I love REI & the service is always great!
I have always found everything that I need when I am getting ready to hike, swim, snowboard/ski (not that I snowboard or ski - Im just preparing when I do decide to snowboard), camp, etc. I know that they will have everything that I can possibly need. Or I would come here and give me ideas what I need to bring. However, would I pay for them? ehhhh - most of them probably not. Maybe just a few things & when I mean a "few things" i mean just "one or two things" hahahha.
There is only certain things I would buy from REI since they do have a great a policy for returns and you know their products will last for a really long time.
I was looking for a raincoat one time - OMG, $99-$150 for a raincoat I was looking at - umm i'll just walk away and get something similar online.
Overall, the location of this REI is great and the workers are extremely helpful and really friendly.