Eastern Mountain Sports
Experiences & Reviews
Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) is a U.S. outdoor retailer selling clothing, footwear and gear for hiking, camping, climbing and other outdoor activities. EMS sells through store locations and an online storefront, offering backpacks, jackets, shoes and related accessories. Consumers searching reviews often focus on product selection, returns, shipping and customer service experiences.
Overview & Key Metrics
Our Analysis
Service quality
Most reviewers report negative service experiences: delayed or missing refunds, unfulfilled orders, and limited or unhelpful customer assistance.
Value for money
A few shoppers found competitive pricing, but many cite problems with rewards, gift-card-only refunds, and perceived poor value tied to return rules.
User experience
Customers point to site and policy friction: inaccurate size guides, removed reviews, no easy return initiation, and checkout/reward issues.
Product quality
Complaints include wrong items sent, incorrect model versions and isolated defects; some buyers report items arriving in good condition.
Communication
Frequent reports of poor communication: no phone support, slow or no email responses, and chat guidance seen as inadequate or risky.
Overall experience
Overall impressions skew negative: many reviews describe frustrating returns, unresolved orders and lost trust, with a few positive purchase notes.
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Data Collection
We analyze public reviews from verified platforms like Google, Trustpilot, and Facebook.
AI Analysis
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Updated regularly with the latest reviews and customer feedback.
Featured Customer Experiences
Representative examples from 13 verified reviews (November 2021 โ October 2025).
EMS won't fulfill my order I paid for
"After ordering online, received package via UPS containing items for a different customer. Contacted EMS to find out when my order would arrive and wa..."
DANGER this company is doing Bait andโฆ
"DANGER this company is doing Bait and Switch and getting away with it I ordered New Balance 1080v11 tennis shoes. This is the new version and was the..."
I have rewards money from previousโฆ
"I have rewards money from previous purchases but there is no way to redeem the money. There is way to enter it at checkout and there is no phone numbe..."
Best Price I Could Find
"I got shoes from a major brand at a better price than anywhere else I could f..."
All Reviews
Filtered, experience-based customer reviews from public sources; vague and duplicate submissions removed.
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All Customer Reviews
Sources: Trustpilot (12) ยท Collected.reviews (1) ยท Quotes shortened ยท As of: October 2025
I have rewards money from previousโฆ
I have rewards money from previous purchases but there is no way to redeem the money. There is way to enter it at checkout and there is no phone numbe...
The absolute worst customer service andโฆ
The absolute worst customer service and business. I ordered a jacket...
Wrong item sent, no customer service
I ordered a Long backpack and they sent me a Regular length. They have no customer...
Not good customer service
I have a few EMS clothing and footwear purchase 20 years ago when they were still in Grand Rapids MI. Since they moved to the east coast, I haven't pu...
EMS won't fulfill my order I paid for
After ordering online, received package via UPS containing items for a different customer. Contacted EMS to find out when my order would arrive and wa...
I have been an EMS customer since theyโฆ
I have been an EMS customer since they arrived in NH despite higher prices and limited sizes/selections (recent changes, tbh). However, they are in th...
Lost yet another loyal customer
EMS joined up with scam operator freeshipping.com. EMS used to be a quality retailer....
Lousy return policy and customer service
Lousy return policy and customer service. I purchased a backpack online that was $160 and went to return it for another one, the day I got it in the m...
DANGER this company is doing Bait andโฆ
DANGER this company is doing Bait and Switch and getting away with it I ordered New Balance 1080v11 tennis shoes. This is the new version and was the...
Crappy Return Policy Crappy Prices
Edit: Everyone getting hassled by EMS and their non-existent return policy contact your State Attorney General. I did and someone from the Connecticut...
Best Price I Could Find
I got shoes from a major brand at a better price than anywhere else I could f...
Price and customer service
More than slightly over priced. I bought an inner tube for my bike, pumped it up went on a ride came back and that tire was flat. The hole wasn't hard...
Mountaineering boots
I have ordered mountaineering boots here in the beginning of June, but the size guide on their page was not accurate, so I had to return them as they were not the right size. After two weeks there was no refund, so I contacted them. They claimed that they did not receive the package.
After reading other reviews online, I found that this was their standard mode of operation. Sadly, there is nothing I can do about it, they have simply stolen my money. I am extremely disappointed. Not possible to contact them easily neither. Please do not make the same mistake
Conclusion
Reviewers frequently highlight recurring issues around order fulfillment, returns and customer support at Eastern Mountain Sports. Multiple reviews describe missing or delayed refunds, difficulties initiating returns online, and limited support channels (no phone or slow email responses). There are also reports of incorrect items or product-version mismatches, though some customers report successful deliveries and competitive pricing. If you consider purchasing, check EMSโs current return policy and rewards redemption process, keep shipping and order receipts, and compare return windows with other outdoor retailers before buying.