20% extra off one item at the REI Outlet online through March 11th.

Any interesting find?

There's some Nemo tents in there. Don't remember the price, but with the 20% off, well under $300. Probably in the low $200's.

I retract my earlier comments about REI. They were hasty and emotional. REI is a fine retailer.

Edited by ADKDustin on 03/07/2010 14:57:42 MST.

REI shipping to the stores is free.

Except for the closest REI store to me is about 190 miles away.

Ahhhhh..D'OH!

Dustin stop whining, stuff happens.

REI has the best return policy of any retail store on the Planet.

I've been a member for 25 years and I can tell you their customer service is fine.

Shipping is free to the nearest store to your house, great chance to take some time off and browse around when you pick it up.

Do they have unknowledgable employees, yes.
Do they have knowledgable employees, yes.
I'd say the mix is similar to most other outdoor retail stores that cater to the general public.

Do they have specialty UL gear? not much, but what other store does. If you want specialty gear go to a specialty shop ... online.

p.s.
same thing that happened to you just happened to me ... at Mountain Gear dot com. Am I happy, no. Who's fault is it ... nobody's really.

Art, stop telling me what to do. :P Thanks for the command Art, but like I said in my post, I was just venting. I think backcountryedge.com's free shipping and free returns make it a little bit better than REI. It's just that I, and I think most, really enjoy those companies that really go out of their way to make their customers happy, such as the Moosejaw incident discussed on here recently. REI can choose to do what they do because of their shipping charges, they know it is not really worth my money to return my item I just purchased to get the discount, where other retailers with free shipping know it would be worth it to them to honor something like that.

I have a friend whose ONE binding broke on his Tubbs snowshoes and he contacted Tubbs about purchasing a replacement. Tubbs sent him 2 packages of 2 bindings for free. He is a lifelong Tubbs loyalist, as now is his whole family who he turned onto Tubbs. There is nothing like a company giving you a good reason to return. It's kind of like the mechanic you trust and take your car to for all repairs.

I buy at REI for the return policy alone. The no questions asked return is great! I used a pair of Keens last summer and after about two months of hiking the sole started to peel off. I returned them muddy and all and got a complete refund to my card. I buy things there because i know if they fall apart or I am not happy with them, back they go.

After purchasing a pair of Atlas 1030 snow shoes from REI I had to return them because of a binding failure. Even after 10 years REI’s customer service cheerfully refunded my payment in cash!

I’m a big fan of any company that stands behind its products and takes care of its customers.

REI is in the Fortune 500 and CNN Business voted REI one of the 100 Best Companies to work for.

Roger

they have a nice innovations road bike pump that's a hybrid pump for a little under $7 after the discount.

http://www.rei.com/product/788551

20% off dynamic rope is a sweet price:
$129.93 BlueWater Accelerator 10.5mm x 60m Non-Dry Rope

Also got some non-outlet but still marked down biners:
$9.93 DMM Offset Screwgate Locking Carabiner - Steel

acronym 3/8/2010 11:13 AM

Edited by acronym.esq on 03/08/2010 10:17:29 MST.

Hmmm. Everyone seems to be able to return gear no questions asked except me! Are you guys REI members? Because I returned my trekking poles after using them for just under a year and I had the receipt... and they tried to tell me that it looked like I got a valid amount of use out them. One year! There was probably 200 miles worth of use on them. So I did not get a full refund, but apparently if I was a member I would have. I think? That's what the cashier seemed to be implying.



(The locking mechanism failed on my REI UL poles - not just while in use hiking... but when trying to use them with my Contrail)

I'd say just try another REI until one takes it back :P

Angela,

The REI Guarantee
Our 100% satisfaction guarantee ensures that every item you purchase at REI meets your high standards—or you can return it for a replacement or refund.

I would of asked to talk to a manager and explain my situation.

Become a member Every March, active REI members receive a member refund in the form of an annual dividend notice. The refund is typically 10% back on your eligible REI purchases.*

You can use your dividend notice as soon as you receive it to purchase gear and services at REI. Or you can redeem it for cash after July 1. Note: Your REI member refund expires on Dec. 31 of the year after it is issued. Read more about the member refund

Special Offers
As a member, you get special members-only offers on gear and clothing at REI.

Gear Rental Discounts
REI members get substantial savings on REI in-store rental equipment from skis to kayaks. (Selection varies by location. Check your local store for details.)

Shop Services Discounts
Reduced pricing on bike and ski shop services; available in most REI stores.

Adventure Travel Savings
Special member pricing when you travel with REI Adventures. Enjoy adventures worldwide, and weekend getaways close to home.

Voting Privileges
Your board of directors election ballot is included with your annual dividend notice. It's your chance to have a say in how your co-op is run.

Yeah... I'm just not very good at politely insisting, I suppose. The irony is that I work at a gear shop and I knew they'd pull that exact stunt on me (we do it too) and so was prepared to say that 200 miles is not a satisfactory amount of use. I even did say that! But then I just didn't have the guts to ask to speak to a manager! I hate being pushy.

Thankfully the poles were extremely clearanced when I bought them in the first place. My own fault for being a push-over. Plus I did think I needed to be a member for it to happen.

Edited by AngelaZ on 03/08/2010 13:46:20 MST.

Angela, Membership has nothing to do with the return policy, period.
You might have caught the clerk on a bad day or something. Or the store might be getting a lot of abuse on return gear.
It is easier to track purchases of members but that is not the issue.
BTW, yes, you should be a member- anyone who purchases more then $200 worth of stuff that is 15% or less off during their life time should. It make financial sense and if you shop there (because of the guarantee) it is the right thing to do!

I actually work for a rival retailer part time and buy most of my stuff from cottage industries. I buy maybe one thing from REI annually, if that. Hence the lack of membership! But yes, lessons learned.

:)

Angela, even one thing a year (regardless of where you work), if a regular purchase, will pay dividends down the road. You also might not always be working at the other store, but your REI membership will never go away, once a member always a member.

I get most of my everyday clothing at REI, so that helps with the "dividend" also.