REI

Very helpful staff in this store. The staff understands what great customer service is and I will definitely return to this store. Joe was helpful in helping me find the right crank puller for my indoor exercise bike. He really went an extra mile to make sure I got what I needed. Keep up the great work Joe and the rest of the staff!!!

Originally came in the store to look for a bicycle tire and a bicycle pump… And ended up spending nearly an hour, browsing, talking to staff and looking around. They have everything from kayaks, outdoor, hiking, cycling and running… And everything in between. Such a cool store!

As I make my trek walking across America, friends and family helped me get a new Osprey backpack, ordered online and picked up in Columbus, where I received the most amazing knowledgeable service from Renee! She took her time and left no details out until I was fitted perfectly! Thank you Renee!

Pretty small store, but that's seems to be normal for most REIs. Definitely your typical REI though, great staff and products here. Would advise you to not come here midday to afternoon on Saturday. There were so many people in the area (not necessarily in the store but going to all the stores around here) that it was quite difficult to navigate. I'm used to the city and the amount of traffic was still a little ridiculous.

Went in pretty clueless and Darrell over in the shoe department was about as good as you can get at your job. Taught me TONS and was a treat to talk to, caught a glimpse of him being incredibly kind to his employees as well. 10/10

I've only shopped here twice, but both experiences were great. I go here for nice outdoor shoes and the shoes shopping experience in itself is always great. The first time they were extremely busy and the guy was super attentive and helpful. The second time, even after I told the sales person I'd buy them, she asked me questions to make sure I was comfortable with the shoe. These days quality in service dwindles and staff members (who aren't managers) being interested in their customers, is rare.

Large selection of sporting goods, very good customer service.

Today I had the best shoe buying experience - and probably the best sales experience of any kind. Derrell was incredibly knowledgeable of shoes and foot biomechanics. He also managed customers very well, making sure to spend time with each customer and moving back and forth between them. He even showed me a trick to lace and tie my shoes that instantly made my shoes more comfortable. When I get home, I'm redoing all my laces with his method.

Eli helped us pick out my son's hiking pack for Philmont....fitted him, made awesome recommendations, and was just so so nice. Then helped with a sleeping pad. We loved his service! Great job, Eli!

Isabel was so helpful when I went to REI Easton to buy a pair of pants. I told her I wanted a pair similar to the old Columbia pants I was wearing. I had already looked around the store and checked their website but hadn't found anything that looked right. Isabel told me how much she liked the Mountain Hardware Dynama pull-on pants she was wearing, which were similar to what I was looking for, then she walked with me to find the pants in my size and color. She handed me two sizes, and while I was trying them on, she took it upon herself to check the REI website to see if Columbia pants similar to my old ones were still available. I left with a pair of comfortable, attractive pants. Plus, this was first time I ever had fun buying pants.

Great gear selection, and able to order if items are not in stock. I have never run in to this, as usually whatever I am looking for is available in store. The employees are all super helpful. Each time I have been in the employees are kind, happy, and eager to help. This makes for a great (and easy) shopping experience! This is also a favorite place of mine to go to look for gifts! REI always has a good selection and some surprise items you would never think of but may just know someone who needs!

REI is one of my brother's favorites. I drive past this place often, but never stopped in; if I needed outdoor gear I always thought of Dick's or Field and Stream. But I figured I ought to check it out. Needed a few little things (biners, etc.) They had exactly what I needed, right up front. Their selection of other items seems good, and though it doesn't look as large as the competitors' stores, there was plenty here (and they have more online.) I'm leery of memberships, but theirs seems reasonable if you're going to use a lot of the stuff. Small annual fee, good prices, discounts on rentals, etc. I did not join, but was still happy with the prices, and they weren't too pushy about membership.

Definitely worth checking out if you're an avid outdoorsman, or a weekend warrior in need of gear. Worth joining the co-op for the benefits. Used gear on sale and usually can find something good on clearance, if you're needing a good deal.

Great customer service and great Covid protocols. My go to outdoor store wherever I am in the US and they have a store. I can always count on getting what I need.

I picked up my new bike at REI on Saturday 6/1 right when the store opened at 10am. The two bike shop specialists didn't come in until 11am but it was worth the wait. They helped with a test ride and then performed a safety check on the bike and installed my bottle holders. Both were very knowledgeable!! I was very happy with my overall experience! I am a REI member so I earn dividends on purchases and would recommend one joins - it's a one time $20 fee, every spring you get a dividend check to use on future purchases.

You couldn't dream up a more ideal shopping experience than the one I had last night at the Easton REI. I walked into the shop a climbing noob, looking for my first harness and climbing shoes after a fun month borrowing at the climbing gym. Someone met me at the door, walked me over to the section, talked me through some fundamentals and then introduced me to Scott. Turns out Scott is something of a local institution in the Columbus climbing scene, and he really knows his stuff. He pointed me to a shoe that would work great with my wide, flat feet, went up to top stock to find my perfect size, and fitted me with a harness so comfortable I could probably sleep in it. Experiences like this, and employees like Scott, are why I will always go to REI rather than buy from Amazon. Take good care of Scott, REI.

The customer service was horrendous. I wondered around for a long time trying to find a specific item for my wife and there was no help to be found. Them once to the register they were even worse. Go somewhere else.

I have been a member since 2018. Tonight we visited the Easton location and the loss prevention guy followed us around the store. It was so obvious. I ended saying something to him, because it became very annoying and apparent we were being singled out because we are black. When we went to the register to make our purchase we mentioned it to the cashier. She knew exactly who we were talking about. Then she said she doesn't talk to him. Then she said he works there. Not sure what's the truth, however this isn't a good look for REI having their customers harassed by loss prevention.

Without a doubt a refreshing assurance that customer service is not dead in retail. Personally, I've found a new interest and commitment to improving my health, and as a support to that commitment, I've dedicated myself to finding recreational activities that nurture my goals. A renewed interest in hiking (backpacking) has led to numerous trips to Rei at Easton Town center and also a couple of trips to their Sawmill Rd store. On every occasion, I was greeted by an employee who seemed sincere, friendly, and as if they genuinely wanted to be helpful for my visit to their store. As I looked around the store on numerous occasions during my visits the staff on the retail floor in the most unintrusive and in the most friendly manner we're always willing to help. In addition, the store offers assistance with the sizing for backpacking backpacks free of charge on my first visit a young man named Avery assisted me, when I got back to shoes another gentleman named Steve gave me some great information on shoes I was considering. In both cases, the staff was extremely knowledgeable, but perhaps even more focused on my goals as a customer/hiker and how their product offerings might help me reach those goals. Most recently I took my wife to get sized she was helped by a staff member named Miranda, and I just recently bought a new pair of trail runners and I was helped by Kennedy. What is truly great about Rei is the culture they've set in their stores. The names of the staff members could change with the day and shift employees are working on but the high-level customer service doesn't change. Even their online experience is of the highest quality, their website provides a vast array of brands and products to meet every customers' need and budget. I've loved shopping "Rei-Outlet" on their main website, full of deals of slightly older models or closeouts at incredible prices. In addition to the store and online experience that they've established. I've found one of the most useful or valuable resources associated with their brand is their Youtube channel. From detailed and informative "How to videos" to "Product Reviews", they continue to embrace service to their customer base in the highest quality manner and most helpful ways. They've built a loyal customer in just a couple of months if you give them a chance I assure you will come away impressed. #optoutdoor

I like REI most of any outdoors store. It has everything for your bicycle needs. They have a wide selection of outdoor wear, including boots and many socks. It has a friendly staff at this location. This store is among my must stops at Easton where I can find the best quality and selection. It's more expensive for similar items you can find at Walmart. This however is much better quality, and you get what you pay for. The staff is also much more friendly than these other stores. It makes it a much better experience shopping here, and you will be happier with your selection. They will ask if you're a member when you check out. Becoming a member is highly recommended. It's only $20 and you only will get a few emails each month. You should also visit the website first to compare prices. Almost anything can be delivered right to you. It's free shipping with a minimum $50 purchase. Another great thing about REI is how much they care about their employees. They were closed on Black Friday. It's nice to see a company care about more than money. They should receive some kind of award for that. I have been happy with everything I bought at REI. It's recommended for any fan of outdoor activities. They have better quality that is worth the cost, so if you like to bicycle, camp, or anything outdoors, come here for the best products.

So far, I have always had a great experience at REI. I highly recommended becoming a member. It's worth it for the yearly dividend and Garage Sale access. I saved hundreds of dollars on perfectly good gear at their most recent garage sale. I took a star off because the expense for some items really bothers me (clothes). Which I know REI can't control the cost of other manufacturers and brands but even REI Co-op products can be ridiculously priced. I have to save though, if I'm going to spend that kind of money. I'd rather spend it at REI then anywhere else because of the dividend and they take returns on everything. They take back beat up used gear (except Garage Sale items), as long as you keep the receipt. Their class are alright, I took one of their beginner classes and it was fine. I didn't think it was worth if for me, but I can see how it's valuable for other people. I would love to do a trip with REI but I don't know if I can ever afford it considering everything out of country is pretty much 5k or more, not including airfare. I think the concept of these trips are cool, but just really financially unrealistic. I can't imagine a day will ever come when my husband and I can drop 20k on a trip to Peru.

If you are getting outfitted for any trip, go here. You won't regret it. I had such a great experience getting all the gear I needed with the right knowledge. Jen walked through my gear list and help me choose the eighth equipment without being pressured to go for the more expensive options. She gave me the pros and cons to each brand and each type of material. Excellent customer service! Find Jen if you are going on your first hike!

Not my first time shopping at REI, but it was my first time shopping at this location. The store is new and modern, it is easy to get in and out of, and it appeared to be well stocked and well staffed. While those are all good things, I was majorly annoyed by their rewards program. I don't care if you are giving discounts, the idea of paying you $20.00 to be a rewarded customer is insulting to me as a potential customer. This program must be new, an area of emphasis going into the holidays, I haven't been there in awhile, or the employees were previously not pestering people to get them to sign up. When you ask me about the program before you ask me if I need help finding something you made the program a point of contention with me. While I think they have a great selection of products for all genders and sizes, for all outdoor activities, and for all seasons; I think their prices are a little on the high side in general. After I was asked the third time if I was a member of the rewards program before I even got to the register (twice by the same person), I decided they valued me more for my 20.00 than they did for the hats I was going to purchase. With that I left the store without buying the two stocking hats I was interested in and took my 100.00 to another store in the complex and bought three hats there and had enough money leftover to go to PF Changs. Everyone may not be as annoyed as I am with their rewards program so feel free to shop there if you don't mind paying to be their customer to get a discount or to walk out the door with something you can get elsewhere far cheaper.

Thanks to Robin's suggestion, I tried REI for spinning shoes, after having no luck next door at Dick's Sporting Goods. I found the area for cycling shoes very easily. However, no one was around to help me out. I didn't think much of it, until after trying on several pair on my own, and realized I need some more professional assistance. I didn't see any workers, but caught up with Jordan at the front desk and asked him if he could come over and give me a hand. After an hour, I walked away with shoes and clips and a smile on my face. Yes, they definitely could use more staff, as the store is big, and a lot of times there's many questions involved before making a purchasing decision. I love REI's 1-year return guarantee. If I find these shoes not to fit right, after a few spinning classes, no worries! The sides start to wear thin after 9 months? No problem! I can bring them back for new ones anytime, no questions asked.

I recently had my 25-year old Cannondale mountain bike serviced at REI. It was the first service ever for this bike and the staff at REI diagnosed the issues, made recommendations of repairs which were critical and more "recommended." The repair cost was very reasonable and they totally cleaned the bike. It looks like new. I can't say enough about REI and would highly recommend them to others.

I love, love, LOVE this place. As soon as I enter, I'm like a kid in a candy store. OUTSTANDING customer service. Staff is always armed with such knowledgeable, open and friendly associates. The last time I journeyed over to REI was to buy a new pair of climbing shoes. Scott, one of the associates, who also happened to be a rock climber, spent almost an hour helping me find the right pair. I really appreciated that! For climbing gear, I shop solely at REI. It's the highest quality. Period. Running and camping gear, not always. So a membership will cost you $20 and lasts a lifetime. Is it worth it? Absolutely. My membership paid for itself with my first purchase. You also receive ~10% back on your purchases (excluding sale items, I think..) at the end of the year as a part of your annual dividend. They also have these garage-sales for members, where you can find some wicked good deals. You also have a YEAR to return or replace a purchased item, which is insane! I understand prices can be somewhat steep, and yes, sometimes rather painful, but what they offer truly is the best of the best. Personally, as someone involved in an extreme sport, I'd rather not skimp on the equipment my life literally hangs on! Neither should you.

First of all, I want to address the comments about the membership and the person wondered, if it was a new program. I have been a member since 1976, so it is not a new program. You become a member and it is a coop. Which means you get a % of your spending at years end. It is expensive and you can go elsewhere and buy something and have leftover money, as others mentioned. What you get in return is quality and helpful salesclerks who know what they are talking about when it comes to their outdoormerchandise. My purchases have lasted a lifetime and I finally replaced some items because the newer items are made up of material that is lighter and still last forever. My new hiking boots have been to Machu Pichu, California 14teeners, and Utah. If I had gone to another competitor they wouldn't have lasted. How do I know, I know quality when I see it and am willing to pay for it. All my hiking and camping equipment comes from REI. I have tried to go on the cheap for camping equipment, but am always sorry because they don't last as long as the REI mechandise. Do I shop elsewhere? Yes, my bike came from a specialized bike store and my running shoes only come from a running store, which is about 4 times a year. Can't let shoes wear out. Rei is a stellar store and I hope I can continue to do activities into my 80s and I will still continue to shop there. High quality merchandise , knowledgeable salesclerks, friendly and respectful staff, well stocked shelves, and a coop with a neat mission. What more could you ask for, right.

In need of some hiking shoes for some upcoming outdoors endeavors so I wandered into here. Look, I know NOTHING about hiking shoes so I went in such a newbie even though I have one pair already. Spoke to the girl working in shoes that day and did I ever learn things! The major one being it's all about the fit and if that is wrong then things can go badly with you (like what happened to one toe in my old pair - ouchies!) She had me try on a few pairs and I hoofed it over their little simulated climbing surface model in the store as well as walked a few laps inside of the store. I eventually settled on a pair in a size I wouldn't have bought before but having learned how to protect my toes I went with the recommended size. They weren't in the store but they ordered them to be delivered to my home. This is where the one star went away. Their computer system was so slow/off/whatever I was up at the checkout area for the longest while it took two people to figure out how to get my order to go through. I've since received my shoes and look forward to giving them a workout. And if there is an issue REI has a killer return policy.

Let me start this off by by clearing up a few things. After reading the previous reviews, I think that there's a few things folks should know. REI sells quality gear, and from my experience, has good customer service. To me, this is worth the extra cost. I knew this ahead of time and that's part of the reason I chose to buy my new tent from here. Just like anything else, you get what you pay for. If you're looking to find gear you can get at your local WalMarts, REI isn't the place for you. If you're looking for people with knowledge of the products their selling and quality gear, make this your first stop. I finally got to head over and checkout REI last night. I knew about the membership and what the perks of it are. Pay the $20. It's worth it. I talked with 2 associates about what I was looking for in a tent and they were more than helpful. After some careful deliberation and advice from the associates, I chose what I thought was right for me. I paid what I thought was a good price for an REI brand tent, and am looking forward to using it. Personally, I feel better knowing that the people working there have actual experience with the products. For those of you that have been in Columbus for awhile, REI fills the gap that Galyan's left. I know there are some good local shops as well, but you can't beat the selection. I'll definitely be back!

On the one hand, if you have even a vague interest in camping - or anything else that requires going outside - REI probably has what you need. On the other, it felt like everything there was really expensive - even a foam bedroll pad for your sleeping bag that I'm pretty sure is $30-40 on Amazon was $86 here. Employees were really friendly and I admit that everything, especially their own brands, seems like it's the best quality, but it might be worth doing some price comparisons unless you absolutely need it RIGHT NOW.

I really like this company and the things they stand for. I prefer REI over other outdoor stores that carry similar products. Their prices aren't the cheapest, but I wait for the items I want to go on sale. The staff has always been super helpful and polite. I am happy to pay $20 for their membership knowing the money is going to good causes!

Katie at REI in Easton is the bomb! Her and her manager helped me out and were so nice throughout every step of the way! They made me feel like I was apart of the REI family. Katie you did an outstanding job and I hope this review is seen by your bosses. She deserves a raise or some sort of appraisal for being so awesome. Thank you again!

Love REI! Period. Point. Finish. I have never been disappointed by them or their products. Plus, their 100% satisfaction guarantee actually means something. We buy in store and online and using their mobile app. Easy every which way. Some products get pretty pricey, but on a whole I would say it's a good value.

The lady with a glass at the checkout desk(close to entrance) was extremely rude and discriminating. Treated so badly. Other staffs were nice. She thinks that she is superior than others. Hope the management teaches her the meaning of customer service. If people stop shopping they will learn a lesson.

I went here looking for a backpack for an upcoming vacation, and if I based my review only off my first visit I'd give them 5 stars hands down. The first time I went PJ helped me, and he was outstandingly helpful. I told him my budget and what I was looking for, and he didn't go over the budget (even though it would've been easy), and was just outstanding at helping me find a bag. I'm fairly petite and it took several tries to find one that fit right and didn't hurt my back, and then even after I ended up finding one I liked he brought me some more options to compare. I walked out with a bag that was adjusted perfectly (and I'm not sure I would've been able to adjust it correctly myself since even the torso length was adjustable). Later however, two things frustrated me. One- I looked online (which I can't believe I didn't do in the store), and immediately found the bag for $25 cheaper. I thought about returning my bag and ordering it online, but I decided to just look at it as a fitting fee since he'd been so helpful. However I do think that REI should price their items more competitively. Two- I brought my husband in to help him find a bag, and the woman that helped us was not anywhere as helpful as PJ. She ignored our budget and told us we wouldn't find any for that price. She then showed us bags over double the budget price. We looked around on our own and found some closer to our budget without her, and decided to just order a bag for him online since he needed a standard size bag anyway. So- if you happen to get the right person, this store can be fantastic. But the prices are a little high.

REI is perfect for what it is: a store that has a variety of quality products but isn't highly specialized. No, it's not the cheapest; if you know what you're looking for, and you're willing to shop around/wait for delivery, you can probably find a better price. It's not the most extensive, either, though you *can* find a lot of things (particularly cycling, climbing, or camping gear; there are a lot of camping smallwares at REI). They're likely to have what you need, but maybe not as many options as you'd find at a highly specialized store. What REI is good for: *If you're still newish to a sport and are looking to fill out your gear and maybe need some help/guidance or to see a variety of options in one place *If you're not new but need or want a quick replacement for something *You have more money than you have patience to shop around *You like to shop at a store that has a solid reputation and great service It seems a bit harsh to ding them for trying to make a return without a receipt--most companies require a receipt to do more than an exchange or store credit. I've always had good, non-intrusive customer service here. And I find it to be better than most of the local sporting goods/camping stores I've been to, with the exception of Roll.

They were busy in shoe section which is fine. I picked up a shoe to ask to try on there was a worker next to me helping a customer not once did he say will be with you shortly I sat there for 15 minutes and no one helped me I got up told the worker thanks for your help and walked right out

I recently started rock climbing and have reached the point where I need to get my own gear. Scott, the expert climber on site, was beyond helpful. From sharing climbing stories, giving advice on where to get started, and even filling me in on the climbing festival coming up he provided beyond excellent customer service. I ultimately left with the perfect gear for me and a better sense of where I need to head from here.

I received an email from REI telling me my bike was ready to be picked up. I went to pick up the bike at the REI at Easton Mall and saw two them assembled and ready to go at the bike desk. I stood at the counter for 5 minutes before the tragic hipster bike tech stopped assembling something and looked at me. even then i had to say something to grab his attention. he came over and asked my name. he then asked if he had called me about my bike. i said "no. i received an email telling me to come and get the pick. bring an ID". the hipster told me bikes were only ready for pick up when he calls. well, why did i receive an email then? i explained there might be a mistake because sitting next to me was a completely assembled 24" Coop bike I purchased (two of them no less). the hipster told me "those bikes are not for you." lol - really? another REI employee standing next to him then asked the other tech if he had called the other people to let them know their bikes were ready (the same one i bought no less). he said "NO". now... customer service 101 dictates the natural course of action here would be to give me one of the assembled bikes. Nope - not at REI. to make matters worse i then had the terrible misfortune of having to deal with a supposed "manager" called Lauren. I showed Lauren the email stating "Your order is ready to be picked up." She then precipitated to apologize for the "confusing" email. ummm.... I told Lauren there is NOTHING confusing about the email. it says to come pick up your bike!!! Lauren was the rudest, snarkiest "manager" i have ever had to deal with in my 45 years on this earth. she told me "good day" as if to make a point she was done talking to me. thats right... SHE was done with ME. i wasnt there for a bike or anything. i wasnt there for customer service. i was there because Lauren permitted me to speak with her. She repeated multiple times "good day sir" as if I was an actor forgetting my lines in a bad play. There was a time when i enjoyed REI. i love the gear. i love going there to look at new stuff. the people there have always been some of the nicest people on earth to deal with. the millennial hipsters working there now are the rudest asses east of the mississippi. what happened to REI??? THESE ARE THE FOLKS RUNNING THE SHOW THERE NOW???? i can understand the rude bike tech. his job is not to help me. his job is to assemble bikes. what on earth is REI's excuse for Lauren? they pay her to deal with people? REI sent me the dam email telling me the bike needed to be picked up!!!!!! I DIDNT ASK FOR THAT EMAIL!!!! In lieu of doing the right thing and giving me the assembled bike, they told me was ready to be picked up, I was treated horribly. my wife and son were with me. he knew his bike was ready!!! he sat on the bike!!!! i had to tell him I lied. his bike wasnt ready. i had to drive over an hour to get to that REI. its not around the corner and down the street. REI screwed up big time here. hell will freeze over before i buy another piece of gear from them or even a new winter coat for my kids. no matter how much i like REI. principle will prevent me from ever giving them another dollar. C lenell

Super helpful staff, great selection for all of your outdoor needs. James is the best, he helped me find exactly what I was looking for! :)

I went to this REI as my first REI experience. Upon walking in, there was a young lady who saw me and my husband checking out the latest in high tech strollers. She was wonderfully pleasant and very knowledgeable (hence the second star for her). She gave us the rundown on becoming a member of REI if we chose and we went on out way throughout the store. The reason we came to REI was to get a new pair of sunglasses for myself, but also check out the store. We enjoy camping and thought it would be a great new place for any items we needed. Mind you we don't purchase this kind of stuff often, so becoming a member just wasn't something we chose to do since we wouldn't shop there too often. The membership if I recall is a $20 cost. I found my glasses, my husband found a shirt and we were on the way! After a few weeks of the glasses, they were uncomfortable. I like the polarized lenses, but not the fit. I decided I would like to exchange them for a different style. My husband and I were in the area, and decided to stop by for the exchange. We didn't have the receipt with us, but had the credit card we used on the purchase. We went to the counter and asked to make an exchange, offered up the credit card we used etc. the cashier basically told us that since we were not REI members, he had no way of returning them, knowing what we paid etc. He then gave me the long speech about if I were a member, he would exchange them for me. I let him know I may have my receipt at home just not with me at the time. He said that would be the only way they would assist in doing anything with my purchase. I thanked him and left. I will be returning my sunglasses today and not returning to the store. It seems like if you are not an REI member, they just don't want to take the time to assist you with good customer service. Such a shame as the store itself is very nice.

Yeah, I like REI. I know that makes me a suburban tool, but I'm ok with that. This store just opened, so it's massively stocked and seriously jammed with people buying stuff to make their outdoor excursions MOAR EXTREME. I actually stopped in to buy a diaper bag that doesn't look like a diaper bag, and they had many in stock and they were priced fairly. I guess the only downside is the whole membership thing, but it's not that expensive. I'll be back.

Such a welcome addition to Columbus. How did we ever get by without REI? This location is preferable over Dublin just because you're near so much more, but truly both stores are awesome. Don't be afraid to ask questions about anything in the store--all of the employees I've spoken with have been extremely helpful, pointing me in the right direction even if that meant finding something cheaper on Amazon!

Really helpful sales associates. I found what I needed. Unfortunately the management team was less than helpful and created unnecessary barriers to apply my dividends. I left the store without a purchase. Never going back - you can get better things online and not waste an hour of your time.

Absolutely the worst experience. I would give a 0 star if possible. DO NOT SHOP HERE. We had 2 stores to visit this evening. The first was Bath and Body works. Unfortunately their store was closed temporarily. However, this location was more than accommodating, giving customers a 20% coupon and free hand sanitizers to apologize for the inconvenience. I only bring this up to provide a contrast to our experience with the second store on our list. REI. We had received 2 jackets for Christmas from this location, but both were undersized, and we had stopped by to do a simple even exchange for a larger size and perhaps do a bit of shopping. Unfortunately this store has a "No Exchange and No return" policy without proof of purchase. These items are still tagged, and in their original wrapping. I have never had a store not do an even exchange in this situation before. They were extremely unaccommodating and somewhat rude. Do not buy gifts for someone from here, Do not shop here. You can do a lot better price, and customer service wise just about anywhere else.

I stopped in here to look at running shoes and was VERY impressed. The customer service is absolutely top tier. I received help from two different employees working in the shoe dept. They both were very knowledgeable, quick to help, and wonderfully friendly. They led me to a purchase decision that was exactly what I wanted. Speaking of friendly, outgoing, employees, EVERYONE in the store was very pleasant. The membership seems like a good deal. Just join. They said they would only send two emails per month. The store was clean and well lit. The selection was very good in the product areas I was shopping.

Very very unhelpful. No customer service was looking to just exchanging a gift for a size smaller and the cashier did not want to help called the manager and they offered no help. I have never been to another retail store that made exchanging orders items so difficult, I will never recommend this place to anyone

I am new to backpacking and I am in the process of getting my gear for this summer. Everyone at REI has been so helpful each time I come in. I was in today to try out trekking poles and someone helped me that was so nice that I wanted to let management know how much he helped me. I am not sure how to get that info to management so I am leaving review here. I believe his name is Scott and he is a rock climber. Anyways he helped me with trekking poles and made me feel so comfortable. He also talked to me about my upcoming trips and gave me some great short local backpacking trails that I might test my gear out on. We also talked about coming in for my pack fitting and the upcoming members garage sale. I just love that when I come in people don't think my backpacking idea is crazy and are so supportive. Thanks REI staff and especially Scott, if that is your name. What is really amazing is I feel I could write something like this about a staff member each time I come in. The people are so nice and knowledgeable. So if you are new to something, don't be intimidated to go to REI and ask questions. They really are so helpful.

I have just become a member at REI a few months ago and have always had a good experience when coming, especially due to Scott - he is so friendly and helpful. But today when I was picking up my gear I had shipped there I had a less than stellar experience with Linda. She was curt and rude and I felt like me being there and needing help was somehow a hinderance to her. I had my shoes and backpack shipped to REI so I could try the shoes on and be fitted for my backpack. Scott went above and beyond helping me with my backpack but when I realized that the shoes I purchased were too large and went to Linda to see if I could exchange them for a size down she charged me extra for the new pair of the same boot that fit. She said since I came in to the store for the pair that fit it was no longer considered an outlet item so I had to pay more. I was not informed that I could have just told them to ship me the right size from the outlet for the same price. I now feel tricked into spending more money for the exact same product and am not impressed with REI and its willingness to inform customers on their options.

While on a project in Columbus, I stopped at REI to check out backpacks for my upcoming southeast Asia trip. Which turned out to be another amazing adventure by the way. If yelp would get their butts in gear and get on out to Southeast Asia, with some of the best of food in the world not to mention I would have plenty pics up to show you just what I mean. Hopefully in the future we won't have this problem. Moving along, The staff was very knowledgeable on everything I asked. I never knew all the inns and outs and aspects of buying a backpack, by the time I left I was a pro just like the employees. They are well-stocked with everything you can ask for traveling, within the next year two REI's should be opening on the Eastside and Westside of Cleveland. Can't wait, really looking forward to shopping here at home. I ended up getting a Gregory Baltoro 75 L pack, it was voted the years best and I highly recommend it.

Just left REI. Was being helped by a guy who was extremely knowledgeable in hiking boots. The manager came by and sent him on break in the middle of waiting on me and another guy looking for sandals. She had a girl replace him who knew nothing about hiking boots. After I walked in the current pair of boots she asked if I walked in them. Then she had nothing to say or offer in helping me choose the proper hiking boots and she walked away. So I just picked up the 2 most comfortable pairs. I looked for her to help me pick out a pair of hiking boots for my husband but she was gone. Went up to the cashier to have them send someone to help me. Walked back to shoes and she came out from the back. Told her I needed basic men's hiking shoes. She just pointed out Merrells and asked waterproof or not. Then she asked which of 2 colors and size. No service at all! It is unbelievable to me that a manager would call an employee out for a break in the middle of serving to customers. I said something at the cash register about it but no one seems to care.

I guess I'm not cool enough for REI. I've been to every large outdoor retailer and I don't get why people are so impressed with REI. If you like bikes, you'll enjoy this store. If you like camping and hiking gear, you will likely be disappointed. The store was poorly stocked and I ended up going to another local retailer to find what I needed. All in all, really not impressed or get what all the hype for this store is about.

Another reason why I love REI... I bought a pair of rock climbing shoes last fall but didn't get to actually wear them to climb until this summer. They were too small and hurt my toes. I had saved the box, but lost the receipt. I went to the store to see what my options were for exchanging them or getting a partial store credit and they said "not a problem!". They looked up my purchase using my REI membership and told me to go pick out a pair that fit. That easy!! No hassle at all; even though it was almost 10 months late