REI’s recent return policy change

“I have read about how Amazon and others get a lot of returns but can not re-sell it.”

That may be a marketplace rule for sellers, but plenty of them ignore it. I have had a number of items arrive that were clearly opened, returned, and then sent to me as new.

“I have read about how Amazon and others get a lot of returns but can not re-sell it.”

That may be a marketplace rule for sellers, but plenty of them ignore it. I have had a number of items arrive that were clearly opened, returned, and then sent to me as new.

Same here, including a French Press that still had coffee grounds in it from the previous buyer lol!

For decades we had a big box EMS, but they moved up the road into smaller quarters, and were replaced by REI.  EMS had kept stocks and large selections, something the smaller stores could not afford to do.  But we are near a town that keeps growing with many tourists, and I seldom find what I’m looking for.  So I only buy items like Petzl rechargeable batteries now from REI (making sure the box has not been opened), and make more expensive buys when visiting doctors in the larger stores in NH cities.  (The docs are scarce too.)

Unfortunately, the world has changed, and is getting worse for folks who are lower income and just looking for a few items that need replacement.  That includes food in the frig.  It may be different in other locales.  What has happened according to many economists is that wealth is moving up the ladder, and lower income downward.  Most of us simply have to shop frugally now.  Maybe things will get better, but it doesn’t look promising, and don’t see many people shopping in specialty stores like the new REI in town.  They will try do what they have to do to survive, and the rest of us will have to adjust.

addressing a few comments since I stirred the pot.

I’m not calling anyone here an abuser of the policy. I think most of those that got the email know they were taking advantage of it.  Maybe a few were confused or got caught up wrongfully, but they all had to return a lot of used gear.

I don’t think REI is turning a profit on the used gear sales. They are mitigating their losses a bit.  I also don’t think the cottage industry will drive REI out of business.  They can coexist to the benefit of many.  I hope Amazon and AliExpress don’t drive both REI and cottage brands out of business, although that worries me more.  I wish REI carried more innovative small brands, but it seems slow.   It happened with HMG (who also sells direct, in mountain stores, and on GGG if I’m not mistaken). I think small brands would benefit from the partnership, but I’m no expert about when it makes sense and when it doesn’t.

“What has happened according to many economists is that wealth is moving up the ladder, and lower income downward.”

After this election I’m sure that will be fixed now : )

There was a store near me that sold Amazon returns. Or that’s what everyone said it sold. I can remember the name and never went in despite walking past it frequently. It did not last long.

On the used gear sales, I think REI is now having an inventory problem. Either that or they are selling things quickly. There’s hardly anything in stock compared to what there a couple of years ago.

I used to work in retail–bookseller.  At one point we had a one week return policy on CD’s (remember them?). There was a dedicated group of ‘buyers’ who would abuse that policy to the max–take cds home, open them, burn them, return them’

Berkeley REI has always had a ton of returns. There’s a difference between a company offering a one year warranty and REIs no questions asked return policy. I’m entirely sympathetic with REI here. People will abuse the policy and. REI gets. stuck with the loss.

Do due diligence, try out the gear or clothes–that’s the advantage of box stores, right?–and make up your damn mind in a week. If there’s unreasonable gear failure early on, bring it back. Otherwise, live with your choice. Take responsibility. Understand how things work.

p.s. there’s an ecological aspect to this too–returned items aren’t always just passed on.  They get trashed. Some folks order three different brands of any given item fully intending to return two of them. The shipping costs,  the restocking and re warehousing costs, etc, and the environmental costs of this are potentially enormous. Manufacturers over manufacture when they realize a fifth of sales will be returned. It’s often simply cheaper to send out new items rather than process returned items.