Jed, we get it you don't like to shop at Neptunes...this thread is about REI dividends, not whether or not Neptunes is the Neiman Marcus of outdoor retail.

Feel free to go bump the 26 page thread on TGR about how lousy a store Neptunes is.

Funny reading this thread. Yeah, REI has gotten big, lost quite a bit of its roots from when it was just known as the Co-Op, and the vast majority of it business is more general outdoors and clothing anymore, etc., etc. But I am willing to bet that if not for REI being the only source for gear for many years the for people there would be far fewer places to climb, hike, bike, etc. REI started well before probably damn near everyone and their parents on this board could wipe their own ass, myself included.

As for supporting a small local shop. I have one locally that every time I have visited they have been very unhelpful. To the point that I will not shop their anymore. Which a bummer cause they are a community supporter. So size does not matter.

As was pointed out it is pretty easy to sit back and bitch. But REI is in no way as evil as FartMart and MacroHard. No where close. Avery, your obviously a REI member, why not put your money where mouth is run for the board.

Nomad Ventures in Carlsbad, Escondido and Joshua Tree has employed plenty of outstanding folks who by the likes of it, would rather work for $10/hr in a climbing store than $16/hr at Sears. Heck, one of our own administrators worked there for a couple years. I spend MY money there, but with that said, I am expecting my REI dividend as well. Look, if I'm buying a $400 tent, that IS priced the same as A16 or similar, why not and get the $40 refund via a dividend check back later? If your looking for thoroughly knowledgable "salespeople," certainly one can do better, but who does that in the climbing community?

It seems everyone here has always had the most splendid experience everytime they have gone out to eat at a restaurant. Point is, you won't get the best service everytime you go to buy something. The shop guys/girls don't know everything, and I agree, they know less at REI. If you have a bad experience sack up, look the employee in the face and tell them you are not super impressed with the service and to grab someone else who could serve you better.

I owned three shops back in the day. There is a suggested retail price set by all manufacturers. Everyone complaining that they are getting raped by their local shop is a dill hole. You have a very short period of time to turn your merchandise and make full margin on your products before you have to discount to make room for the next seasons merchandise. Lack of or too much of snow, sun, rain etc can kill your selling season and make it break even at best. So support your local shop and buy a couple things at retail if you are going to bitch about big corporate REI.

The reason guides get a better deal than the public is because they are often buying equipment needed for expeditions or classes so that each student/client doesn't have to spend $600 to take an intro climbing class. This Paz Ramirez guy thinks to think its a broh brah thing...

I'm from Seattle and remember the 2000 sq ft co-op on Pine street. it was sick. but REI listened to everyone that came in who wanted more selection and guess what...they grew. This shit about REI running places out of business is shit too. Feathered Friends is a kick ass shop right across the street from the REI flagship store in Seattle. since that REI was built they have actually expanded and are still growing strong. And by right across the street I mean a stones throw from the front door.

Go try things on at REI and head to your local shop to see if they have it. if they don't see if they can order it for you.

Totally agree that REI isn't a speciality climbing shop. That was my point. It didn't start as that and isn't going to be that. I also love local unique shops and try to support them when I can. It just doesn't seem to be a valid criticism to level at REI, since they aren't trying to be that. They are like a variety shop that sells something of several sports - hiking, paddling, winter sports, climbing, hiking, camping, etc...

Has anyone actually gone back and re-read the first post. Did your question get answered John?

From Rei's website

Dividend notices are mailed annually in late February to active members with eligible purchase activity for the previous year.

NEW EXPERIENCE!!! This thread got me to ask myself "Would I rather be considered a dill hole or a gutter whore?" Today is a good day.


Semi-on-topic: I think that people that abuse the REI return policy (Return Every Item) are [expletive deleted]. Granted, I take advantage of this whenever I can during the scratch-n-dent sales. I got a MtnHw SubZero jacket and the reason for return was "Worn up Rainer. Too frickin short" That is word-for-word. If you try on a jacket and it does not fit... c'mon... that is not a reason to return something. Once you cut the tags off.. improper fit is your own fault. The reason for return for many of the s-n-d items is ludicrous! And it is because of this policy I know some people shop at REI almost exclusively for gear of any variety.

Yeah, people really take advantage of REI's return policy. I worked at the FC store years ago and saw a guy come in with 10 year old ski's wanting to return them because they just weren't working out. We took them back!! However, a kid comes in with a busted Nalgene bottle he dropped while riding the ski lift up. He wanted a new one because he thought this one was defective. Shot down... Trust me, REI ain't hurtin' for money.

When I worked there someone dude came in with boots he had for 8 years and had just finished hiking the ENTIRE Appalachian trail in. He said they didn't fit him.

Amazingly they took them back (at least not at full value though)!

I was attending a function where REI was a sponsor and one of the REI staff members was a store manager. We start talking about different trips we had been on and so on and so forth. I mentioned that on a recent trip the wind was blowing so hard it bent the poles of my North Face tent. The store manager asked if I bought the tent from REI and I said yes, but it was about 8 years ago. I had already called North Face and I think they wanted $5 per pole to fix or replace and I just had not gotten around to sending them in. The store manager said to bring them down to his store and they would send them in and pay for any repair or replacement costs.

Does every one get this treatment from REI all the time? No. Do I buy all my gear from REI? No. I just like to buy where it makes the most sense.

REI hosts the annual Adopt-A-Crag at Castlewood Canyon every fall.
They pull together many volunteers, many of whom are REI staff members. For this reason alone, I can not badger them in an open forum.

as much fun as it is to trash REI, they have helped me out too.

-odd parts for stoves etc
-brakes for older diamar bindings that nobody in SLC had
-size 13 G-rides for 200 on the sale rack
-cute sales girls

I guess I don't get people complaining about the Return Every Item abuses. That policy clearly helps REI or they'd nuke it. Their equity index is up ~66 percent over the last 5 years so they must be keeping some of that money or giving someone raises. It might suck if you are the clerk dealing with the schmuck but if REI was all that peachy they could toss a couple percent more back in dividends, still expand, and remain closer to the co-op idea they are moving slowly away from.

I worked at B&N ten years or so ago and they had a similar policy, people would return book club books to us. As soon as they hit it big and killed all the little stores they dropped the policy and most of their discounts.

The return anything you don't like is one of the primary reasons I and a lot of my friends still shop there.

As far as treatment? I must be alone in that I've always found the people at REI, Neptune's, and Bob Culps store to be generally helpful. I remember one incidence where a salesman ant REI annoyed me and being direct about it cleared it right up.

Avery's experience sucks, I'd never shop there again either if it had been me but as far as I'm concerned its all going in someones pocket so I'll shop wherever is cheapest. I'm not too worried about REI killing the smaller shops since its turning into more of a car camping/cycling/clothing store. There will always be climbing stores somewhere.

My own personal favorite are the guys at Bent Gate, real helpful, knowledgeable, friendly guys. 'd buy from them more often if they were closer.

REI usually makes money even when you return used items.

Let’s say Joe buy a jacket from REI for $100.

That means REI probably bought the jacket for $50-$60. For easy math lets say they bought it for $50.

Thus REI profits $50 from Joe.

Joe returns the jacket and they give him $100 in store credit since that is what he bought if for. Joe then buys another item in the store for $100 (again REI only paid $50). Thus, they broke even on Joe. Even better is that Joe is a happy customer because he got what he wanted. In many ways this is a profit for REI.

Joe’s original jacket is then sold at the members only garage sale. Now lets say Mary paid $50 to be a life time member so they make a small profit off of that.

Then, REI sells the jacket to Mary for about $50. So when they sell the used jacket REI actually make $50.

You can change these percentages around as you like, but the principle remains the same.

I’m all in favor of supporting local business when ever I can. I too love Wilderness Exchange and Bent Gate. I agree with many people on this form in that many REI employees lack detailed knowledge of what they are selling.

However, I have been disgruntled with many local companies not standing behind the products they sell. The reality is that you need to field test some items to determine if you really like them. Climbing shoes are the best example. A small bouldering wall in a shop does not tell you how much the shoe will stretch, perform in cracks, smear on granite vs smear on limestone, etc. I’m not rich so when I spend a lot of money on gear I want the store I bought it from to have my satisfaction as a top priority.

I do think that more small stores can make returns easier and still find a way to profit; even if they do the same thing as REI. Customer satisfaction is the key to success in any business.

I'd buy $3 aliens and sell them on the eBay. http://www.rei.com/product/605711

thats scary

shit!! sold out. I was going to drop some of my dividend on $3 aliens.