REI

This place is awesome. The people who work there make it so. I bought an item over a month ago and I threw out the receipt, and of course it didn’t fit. Asked if I could return and since I’m a member ($ 20 for LIFE) they can look up purchases by member # without a receipt. The gentleman who helped me was so helpful answering al my questions and giving me ideas.

I went REI looking for ski gear for my trip. The ski clothing section was limited. The employee working in the clothing section was very helpful and friendly. He gave some useful information for finding snow pants. Also, REI has a better ski selection online. Customers can ship to the store free of charge. Merchandise arrives within a few days for most things. I appreciated the customer service. REI is a good choice for outdoor gear. If you can’t find things in the store, be sure to check online as well. If you’re a frequent customer, join REI membership program for savings. I give REI a 3.5 rating rounded up to a 4 because of good customer service.

I’m not really sure why this place has 3.5 stars? What more does one need in an outdoor store? They’ve got canoes, kayaks, every boot you could ever want, clothing, exercise gear, coats, water bottles… the whole 9 yards!
I came in here looking for some Chacos. Now, don’t let that fool you. I am by no means an outdoors-​y girl. If, by outdoors, you mean sipping mimosas on a patio during brunch or laying out to perfect my tan? Then yes, I do love the outdoors. But if you mean camping in the woods, then no. Absolutely not. Ok, ok I’m being dramatic. I do enjoy hiking, learning about wildlife, and I’ve always wanted to try kayaking. On a scale of 0-​adventurous, I’d say I’m about a 5.
I did not find the Chacos (they only had 3 pair! What’s up with that?), but I did enjoy exploring the store. I have a ski trip coming up and I will definitely be back to prepare for it!

Love having this so close to us in Short Pump. Prices are full retail, but they have a huge variety of products for hiking, camping, cycling, kayaking, etc that it is a one stop outdoors shop. Get a REI visa and you get 15% back on REI purchases. Lots of sales and coupons throughout the year. Example: got a bike accessory this week retailing for 169. Put it on REI card for 15% back and got a 20 coupon for spending more than 100.
REI’s store brand items are also great, such as their Novara cycling brand. Bike shop at this location is great. They let me watch a recent repair to learn how to do it and recently gave me a set of mounting screws for free after mine fell off when I was cycling (my fault).

I was pretty disappointed by my first REI experience :(the store was packed and most people, staff included were just very unfriendly. Everything seemed very overpriced in comparison to the same items that I can find elsewhere. Also didn’t like that they won’t do a credit card application in-​store, but I’m now thankful as I think a credit card at Bass Pro Shop would better serve us.

For the record, I love REI. I’ve been a member for over 15 years and REI is my go-​to store for anything and everything related to outdoor activities.
Today, I got up early and went out to the store for the annual «garage sale,» which I knew would be a zoo. Per REI, the rules state that individuals cannot run through the store grabbing armfuls of sale items. The REI staff needs to enforce their own rules because there were many, many people doing exactly that.
I then learned (and this was not advertised), that the staff is not allowed to show any full-​price footwear until 10 a.m. (sale started at 8).
In short, very disappointing experience compared to my expectations. I knew exactly what boots I wanted to buy (at full price), and i will now be scouring the internet to find somewhere else to purchase them.

I was surprised by the variety of gear they carried. Also I wasn’t expecting to buy shoes when I went in, but they had a very nicely stocked department in the back. The sales person was extremely helpful and offered to look for different colors and sizes in the back room. A little pricey when compared to places like Walmart, but still reasonable, I think. Will definitely return.

If you like shopping for your home away from home… this is your spot. We visited here for the first time today but have been to other locations across the country. We were greeted by several friendly staff members. The store is well organized, clean and well-​stocked. The store that keeps your RV dreams alive :) We will be back!

I love REI. Been a member since 1997. This store is decent. It’s one floor but super high ceilings… why not just make it 2 stories and carry more products? But they had the main components of their stores: bikes, camping, clothes, shoes, gear, etc.
Staff here was friendly and helpful. The long line to check out went away quickly and I ended up with no wait.
They have a new ‘member’ perk from time to time. Reminds me of kohl’s cash. Spend $ 100 and you get $ 20 store bonus cash to use over a certain time period. Too bad I would have to pay shipping online to use this since there is no store where I live.
REI membership gives you back 10% on full price purchases every spring, so I like to shop and get my rewards. I only had $ 50 this year, but I enjoyed buying more! :)
Their return policy is very open. I returned some ski boots they had fitted me in after a weekend trip. The boots just did not fit. They took them back! Their brand clothing is just as good as the high end brands. Why pay more for layers when their product is good but better priced!

The staff here is top-​notch. Seriously, I left with such a great appreciation for the help given to us by the REI staff during our visit.
Real talk: I’m not very outdoorsy. I love being outside, but I’m not a fan of bugs, and I need to have toilet paper. I’m ok with tents, as long as I have a sleeping bag, but I’m still not a fan of bugs. I fully embrace my lack of outdoorsy-​ness, but at the same time, I’m always up for an adventure. And I’m always ALWAYS up for pushing myself past my limits. So when my mom asked my fiancé and I if we wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, we didn’t skip a beat before emphatically answering YES!
Well, having never done any serious hiking myself, I was in need of boots and a backpack. Enter REI. My mom and I ventured over on Saturday and the sales associate with whom we worked was so incredibly helpful. He told us the differences between some of the boots we were considering, and he explained to me how to test whether or not the boot is the appropriate size. I ended up with what I hope is the perfect pair of boots… I plan on breaking them in over the next week and ½ in preparation for our trip.
I really enjoyed my experience at REI because I never once felt pressured to purchase anything, and I felt like the staff really knew their stuff. None of our questions stumped anyone and I could sense the confidence in the answers we received. Not to mention, the selection at REI is fantastic! Definitely a must for any outdoorsy, sports-​loving folks. I know it’s a chain, but it certainly didn’t feel like that at all during my visit. The staff is seriously focused on the current customers and enhancing the daily experience. Kudos!

They have a lot of stuff, but never once did an employee approach me to see if I needed help. They have some cool deals for REI members, and an amazing selection of just about everything you could want, but the service is lacking. Will I be back? Well, probably, because it’s still a cool store, but it certainly won’t ever be my first option for gear.

We need more outdoorsy stores in RVA. REI is a great addition to the short pump area and it’s in the same shopping center as Whole foods.
They have specialty merchandise in the categories of: bikes, kayaking, running, hiking, camping, etc. They usually almost always have something that I need: bike lights, glow in the dark toys, kites, and clothes. Although some of their items are a little bit pricier than say Dicks Sporting Goods, their selection is more focused and they carry a lot of different brands most stores don’t.
Sometimes I dont think they have enough staff on hand to help the customers and the check out lines can be a little long. I almost always know what I want and where to find it so needing to find an employee is not high on my list.

The Richmond location is great! I found he staff to be super helpful and knowledgable.
I haven’t been to an attic sale yet here at this location but when I do look for an update. I honestly feel that a well organized and affordable attic sale is the true test to determine how good your local REI may be. So far so good here.

Great place! I’ve always gotten help and haven’t had any problems with this store.

A lot of reviews in here are super picky and expect the staff to leave them alone when they want, yet be there when they want; while also carrying every item ever found mentioned in an outdoor blog for the lowest price possible.
I enjoy going to REI because the staff are nice, knowledgeable, and invested in Richmond area outdoor sports.

I love the short pump REI! I have shopped in many REI’s and this by far offers the best customer service. I don’t buy a lot… but its my go to place for shoes and sales etc… in retail customer service is a huge deal to me.
REI folks have always been super friendly!

I haven’t had any other REI experiences except for the one in short pump… so i’m reflecting from a clean slate. I went in recently to buy a backpack for my first extended trip. I have to say i expected the in store selection to be a little bigger, but it may have been a blessing for a first timer who’s head was spinning with all the different criteria to consider. I’ve been in twice to look at packs and both times an employee helped me for as long as i needed them to ! In fact, they packed and unpacked bags with weight for me 5 or six times until we got to a bag that fit perfectly! Overall i felt like i was speaking to people who knew what they were talking about.
On another note, i’ve been interested in Vibram five finger shoes for a while, and have done a lot of research on them. I felt that what i had read conflicted with what the associates were telling me, and different employees recommended different models when i told them what i would be using them for… would have been nice to hear some consistency because selecting a style got really confusing.

I shop at REI for a variety of reasons, mostly being their return policy, and that they’re now located locally. This location leaves some to be desired. First, the actual location is very awkward to get to, and deal with. It’s around that weird fake city in downtown short pump. Second, it’s on the smaller side, and everything feels a little cramped. Which probably explains why my last issue is that stock is all over the place. More often than not I end up having to order things online because the stock is all out on items, but over flowing with others. It’s almost like a sale, when all that’s left are smalls and XXXXXXXXXXXXLs. Some very weirdly shaped people are going to have great convinence.
If you gravitate more towards hiking than biking/​water sports you may leave disappointed. I feel this location shifts more towards those.
The staff is polite and helpful, but suffer from always being around when I’m just looking and never there when I actually do need help.
All in all, an average location, but not the best by far. I don’t feel guilty about occasionally taking advantage of their return policy as I would other stores.

Yay for REI! I am beyond happy that my favorite outdoor store has opened up in Richmond and from the crowd at grand opening it looks like I’m not alone. Free nalgene’s didn’t hurt either. This REI isn’t as large as others I’ve been too, but it works.

I’m disappointed that REI didn’t build in the city. This was a great opportunity for urban-​infill, instead they are in a parking lot in the Short Dump. This is clearly against the REI ethos. It’s promoting and supporting sprawl.
I’ve been in may REI stores including the HQ location in downtown Seattle, and this store is lacking the polish that I’m accustomed to. It’s one story and has all the charm of a Pet Smart (I’ve never been in a Pet Smart, but who should?).
REI can be pricey, but it’s a great place to see gear firsthand, get inspired (normally), and reignite your passion for the outdoors.
I wasn’t having any of that. After leaving, I had a sudden urge to buy a 10.5×60 climbing rope to garrote myself from a parking lot lamp.