I have a lot of appreciation for the fact that, despite how large the company has become, it's very clear that outdoorsiness is still a big part of the REI's DNA, especially with so many companies these days owned by private equity firms that seem to be most interested in milking their brands for all they're worth.
I especially appreciate this when I visit REI as a Canadian. Our REI 'knock off' MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) was inspired by REI, but in the last few years has diverged away from enthusiast mountain equipment and a lot more toward urban oriented fitness activities such as running, yoga and cycling.
I still like MEC, but I like how committed REI has been toward hiking, camping and more backcountry activities.
EMS used to be a go-to of mine. High prices, but good student discounts and sales. I stuck with them because they were incredibly good to their customers - they actually cared about getting people outside and had permanent return/replace on their gear.
But... then an equity firm bought them out. The discounts shrunk, the warranty vanished, and even for material defects within a year there's enormous flak when you try to get support.
REI has been my go-to ever since. They're the only big outdoor supplier left that seems to actually give a damn about what they're selling.
REI is my favorite toy store. I know their prices are higher than, say, Wal-Mart, but I actually feel good supporting them. Plus, you can find insanely good sales if you're a member and you go to their garage sales.
One year I got an entire ski setup (boots, skis, bindings, and installation) for under $300. Ended up reselling them for like $500 3 years later when I moved away from Boston.
Got great boots at a garage sale for like $30, too. You just have to be prepared to get there early and scavenge.
I was into hiking and camping at a young age (Boy Scouts, friends who's parents did it) but my parents weren't what you'd call outdoorsy. We were good for about one or two family camping trips a year.
I'd saved up some cash and bought a few things from REI over the years but now it was a week before freshman year of high school and I needed a new backpack. I also had my eye on an REI house brand beauty for hiking that was a whopping $99 (this was 1997 and we weren't exactly the kind of family spending $99 on frivolous things).
Shocked at the outrageous price (being used to $15 Jansport) my mom proclaimed that it would never happen. I brought up the fact that I had never made it through an entire school year with one single cheap bag and that one REI bag would last me all of high school, so we'd be saving money.
Smash cut to 18 years later the water proof interior lining had all but completely flaked off and the drawstring channel tore in such a way that it was time to just call it quits.
That bag survived through 4 years of high school, 4 more of university, 200+ (maybe twice more) days of real backwoods camping, at least 500 fishing and hunting trips, 4 continents, and two kids of my own.
It was a very sad day when I finally had to admit it was time to put that old bag down to rest, but I didn't even think twice about where I was going to replace it from.
You can absolutely find better deals elsewhere, but I find once I get my ~10% back at the end of the year, it all averages out.
And anyway, I like supporting such a consumer (member?)-friendly company, and their return policy is top notch. I don't think twice about returning crap gear, and they don't think twice about accepting it -- and it feels like it benefits all of the members, because it feels like they care about my complaints and they likely won't sell the same junk for much longer. Whereas it feels like other stores will just sell whatever makes money.
Except for the insane prices for everything, sure. It's great for people with money to burn, but it's definitely not a good place to shop if you're into outdoor activities and not rich.
I've been a member of the Park Slope Food Coop for about a year. We have 16,000 co-owners, do about $50MM / year in revenue; and have the freshest, most local and affordable food in NYC.
You have to work 2:45 hour per month (I do childcare), and we have monthly GA meetings to vote on things.
We also have a fund / capital, training, and even labor available for others who want to start cooperative grocery stores in their area.
I would imagine it comes down to having the initial capital to start such a venture. Those with the capital retain ownership and reap the future returns.
If there was a way coops could raise significant funds to start say a big box chain store, we might see more of them. I don't think small business loans quite cut it here.
I guess it depends on how you look at it. I think technically the "dividend" is a refund on an overpayment. Which is kind of like them saying, "Hey, why don't you give us money as membership fee and and we'll give you a 10% discount. Then you're going to overpay on all your goods by 10%. And we're going to hold on to that money, interest-free for you for like a year or whatever, but eventually we'll give it back."
I wish we had 'Decathlon' in the US. It's kind of similar to REI, but the gear is much cheaper, and in some cases of more modest quality (but still quite functional rather than 'cheap crap'). This is a great tradeoff to make if you're pretty casual about this or that activity and not ready to invest the big bucks.
REI usually has fantastic gear good enough to not have to seek out specialty stores. Just one example: I got a better, rugged water bottle (7 gal) for less that the cost of the crappy (3 gal) one offered by the local water store. If you needed an ultracompact sleeping-bag and tent for protesting in North Dakota winters, REI probably carries it. Or climbing gear. Or a titanium spork.
It's a shame your otherwise interesting point got sidetracked by a regional disagreement of definitions. Let's get back on track.
That was my first thought too. Just think about living to 107. That would mean she was born in (or around) 1910. A child during WW1, before cars were commonplace; a young adult during the great depression; an adult during WW2; the expansion of suburbs; through Vietnam, the computer revolution of the 80s, the Internet in the 90s... it must be amazing to observe that kind of time span first hand. A lot happens in a century.
[+] [-] macNchz|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rusanu|9 years ago|reply
https://www.rei.com/black-friday
[+] [-] Tiktaalik|9 years ago|reply
I still like MEC, but I like how committed REI has been toward hiking, camping and more backcountry activities.
[+] [-] mbesto|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] oh_sigh|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Bartweiss|9 years ago|reply
But... then an equity firm bought them out. The discounts shrunk, the warranty vanished, and even for material defects within a year there's enormous flak when you try to get support.
REI has been my go-to ever since. They're the only big outdoor supplier left that seems to actually give a damn about what they're selling.
[+] [-] SnacksOnAPlane|9 years ago|reply
One year I got an entire ski setup (boots, skis, bindings, and installation) for under $300. Ended up reselling them for like $500 3 years later when I moved away from Boston.
Got great boots at a garage sale for like $30, too. You just have to be prepared to get there early and scavenge.
[+] [-] manyxcxi|9 years ago|reply
I'd saved up some cash and bought a few things from REI over the years but now it was a week before freshman year of high school and I needed a new backpack. I also had my eye on an REI house brand beauty for hiking that was a whopping $99 (this was 1997 and we weren't exactly the kind of family spending $99 on frivolous things).
Shocked at the outrageous price (being used to $15 Jansport) my mom proclaimed that it would never happen. I brought up the fact that I had never made it through an entire school year with one single cheap bag and that one REI bag would last me all of high school, so we'd be saving money.
Smash cut to 18 years later the water proof interior lining had all but completely flaked off and the drawstring channel tore in such a way that it was time to just call it quits.
That bag survived through 4 years of high school, 4 more of university, 200+ (maybe twice more) days of real backwoods camping, at least 500 fishing and hunting trips, 4 continents, and two kids of my own.
It was a very sad day when I finally had to admit it was time to put that old bag down to rest, but I didn't even think twice about where I was going to replace it from.
[+] [-] rconti|9 years ago|reply
And anyway, I like supporting such a consumer (member?)-friendly company, and their return policy is top notch. I don't think twice about returning crap gear, and they don't think twice about accepting it -- and it feels like it benefits all of the members, because it feels like they care about my complaints and they likely won't sell the same junk for much longer. Whereas it feels like other stores will just sell whatever makes money.
[+] [-] devy|9 years ago|reply
It's mine too. Do they advertise garage sales or you have to be friends with the store manager to get the scoop?
[+] [-] ejlangev|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hueving|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Paul-ish|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ada1981|9 years ago|reply
You have to work 2:45 hour per month (I do childcare), and we have monthly GA meetings to vote on things.
We also have a fund / capital, training, and even labor available for others who want to start cooperative grocery stores in their area.
[+] [-] iamatworknow|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lastofus|9 years ago|reply
If there was a way coops could raise significant funds to start say a big box chain store, we might see more of them. I don't think small business loans quite cut it here.
[+] [-] subpixel|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] regulation_d|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jonknee|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] davidw|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] justinator|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] anon263626|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|9 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] nether|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] scottcha|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] code4tee|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] arkis22|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] coldpie|9 years ago|reply
That was my first thought too. Just think about living to 107. That would mean she was born in (or around) 1910. A child during WW1, before cars were commonplace; a young adult during the great depression; an adult during WW2; the expansion of suburbs; through Vietnam, the computer revolution of the 80s, the Internet in the 90s... it must be amazing to observe that kind of time span first hand. A lot happens in a century.
[+] [-] zzalpha|9 years ago|reply