We originally came in looking for shoes for my mother-in-law, who is in her mid-70s, and needed something safe, supportive, and comfortable. At first, it was difficult because there was a sale going on and several employees didn’t seem to fully understand her specific needs. Fortunately, we were eventually helped by Brent.
Brent was incredibly knowledgeable about shoes, socks, and inserts—not only for my mother-in-law, but also for my husband and me. He took his time, carefully checked fit, explained different options, and genuinely seemed to care about helping us find the right products. His patience, kindness, and customer service were some of the best I’ve experienced in a very long time. If you’re shopping for shoes, ask for Brent.
UPDATE:
I never thought I would be updating this review, but unfortunately my opinion of this store has changed dramatically.
After about a month, all three of us began having issues with the shoes we purchased. These weren’t inexpensive purchases either—most pairs ranged from $130 to over $200 each.
We encountered multiple quality concerns. Some shoes felt completely different from their matching shoe despite being labeled the same size. We also received shoes ordered through the store that appeared to have been previously worn, and in some cases they arrived without their original manufacturer packaging. Altogether, we went through roughly ten pairs trying to find shoes that didn’t have noticeable issues.
At first, we genuinely thought we might be imagining things, so we returned to the store seeking guidance and asking questions. We were not rude or confrontational. We simply wanted to understand why we kept receiving shoes with inconsistencies.
Instead, we were told that we were asking too many questions. One employee actually walked away from the conversation. Which is fine everyone has their own anxieties or whatnot. Although then the manager approached us and suggested that our questions were overwhelming the staff and offered no further assistance. Hearing that after spending thousands of dollars and dealing with repeated product issues was both disappointing and frustrating.
What made this even more confusing was that we later tried on the exact same shoe models at other retailers and had none of the problems we experienced with the pairs we received through REI. The shoes fit correctly, felt consistent, and appeared to be in much better condition.
I cannot say for certain why we experienced so many issues, but the combination of inconsistent products, what appeared to be previously worn merchandise, and the way our concerns were handled has left us with very little confidence in this location.
Brent provided excellent customer service, and I still appreciate the help he gave us. Unfortunately, our experience after the sale was the complete opposite. When customers are spending significant amounts of money, they should be able to ask questions and have concerns addressed professionally without being made to feel like a burden.
Sadly, what started as a five-star experience ended as a major disappointment.