Never buying from REI again

Brett bought his trousers from REI under the old warranty, which was a 100% satisfaction guarantee. That meant if for any reason a customer was unhappy with a product, REI would replace it. Apparently they are not honoring that policy, been though they said they would.

The decision of a customer to return a product that was worn from normal wear and tear was an ethical decision by the customer. REI had to change the policy due to abuse by too many customers.

We don't really know why Brett's trousers failed. But under the original warranty, REI should replace them. It is between Brett and REI.

Why he chose to publicize this on BPL is confusing. When I read the original post, I knew what was going to happen, and reading further it did. Brett should have known what would be the outcome here, he has been on BPL for years.

Michael,

Welcome back and I know what you mean.

The BPL forums have changed quite a bit and are not as friendly as they used to be.

Not sure if there has become something mean spirited or arrogant, but something has changed.

Less supportive, more complaining/whining, more critical, and perhaps more closed minded with people who think they know better than everyone else.

I have certainly, in recent time, such as with THIS post, have lost patience with people and spouted off my displeasure.

I miss the old BPL too.

Tony

"I miss the old BPL too."

I miss hiking up Whitney or on the JMT with no permits required. More people and unique problems. Perhaps here too. I just look past some things and focus on the positive. Some of my favorite BPL members from 2008 are still here and contributing. It is still a special place to visit when my wife grounds me, like she has this weekend. Now, that is something I hate, "You're grounded this weekend. The sink is leaking and you have been gone for 5 days already this week."

Bet the sink's still leaking.

"Bet the sink's still leaking."

Yes it is. She just old me she is taking the iPad away in 30 minutes and reported everything under the kitchen sink has been removed for my working convenience. I hate plumbing leaks, but it will be fixed today — not optional, apparently.

Edit: now I know the real reason I am grounded and it is a good thing she didn't take the iPad away sooner. A reminder just popped up that tomorrow is Mother's Day. Guess I'll need to make a detour when driving to Home Depot for plumbing parts. Anyone have gift suggestions?

Never hiked the AT, if that's what you mean. I'm 35. Yep, the guy is being a douche by throwing a tantrum over 2 1/2 year old pants that could be fixed in a few moments.

I spent years in the hiking gear industry and am so glad to be back to working in the outdoors for real because people like the OP drove me crazy!

Look at this from REI's point of view. The pants were bought two and a half years ago. "Yes", says the customer,"but I only wore them for 35 days! You're not calling me a liar are you?" No, says REI but how in the world do they know? People have been abusing their return policy for decades. I mean, there have to be limits.

there's a book called Why We Can't Have Good Things. If there were no hackers we wouldn't need exorbitant internet security. If there were no online bullies kids could safely share. If everybody was honest, you could have remarkable return policies. But that's not our world.

I work at a bookstore. There's always the person who returns a new book after a week and claims that they already had it; they want full credit or their money back. It's clear from looking at the book that it's been read. Meanwhile, the employees are trying to make a living.

I miss hiking the Enchantments with no permit, no need to win "a lottery". But I think there were more people then…

What, your wife removes all the stuff from under the sink? My wife makes me do that too.

Everyone is Chuck Norris behind a keyboard I suppose. Randy, bring it down a notch. We can disagree with each other in the Gear Forum without that language and behavior.

_____________________________________________

"and reported everything under the kitchen sink has been removed for my working convenience."

As newlyweds and in our first place near Ft. Drum, I came home to find that my wife had painted a 4'x4' section of our living room wall a new color and received my marching orders to make the rest of the walls in the living room the same color. I've been calling her my Sergeant Major ever since.

Changed when they hid Chaff away in a dark corner. People used to have an easy place to vent about a wide assortment of subjects. Now it's all in Gear.

If all the "nice" people stop posting and giving up on BPL what chance is there that it will get better? It's up to all of us to make the place we want and know it could be.

Lead by example.

Tell her that she is a wonderful and capable woman. Give her this and run.

"Anyone have gift suggestions?"

Buy her a Home Depot gift card :)

A mini excavator with rubber tracks?
Kidding, that is MY dream..

How about some really nice binoculars to use on your camping trips?

"A mini excavator with rubber tracks?"

I can honestly say that I've never heard that coming from a man or a woman.

–B.G.–

"my wife had painted a 4'x4' section of our living room wall a new color and received my marching orders to make the rest of the walls in the living room the same color."

well, she did the difficult part, deciding on the color

and then, just to screw with you, after you were done painting the living room, she could say she changed her mind and wants it a shade lighter

"she could say she changed her mind and wants it a shade lighter"

Been there done that although in her defense, it was a good decision.

What were we talking about again?

uh oh, you're outing me

trying to distract us from flame war : )

actually, I don't care, flame away…

"Everyone is Chuck Norris behind a keyboard I suppose. Randy, bring it down a notch. We can disagree with each other in the Gear Forum without that language and behavior."

+1 Douche is as douche posts.

"Anyone have gift suggestions?"

A plumbers wrench and some Teflon tape?

At the end of the day, the dude decides to get his panties in a wad over a $40 pair of used pants and posts "Never buying from REI again"…

That is a typical sophomoric/juvenile/privledged/1st-world/gram-counting weenie/control freak/I'm-incredibly-special-attitude.

Some here need to get out from behind the keyboard and go see what the rest of the world is up to. Sheesh…

Oh yeah, REI member since 1975, 481XXX. $5 lifetime membership.

REI essentially sucked in the 1980's and into the 1990's.. they're far beyond what they used to be, including the 1970's. They're a rejuvenated, excellent Co. compared to what they were.

"Truth is, one thread snaps and the seam will starts to slowly unravel. A dab of super glue or better seam grip on the loose thread end can stop the unraveling in its tracks."

I don't think super glue can help this thread. Chaff might.

"Oh yeah, REI member since 1975, 481XXX. $5 lifetime membership."

Was that the membership fee? I started in 1977.

I think that I still have the mountaineering gear that I purchased then.

Maybe I should take it back to REI and ask for warranty replacements. (No)

–B.G.–

my number is 257xxx

whose going to beat me?

You old timers have me beat, 946xxx. I have an REI about a mile from where I live and it is my goto store for little things and bike stuff on Sundays when the local bike shops are closed. My problem with REI isn't what they are or their policies, it is that I've outgrown the backpacking gear they carry. Still a good shop for other things but browsing those sections just isn't fun anymore. I find myself walking around thinking nope, too heavy, mines better.