REI returns...

HBR is a fine organization and is well respected, but take a seven year old article and then read only what you want is misleading. Today's average starting wage is $11.50/hour.

An interview with Richard Galanti, EVP and CFO of Costco Wholesale Corp. 2010

What is Costco's hourly wage?
Our average hourly wage in the United States is a little over $19 an hour. Our lowest starting wage in the U.S. is $11. If you're a full-timer, you hit the top of the scale by the end of your fifth year.

dano-colorado wrote:HBR is a fine organization and is well respected, but take a seven year old article and then read only what you want is misleading. Today's average starting wage is $11.50/hour. An interview with Richard Galanti, EVP and CFO of Costco Wholesale Corp. 2010 What is Costco's hourly wage? Our average hourly wage in the United States is a little over $19 an hour. Our lowest starting wage in the U.S. is $11. If you're a full-timer, you hit the top of the scale by the end of your fifth year.

Oh! Let me take this one! I happen to know that $11 is $1 more than what REI starts at and that top performing full-time sales associates who have been with the company for over 10 years still haven't reached their cap of $15.55. They also don't have anything close to guaranteed minimum hours and people can fluctuate from 20-35 hours at the drop of a "business needs" hat. I actually know people who qualified for food assistance (read: food-stamps) and unemployment benefits (underemployment of less than 32 hours a week qualifies you) while still being considered "full-time" employees there.

Oh meanwhile, their top three executives enjoy very handsome salaries for a co-op. Remember, it's a co-op, as in, everyone is supposed to share in the successes.

I'm really glad someone else is chiming in about this subject. Keep up the good fight!

Tony T. wrote: Oh! Let me take this one! I happen to know that $11 is $1 more than what REI starts at and that top performing full-time sales associates who have been with the company for over 10 years still haven't reached their cap of $15.55. They also don't have anything close to guaranteed minimum hours and people can fluctuate from 20-35 hours at the drop of a "business needs" hat. I actually know people who qualified for food assistance (read: food-stamps) and unemployment benefits (underemployment of less than 32 hours a week qualifies you) while still being considered "full-time" employees there. Oh meanwhile, their top three executives enjoy very handsome salaries for a co-op. Remember, it's a co-op, as in, everyone is supposed to share in the successes. I'm really glad someone else is chiming in about this subject. Keep up the good fight!

Don't forget that the amount of hours you get is based solely on the amount of memberships you sell.

okiedokie wrote: Don't forget that the amount of hours you get is based solely on the amount of memberships you sell.

Well not anymore! Apparently there is now a series of 6 or 7 (I forget how many) entirely subjective (read: not measurable with real numbers using real math) that dictate your hours. Aw well...that's just retail right? Oh, wait, no it isn't! It's just retail stuck in the 90's.

This thread reminds me of this: cs.wright.edu/~swang/cs409/…

Much more interesting thread than "dog pissed on my rope" drama for sure. Keep it up!

With that being said... "I broke the dam"

This doesn't surprise me. My wife and I both worked at REI while in between jobs. I was not impressed.

First, recently (about 3 months ago) company wide they laid off there Asst Store Managers. No notice. Just gone. Some of them have put some serious years to make it to that spot waiting for the shot. They could of at least re-organized the structure IMO before canning someone. Just bad karma.

Between my wife and I we worked 3 stores. 2 of were horribly run. Poor management, even worse leadership, micro management, under staffed, incompetent. They claimed they were hiring people with less hard skills and experience and more "people" friendly. Total crap, how can you hire someone that dont even know how to hike and they are selling backpacks or shoes? Personal side note, I got a job selling skis when I didnt even know how to ski!!!! I told them but they didnt listen.

I have personally pushed the limit of the return policy like many. But I have never abused it to the extreme that I saw customers (someone returned a pair of gloves from 1989 or something and there are hundreds of examples). IMO people shop there for the extra security. I also know that if the staff knew what they were doing they could actually recommend you the right product but instead you have to return it because you go out and use it, its the wrong thing you need. I have also been told that it affects 1 percent of the profits at REI. 1 percent. Not sure if its true and have a hard time believing it but I did hear it from a good source when working there. The reason being quote from the CEO or whoever "with every return there are 10 soccer moms that will pay full price for an item."

Well I got health insurance and killer prodeals while in between jobs so it worked out for me but I dreaded going to work. The management is horrible IMO and experience in the end is just retail nothing more. Not everyone is incompetent that works at REI but ALOT of the them are.

Really no reason to shop there other than 20 percent off coupons. Backcountry.com has a better return policy.

BTW YOU CAN RETURN YOUR MEMBERSHIP. Not sure if its been changed with new rules but you used to be able to return that.

My 2 cents.

what?!?!? this is interesting news.....i wasn't even aware knowledge of the return policy was this widespread....

at least with the return figures posted above its obvious people aren't abusing the policy. weird move IMHO!

I'm just curious... if REI is so terrible to its employees, how did it make Fortune's "Top 100 Companies To Work For" for the past 16 consecutive years?

I'm sure someone will try to claim that Fortune is engaging in some elaborate corporate conspiracy to pick the top 100, so to preeminently thwart that argument, here's the methodology:
money.cnn.com/magazines/for…

It's based largely on employee feedback.

J Red wrote: Backcountry.com has a better return policy.

Insider info says this is in the works to change for Backcountry.com as well....at least for certain types of gear

Kenan wrote:I'm just curious... if REI is so terrible to its employees, how did it make Fortune's "Top 100 Companies To Work For" for the past 16 consecutive years? I'm sure someone will try to claim that Fortune is engaging in some elaborate corporate conspiracy to pick the top 100, so to preeminently thwart that argument, here's the methodology: money.cnn.com/magazines/for… It's based largely on employee feedback.

So my "friend" tells me the process is as follows:
Well, first the Fortune list starts as a self-nomination process. Then Fortune gives the corporate office "anonymous" survey packets. These packets are given to employees that are selected by management. These employees are generally considered the cheerleader types, who believe their company can do no wrong. That backfired for this year's list, as many employees who got the survey, thought to be REI cheerleaders by management, actually gave very honest reviews which resulted in poor marks. I will bet management will not allow this mistake to happen again.

Now, do you notice how it's been steadily falling down that list? It's #17 now, after previously being #8. It's no small wonder that it was the past few years that have been getting progressively worse there with stagnant and low pay, unpredictable and low hours, and an increasingly inept leadership team.

Apparently REI does it's own internal survey among employees, and I hear those numbers are far more telling of the real REI.

Tony T. wrote: So my "friend" tells me the process is as follows: Well, first the Fortune list starts as a self-nomination process. Then Fortune gives the corporate office "anonymous" survey packets. These packets are given to employees that are selected by management. These employees are generally considered the cheerleader types, who believe their company can do no wrong. That backfired for this year's list, as many employees who got the survey, thought to be REI cheerleaders by management, actually gave very honest reviews which resulted in poor marks. I will bet management will not allow this mistake to happen again. Now, do you notice how it's been steadily falling down that list? It's #17 now, after previously being #8. It's no small wonder that it was the past few years that have been getting progressively worse there with stagnant and low pay, unpredictable and low hours, and an increasingly inept leadership team. Apparently REI does it's own internal survey among employees, and I hear those numbers are far more telling of the real REI.

Hmm... I'm sure there's some brainwashing and cherrypicking involved, but I'm doubtful that the process could be so highly engineered as to falsify the general employee consensus. Also, they haven't been getting 'progressively worse' in the past few years. 2 out of the 3 highest ratings were in the past 3 years:
1998: 37
1999: 38
2000: 69
2001: 65
2002: 62
2003: 73
2004: 24
2005: 45
2006: 9
2007: 27
2008: 34
2009: 12
2010: 14
2011: 9
2012: 8
2013: 17

(taken from greatplacetowork.net/best-c… )

Just to be clear, I have no personal stake in this argument whatsoever. I just find the facts and the commentary to be interesting...

TheBirdman wrote:Even without the return policy, the dividend is still a pretty good deal you won't get at other gear shops.

No, they are not a good deal. You get 10% off at the end of the year that you have to use to buy more gear. Moose Jaw will give you 15% off on any item in their store immediately (Google Moose Jaw coupon codes). Again, it is a sale of 15%, not a dividend that you have to spend at the store later. If you shop around you can find over 20% off on some climbing items and as much as 70-80% off on discontinued clothing items.

20 kN wrote: No, they are not a good deal. You get 10% off at the end of the year that you have to use to buy more gear. Moose Jaw will give you 15% off on any item in their store immediately (Google Moose Jaw coupon codes). Again, it is a sale of 15%, not a dividend that you have to spend at the store later. If you shop around you can find over 20% off on some climbing items and as much as 70-80% off on discontinued clothing items.

One correction, you don't have to spend your dividend at REI.

Ian Stewart wrote: When I was shopping for a backpack in REI, the sales rep explicitly told me to "try out packs and return them until you have the right one". So this is exactly what I did.

Not that I have a horse in this race because there isn't even an REI anywhere near me, but there is absolutely nothing immoral about what Ian did IF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE STORE TOLD HIM TO DO IT.

How paternalistic some of you are! Although the store explicitly invites him to use its policy as such, he is supposed to decline because he should know what's best for the store? What if heavy-handed use of the policy is the store's business plan? What if he was offered "Buy one, get one free?" Should he consider if that is a good policy for the store before he accepts the invitation?

Everyone has to make their own version of 'ethics' when it comes to REI. REI is like Gawd and there are many different denominations. Gawd, like REI, is a mystery, so we invent our own ideas of morality to decide how righteous we are, then preach about it on MP.

Jason N. wrote: One correction, you don't have to spend your dividend at REI.

Correct
You can cash out dividends starting usually July 1st
However, like returns if you push the subject the managers will get a check issued to you.

David Sahalie wrote:Everyone has to make their own version of 'ethics' when it comes to REI. REI is like Gawd and there are many different denominations. Gawd, like REI, is a mystery, so we invent our own ideas of morality to decide how righteous we are, then preach about it on MP.

lol

REI is my co-pilot.

It blows my mind that so many of you are up in arms against REI. If you don't like its prices or policies...wait for it... Don't shop there. There is not one item that REI sells that is needed, it is after all a great big toy store. I shop there, I shop at small shops, I even look online but prefer to touch and feel before I buy so my money usually goes to a Brick and Mortar establishment.

The return policy made up for the following:

-Stuff is never on sale.
-Terribly limited brand selection.
-REI getting away with selling gear they clearly copy from other brands.

Well guess I'm no longer shopping at REI.

The return policy made up for the following: . . .

-REI getting away with selling gear they clearly copy from other brands. Well guess I'm no longer shopping at REI.

I cannot fathom how that could possibly bother you in any way.

Do you only climb with black diamond/chouinard nuts and wild country cams? Do you drive a Ford Model T?