By Mike Lane
From Centennial, CO
Apr 4, 2012
| Jason N. wrote: ...... it is certainly not solely our fault. But I think the media loves to paint this picture of lazy 20 somethings, with no one to blame but themselves. It's easy and doesn't force the older generations to re-evaluate the role they might have played in creating the problem.
Actually, I do recognize how my generation raising you kids with Capri Suns, orange slices and playing soccer where no one actually kept score and either everyone or no one got a ribbon started the ball rolling. Sorry. I guess that when we retire at 75 and have to rely on you kids to support us, and the world looks like that scene from Idiocracy, then we'll see who has the last laugh, eh? | 
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By Joshua Steenburgh
From Longmont, Colorado
Apr 4, 2012
| Mike Lane wrote: Actually, I do recognize how my generation raising you kids with Capri Suns, orange slices and playing soccer where no one actually kept score and either everyone or no one got a ribbon started the ball rolling.
I know! Orange slices, man! They naturally breed lazy people! Before I get into how sliced fruit is destroying our youth, could we get this site renamed "Crotchety Old Climbers"? |
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By Ray Pinpillage
Apr 5, 2012
| Joshua Steenburgh wrote: When I want to see lame or misused memes, I can always count on the good people MP to deliver.
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By crewdoglm
From TAFB CA
Apr 5, 2012
| Retail giant is responsible for their own policies. They calculate that their return policy equates to more money in the end otherwise they wouldn't do it. You guys acting he defrauded REI are hysterical. It's called commerce...and commerce is pragmatism. This is the same kid whining about his dog getting kicked after the dog bit a child btw... |
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By Buff Johnson
Apr 5, 2012
| Mike Lane wrote: Actually, I do recognize how my generation raising you kids with Capri Suns, orange slices and playing soccer where no one actually kept score and either everyone or no one got a ribbon started the ball rolling. Sorry. I guess that when we retire at 75 and have to rely on you kids to support us, and the world looks like that scene from Idiocracy, then we'll see who has the last laugh, eh?
Don't forget, you bastards stuffed everyone with sugar while atari reinvented recreation empowering soccer mom'd convenience....Viva La Revolución!!! |
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By wankel7
From Dallas TexASS
Apr 5, 2012
| Kyle B. wrote: For the record, one, they didn't complain once or make a single fuss about the returned shoes and were stoked that I was returning them. Therefore, I dont feel that I have abused their return policy in any way shape or form. AND, I had to pay full price. There was no return money involved. I bought those shoes for full price and had to pay full price to special order them. And for those that think I'm a tool for returning old shoes instead of buying brand new ones every time, then you need to get out of your trustafarian little bubble sometime. I'd say 3 years and 3 resoles is a DAMN good use of rock shoes, If I had it my way, they would have been resoled and I never would've returned them to REI.
Ok, three years...and three resoles?
After the FIRST resole you lost the right to return those shoes. I know that isn't written anywhere but I think that most of the people that post here would agree with that ethic.
You're attitude about exhanging a shoe in this matter leads me to beleive you do this stuff all the time. In fact you have done this SO MUCH you have justified it as being ethiclly ok. Well, I am here to tell you ....there are FOUR pages of people that think you're wrong. |
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By Alex Swan
From West
Apr 5, 2012
| This may have already be said...
The only reason I ever shop at REI is because of their return policy. |
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By Javier L
From Asheville, NC
Apr 5, 2012
| Shoes at REI are maybe a few bucks more than other retail stores, including climbing stores. I wouldn't make the same argument for a shoe as I would for other items at REI. |
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By Ryan Williams
Administrator
From London (sort of)
Apr 5, 2012
| crewdoglm wrote: Retail giant is responsible for their own policies. They calculate that their return policy equates to more money in the end otherwise they wouldn't do it. You guys acting he defrauded REI are hysterical. It's called commerce...and commerce is pragmatism. This is the same kid whining about his dog getting kicked after the dog bit a child btw...
I don't think anyone is saying that they NEVER return items to REI. I sure do. When I am buying something that I know might have a short life span or that I might not like, I usually go there. Of course they have covered their ass in regards to the return policy. We know that. We're not morons.
But this is obviously a case of someone abusing the policy. Like a few people have already said, they wouldn't have this policy in place if it cost them money. Well, that means every quarter they evaluate the numbers. The more people who abuse the policy, the worse the numbers are for REI, and then all of the sudden they start cutting back on the policy. This is how it has worked for all outdoor brands, retailers and the equipment companies themselves. The company I work for used to offer a lifetime warranty (and we sort of still do) but then people started riding their bikes in through rain storms in their down jackets and then bringing them back saying that they aren't warm. It was a case of abuse. Naturally, we had to cut back on our policy and say no to some people.
When my REI tent zipper blew out after a few months, I took it back and didn't feel bad about it. They are a huge company and have accounted for things such as broken broken zippers. Have they accounted for dirtbag climbers who chop their shoes up a few times and then bring them back wanting a refund? I don't think so. |
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By Mike Lane
From Centennial, CO
Apr 5, 2012
| The Ewok/anus thing is still funny as hell, yet I have no idea what it meant. |
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By Colonel Mustard
From Reno, NV
Apr 5, 2012
| Joshua Steenburgh wrote: I know! Orange slices, man! They naturally breed lazy people! Before I get into how sliced fruit is destroying our youth, could we get this site renamed "Crotchety Old Climbers"?
I see you have not been to supertopo yet. |
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By Brian Abram
From Columbia, SC
Apr 5, 2012
| I'm not siding with the guy returning old ass, busted shoes, but after thinking about it, under what circumstances would a true lifetime policy like Backcountry.com's be used legitimately? They state on their site that if "now, next month, in 30 years" you're not satisfied, you can return an item no questions asked. When would it be okay to return something after 5, 10 or 20 years? They are the ones putting that out there. It's a selling point for them. No one can be faulted for taking advantage of something the company is choosing to promote. |
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By Chris Miller
Apr 5, 2012
| I was going to point out that returning a 3 y/o pair of used and abused shoes is the pinnacle of dirtbag dooshery, but I guess that's already been said. Carry on. |
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By Stich
From Colorado Springs, Colorado
Apr 5, 2012
| Did anyone not get the memo that no actual, existing shoes were purchased from REI, nor were they resoled three times and subsequently returned? There is also no Easter Bunny and your tooth that just came out of your mouth is not worth a quarter, unless you are still living at home and your mom is around. |
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By J Q
Apr 5, 2012
| When the op doesn't respond and you do, five times, you just got trolled.
REI sucks a bag of dicks and I return everything I can. Serves them right. Their return anything model has put most of the local retailers out of business. This is why I encourage everyone to return as much as you want, whenever you want, for what-ever reason you want. This co-op is not going broke anytime soon, but the country sure is. |
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By FrankPS
From Atascadero, CA
Apr 5, 2012
| Jonhy Q wrote: When the op doesn't respond and you do, five times, you just got trolled. REI sucks a bag of dicks and I return everything I can. Serves them right. Their return anything model has put most of the local retailers out of business. This is why I encourage everyone to return as much as you want, whenever you want, for what-ever reason you want. This co-op is not going broke anytime soon, but the country sure is.
You resent REI because they are more successful than some of their competition? They have policies that customers like? Who do they think they are? Occupy REI! Down with those capitalist pigs! |
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By Jake Jones
From The Eastern Flatlands
Apr 5, 2012
| I think what he's saying is that he resents them because they've become somewhat of a monopoly. There is merit in what he's saying. REI is the Walmart of outdoor shops. Yes they do have a great policy- for customers. I do think, however, that there is something to be said for shitting on the little guy that can't keep up.
I know the argument very well. It's American consumerism. It's capitalism. If you can't keep up, you don't belong there. If you didn't have a business plan that turned your own shop into REI, then it's just natural selection in the business world.
That's all fine and dandy until YOU are the little guy that gets a giant dump taken on him. I see both sides of the argument, and both have some validity.
If I'm buying something I'm unsure about, that's where I go because I know I can go back and tell them it sucks and it's covered. Shitty? Perhaps. I don't feel like it's an abuse though. I'm certainly not going to bring in a well-used product at the end of its life and demand a replacement. For most other things, replacing gear, getting new gear from a manufacturer that I know makes quality stuff, I buy online usually from Bentgate, Al's, or somewhere similar.
I'm surprised that in this discussion, no one has actually focused on price. I'm hard pressed to NOT find something I want discounted 20% off. Shoes are generally the hardest thing to find discounted. (certain ropes and specialty pieces, e.g. big bros, ball nuts are a close second). Even so, the majority of my climbing/outdoor purchases are 20% off retail or more. At REI, usually you'll pay retail, and then get 10% back in dividends. As a matter of fact, the only things you spend on that you'll get back in dividends are the things you purchase at retail price. So, by this logic, most of the time, you're still saving ten percent by purchasing somewhere other than REI. Sorry for diverging from the OP, and from the initial response. |
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By Spider Savage
Apr 5, 2012
| Very successful troll. People arguing & getting riled up, political rants, funny MEMs, at 5 pages and still going. A+ |
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By Malcolm Daly
From Boulder, CO
Apr 5, 2012
| Something that has been totally missed in this thread is that I suspect that most people who interact with REI on a commercial level (not just trolling or flaming) are members of te CO-OP. That means you are an owner of the chain of stores and have all the rights of an owner.
To the OP: Did you vote for the current board members? Have you attended a general meeting of the co-op? You have the power to change their policies through organizing member initiatives.
Stop bitching and go for it. |
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By aran
From Berkeley, CA
Apr 5, 2012
| Oh man, this was so much fun up to the Ewoks! Now we're getting all slogany...
Troll or douche, that was an excellent read this morning. Seems like most of y'all are good people- happy to know it! |
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By Buff Johnson
Apr 5, 2012
| Can we nominate an ewok to the board, or are they just there for forested assault/defense security? |
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By DexterRutecki
Apr 5, 2012
| muttonface wrote: I think what he's saying is that he resents them because they've become somewhat of a monopoly. There is merit in what he's saying. REI is the Walmart of outdoor shops. Yes they do have a great policy- for customers. I do think, however, that there is something to be said for shitting on the little guy that can't keep up. I know the argument very well. It's American consumerism. It's capitalism. If you can't keep up, you don't belong there. If you didn't have a business plan that turned your own shop into REI, then it's just natural selection in the business world. That's all fine and dandy until YOU are the little guy that gets a giant dump taken on him. I see both sides of the argument, and both have some validity. If I'm buying something I'm unsure about, that's where I go because I know I can go back and tell them it sucks and it's covered. Shitty? Perhaps. I don't feel like it's an abuse though. I'm certainly not going to bring in a well-used product at the end of its life and demand a replacement. For most other things, replacing gear, getting new gear from a manufacturer that I know makes quality stuff, I buy online usually from Bentgate, Al's, or somewhere similar. I'm surprised that in this discussion, no one has actually focused on price. I'm hard pressed to NOT find something I want discounted 20% off. Shoes are generally the hardest thing to find discounted. (certain ropes and specialty pieces, e.g. big bros, ball nuts are a close second). Even so, the majority of my climbing/outdoor purchases are 20% off retail or more. At REI, usually you'll pay retail, and then get 10% back in dividends. As a matter of fact, the only things you spend on that you'll get back in dividends are the things you purchase at retail price. So, by this logic, most of the time, you're still saving ten percent by purchasing somewhere other than REI. Sorry for diverging from the OP, and from the initial response.
Yes, damn REI for starting out as a little guy and having a successful business model! They should take all their profits from running their successful business and donate it to all the mom and pop stores.... Seriously? Whats your point?
Also to the other people posting it is not Return Everything Inc. They do have a good return policy but a lot of people get flagged and eventually denied for abusing the return policy. |
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