REI — Local services in Oxnard

SOLO patrons BEWARE. This store profiles its customers and doesn't help or engage with solo patrons (specifically women). I was in this REI from 11:30 until 12:40 on Sunday. I've been here before and was generally ignored but i blew it off. Today I went back - as I am going on the Everest Base Camp Hike and I needed to get a few things and possibly one replacement item (Backpack). I was in store for almost an hour and NOT ONE SINGLE EMPLOYEE SPOKE TO ME. NOT ONE. I was trying to reach a backpack and the two employees (one male dark hair, one female heavy set) stood at the big backpack table and chatted away, watching me struggle to reach the pack. (I'm 5ft) About 10 minutes into this process a couple (male/female) walked up to backpacks and the two employees bee-lined it right to them. I gave up and went over to the water filter systems - i had three different items trying to compare - i looked around for help. NO ONE. I then went upstairs to get new boot laces. Again not one single employee engaged. I went to look at waterproofing spray and again nothing. Took my basket downstairs and was looking for check out and asked for another item - guy walked right past me. That was it. I put the bag on the floor and walked out. ...

We went into REI to scope out gear for an upcoming 2-month road trip. Nobody asked if we needed assistance or even spoke to us for the hour we were in the shop poking around. Prices on product seemed non-existent, so I found myself searching through the website while standing in the store. I understand this might be where the future of retail is headed, but I was expecting to at least find prices! I ended up going home and putting in a $600+ order that evening, selecting to have in-store pickup for as many items as possible. I was disappointed to see that my new Yeti cooler was going to take nearly two weeks to get to the store! Hopeful that it would be here sooner I attempted to inquire with an employee while while picking up 3/4 of my order. She informed me the Yetis they have are on the floor and started talking to the next customer before I could even finish my sentence. Seeing REI is the only store of its kind near me, I will definitely give it another chance, however, this experience was disheartening. Note: Maybe just buy your Yeti...

I wasnt going to take time to write this but thats what it is about - time. Went in to the REI a month ago and felt hostage by the woman cashier. A 5.98 transaction generated 15 minutes of questions by her. "Hows your day? (ok until then) Do you want to give to our charity? Are you in our rewards program? Do you want to be in our rewards program. Do you want to reveive emails? Did you see our promotional items? (and this is the kicker) How did you happen to hear about us" (???) OMG REI has been around for like 153 years! At this location in Oxnard for decades. I honestly thought it was all a joke and I was on camera. But is was all geting to be very scarry and creepy. Im sure "corporate" makes them ask all these time consuming questions but after a while they are obviously for data harventing survey reasons and really waisting our time. I was really frustrated becassue she held on to my money and item until I answered. I finally said.."PLEASE! I have to go!!!" I doubt I will ever return. Just way way WAY too much...