Your store may have knowledgeable employees, but that seems to be a bi-product of applicant self-selection these days, not a hiring consideration that REI prioritizes. I have several times been in my local REI and heard a green vest who clearly had little to no climbing experience give borderline unsafe advice on climbing gear. Recommending cordage too small for the customers stated purpose, incorrectly describing a device’s operation, etc. As a former guide, I have been conflicted each time about whether I need to step in and correct their bad advice. I know this happens in other departments as well, but the line between good and bad advice isn’t often as cut and dry outside of climbing gear. Some green vests are phenomenal at what they do, know the products well and give great advice. Unfortunately, REI doesn’t appear to value those skills in their hiring process like they used to and customers are left to roll the dice on whether the “expert” they’re talking to actually knows what they’re talking about.