REI

Reviews

• JH

  Jeff Hubbard

  Aug 26, 2026
  1.0
  While traveling on business in Houston I needed to pick up a new pair of Keen's. Saw REI had the color and size I needed so stopped in to pick up a pair. The ENTIRE time I was trying on different sizes the sales associate kept trying to sign me up for the membership. I explained to her I live in northern Wisconsin (town of 1400) we don't have an REI within 200 miles of me - I'm not interested in a membership. By the time I got to the checkout - the membership thing came up again - four separate times again I said I am not interested - I just want to buy this pair of Keens. They would not let up - I ended up leaving the store without any purchase. This is a horrible business tactic - I will never set foot in another REI.
• MR

  M R

  Aug 21, 2026
  1.0
  Waited in line and as soon as I finally got to the register the cashier literally walked away instead of checking me out. She said she would be right back, never did. Second incident of the sort. They also follow you around the store. Same employee actually. Thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt after the first time but looking at other reviews it seems like they are notorious for their profiling.
• JL

  Jonathan L.

  Aug 20, 2026
  5.0
  One of the great REI locations in Houston. I was really happy to find out there is an REI in the Westheimer area. They have a nice selection, including certain outdoor brands that can be harder to find elsewhere in Houston. The staff was helpful and attentive when we needed assistance. Overall, a very positive shopping experience!
• MM

  Meg

  Aug 11, 2026
  1.0
  I have loved and supported the brand for years. I’ve never had such a poor experience. I had a big return that fell within their policy. And having previously worked retail I knew they wouldn’t love it. I expected a happy go lucky push for me to look around the store. Instead I had a million questions about my use, no happy greeting, a rude tone, a disgust in having to answer my questions, and disbelief when I didn’t know part of the policy. While I’d like to think it was just that one cashier. The other was giving the same experience to another making a return. And there wasn’t anyone working who asked if I needed help when browsing the store. There were a few items I was interested in purchasing but decided to go elsewhere or online.
• TS

  Tobyn Sweazea

  Aug 8, 2026
  1.0
  I had a very disappointing experience during my recent visit to this store. My family and I came in with the intention of purchasing a complete rock climbing kit, totaling nearly $2,000. From the moment we entered the store, however, we felt as though we were being watched rather than welcomed. Throughout our visit, every time I picked up an item or placed something in my cart, it seemed like an associate was closely monitoring us. After gathering all of the climbing equipment I needed, we spent some time browsing other departments, including bags and clothing. During this time, an employee was consistently nearby, watching us without offering assistance, asking if we had questions, or providing any customer service. Instead, it felt like we were being treated with suspicion for the entirety of our visit, which made all of us extremely uncomfortable. The situation became even more unpleasant at checkout. While I was in the process of opening my membership account so we could complete the purchase, most of our items had already been bagged and placed in the cart. My brother reached for one of the bags that had been left on the counter, and an associate abruptly told him, “Don’t grab that, it’s not purchased.” Given that I was actively completing the transaction and preparing to pay, the comment felt unnecessary and discourteous. Additionally, at one point during our visit, another employee removed items from our cart and questioned my mother about it. Combined with the constant surveillance throughout the store, this only reinforced the feeling that we were not trusted as customers. Shopping for new climbing equipment should have been an exciting experience, but instead it left my family feeling uncomfortable, unwelcome, and embarrassed from the moment we entered until we checked out. I understand the importance of loss prevention, but there is a significant difference between ensuring store security and making paying customers feel as though they are under constant suspicion. Because of this experience, I will be choosing a different REI location for future purchases. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously so that other customers do not leave feeling as uncomfortable and unwelcome as we did.