REI
Welcome to REI, your go-to destination for all things outdoor in Athens, Georgia! Nestled conveniently at 196 Alps Rd Suite 56, this vibrant store is dedicated to helping you pursue your passion for adventure. With a stellar 4.4-star rating, REI Athens has quickly become a favorite among locals, offering a diverse selection of high-quality outdoor gear, clothing, and accessories perfect for hiking, biking, camping, and more. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or a weekend explorer, our knowledgeable staff is here to provide personalized recommendations and insights, ensuring you find exactly what you need to make the most of your outdoor experiences. At REI, we understand that customer satisfaction is paramount. Our dedicated team is committed to creating a welcoming atmosphere where you can shop with confidence. Many of our customers rave about the expertise of our staff, with one reviewer highlighting the exceptional assistance provided by Stephen, who can help you navigate through our extensive inventory. While some have noted a proactive approach to membership inquiries, we believe that our REI membership offers valuable benefits for outdoor enthusiasts, making it worth your while. With flexible hours from Tuesday to Sunday, including late-night shopping on weekdays, we invite you to visit us, explore our offerings, and join a community that shares your love for the great outdoors. For more information, feel free to call us at +1 706-247-8200 or visit our website at rei.com. Embrace your adventurous spirit with REI!
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Reviews & Questions
Google Reviews
David Little
I purchased all of these Cotopaxi products and Brooks Shoes from REI. The last photo is a pair of Brooks that endured approximately 1200 miles of running and or walking. I use them as a demo only now . I enjoy trying products on before purchasing and REI has a fantastic selection of products and a wonderful CO-OP program. I appreciate the staff engagement and overall commitment to the community.
Alexander Queen
I see a lot of reviews about them being “pushy” and what not about the membership. That comes from a bunch of people who’ve never worked a goal-oriented retail job before. In my experiences at REI Athens, I have only been met with great deals and even better employees who actually know what they’re selling. If you are an actual outdoors person, there no better place on the planet. The level of knowledge difference, compared to other competitors, is off the charts and REI has employees who have literally trekked the entirety of the Appalachian Trail. I love my REI store, thank you guys for your help in gearing me up! PS. The membership is $30 for LIFE, so those complaining should probably stick to hotels and RV’s when they “camp” ;)
Greg Pegan
Was there the day after the opening. Great to have a REI store close to where I live. Nice store very helpful staff. Went there for some sandals, limited selection in store, but they had the sandals I wanted in the store. Being a regional store, they didn’t carry all of their merchandise selection, but they said that they could have an item shipped to the store or sent to my address (members free shipping ). Amber was at the table at the back of the store and was very helpful.
Heidi Quinter
Shopped here about 5 times since opening, quality items but I don’t like being “bugged” about being an award member. You get approached as soon as you walk in, they ask you what looking for which is fine then you know they’re going to lay the schpill on you. I go to the shoes and get it again.. no thank you. Check out at the register and here we go again. I was buying shoes for a family members birthday, other than that I won’t go back because I hate getting asked over & over about saving $50 on my purchase that will cost me $30 for a membership. I don’t shop enough to reap the benefits. REI you need to do better and not be so pushy about this reward thing. I’m sure the salesperson gets a kickback from it. Almost like walking into a car lot.
Will Puckett
I have been coming to this location for around a year now and MOST of the staff are knowledgeable about the outdoors. Especially Stephen, he can help you with anything! They are a smaller REI but still have a good selection. The co-op features are awesome and you can’t beat their incredible return policy and crazy sales on name brand gear. The only downside of this location is that they will hound you to become a member. Yes if you shop here more than one time it makes sense for you to become a member, but no other REI I have been to has ever asked me as soon as I walk in. I would suggest changing this policy to match other stores welcome policy.
Corey Sweat
So glad the store is open! Staff was very helpful and store was beautifully arranged and organized. Gold standard for how a store should look. Will prob be spending too much money here in the future.
Shandon Williams
Nice shop friendly staff
Squatch
This review is specifically for Bailey (hopefully I'm spelling that correctly): not only did you do an amazing job repairing my bike, you also went above and beyond by being friendly and timely. You also cleaned my bike, which completely caught me off guard. I've had nothing but good experiences with REI as a whole, but this bike shop is great down here in our little Athens GA. Thank you so much. This is from the dude with the RadRunner.
Ivy M
This place is amazing, the customer service here is truly exceptional. They allow me to park my bike inside the store when I was too anxious to keep it locked up outside, there is always an employee around to help me find stuff, and all of them are really experienced in an aspect of the store. They even helped me install a bike rear rack free of charge! I will definitely be coming back.
Ally Martin
My first time going to REI and I loved it! Was greeted immediately upon the store looking for a specific item. The man knew right where it was, and even checked in the back for us when we couldn’t find the exact color we wanted. He brought it out to us, and was super kind throughout the whole process. Store was super clean and organized. Definitely recommend.
