is also a nice space for their store events! If you ever need to stop by the restrooms, I give them kudos for installing the step pull at the bottom of the door so that after you dry your hands, you don't need a paper towel to hold the door open when you exit. Just another detail that shows their dedication to helping the planet.

Not worth the trip to DC management is lackluster to say the least. Good luck with an i store pick-up. There are a bunch of really polite mostly clueless people that work there. This store offered no more than the surrounding smaller stores, if anything they offer less in the way of customer service

I'm pretty obsessed with this store and come here a couple times a month. The customer service is excellent and the space is awesome. My only pet peeve is I don't seem to get cell service in the store (all that concrete?) so meeting up with people / finding them when you're in and out of dressing rooms can be tricky. It's also nice that there is a La Colombe coffee shop in the store. It means you can really make a morning of it on the weekends. I came here recently to buy a hiking backpack and the guy helping me (Bob?) spent a solid 45 minutes helping me find the perfect pack. He was super patient and I ended up with an fantastic bag that fits perfectly and was great for a recent backpacking trip. Can't recommend this store enough. Love REI!

Pretty stupid to build a REI as large as a Walmart and not have validated parking. It's in the middle of a city neighborhood. It's a slap in the face to buy $200-$1200 in gear and have to pay for parking. Selection is sparse. I went through 5 clothes racks looking for small and mediums. Nada. Very few places to try on clothes. Layout is challenging. Throw up done signage. The prices are not competitive. I prefer REI Bailey's Crossroads. Parking lot is dangerous, but the store has great sales. Very disappointed with their so called corporate governance lately. Stay tuned.

I had the absolute best experience purchasing a roof rack system and bike racks for my Prius using their telephone tech support. Then, more truly exceptional service getting it installed by Nick At this REI location. It was tricky to make sure I ordered the correct system and it was only $36 to have it professionally installed, which took about an hour. Installation is half price with The purchase of one of their roof rack systems. Thank you, Nick! So happy to finally have a functional THULE system for my roof. The cargo box is next! Great that the Prius has room for both bike racks and a cargo box.

This REI just opened. It is clean, spacious, and very welcoming. Someone greeted us upon entering the store. They seem to have tons of stuff in all categories from kayaks to bikes. The place smelled new. There are several drawbacks, though. 1. It's understaffed (fitting rooms are locked and no one is there to help customers); 2. choices and sizes are limited (at least in women's clothing section); 3. some items such as women's hiking boots and women's hiking pants are overpriced (compared to what's available online). There seemed to be only about 2 associates on the main floor (and 1 associate on the second floor where the shoes are). This REI is not easy to reach by public transportation, and is next to Amtrak tracks (15 minutes by foot behind the Union Station).

This place is great. The staff is very helpful. I was helped by a lady at checkout named Kat. I purchased a phone bike mount and a RX Bar. She checked me out but then took me back to the nutrition bars to show me a few others she thought I might like since I enjoy peanut butter and chocolate flavored snacks. The customer service here is exceptional. They really care about their customers and it shows. 10 out of 10 for sure.

Terrible service and very unhelpful. I was talked into getting a membership with a promo gift card. I came back 2 weeks later to find that the gift card expired. They offered no flexibility and appeared to be amused that it happened a lot. As for the store employees they all seem to be incompetent and not eager to help. Avoid this dying brick and mortar and go online

This is a nice store but unfortunately their customer service is dreadful. I've tried going in to get some information about a few of their bikes, do a test ride, and make a purchase but regardless of if I came in on a busy weekend or at 2pm on a Monday it was impossible to get adequate service. Despite giving them information and asking that they follow up with me I never got a call back. It's as if they don't want my money or too incompetent to get it. I might go to another location or find another dealer entirely. Do better REI. Do better.

The D.C. REI flagship store is now OPEN! This is REI's 5th flagship store to date, as well as the largest one on the East Coast. It's a whopping 51,000 square foot space in the NoMa neighborhood, filled with all the outdoor gear you need for every outdoor activity you can imagine. Aside from your clothing and outdoor supplies, there's an Adventure Station. In partnership with the National Park Service, REI uses this station to offer advice to visitors on where to go and how to really make the most of an outdoor vacay. It's stocked with guide books, brochures, and maps. You're able to consult with staff (both REI experts and National Park rangers), who will help you choose the best place for you based on any criteria you give them. There's also a community space with in-store classes for everything from trying out new GORE-TEX products to backpacking basics to learning how to survive a zombie apocalypse. Many of these classes are free. If you're a cyclist, you'll love this place. It was designed for DC's cycling community. Immediately to the right when you walk in, there's a gigantic bike area where you can buy a bike or bike gear, as well as a repair shop where the best techs can get right to work on your precious two-wheeler. Additionally, there's a courtyard with murals and a fireplace for guests to enjoy. It's open year-round and has history baked in. The store is the building that was formally the Washington Coliseum and Uline Arena, the site of one of the earliest U.S. concerts by The Beatles in 1964 (in fact, you'll see Beatles and other memorabilia throughout the store to commemorate the history of this retail space through design). The arena's original concrete archways sit right in the middle of the courtyard. It's really neat how they were able to incorporate brand new and original historical, architectural elements into this space. But my favorite has to be their La Colombe cafe. I'm a big fan of La Colombe, and I'm so happy to see them grow so rapidly in D.C. Visitors can grab a cup of Joe or tea while perusing the store or sit in one of the high chairs and enjoy. La Colombe even has a separate entrance and can be open even when REI isn't. Conveniently located across from the NoMa-Gallaudet metro stop, there's also plenty of bike parking outside the store. The staff are all friendly and helpful. if you're looking to plan your next outdoorsy adventure, D.C. REI flagship store is the place to go!