What to Dirtbag, and What NOT to Dirtbag...blog post

The Larry wrote:Nate, yer confusing the word dirt bag with douche bag.

+1. Nate stop ripping off REI.

That chick aint no dirtbag

David Appelhans wrote: +1. Nate stop ripping off REI.

It's not REI that gets ripped off. They simply pass on the extra cost to the rest of us.

Brian Hudson wrote: It's not REI that gets ripped off. They simply pass on the extra cost to the rest of us.

Do you actaully know the percentage of stuff that gets returned to REI? I'll give you a hint, it's south of 5%.

NorCalNomad wrote: Do you actaully know the percentage of stuff that gets returned to REI? I'll give you a hint, it's south of 5%.

Depending on their margins, they may have to sell three jackets (ropes, whatever) to recover the cost of that one that they replaced for free. So the impact of a few % returns can be MUCH more than simply the percent of sales.

Back on topic - trying to find free food is dirtbagging. Trying to find free wireless for your iPhone, or a place to sleep in your SUV, is at best "First World dirtbagging".

Dirtbagging is not a set of tools or tricks that help you pilfer another day at the crag and avoid doing an honest day's work, it's a way of life in which a transcendental love of raw adventure lures you ever deeper into the outdoors and in the process sheds away the societal skin of material comforts that people mistakenly think they "need". As for "what to dirtbag, and what NOT to dirtbag", I discourage a cranial list of ways to scam the system, and encourage developing a visceral love of the outdoors that doesn't come at the expense of love for your fellow man. Dirtbag by living with fewer of the things you don't need and more of the experiences you truly love, but do not Dirtbag your integrity.

NorCalNomad wrote: Do you actaully know the percentage of stuff that gets returned to REI? I'll give you a hint, it's south of 5%.

That's still 5% more overhead they have to charge for. it's science.

Brian Hudson wrote: That's still 5% more overhead they have to charge for. it's science.

Actually, it's math. But I get your point.

Let's let REI do the math on this issue. I think the powers that be at REI are well aware of people returning items for cash or credit, even if the item completely served its purpose and was not defective. If they keep the policy in place, they obviously think it is worth the extra overhead.

BTW, people return things to Patagonia and North Face all the time that are over a decade old. They know good and well that they got their money's worth and then some, but they still ask for a replacement and they usually get it. Why doesn't anyone give them a hard time?

When I buy something that I feel does it's job, I'm not going to go back and try to get a replacement just because I can. But some people will - that's a risk all companies take when they have a policy of "lifetime warranty" or whatever they want to call it.

Brian Hudson wrote: It's not REI that gets ripped off. They simply pass on the extra cost to the rest of us.

dont buy from REI if you feel they are ripping you off ... its that simple

;)

bearbreeder wrote: dont buy from REI if you feel they are ripping you off ... its that simple ;)

Read! No one said that REI is the ripper-offer.

Eric Engberg wrote: Read! No one said that REI is the ripper-offer.

theres people whinning about REI passing higher costs because of "scammers"

then dont buy from them .... plenty of other stores to support ...

do they whine about backcountry, OR, patagucci, EB as well?

lets hear a rant about people getting new jackets from OR because their dawg ate em ;0

rockclimbing.com/cgi-bin/fo…

Brian Hudson wrote: That's still 5% more overhead they have to charge for. it's science.

less than %2...Believe me they just write it off as a loss.

Ryan Williams wrote: Actually, it's math.

so you're one of the oddballs that thinks math is an art and not a science. ;) just kidding. kinda.

Brian Hudson wrote: so you're one of the oddballs that thinks math is an art and not a science. ;) just kidding. kinda.

Haha, you have me there. But "science" makes me think about forces, chemicals - you know, cool stuff. Money is just numbers. Math.