REI Sporting

The staff knows the goods! I am not a regular camper, but I need so many items they provide. The real difference is the staff, they know the products and take the time to help you compare. REI is a real bonus in this little town.

I’ve been to REI all over the country and have never been denied entrance with my dog. This is the first REI that has done this. Even in pretentious Santa Monica location they let my dog in. This REI is not dog friendly and lost points with me today.

The whole company has gone downhill. Employees do not seem to be as happy as the top 100 places to work indicates. Ever wondering who answers those surveys?
I would go to Big Five!

My favorite outdoor sporting goods store for selection, price, expertise and customer service. They do a terrific job merchandising so that it feels like a new store every time I go in. Different bikes are featured, different packs are featured, the shoe display changes often too. It’s definitely worth getting a lifetime co-​op membership which returns 10% of the value of your non-​sale purchases in the form of an end-​of-​the-​year dividend merchandise check. Excellent service with backpack fittings.

Never will I be doing business with REI, but especially NOT the Flagstaff location. It is marked very clearly on the door the REI is a business that allows only service animals. I used to enjoy going there to look at ruffwear products in person, and now I will never be stepping foot inside their store again. Before my service dogs vet appointment I decided to stop in and look around as they are not a pet friendly store and I like looking at outdoor gear for both myself and my dog without the distraction of random pets. Unfortunately a lady came in with two very large dogs who came straight for my dog and I. I asked her to remove her dogs as my dog is a service dog and this is not a pet friendly store. She went and tattled on me to the store sales manager (Nat Thompson) and lied saying I was rude to her. He then came up and all but cornered me and my dog and began belittling me and stating that all dogs do a service for their owners and that if I didn’t feel safe having her in there that I should have not brought her in. Every time I said I NEED her as my medical equipment he just smirked and kept saying that he didn’t care and that pets will always be allowed in the store and that he doesn’t care about breaking corporate policy. I ended up going into a full panic mode and if I did not leave when I did I would have ended up in tears. I had to almost push past him to leave and he then followed us to the door smirking the whole time. He also allowed the woman with the dogs to keep walking past us. He sided with the pet owner and completely tore me apart. I expect the rudeness from the employees (though they were all very nice) but I would never expect this kind of childish behavior from management. I was nothing but nice and tried to educate him in the fact that stores cannot be listed one way but still allow animals in and instead of listening to the laws and concerns of a disabled service dog handler he ignored and kept going back to the fact that he does not follow corporate policy. Retraining needs to be done with all employees on the matter of service dogs and corporate policy before REI gets sued and has to pay $ 40,000 to replace someones service dog because they decide to let pets (regardless of behavior) in the store.

Slow check out. Might as well been at Safeway. Always toting REI brands rather than new innovation.

Love REI. I have since I joined 25 years ago. This is a good store. In that I mean that the sales staff is friendly (not like the GRUMPY sales staff in the North Tucson store). The sales associate was great helping my wife ‘fit’ into the correct backpack. I also had a return from a sleeping bag ordered from REI online. Again, no questions, helpful, quick refund. We both love this store and staff. Thanks FLAGSTAFF!!!
Ron

Thanks for always having my back REI.
This location is continuing the high standard that this company is known for.
Found what I need with minimal effort. The staff was legitimately helpful with my quest for 5 odd pieces of gear.
When my quest was over I took a short nap in a tent and was left to enjoy my slumber unmolested. Thanks again REI.

I do not recommend going here for any biking needs. The 2 guys that helped me were arrogant and rude. It started out with them asking me to come back a different day. I told them I needed a bike rack immediately, if I left I might as well buy it online. The salesman replied ‘I don’t care because we don’t make commission.’ Unbelievable! Not only did they sell me a rack not compatible with my vehicle, but when I went back they put the blame on me, saying I wanted a ‘cheap’ rack. I’m sorry, but if you give me the option to save $ 50 on a cheaper rack, I’ll take it! I did not realize you were selling me a rack that wasn’t compatible! They obviously do not need my business, so I will not be going back.

REI comes to Flagstaff! I’ve been to the Tucson/​Phoenix stores, but I liked this one a lot. They tailor to the Flag area with a lot of biking and mountain climbing gear as well as winter supplies. There is just tons of fantastic gadgets and things here. I browsed for nearly an hour and came away with some delicious jerky, and a patch to repair a rip in my sleeping bag. I liked checking out the great selection of tents, products and friendly customer service. The REI classes offered here look like a lot of fun and make me wish I was a Flagstaff resident.
I hope this store will improve the other sporting goods stores in town as well since a little competition is never a bad thing.