REI — Attraction in Tukwila

I would give this location zero stars if I could. Today was the first time I visited the REI in Tukwila. I've never been inside before and wanted to check it out. Right away a man approached me and my boyfriend and asked if we needed help finding anything. I politely replied "We're just looking for now. Thank you." As we continued to look around, I started to notice the man was around every single corner like he was watching our every move and less than 5 min later, he approached me again and asked the same question. I replied "I'm still looking... It's our first time here." Then he went on to explain their member program and handed me a slip explaining the program as well. I thanked him again and continued to look around. He basically followed us to the back of the store. Eventually my boyfriend and I split up because I wanted to look at Women's and he was actually talking on the phone the whole time. In women's, I was startled by another worker who came up super close behind me. She asked the same question that the man asked twice already and I gave the same response. I continued to walk around the store and everywhere I went, she was in my area. I've worked retail for years and I understand that maybe they were trying to demonstrate good customer service...But this was different. I tried not to let it bother me but I couldn't even thoroughly look around because I felt like every 3min someone was trying to talk to me or in my bubble. They had walkies/ear pieces so I know they were communicating with each other. I even heard one of the workers ask another what they were doing and she said "oh you know, stalking" and continued to follow us around. I felt like we were being discriminated by the employees there. Was it because of the area? I'm not sure. But my boyfriend was on the phone the whole time talking to his sister in Hawaii and I was just walking around, looking at things and trying to get my pregnancy exercise in. Eventually I just wanted to leave because I felt very awkward, uncomfortable and unwelcomed. I will not be shopping at this...

I’ve been to the Seattle downtown location several times. I’ve been trying to find a good pair of hiking boots for my trip to Hawaii and Australia. I wasn’t recommended anything at the Seattle store, just chose what I thought felt good. Returned those, and the next pair. I tried ordering a pair online for cyber Monday and had it delivered to the Tukwila location. It was my first time to this location and the process was very quick getting what I ordered. I went to the shoe section to try them out. As soon as I sat down a man named SCOTT came over and made comments on why he loved the shoes I was trying on. After I walked around in them for awhile he asked me how they felt. They were too narrow. He said that had been a problem for some people as well. Instead of just suggesting a brand or leaving me to browse he measured my feet with exception accuracy and said my feet were on the wider side- and made a suggestion- they were ones I had already tried on and I told him why they didn’t work for me. He brought me another paid that fit perfectly and felt amazing! They were actually the ones I had done a ton of research on and were wanting to try on! He had me put hiking socks on and checked on me frequently making sure they were the perfect pair for me- all while he was super busy with other customers! He is a pro and I’ve never received such good service anywhere! He Was very knowledgeable, was fast, efficient, and kind! I would come back just for his help! Thank you so much Scott! They need to hire more people like Scott, what a great...

REI is loosing it.

They used to have something special, but not anymore. It used to be fun to go check out the cool stuff, check out the garage sale, even go there to kill time, but now they’re just another mediocre sporting goods store, selling they’re own mediocre line of clothes.

Now that they don’t stand behind their gear anymore you might as well buy your stuff from anywhere else. There are many smaller companies selling better gear, that stand behind the stuff they sell.

They’re return policy is and always has been flawed, now it’s worse. I used to laugh at their return policy, and how people abused it. Now I’m frustrated and annoyed. Before the change to a 1 year policy, someone could return a 20yo product they wore out for the new version, or insert ages and made up excuses. Now you can only do that if it’s less than a year. Now legitimate warranty issue is rejected because it’s a day over one year, but someone can return a jacket their kid outgrew because it’s a day less than a year, the list of examples goes on. There is something wrong with this policy.

The gear is mediocre.

The staff is mediocre.

The return policy is both hilarious and frustrating.

Each time I go in, they’re seems to be less and less customers.

REI is loosing it, and me...