Sales Associate - Sales Representative REI Employee Review

5.0
25 Jun 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Perfect School part time job. Work life balance cannot be beat, Benefits.... if don't already know look it up they're beyond your fantasies if you know what benefits are in relation to hours worked, (ratio= time worked:benefits paid), Minimum wage is respectable but not livable until you move up, but you can quickly if you actually make serious effort. Other jobs you make serious effort and may move up quicker, yet the benefits and work life balance can't be met, in most occupations.... if you can complain, you're right... a sole proprietorship can be a better work life balance with possible better pay if you're up for the initial start-up work and know what you're doing

Cons

When you begin you cannot live off the wage. It's far better than your burger joint or average job, but still not sustainable until you move up. Advancement is difficult if you view it that way and have managers that don't see advancement as their agenda.. If you are willing to put up with 1 to 2 years of learning without getting the pay you need to live off of, (living with a gf or significant other or college) then you can and will advance if you have the drive. You Will not get the hours you need to live until you move up to sales lead or management, but you can and will if you have it and want it

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
26 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good managers, deals, coworkers, products

Cons

No cons, I really liked my time.

3.0
9 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most coworkers, some managers, discounts, outfitting people properly without extra nonsense

Cons

Some truly horrible managers, pressure to sell credit cards is a morale killer, the union people. Employees drinking the union kool aid fail to see the company’s position, REI cannot give higher pay, better benefits , consistent hours, etc… with the erratic revenue stream that comes in , if a 5 year average is X in revenue and 5 year average is Y on wages and costs, how are they supposed to increase wages and benefits? It’s numbers and they don’t line up, if REI gives the increases which increases the expenses greatly, they will cut staff, a lot fewer employees which will eliminate a bunch of union supporters, an REI job is not supposed to be a lucrative deal, when you get hired the part time , part time plus and full time options are there and you choose what you want fully understanding what hours you are going to get at minimum, they will hire those positions on a need basis, to cry later that you don’t make enough money is your fault, the terms were clear and you signed off on them. The union is promising rainbows , reality will be far different, careful what you wish for

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