REI, which stands for Recreational Equipment Inc, has been around since it was founded in Kent, Washington in 1938. The company became a serious supplier of high quality outdoors gear in the 1970s. During that time, it identified itself as a co-op that focused on the needs of serious climbers, mountaineers, backpackers, and other outdoor adventurers.
REI still has some features that make it a great source for quality gear, but it has changed a lot since the ’70s. During the 1980s, the company made a shift toward selling sports casual clothing as well as equipment for amateurs. This included family camping gear as well as equipment for cyclists and kayakers. Since REI sells its clothes and equipment to all consumers, it stopped identifying itself as a co-op.
Today, there are vestigial remains of the old co-op. Customers can become members by paying a $20 fee. This payment gives them lifetime membership. Becoming a member offers plenty of perks, which I’ll detail below to help you decide whether it’s a good deal for you.
No one can doubt that REI has made good business decisions. It has a revenue of over $2 billion; it has over 11.6 million members; and it employees over 11,000 people. Some people will complain that REI doesn’t concentrate on meeting the needs of serious adventurers, but the company still has plenty of quality equipment. It has just expanded its horizons so it can appeal to more people/
Top Features of REI
The best thing about REI is that the store has a ton of merchandise that you can use for all types of outdoor adventures. Yes, some people complain that the company now sells sports casual clothing and tents designed for family outings instead of professional gear. That’s a silly complaint, though. REI still has a lot of great equipment for sale. By expanding its stock, it can attract more people, getting them interested in the outdoors. I think it’s great that REI isn’t so exclusive. Not everyone wants to hike a dangerous mountain. Most of us just want the gear we need to stay safe during overnight hikes.
The second best thing about REI is the membership. Again, there are a lot of people out there who will disagree with this. They think that the membership is unnecessary. Maybe it is, but it’s still a great way for shoppers to save money.
When you get an REI membership, you get a 10% return every year on what you spent. So, you basically get a 10% discount on everything you buy. You can use the check as store credit, or you can cash it.
Becoming a member also gives you access to more deals. REI has a lot of used and returned gear that’s in perfectly good condition. If you’re a member, you can browse these items to decide whether you want to buy them. Buying used kayaks and hiking equipment can easily help you save hundreds of dollars.
Members also get:
Discounted shipping
Rental discounts
Personal shopper services
Access to REI adventure trips
All of this for a one-time payment of $20? It doesn’t take long to make that money back. If you’re into hiking, running, kayaking, or camping, you’ll probably get your $20 back within a year or two. Do yourself a favor and become a member. It may seem unnecessary, but it’s a good deal.
REI Prices
REI isn’t exactly the cheapest store in the world. Don’t go there expecting to save a lot of money. Most of its equipment is designed for rugged terrain. This is high quality stuff. You get what you pay for.
If you want knockoff clothing and equipment, you will have to go elsewhere. REI only sells the real deal. You will spend a little bit of money, but you will also get equipment that lets decades. Over the course of an item’s life, the initial expense starts to look pretty reasonable.
Criticisms of REI
Personally, I’ve never had any problems with REI. I’ve bought stuff through the online store. It arrived on time and it was exactly what I expected. I’ve also bought stuff from brick and mortar stores. I prefer shopping at the store when I can, but the website is so convenient. If you already know what you want, you should definitely shop online. If you want to try some things in person, you might want to visit your nearest location.
While I’ve never had any problems, I’ve seen reviews where people complain about long shipping times. Some people also say that REI refuses to accept returns. I suppose long shipping times can happen to anyone. Perhaps someone in the warehouse made a mistake. It happens to all of us at one time or another.
Complaints about the return policy, however, give me pause. I’ve returned stuff without any problems. I suspect that the complaints are coming from people who tried to return used equipment. You can’t take a tent out for the weekend and expect REI to give you a complete refund. I don’t know of any company that would do that.
The company’s return policy says that you must have proof of purchase to get a refund or exchange. Maybe those people were unsatisfied because they didn’t keep their receipts. The return policy also says that you have to clean any used items before returning them. If you don’t clean them, then they will send it back at your expense. That makes sense to me. You can’t send a piece of dirty equipment to someone and expect a full refund. that’s just common sense.
Customer Support for REI
REI’s customer support is great. You contact the customer service center Monday through Sunday from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific Time. You can also send the company an email or use Live Chat.
Customer support in the stores is also really good. In my experience, the staff is friendly and helpful. They usually know what they’re talking about. When they don’t know much about a product, they find someone who does. That’s exactly what I want from customer service.
FAQ About REI
Q: If I buy an item online, can I return it to one of the brick and mortar stores?
A: Yes. REI doesn’t care how you return items purchased online. You can send them back through the mail or drop them off at the store.
Q: Does REI have a mobile app that makes it easier to shop with my mobile?
A: REI does have a shopping app. It also has a snow report app that will keep you informed of weather during ski trips.
Pros of Using REI
An REI membership can quickly pay for itself
Plenty of brick and mortar stores in addition to the online store
Highest quality items for outdoor recreation
Cons of Using REI
Some people say that the return policy is too strict
Conclusion
I’ve been participating in outdoor activities for most of my life. I love hiking more than anything. A walk that takes less than a day is too short for me. I like to get out in the wild for several days at a time.
Loving the outdoors means that I have to spend money on the right equipment. It’s not the most expensive hobby, but some of the equipment will set you back a little. When I know I’m going to have to spend a couple hundred dollars on something, I almost always get it at REI. The store has a great selection, strong customer services, and fair prices. I also trust REI to help me find the equipment that I really need. That’s important. The key to having a great time outdoors is staying safe. I feel like REI helps me do that.
Despite the complaints that some people have about the membership, I think it’s a great tool for outdoorsy types. If you just want to buy a pair of shoes, you obviously don’t need a membership. If you buy a pair of hiking boots once a year and replace your backpack every few years, though, the membership will help you save money. You only have to spend $200 to get your money back. Why wouldn’t you sign up for that? Even if you just have a casual relationship with outdoor sports, you know that you will spend more than $200. If you don’t do it this year, you will over the next couple years.
REI isn’t the only place I buy clothing and equipment. But it’s a place that I really like to shop. I trust their opinions and I know they have good gear. If you’re a purist who wants to shop at a place that only caters to serious adventurers, then I guess you should go somewhere that doesn’t sell casual clothes that attract more customers. As far as I can tell, it’s your loss. REI has been in business for a long time because it focuses on quality and meeting customer needs.
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