REI destroys all returned climbing gear

Bill Shubert wrote:I started doing this after a bad experience: I bought my first harness at a local shop, decided it wasn't right for me, and returned it unopened. The store receipt clearly stated at the bottom that there was a 15 day return policy on ALL merchandise, but they refused to give me the refund (and wouldn't take the harness back) because it was "unsafe" for them to restock it. I got the money back anyway by going through the credit card company, and since then I almost always go to REI.

So you decided something you purchased wasn't "for you," in other words you made a bad purchase and wanted the shop to pay for it? Then you pissed and moaned to the credit card company until they probably screwed the little guy over somehow. Heaven forbid people make informed decisions when they buy something. People like you deserve REI, maybe there's a Walmart you can shop at on your way home.

coldatom wrote:You might care simply b/c you don't want to be wasteful, REI's bottom line aside. When I was starting, I bought and returned some Wild Country Zeros from Backcountry. I had no idea they were going to destroy them. I was just shopping like you would at Zappos. Order it. Have a look. Return if you don't like. I never would have done that had I known. I would have just waited to check them out in a gear shop.

So you're concerned about destroying gear, but not worried about the impact shipping a product two times has?

mediocre wrote: So you decided something you purchased wasn't "for you," in other words you made a bad purchase and wanted the shop to pay for it? Then you pissed and moaned to the credit card company until they probably screwed the little guy over somehow. Heaven forbid people make informed decisions when they buy something. People like you deserve REI, maybe there's a Walmart you can shop at on your way home.

You bet! If the store says there's a 15 day return policy, then I'll buy something because I'm there and I see it, then get home and research whether it's really what I want. If not, I return it (usually unopened), and that's that. Why else would they have policies like that, except to encourage people to make these kinds of purchases?

REI doesn't destroy everything if it's new in the package. Generally the strategy when working with people is to encourage responsible purchasing to avoid this issue.

dumpster divers take notice

I've heard the local REI has an in house carabiner puller and that all soft goods are sliced and diced before being tossed.

Would hope that employees can squirrel away some cams here and there, but I'm sure that is in contravention to the company's policies (which are drawn up by the legal department) and (most likely) frowned upon.

Anyway, I totally understand why the climbing goods would be destroyed. I just think the practice is wasteful and should be minimized as possible--and that others might want to be aware of this as well.

I understand destroying ropes, slings, harnesses, etc as they can have damage from chemicals that is impossible to see... but not being able to sell cams and nuts that are returned is crazy and stupid, maybe official resling of them so the slings are fine but the medal is unlikely to be hurt if you can't look at it and see. You can drop a biner 30ft off the side of a mountain (yes there is videos of people testing gear that has been dropped it is a myth that hairline cracks will cause your gear to fail) and it is perfectly fine to use, and even if it bothers you when you go to a used gear sell you can see the nicks in it.

mediocre wrote: So you decided something you purchased wasn't "for you," in other words you made a bad purchase and wanted the shop to pay for it? Then you pissed and moaned to the credit card company until they probably screwed the little guy over somehow. Heaven forbid people make informed decisions when they buy something. People like you deserve REI, maybe there's a Walmart you can shop at on your way home.

I have to side with Bill on this one. If the store said there is a 15-day return policy with no stated limitations, then that's the policy and it's illegal for the merchant to outright refuse a return that is in compliance with the stated return policy. If the vender does not want to accept returns on climbing gear, then the vendor is required to list that as an exception to their 15-day return policy.

I worked for an REI and... Yes everything climbing related gets destroyed. Harnesses I've cut up right in front of those returning them, and any other gear that I could destroy in front of them. I would. All others, carabiners, asenders, figure 8's, cams, nuts, hexes, cut up in that back and tossed in the trash. Even brand new ropes... Sad to be a climber and have to do it.

^ this would be pretty depressing...

20 kN wrote: I have to side with Bill on this one. If the store said there is a 15-day return policy with no stated limitations, then that's the policy and it's illegal for the merchant to outright refuse a return that is in compliance with the stated return policy. If the vender does not want to accept returns on climbing gear, then the vendor is required to list that as an exception to their 15-day return policy.

Except that Bill probably missed the sign on the wall that said all climbing sales are final.

At least they accept returns. I have purchased some gear from other retailers & was unable to return it or exchange it, even though it was never used.
I bought a harness online (mistake) from another retailer. It didn't fit and I couldn't exchange it. I ended up selling it on MP at a loss- basically threw away some money.
So, one should appreciate being able to return gear, even if it seems wasteful that they dispose of it.

I do wish that would have happened but how much gear do you really need...I did ask one time if I could get about 30 feet of static rope that was returned for around the house. I was told no that it could be a liability. Don't understand how but whatever.

powhound84 wrote: It's generally more effective to ask forgiveness than permission :)

At least one REI employee has told me that any employee who takes returned climbing gear for his/her own use will be terminated.

Tim Lutz wrote:If REI gave a shit, they wouldn't take returns on gear they have to destroy. It is interesting that they are willing to take a complete loss, must be a really small part of their gross sales.

Precisely. And every time some dumbass buys something just cause they can, knowing they will return it if they don't like it, the corporate folks at REI will take note, and will insure that climbing gear gets less and less shelf space.

Of course this has already been happening; as I said in my earlier post, REI carries far less gear now than they used to.

GO

^^^^^^^^^^^

"I made much money on the beaks alone" explains it pretty well.

Worked at REI for quite a few years. Actually from my experience most of the stuff didn't get actually "destroyed" they used returned rope, carbiners and what not as shelving for cloths, or for displays and stuff. Some of the stuff did get destroyed but that was stuff that wasn't worth keeping around anyway, or stuff that was pretty far gone.

Tim Lutz wrote:If REI gave a shit, they wouldn't take returns on gear they have to destroy.

"If REI gave a shit, they would not destroy brand new climbing gear returns and instead resell it."

I think that's a bit better. No one forces REI to destroy brand new gear, and they are alone in their quest to do that. I have returned brand new gear to a few other major outlets and none of them destroyed it. I would even venture to say that a manufacturer would be willing to sign off on the safety of returned, unopened, unused gear for resale, at least for hard goods and possibly soft goods, and we all know how hard it is to get a manufacturer to sign off on anything safety related.

So this is an REI problem, not a returns problem. They choose to destroy the gear, that's on them, not the customer (assuming the gear is returned unused).

I would think it would be easier for them to write up a legal document saying they have inspected it the best they can any are not liable for using returned gear or something and then sell it for half off or something.

It's hard to know what sort of legal document of the disclaimer variety will hold up in court: depends a lot on the judge. Neither REI nor any other retailer dares make a judgment call on the condition and safety of a piece of gear whose purpose is life support.

Speaking from experience, I can tell you that 98% of risk managers emphatically do not comprehend climbing. They look at numbers and statistics, not reality. Try to explain a belay to most of them and watch their eyes glaze over.

Climbing gear you wear (helmet, harness; maybe even gloves and shoes) can be tried on in the store, and should be for their sake and yours. Climbing gear you don't wear (ropes, slings, pro, belay devices, you know the drill) that doesn't work out for you can be easily peddled at the local gym, crag or rummage sale.