REI reviews

-as a department manager, there is very little you can do when your store manager is negatively impacting the business or employee experience. All store info flows through them to upper management so they are protected from proper course correction. If they aren’t receptive to your feedback, you’re stuck. -it is becoming rapidly corporate, and losing much of what makes it special. The decision to hire big box corporate leaders is eroding the thing that made REI what it was. -the relentless pursuit of membership sucks the life out of working for REI. It became cult like towards the end. -unless you’re interested in management, there really isn’t room for growth in retail. -completely random schedule at all times. Week to week, I never knew when I would be scheduled. I had to have completely wide open availability from 7am-9:30pm everyday. Meaning it’s difficult to make plans outside of work. As a result, work life balance ultimately sucks. Oh, and you rarely get two days off in a row.

High turnover and seasonal sales means constant hiring of new staff -- there are more staff than business can support during the slow times so weekly hours vary--could be as low as 10-12 hrs/wk for weeks at a time with some 3.5 hour shifts. 8 hour shifts are RARE, about one per week, unless there is a sale. Most shifts are either 4 hours or 6.75 hours, but you don't necessarily get 5 days of work. Schedules are done only 8 days in advance, but the managers DO try to work within your availability. LOTS of emphasis on selling memberships--your raise is based on it. LOTS of emphasis on getting member email info--your raise is based on it. Managers are not very visible on the floor--they seem to spend their time in the back office watching YOU work via the security cameras. Managers are COMPLETELY unaware that the staff ALL think they are lazy. Not good for morale. Display of merchandise is surprisingly boring--visual guy and managers have to stick to a plan from corporate.