Member’s Only – Scratch and Dent Sale

I'll go….just need a flight to Atlanta. You get the flight, I'LL buy the coffee!

If i'm paying for a flight, we are going hiking… not to REI. :D

I think Fremont, CA REI has a scratch and dent sale this weekend also.

waiting for the chicago one March 20! anyone want to come? :)
Evan

Juston, you're a pilot. I'm sure you get some perks!

True. But they limit us to 6 "favors" per year, and it's still not free, although very cheap. I fly for free always, as does my family. That's why I save my 6 "favors" for deserving events. I'm also currently on medical leave and can't even fly myself until I go back on active status… March 15th. Wouldn't be in time for the S&D Sale. So when are we going hiking? :D

I'm down for this Thursday-Monday!

Free flights to go hiking? ME, ME, ME!!! :)

The first Scratch and Dent after Burning Man at the San Francisco REI was the one and only time I went to a sale. It's the place to be if you're looking for a tent with cigarette burns in the netting and fly or a sleeping bag that smells like marijuana and certainly has bodily fluids in it I don't even want to think about. Lots of camp stoves and water bottles, and plenty of stuff from the Car-Camping section of the store, (coolers and camp chairs, etc).

Ah, the Return Everything Immediately return policy.

And people think is stands for Recreational Equipment Incorporated.

"Yeah, this tent leaked. It seems there's a cigarette hole in the roof."

"Would you like to return it, or exchange it?"

I agree. People take advantage of REI's no questions asked return policy. It drives up costs for the rest of us. I don't know how they do it to be honest. I guess they have enough people buying to take up the slack. I have returned items to REI, but only for legitimate reasons.

James, Jeff and Juston:

Wow — the J's are out in full force today!

Yeah, what you described — it's shameful — and IMO, it's little better than outright stealing! And at the end, that kind of behavior drives up the price for everyone else!

I agree that the example of 'cigarette burn in *insert object here*' is definitely wrong. However, what do you guys think of a product marketed as being durable – let's say a pair of pants – and through normal use (scrambling?) they rip. It's technically your own fault, but the product didn't really live up to its claim. Thoughts?

It's got to be hard to be a retailer with a return policy like REI, but I suppose you have to deal with a decent amount of dishonest people at stores with 'normal' return policies as well.

I work in an outdoor store (we sell SUC gear). I hate it when people return stuff that they 'rented' for the weekend. I don't know how many times we get a returned tent in Monday that was bought on Friday. The purchaser saying, 'We only put it up in the yard, and we just didn't like it.'

then I pull it out to inspect it (we have a 'multiple questions asked' return policy) and there will be all sorts of dirt and pine needles in it. Once there was a air pump for one of the big air mattresses we sell in the tent bag!

I hate that. No return for you!

But it IS REI's policy to take everything back, so apparently they have some system that they don't loose too much money, otherwise they'd change the policy.

While I do follow my personal ethics of not returning something, just because it has a hole in it after 10 months of use, I can't get mad at others for doing it. (Its a little crappy, but I can't get mad) They ARE within REI 's policy, after all.

If the company who's getting the perceived 'bad deal' isn't upset, why should I be?

@Zachary

Carharts double front pants will rip (eventually)

If you go cragging a few times and the pants rip, absolutely, return them.

If the YOU feel the item doesn't live up to the stated claim, then you are well within your right, and should return them.

Its the people who wear the shoes all year long and then return them for next years model that get my goat. (I can't believe I just said 'get my goat' WTF?)

"If the company who's getting the perceived 'bad deal' isn't upset, why should I be?"

I don't know if "upset" is the word, but the concern is certainly there. Product returns are a cost of doing business. Everything else being the same, higher returns means higher cost — which can lead to higher prices to for the business to recoup.

I almost never pay full price at REI. I can almost always find the same things cheaper elsewhere (and I'm sure their high return cost is one of the reasons for their higher prices). I say "almost never" because when I need to buy something major that I am unsure about, then yes, I will buy from REI for their satisfaction guarantee. But those times are few and far between.

I guess there are enough zombies that stumble into REI to fetch all of their outdoor needs. Enough to keep REI from having to change their policies, at least.

Most folks who give a rat's donkey will take the time to find product X at a cheaper price somewhere anyway.

We 'in the know' people definitely will. We are far superior to the others.

"You, in the button up- but this Carbon Reflex for $600. Backpacker says its awesome"

Ok, that was a little much- just having fun before work:)

And no offense to CR owners:)

Interesting … we have had this discussion before, but this time people seem a lot more concerned with ethics than last time … glad to see that. In the past, there were too many people who said that as long as REI is willing, they saw no problem.

I even saw (occasionally) advice that the way to sort out a pair of boots you were uncertain about was to buy them from REI, take them on a backpack, and then return them if you did not like them. Keep on until you find a pair you do like. I could not believe people would openly admit to doing things like that!

Personally, I feel that abusing the policy has various repercussions, none of them favorable for the rest of us. To me, the ethical policy is simple:

* If the item is in *new* condition — i.e. if REI can put it back on the shelf and sell it as new — then go ahead and return it.

* If the item was defective, or was misrepresented (not just that you misunderstood), then go ahead and return it.

But it is *not* a free rental or free trial service! It is not ethical to by a pair of boots, take them on a backpack, and then decide you don't like them and return them.

–Bob

Yeah, I feel that return policies such as REI and Wal-Mart ruin it for the rest of the stores. Now we look bad if we don't have a 'We'll take it back, no matter what' return policy. They have effectively trained the public to rent stuff on our tab.

Luckily many people still have some backbone, and will do the right thing.

"But it is *not* a free rental or free trial service! It is not ethical to by a pair of boots, take them on a backpack, and then decide you don't like them and return them."

Totally agree with Bob (and others) that it isn't free rental. Don't be gearing up on Friday for that once-in-a-lifetime camping trip — and then returning them all on Monday!

However, I see it differently in part when it comes to trying things out (so they become obviously used) and then returning them to REI. For me:

1. Anything I buy that I can tell whether it's right for me just by looking or touching — then I'll do just that. If I don't want it, I at least want REI to be able to resell the item "new". Here, I agree with Bob.

2. But something like shoes — there's just no way to tell without really putting some miles on it. REI is specific about this: your satisfaction guaranteed! If the shoes are pretty obviously not for me even when trying them at home, then I will return them ASAP. If they look promising, then I will wear them on a day hike. And if still promising, then I will wear them again to "break them in" as appropriate. But if they are not completely right for me even after the "break in" period — then yes, I will return them. But no, I would not return a pair of boots after wearing the lives out of them. That would be taking advantage. 99% of this rests within one's intention. And we shouldn't ever 'intend' to take advantage of anyone. My 2 cents.

Interesting … we have had this discussion before, but this time people seem a lot more concerned with ethics than last time … glad to see that. In the past, there were too many people who said that as long as REI is willing, they saw no problem.

–Bob

Bob,

I agree with about 99% of what you are saying. However, i've tried a pair of trail runners from REI just to see how I liked them. I didn't at all, and returned them. Two notes. Number one, I'm informed about how to fit myself properly with shoes… I did my best to make sure I got the right shoe. It just didn't work out this time. Number two, it was the staff at REI who said… "try them out, and if you don't like them just bring them back."

I've been told this multiple times at REI. "Just try it out… if it doesn't work, just bring it back."

As stated previously, I would never abuse the system… but sometimes things just don't work out.

I'm glad to see good ethics here as well. "Renting" equipment is nothing more than stealing and then returning it. It's still wrong.

I don't understand how Gore can say 'Guaranteed to keep you dry'

Well I understand how they say that, but How can they still take all of the 'defective' jackets back when they aren't defective in the first place?

You know, they guy who walks 3 miles uphill with baselayer, fuzzy and Goretex jacket on- Obviously its getting wetted out. Gore should put proper 'instructions' on how to wear their coats.

I suppose there's no way to prove it didn't leak… I'm just sayin' what are they doing with all of the perfectly good returned jackets? How can these companies take all of these back?

"Anyone want to go? I've only done this one and I didn't buy a thing. I'll gladly go to meet some members here and take a chance for some cheap gear. Coffee is on me. :D"

Justin, what time do you plan on arriving at REI? I've been thinking about going to this one. The last time I went to one of their S&D sales the line was around the building at 9A. They were issuing numbers and only allowing a few in at a time to the warehouse where the goodies were stored.

I saw a pair of men's hiking boots that someone had returned, a dog had been chewing on them…IMO that was taking advantage of the REI return policy.

"I don't understand how Gore can say 'Guaranteed to keep you dry'"

I have absolutely no qualms whatsoever returning anything that I found hyped up by marketers. Ethics go both ways!

Gore is a bad offender. Sea-to-Summit with their "15F temp boost" sleeping bag liner is worse.