REI

REI is a store where I can easily lose track of time, captivated by the sheer variety of high-quality outdoor gear and equipment. It's a true outdoor enthusiast's haven. However, I often find that I can purchase similar items for a lower price elsewhere, which keeps me from giving it a higher rating. Occasionally, though, I do splurge on REI's top-notch products because of their undeniable quality. So, if you're willing to spend a bit more for superior gear and don't mind the higher prices, REI is worth a visit.

I love REI. Me and my wife spend there good amount of money on highly functional clothes and gear, but shoes in this store is something that should make the management scratch their heads. Before you can even touch the shoe that catches your eye, or get to ask if they have your size, you have to wait in the line until someone invites you in. Such an exquisite corner, these shoes. You eventually get in, only to learn they don't have your size. The kind gentlemen takes the measurements of your feet (that confirm you know what your size is) and tells you you're wrong, and you should wear something larger, which is also something they don't have 5 minutes later you find yourself holding shoes you didn't want, that are 2 sizes too large despite being "the right size", and .. the only thing to do is walk away having wasted some 20 minutes on something that should take 3. Next time you are there, you just walk in; few people in, no line. Seems the shoe of the right size is there, most of the staff smiles, will be right with you, but, hold up, the same guy who tried to sell you something you did not want the last time now has a new problem: "did someone wave you in?". I hope the rest of the store doesn't adopt this bizarre practice. Meanwhile I'll be looking to get the shoes elsewhere or buy online.

Poor customer service at the Bike section. I came searching for a 24 inch mountain bike for my son today and was assisted by a lady initially. She showed us the options available and put the effort to pull a bike down to show us. She asked us if we are ok with a different color (green) for the same bike we were looking for and we said ok. Apparently, it turned out during check out that the bike she showed us initially and later were different. She apologized for that and we were ok to accept mistakes like this as customers. What pissed me off was how another person who tried to check us out behaved. He was very rude to us as customer, while answering questions and very cold in his attitude. At some point, I even felt his behavior to be an act of racism, I don’t know his name but to describe him as someone who looked to be a tall and while male. He came across as someone who is cold to even his colleagues, especially to lady who helped us initially. We felt very embarrassed talking to him and decided to leave the store without making the purchase. We thanked the lady who showed us the bike and apologized the confusion, but still treated us with respect. Honestly, we were willing to purchase the green option which was $70 more, but the behavior of this rude associate who took over from the lady and tried to check us out made us go somewhere else. Hope the store manager at Lynnwood notices this feedback and give some coaching to this particular associate to behave better with the customers.

Which bright spark made the decision to stop giving out bags at checkout? Do you understand that it makes people look like they've been shoplifting if you make them walk around grappling with a pile of purchases in their arms? I bought a fleece at this REI, walked over to Nordstrom and was told by one team member there that the only reason I hadn't been reported to security was because she knows they don't sell the particular fleece brand. Nordstrom then gave me a bag, which I will recycle. Two stars rather than one because - up until this spectacularly stupid decision - REI was a fave. Won't be shopping there again.