REI

This is a great store. Every time I have been in the store they associates have been so helpful (you just don't see that anymore). From ease of check out, easy returns and most of all helpful associates. I was in today looking to replace a backpack for a hike, and Jeff could not have been more helpful. From sizing, to recommendations, to even knowing the ends and outs of the hike I was getting ready to do. I rarely write reviews for chain locations, but the service at this store was so good, I felt the need to do it. Thanks for being one of the few shining lights of great retails experiences still left!

Love the store. Anna helped me pick out my perfect backpack. She was so kind and patient, and offered to let me try do many different backpacks before we found the perfect one.

The staff here are SO friendly and helpful. The staff member helping me in the shoe department was really knowledgeable and guided me to the perfect hiking shoes. She patiently helped me try five different ones until I found the right ones. Membership here pays. We received a certificate after we spent so much money and it ended up paying about 75% of the cost of the shoes. Membership also comes with free shipping and access to member's only deals. I won't go anywhere else for my sporting goods.

Went to REI to look for waterproof glove but stocks were limited. Couldn’t find the woman size M that I wanted so had to pick Men size S for myself. The store has some nice winter jackets and they do have Clearance section that you might get some good bargains sometimes.

Went two different times to get rock climbing gear and both employees were pushy and rude if you didn’t want the membership. The experience was actually the worst customer service I have ever had and was shocked leaving. When I said no thank you to the membership the checkout guy said “well there’s other places to get this gear so I’m not sure why you’re shopping here”.

Quite unimpressed with the store. There are numerous high quality items and they are priced in a way that is fair. The problem for me with this place was the workers. I could not get helpful answers to questions and I was unimpressed by the way most of the workers carried themselves. It became clear to me that most of the workers were not familiar with outdoor activities and they were basically posing as hardcore outdoor enthusiasts. What a group of fakes. Stay away

I went to this REI to purchase walking shoes, because I had a member 20% coupon. The salesman brought me a pair to try on and then went over to two men who were going to Iceland and proceeding to give them trip advice. After about 10 minutes I tried to get his attention by standing up, then waving at him and then dropping the shoe box on the wooden bench I was sitting on but he was kept on talking to the men. I got up and walked around the store and went back and he was still talking. Disgusted, I went to at Scheels and bought my shoes there.

This place has it all! Not only great for any outdoor recreational activity you could think of, but a lot of useful every day gear. Biking, camping, hiking, rock climbing, water rafting etc, they’ll have things you didn’t even think you would need until you see it. You’ll even find bear spray here. The store has a great layout and surprisingly sectioned off with a level of organization that shows they know what they’re doing. You’ll find plenty of items for kids as well. Be prepared and allow yourself some extra time as a lot of these items are unique and you’ll find yourself stopping and looking at items you didn’t come for. Surprisingly great deals on high dollar items. Great quality, friendly staff and over the top fun place to visit. A must visit if you have plans for not only Kansas City, but for mountain play as well

Their merchandise is cheap and overpriced. I bought a fanny pack for hiking and the fabric was so thin, people could see thru it. It's barely big enough for a regular sized phone. If you have the max phone, the zipper will rip right out I don't know what people could carry in their "lightweight" pack. Maybe one of those tiny flashlights, but not with a phone since it'll be right up against

I am from the late, great state of Oregon. The marxist city of Portland to be exact. I've shopped at numerous REI's and found the Overland Park store less than what I had become accustomed to. Specifically, the store is comparatively small, and service is not impressive. After shopping for a coat online I thought the 35 mile drive would allow me to try some coats on and hopefully leave with what I thought I wanted. Unfortunately the selection was extraordinarily limited. After walking around and looking at tags for a half hour I was finally asked if I was finding things ok. I instinctively refused in a polite manner but then changed course and asked about a fleece jacket I'd found. The salesperson was unable to find the correct section saying they were always moving things around and that it was her first day back after a week off. She finally asked another salesperson that pointed us in the right direction and answered product availability questions. It was suggested I decide on a size and then let the front desk order it for me assuming the color/size combo was not in stock which it wasn't. Once I started trying one of the jackets on the salesperson said nothing and made her escape. That's just poor customer service in my opinion. So between a 70 mile roundtrip commute for me, a store with a small footprint and very limited selection, plus questionable customer service, I can't recommend this store. This resulted in 2 hours of my life during which I gained nothing and of which I'll never get back. Moving forward I'll be buying on line and taking my chances with sizing.

I love this store! I love this brand! I love the outdoors! This store makes me smile. Always check out the clearance section. Always talk to the employees. They seem to have the best adventures and advice.

This was my first time in Rei. I must say I was very impressed with the layout and customer service. I ended up passing by the item I went in to pick up. The employee helped me and loaded it in my basket. While I was at the checkout, I forgot something, so the cashier asked another employee to get it for me. The store is clean, everyone was friendly and it was not crowded.

There's a reason why REI is my favorite store and today is no exception. I left Cabela's frustrated with their customer service and was Beyond happy with all the customer service I received at REI today. I'm very particular with the kind of shoes and boots I was looking for in the associates were more than patient, knowledgeable and helpful with both purchases. I love the atmosphere of REI and all of their products and couldn't be happier with all of my experience with them.

I don't mind paying full retail for quality stuff, however I do mind when the employees have 0 training and the personality of roadkill! WHAT A PATHETIC JOKE!!

Love this store! They are always helpful with answering my many questions (and I have a lot). Great vibe and excellent customer service. Only downside is they are sometimes too busy to help timely but that's a given for a place like this. Highly recommend the $20 lifetime membership. Great sales and the garage sale is great at times too.

A fine national co-op, which I've belonged to for years. But I direct all of my hometown, Kansas City business elsewhere. The kiss of death is their bad location. Try Moosejaw or the like for a convenient, easy-access location. Dozen of REI members in the area never venture to this hold-your-nose location... =((

I'm new to this place because I just started taking up backpacking. Let me tell you this place is absolutely awesome. Yes, it's on the pricier side but they carry quality items. Also, get this, a one year return policy! That's pretty generous! You can also join their co-op membership for $20 and receive discounts throughout the year. I came here to get fitted for an internal backpack and some trail runner shoes for my upcoming trek into the wilderness. The staff did not disappoint. My backpack fits great, but I'm still playing around with the sizing of my shoes. They let me return a pair earlier because I didn't know if my shoes would fit with liners and hiking socks. I feel I'm going to be dropping a chunk of my paycheck on this place, but it's OK. Adventure awaits!

Beautiful store with great quality equipment. The prices are decent and the clearance stuff is awesome. They have a co op you can join and get money back at the end of the year on the full price items you bought. So it's like everything is discounted in the end. The garage sale is amazing. The employees are knowledgeable and friendly, and not pushy which is great.

I LOVE REI, everyone here is pretty knowledgable. It's a great store for great gear and if you're a member they pretty much take care of you. The best part about this store is, they have all kinds of FREE classes! I've taken lots of them and usually learn something new each time.

Been here three times in the last year and all three times my experience was perfect! First time wanted to find a backpack to use while hiking in Thailand and the salesman taught me so much about backpacks I walked out of there not only with an amazing backpack, that I did use in Thailand, but I've also used in several trips and hikes here in the US and it is seriously the best thing I own for traveling! Second time was for shoes, that I love. The last time, I took a friend there for a backpack. Every time a AAA experience with knowledgeable sales members who ask the right questions and are knowledgeable about their products. Easy to find, parking is easy, and fair prices.

Been here a few times and the staff was very helpful. I told them what my needs were and they made severs professional recommendations for hiking boots and socks l. I spent more than I wanted to but I think in the long run it will be worth the additional investment.

Great store for any of your outdoor camping or recreational sports needs! Recently made the drive all the way from Omaha to check out the location here. They carry most of your higher end brands like Patagonia, Marmot, Arcteryx, North Face, as well as their standard REI brand pants and jackets. Only thing that I think could use a little more attention is more Arcteryx selection, only found maybe 6 different models of pants/jackets there which made it hard to find exactly what I was looking for if Arcteryx is your thing. Other than that great location if you're looking for most outdoor equipment!

Unfortunately the staff at this location is quite sensitive to sarcasm and light hearted jokes, me and my entire family ejected from the store with a cart full of items for purchase. I believe the manager got his feelings hurt and would not accept an apology.

First time customer here. Was tricked into signing up for their 20$ membership in the store with the promise of discounts (excuse was she was speaking to quickly). Was then told I couldn't redeem that day after I thought I was told I could. While waiting for a manager to speak to I find the shoes I wanted in stock with free delivery to my house for 60$ cheaper from Amazon. Laurie and Courtney were the two ladies that "helped" me in the store. I would not recommend shopping at this overpriced and unaccomidating store. I am even having difficulty canceling my brand new membership. Will not be shopping here again. Your employees cost you a sale and a return customer.

I was promptly met in the backpack section where an associate fitted me with several packs until I found the one I liked. Learned a lot about the proper fitment of backpacks that I may have not learned elsewhere. REI is not the place to find a bargain but 10% of your purchase goes towards a dividend which you can use later. Up to a year return policy for most things except electronics is amazing.

I love coming to REI for a number of reasons, but the best is their amazing return policy. They not only take back items that are defective, but if you want to buy something to try it out, you can return that as well. I'm a side sleeper having a hard time finding a camp pad that is thick enough for my hip to not ground out but also not like sleeping in a bunch of crinkly cellophane that wakes all the tent mates up. I'm now on mat 3, the Big Agnes q core SLX. So far, it's the thickest 1 lb pad and not nearly as loud as the thermarest. The staff are always very helpful making suggestions to fit the need, and not always jumping to the most expensive one.

I had a really nice visit here today and received some exceptional service from someone in the hiking shoe department. Came specifically looking for a brand that had a lot more room in the toe box because I tend to get blood blisters under my big toes on really long walks (10-18 miles). Found a brand and some sizing assistance and was ready to buy a half size too small until the individual helping did a more precise measurement and suggested I reconsider. Good thing. Trying out the new shoes on a long walk this evening it was a win-win. My only other experience with REI is the mother ship store in Seatlle which is about half the size of Oak Park Mall. By comparison, this store is small but it has a fairly broad selection of everything I'd need. I found the other staff equally helpful and the store clean and well organized. Wouldn't hesitate for a moment to return.

Premier store that provides a lot of inspiration and ideas. I usually make purchases when things are on sale but sometimes they catch me in a "want it now" mode. Things are expensive, but it's fun to shop and get ideas.

Great store. Has all my hiking/backpacking needs. Just bought a new backpack today...... tom was great!!!! Helped me fit into the right one. He put weight in it and had me walk around the store for 15 min.

My running buddy was so excited REI was coming to town,he wanted to work for them, I can see why, been to several of there class, I enjoy them and they have the best staff, helpful and they have to know there stuff, l also like that they will say what's on their minds, I like this and we don't carry this but, the store is always clean each Rei is different which goes with what that area brains which I like

"Would you like to be a member?" "So I can feel obligated to come back here to shop and buy your really amazing and expensive stuff? No. I just need a really high quality hiking backpack and you guys are the best for that. Just take my money and let me go." :-)

At any location, REI is the best option for investing in (or investigating options for) outdoor equipment. This store is clean, organized, well-stocked, and invigorating.

I have enjoyed online shopping at REI for a while but we don't live close to a retail location. The store was clean and the employees were helpful. They have a great selection of gear for your next outdoor adventure. It is refreshing to have expert advice from knowledgeable staff on things we need. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is planning on an outdoor excursion.

I love this store. If I won the Powerball, this would be a mega stop for sure. Ridiculously cool stuff. Return policy, great. Staff, great. Prices, doggone high. Sometimes I look at the sale rack, see the sale price, and think, oh, that's what I would have thought it originally cost! lol I would have thought that clothing, most of which is made in overseas low wage markets, would be cheaper given that fact. But apparently the sellers are the ones reaping the benefits of the economic disconnect, not the end buyer. Someone is sewing jackets making $5 a day, and it's $250 on the rack. Anyway, if your budget is large, not a better store on the planet. You're crazy not to be a member here for the cost of that (low). The free classes alone are more than worth it.

We discovered REI while living in the San Francisco Bay area and had two of them close to home. We always had pleasant shopping experiences and their staff was always helpful. But this morning's visit to this location left something to be desired. No greeting when I entered, no "thanks, come again" when I left. As a matter of fact, I spent 20-30 minutes in the store and no one said a word to me. Is that a Johnson County thing?

I drove from lees summit to go here so I could find real expertise and good equipment. I found just that. The staff is very helpful and friendly even though it was pretty busy. Great equipment and everyone there seems to know exactly what they are talking about. Only downfall is that it's expensive (which it's good gear and worth it) and that I wish dogs were allowed.

Needing a proper pack for an upcoming adventure, we hit up REI to take advantage of some of their pretty baller sales. It was my first time to one of their shops, and while it wasn't really what I had expected, it got the job done. Knowing the REI name so well, I expected a massive wonderland of outdoor sports. Unfortunately, this location is really quite small, about 1/2 the size of any of the Dicks Sporting Goods here in KC. I made an initial lap around the store and was surprised at the high clothes-to-equipment ratio. I know there's not a TON of opportunity for outdoor sports in this part of the country, but I wanted to shop gear, not jackets and vests. But whatever, they had a backpack section, so I beelined it over. Again, I was pretty disappointed in their selection. In comparison to what they offer online, it was quite limited and I also couldn't make much of a rhyme or reason to it's method of organization. (To be fair, that last part might have been as a result of the heavy pain-killers coursing through my veins - Matt fell down and went boom!) However, when I grew frustrated with trying to navigate it on our own, a friendly sales associate was on hand to talk shop. Most importantly, she helped me get appropriately sized for the pack, and taught me how to adjust for balance and comfort - something that's quite important when you're in the middle of the jungle! She tried some obligatory upsells, but wasn't pushy when I said that we weren't interested at the time. All-in-all, I had a successful experience at REI, but I was bummed at discrepancy between expectations and reality. I was promised a climbing wall, and there was no climbing wall. I wanted a more hands-on experience, but that wasn't really there either. Because I'm now a "part owner", I'll keep shopping here when I have these types of needs. But I don't think it's wildly superior to other shops in the area.

I went in for running and cycling gear. Despite attempting to get help, I received no acknowledgement from the staff. I won't be back.

I was excited when REI came to town, since the other outdoor store had basically become a clothing store for people who want to dress like they go outside. Now another outdoor store has opened in the neighborhood, and every time I go into REI, the clothing section is taking over more and more of the store. Looks like history is repeating itself.

We walked into REI for the first time in search of camping gear: sleeping bags, a lightweight tent, etc. Upon arrival, we were very impressed. The company carries specialized gear for it seems like most outdoor sports . We were approached by about five different people through out our two hours there, all in which were very helpful ! My boyfriend and I both ended up buying gear we really liked, and felt good purchasing mainly based on the insight we were given by the employees. We happened to be there during REI's sale which really helped! You can also become a member for $20 (which we did) and that earns you 10% dividends on all of your purchases which are paid out yearly if you don't choose to spend the money you accrue in the store.

I think I would love this store if I had piles of cash just sitting around waiting to be spent. There's a lot of really cool outdoorsy stuff here, much of it is probably unnecessary stuff that nobody really needs and the rest is fairly awesome. The selection of cold weather apparel when we went was astounding and I really wanted to buy a lot of it. I really did. But I had to restrain myself because, well, my piles of cash have gone missing. Ok, ok, they never really existed. The staff in the store were super-attentive. We had four separate people approach us and offer us assistance. We were greeted upon entering the store and thanked for coming when we left. The only thing that keeps me from running back and buying lots of stuff is the prices. Yes, you get what you pay for and yadda, yadda, yadda, but holy cow, I practically choked upon checking out a few of the price tags.

I absolutely love shopping online at the store you can always find great prices and great shipping deals however a jacket I ordered started splitting in the zipper so I called and they said that I could take it into the store and have it exchanged. This is not necessarily easy for us because we live about 25 minutes away but figured it would be easier than shipping it back. Once we got to the store the sales person helping us was extremely rude and question that anything was wrong with the jacket I can understand that if I wasn't asking to exchange it but not only am I only exchange in the item I drove 25 minutes out of my way to do so I don't think I am making it up just because I temporarily fixed it does not mean it is fixed. I don't know if it is just the location of the store because I have shopped at the one in Minnesota many times and never had any issues. I will continue to shop online however I will not be visiting this location again. I stuck with two stars rather than one because they let me actually exchange it.

Hubby and I have been camping for nearly 50 years. And let's just say: It is sure different now than when we started out. REI is the latest addition to stores that cater to the hiking, skiing, camping enthusiast and I liked what I saw on our visit the other day! I was especially interested in the great clothing section but also spent a lot of time browsing over in the freeze-dried food aisle and the camping gear section. Hubby found a couple of things he just had to have and I expect we will be back for another visit soon. On first impression, REI lives up to my expectations and there were a lot of helpful, pleasant sales associates to help us find what we were looking for. Always a plus!

Re: Overland Park, KS. REI: Sad to Post, however... We enjoy the REI store and visiting their community resource area. This week I needed to go in for several items and needed assistance for the first time. It was simple. I needed to have the $15 item taken out of the package to test it's fittings. The manager would not do it because if it did not work, they could not resell it. I went specifically to REI because I thought they would have superior service and resources for my needs. Not only would he not accommodate this simple request, he offered no alternatives or solutions though their could have been. My visit seemed to be an inconvenience. His manor was demeaning and without any sensible salesmanship whatsoever. I work in customer service professionally and understand policy. However, this was policy without common sense. I left behind what would have been a $75 sale of collected product and good reason to purchase from large online resources that easily accept returns or their larger next door sports retailer. So sad that REI is my first online negative review.

Everyone was very helpful and the store had everything we were looking for. A HUGE thank you to Sheryl!

This was my first time at this location and the service is amazing. Everyone genuinely wants to know if youre doing ok. We had someone helping my boyfriend find hiking pants and there was a lady extensively helping me find roof racks for our jeeps. She even invited me to a networking event for women who love the outdoors.

Cool stuff at high prices. Narrow and wide mouth Nalgenes. Nice bathrooms.

Love REI in Colorado. Kansas City location has poor customer service. Colorado locations, the employees are asking all the time if they can help, not in KC. Waited in line to check out for 15 minutes or longer...in line now with only one person in front of me.... Need customer service AND people to check out. This is a management problem.

Yes, I'm a Johnson County tree hugger... deal with it! ;) PROs - it's. R.E.I. in. Kansas!! (yes, I visit and love me a bit of Seattle) - how can the pick ax door handle not just draw you in?? COME.ON!!! :) - recreational equipment can be very intimidating and they have been very knowledgeable and kind with the many questions I've had. - buy the membership! If you frequent, your money will come back to you quickly. - and if you are a member, sign up for their community events and teaching sessions. - the return policy is "no questions asked for one year" (read more about it because that's not quite it but pretty dang close) I mean, where else can you wear hiking boots in dirt (and not just your living room) and then return them? - online outlet shop: just check it out. You won't be disappointed! - free shipping to the store when you purchase online - simply the way the company is run. Google them and I think you would agree. - although they are a small REI, they will get it ordered quickly and customer service is spot on CONs - every visit requires a little wandering and I always leave with some new gizmo; that's a con for my wallet. - I made a substantial purchase and had to jump through a few hoops for discounts - Yes, they are more expensive than others

First time at REI and it was great. We were looking for a bicycle saddle and shoes for my wife. The staff was so friendly. The sales person ( Sarah) was Extremely helpful. I am proud to say we are now members and will be shopping at REI. Thanks for the great service.

I love this store because service is stellar. Very helpful they take the time to educate and compare products. Clothes seem really pricey, I look for sales. Great job!!!!

When REI said it was coming to the KC area, I was thrilled. I visited the store today and came away fairly impressed. While I haven't been in too may other REIs, I thought that at least given the KC competition, the selection was pretty good. There are only a couple of similar businesses in the area, and their selection is pretty limited. That said, I do think this store has enough of a selection to warrant a trip if you're in the market for this kind of gear or clothing. The main problem I have with this store is its location. I realize catering to suburban moms in JoCo is big business, but if REI wants to promote an image of a healthy, active, environmentally-friendly lifestyle, they certainly aren't doing it by putting this store where it is. This location promotes sprawl and very much feels like an insult to the rest of the KC metro area. Furthermore, it's a slap in the face to those of us who are trying to promote and actually live things like urban transit, bike lanes, walkability, etc. This location is easy to get to only if you're already in south Overland Park, and unless you have hours to burn on the bus, it's really only accessible by car. This store is surrounded by tons of new development, be it apartments, retail, or surface lots (gotta have those!). Considering also that some of this store's main competition is literally in the same retail complex, I find it comically frustrating that REI chose to settle in the 135th and Metcalf area. If I sound overly bitter, well, I am. Sorry. Call me crazy, but I think a store that promotes healthy, active lifestyles should actually work to fulfill that mission. Honestly, I thought the store itself was pretty good, at least for what we already have in the area. However, if REI wants to make the world a better place, I feel they need to take a step back and re-evaluate just how they intend to accomplish it. There's a bigger picture here, and IMHO, this store is a contradiction of everything REI supposedly stands for. I realize part of the mission might be to help improve the O.P. area, and get people outdoors more, etc., but really, this store really only exacerbates that problem; in this case, I don't see it as part of the solution.

There is nothing to dislike about this store. The people working there are knowledgable and available to help you find what you need. Last time I was in there the man took me to find what I was looking for and also went to get me a shopping cart when he noticed my arms were filling out with goodies. Signing up for the rewards program is a no brainer. I haven't had to try this out but most of my friends say they will take most any return...damaged or slightly used. I like knowing I'm shopping at a store that has a reputation for putting their customers first.

Finally and REI in Kansas City!!! Woot!!! - Nice store with a nice selection of outside activity supplies. - Store seemed a bit smaller than the other REI stores I've been at around the country, however each department seemed to have enough stock. They do have a large selection of dehydrated camping food. - I do wish they had more emphasis on camping and hiking as 70% of the store is for other activities (kayaking, running, etc.) - As for knowledgeable floor sales folks... none. Seriously, there was no one on the sales floor to get help or ask questions. Where was everyone? Up front on the registers. What BS. If I can't find something or have a question, I need someone to ask. - PRO NOTE: Go 1 block down to Backwoods for knowledgeable staff and similar stock. It is night and day comparing the two stores. You will thank me later. - Why did I ding them stars? -- One star off is because of the lack of camping inventory and lack of staff. They really could show more camping items on their showfloor. They also need more staff on the floor. I didn't see any REI staff when I was walking the store. They were all up front at the registers. Don't get me wrong, I like shopping on REI.com, but I expected a level of service from REI that they don't deliver. It kind of feels more like a Walmart than an upscale sports store. -- The second star off is their chose of location. Seriously they put the store 1 block away from Backwoods, which is the first true camping store in our area. Backwoods has similar items and super friendly and knowledgeable staff (see my review). I think it was low of REI to drop a store in that location and not staff their store properly. I don't mind competition, but REI is not even trying. They are just living off their name. All in all it is a good store with less than expected inventory, and less than anticipated staff. I expect more from the REI name.

Though not always our "go to" for outdoors wear, we are huge REI fans. We always get outstanding service and their return policy is great. Frequently, we shop the store in conjunction with the website for better selection.

Love this place!!! They always have the basics of what I need. I love their clothing selection and somebody is always asking if I need help and very informative when I do!!!

Called to ask if the store was dog friendly as I always do prior to bringing my very well trained and behaved dog to retail stores. I understand companies have policies and if told no...no problem...just don't bring her. In this case, was told by an REI employee on the phone that they were very dog friendly if dog on a leash. Arrived and told dogs were not welcome and that the Manager doesn't like dogs and made to feel as if it was my mistake. I called to ask prior...the miscommunication and lack of clear policy is REIs problem, and perhaps specifically this location's issue, not the consumers. Why do they sell dog gear that a dog would have to try on if they aren't dog friendly? An outdoor goods store that isn't dog friendly surprised me to be honest...bass pro shop, scheels, cabelas, moosejaws all dog friendly. I mean anthropologie and free people are dog friendly for gods sake and they don't sell doggy gear/clothes!

Love REI. Their return policy shows they believe in all their products. And they are true to their word; I say that from experience! Prices may be a little high but it's worth it.