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REI - Recreational Equipment Inc.
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
5 reviews for REI - Recreational Equipment Inc.
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
1/21/2009
8/25/2009
1/13/2009
7/25/2008
10/3/2008
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
Cotton is death.
So say the folks at REI where I recently attended a free walking clinic [1] and seminar on dressing for cold weather. And basically I was the poster child for what not to wear. I'm a total disaster. This also explains why most of the races I've done don't end particularly well.
For someone who is a planner by nature, my athletic competitions are shockingly spontaneous. Why not do a marathon with zero training? Run a 1/2 marathon or bike the Bridge Pedal even though I haven't been on a bike in a year? I think I need some sort of sports intervention.
One of the REI employees, Rusty, led the seminar and gave a great overview of what to wear and why without a big sales pitch. He was also funny as hell.
I've been going to REI forever (it is worshipped like a church by some of my relatives) and am always impressed by the sales staff. It is also cool that your $20 lifetime membership is donated to local charities selected by the staff. In addition to free classes on a variety of topics, did you know you can get discount lift tickets at Timberline and Ski Bowl [2] with your membership card? Sweet deal!
[1] The clinic is part of the Wonders of Walking program (http://www.wondersofwa...)
[2] http://www.rei.com/sto...
I LOVE REI. And, yes, while they are more expensive than some places... it's kind of like buying that North Face fleece... you get what you pay for. I have been a member for years... back when it was in the small building at Jantzen Beach.
I buy all of my kids' shoes there, as they have one of the most liberal return policies I have ever seen. Being a member, they have all of my receipts on file, so if (when) I lose them, I don't have to worry about it. The most recent experience was with a pair of Keens that had a broken buckle, which they replaced, immediately, no worries ... even though they were all kinds of stinky... (he's 8... what can I say).
The people are always friendly, and the guys in the bike department are great, and take the time to explain to me what they have done and why. Looking forward to the free bike maintenence 101 class on Wednesday - and taking my oldest with me so he can learn how to do basic stuff too!
We'd been talking about snowshoes for a while now.
ME: I know, I know, we could go to REI but aren't they always like a million dollars more than everyone else?
ROOMMATE: Possibly.
ME: Screw that. Let's go to Sports Authority. Or the Big 5. Or (the store formerly known as G.I.) Joe's. Ooh! How 'bout all three?
... days pass... places visited... What a waste of time! Limited, hard-to-find, or absolutely no selection to be found...
ME: Grr.
ROOMMATE: Maybe we could just see what they have at REI?
What a fantastic idea! We walked right up to the snowshoe aisle and there were a whole bunch of types and sizes at prices that had the other guys beat hands down.
Aaaaaand! Not a single one of the other places had THE most helpful and knowledgeable lady ever who told us:
[A] what we would (and, importantly, would not) need to buy
[B] what the differences between bindings and shapes and sizes meant
[C] what type of shoe would work best for our needs
[D] pretty much everything we ever wanted to know about snowshoes but were too afraid to ask
ROOMMATE: You know people will make fun of us for buying the exact same snowshoes.
ME: Why didn't we come here before?
You know you don't belong in REI when you climb the stairs to the top floor and your partner says, "Hey, are you winded? I am!"
We went seeking shoes and I was a little disappointed in the selection. It's pretty minimal. The saleslady was helpful and nice, and it is a pleasant shopping experience. Still, if you are looking for shoes, you may be disappointed coming here. You may want to call first and see if they have what you are looking for.
The store is open and airy, and seems to have lots of good stuff for people who get outside frequently. I don't, so to me it all appeared to be brightly colored instruments of torture.
Easy parking if you go to the lot behind it and take the escalator down, rather than try to park in front by the Macaroni Grill.
REI is like my second home lately, and I spend my time split between the Clackamas location and the one in the Pearl, depending on where I'm going that particular day. I can't say that I've ever had a bad or good experience with customer service in either location, until this week.
At the Clackamas location today, I had the most helpful sales guy EVER. My husband was looking for bike pedals, and I was looking for new road shoes, and the guy helping us actually knew what he was talking about. It was amazing. He took the time to explain the differences between pedals, and adjust the straps on my shoes, feeling for the correct sizes, etc. Talking to me about how he races bikes, and coaches people too. It was nice to chat with someone knowledgeable for a change.
Specialties
At REI, we love to get outside and play, and we know first-hand the importance of quality outdoor gear. We stand behind all our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee in addition to our own line of award-winning REI brand gear and clothing. We gladly share our enthusiasm for our products--and the trails, slopes and waterways where we play.
We carry brands such as The North Face, Marmot, Camelbak, Burton, K2, Salomon, MSR, Oakley, BOB, Garmin, Sigg, OR, Keen, Merrell, Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear, Atlas Snowshoes, Tubbs, Line, DC, Skullcandy, Arbor, Rome, Gnu, ExOfficio, Eagle Creek, Arc'Teryx, SmartWool, Petzl, Black Diamond, Novara, Thule, Yakima & Volkl.
We provide services including bicycle repair, ski and snowboard wax and tuning, camping and hiking expertise, climbing expertise, cycling expertise, kayak and canoe expertise, travel expertise, men's clothing, women's clothing, kids' clothing, outerwear, footwear, books/maps, GPS, expert advice, rental gear & more.
History
Established in 1938
What began 70+ years ago as a group of 23 mountain climbing buddies is now the nation's largest consumer cooperative with more than three million active members. But no matter how large we grow, our roots remain firmly planted in the outdoors. Our passion for outdoor adventure is clear, whether you walk into one of our 100-plus stores, phone us, or visit the REI website. Established in 1938, our mission is to inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship.
Meet the Business Owner: Lloyd A.
REI is a cooperative (or co-op), meaning members receive a dividend on all of their purchases each year, usually 10% back. We continue to return the majority of profits to our members through this annual member refunds based on purchases.
While the gear we sell for human-powered outdoor recreation has changed, our philosophy and passion for the outdoors haven't. Become a member online or in our stores today.
We're also committed to giving back to the communities where we have retail stores by supporting volunteer projects of outdoor-focused community organizations with money, gear and "sweat equity." We believe that by supporting these causes and by introducing youth to the outdoors, together we can prepare the next generation of environmental stewards and protect nature's legacy of trails, rivers and wild lands for years to come. Stop by your local store to learn more and sign up for free classes, walks and volunteer projects.
