Pros
Membership is why everyone at REI is not working for a Big Company, it is why REI can take care of the staff and take it's time on making big changes." Like laying off staff, closing stores, cutting benefits" this is what other companies do because of business. Communication is high I was able to change company polices while being a part-sale staff. It is a company and being professional will pay off. I have also made friends for a life time and after 13 year of working for REI, I would go back in a minute if life allowed it!
Cons
I think the cons for many maybe they forget it is a job, first! I think people build it into a family and forget they are there to sell stuff. It is a job and you do need to promote the Memberships and sell product to keep your job. I'm pretty sure most jobs work this way, you provide a service based on a job description and when you preform this service at the expected level you get payed.