Pros
Really, truly great lateral co-workers; awesome deals on gear--like so awesome it was the only thing that kept me there for so long.
Cons
Management at the store I worked; corporate cloud of control; way too much focus on numbers and selling the "co-op." REI only hires part-time workers and purposely keeps them under a gross 32 hours so that they aren't considered full-time and able to receive benefits. If you can sell stuff (specifically a membership) then this is the place for you. They've way over expanded and will feel the pain of their greediness soon. REI was a great place to work before the economy crapped out, but post-2007 it turned into a strictly numbers company focused on putting stores in every market possible--especially ones that made no sense. The idea of the once great co-op has been lost in dollar signs and is now just another Dick's or other hollow sporting goods store.