I have a shopping list put together and am wondering if anyone knows approx. when we should expect our dividends this year? For some reason I can't remember when they usually come...

I was just at REI on Monday and asked at the register. The employee said beginning of March give or take a couple of weeks.

Note that as soon as the dividends have been officially released, you can use them; no need to actually have the coupon thingy in-hand. I've used my dividend before receiving it in the mail for the last five years at least.

Speaking of which...

Screw the dividend.

Boycott the a$$holes and spend your money somewhere else, unless you get caught in an unavoidable situation.

Why are they $hitheads?
a) Because they've been the primary cause for *many* local shops closing (Mountain Miser, Grand West, Mountain Sports, Mountain Shop... just to name a few in the front range that have closed in the past 3 years)
b) Because years ago they falsely and wrongly accused me of and detained me for supposed shoplifting. This went to the point where I had to summon the police via 911 so I could leave. What an insult and a crock of BS.

Support smaller gear retailers, local or web.

EDIT for clarification: Referring to the corporation as a whole, not the individuals that work there on an hourly basis (except for that that jerk who worked in theft prevention).

Marc that's ridiculous -- you're on a web forum. The fact that it is a web forum, in itself and by default, implies it is a recommendation -- not a requirement.

Avery, come on now. An organization accidentally accused you of stealing, they made a mistake. If Neptune's accused you of stealing by accident, would you then not shop at independently owned shops? Or would you then stop climbing because you could not acquire gear. You could buy the stacks of booty i've cleaned off the front range I suppose. An entrepreneur can't stay in business, so everyone else in his industry are a$$holes, great correlations you come up with.

Do you think any retailer wants to approach a shopper and accuse them of stealing? Come on, no one wants to do that. Especially the hourly paid employee who is the one who has to do it!

And the owner's of the 'smaller gear retailers', what do you think they do with their profits. Possibly buy stocks in big, successful companies so they can get a return on their monies and thereby retire some day!
I know 2 owners of small shops in Boulder and they both have 'big-name' product labels all over them (Toyota car, Richmond Homes house, Adidas shoes, Oakley eyewear........)

Dude, wake up.

I just spoke w/ the folks in Seattle and the dividend checks will begin to mail next week. Of course they always quote "beginning of March" for the checks to be received but as Charles points out, you of course don't need the check in hand in order to use the funds.

Paz, I understand your points, but I guess I didn't explain the situation very well. Maybe this will help:

Had it been Neptune's:

• I would not have had handcuffs brandished to me in public, and threatened to be handcuffed if I did not walk with them immediately to the theft prevention/detention room

• The theft prevention troll wouldn't have had a shit-eating grin ear-to-ear, because he thought he finally caught someone

• They would actually have had the video of my accused crime to show me, since they 'saw' it on video

• They wouldn't have stalked my vehicle, looked in it to find a new pair of bike shorts on the front seat (with an 8.5" x 11" receipt from the bike shop sitting next to them... note, they did not sell this bike short at the REI store) and accused me of stealing them!!!

• I wouldn't have been told a manger would be there, and still be waiting 20 minutes later

• I wouldn't have had to pick up the phone and call the police

• After writing both the general manager of the store and the board of directors, I would have gotten an APOLOGY, instead of a response (only from the manager, nothing from corporate) stating: "Sometimes we have to inconvenience our customers in order to keep our prices low"

Avery--

I just found it funny that you are telling people not to shop at REI because you had a bad experience there. Personally, I try to buy much of my gear at Neptune's. In fact, I spent $480 there yesterday entirely on products that I could have bought at REI--knowing that Neptune's doesn't offer a dividend and REI does (I am a member of REI, for the record).

I was just trying to point out that I, personally, would have been more receptive to a comment like, "I really urge people to try to spend their money at smaller, locally owned shops."

As opposed to, "Support smaller gear retailers, local or web."

Your comment just sounded like a command to me. Again, I was just saying how I perceive those statements.

I don't think that my point is ridiculous either. I think you telling other people not to shop at REI because you had a bad experience there is uber-ridiculous though.

I also kinda took offense to you calling everyone at REI "shitheads" and "assholes." I've never worked at REI but I've worked at other large outdoor retailers and I wouldn't want to be considered/called a "shithead" or an "asshole" just based on my employment there.

Please keep in mind that this is a thread where someone was trying to find out some specific information on his dividend from REI. He wasn't trying to ascertain the impact of REI on Boulder.

--Marc

Man, Avery, I'd be pissed too. I have never understood the justification of "holding someone" -- if a crime has been committed why not just note the license plate and the authorities. I remember some kid running & car-chasing after a thief from Wal-mart and he ended up getting shot dead. Was being so vigilant over $50 worth it? I mean bank tellers are instructed just to hand over the cash, c'mon.

In response to REI's position -- isn't most theft that really hurts a business from the inside (i.e. employee/person of trust)?



However as a corp mothership (rather a coop mothership) as they are defined, I feel that REI does give back to the community in some educational/event/program respect. So, anyone feeling undeserving of their dividend, please send your protested amount to me; as well I will also accept your donated aliens.

Not a huge fan of Neptune, even thought I live 5 minutes from it. I say flame on! The cock measuring fight will ensue and then everybody have to get a MP beer. Now that's the way to support local business!

Beers on Shumin! Thanks for supporting our local habit.

I give part of the blame of the Alien disaster to REI.

I don't like REI.

Personally, I'm not concerned about them pushing the small shops out of business. They either keep up or don't. It is a shame about Mountain Miser though, I loved that shop.

What I dislike about REI is knowledge, selection, and experience. Specifically the glaring lack of all three.

I you ask a question deeper than "can I see that?" while pointing to something on the wall, they give you the deer in the headlights look.

It's hard to get experienced and educated outdoor athletes for $8 an hour.

I will only shop at REI if I have no other choices, running late while leaving town, etc. I usually can't buy anything with my rebate. I prefer to support Windyx and Bentgate.

However, my favourite shop is Wilderness Sports in Dillon. Love that place.

does REI sell man-pris? I need to get me some of them. maybe a matching prana climbing shirt too. (: