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As far as I am concerned, REI is just another non-local retailer. The biggest issue I have with them is that money spent at REI does not stay in the community.
by takk309 11y ago
As far as I am concerned, REI is just another non-local retailer. The biggest issue I have with them is that money spent at REI does not stay in the community. Another minor issue that I have is the lack of competent staff. At our local climbing shop I would be able to talk with staff that I would also see when out in hiking/climbing. The staff at REI are just buffoons that could fill out a job application.
- rconti 11y agoAs a native Seattleite, REI was a local retailer, so I can't comment there. And I don't know what their outreach efforts are like in the communities where they base their stores. That said, IMO your experience with the staff's education level is the exception rather than the rule. Certainly for specialty equipment you might be better off at a climbing shop where all of the employees know the gear, rather than making sure you get "the climbing guy" at your particular REI store. But not everyone can be an expert in everything, and they make efforts to train their employees on the gear they sell to a greater extent than most other non-specialty stores.
- takk309 11y agoI will admit that I have experience with only one REI location. I live in a college town were labor is cheap and plentiful. Plus lots of young egos that will talk up all their "experience" to anyone that is willing to listen.