Lets talk about REI used climbing gear

Has anyone else tried to buy used climbing gear from the REI site? How was your experience? I've recently ordered a pair of Scarpa Helix' that were tagged with the condition "moderately used" with the wear description being, "Moderate discoloration throughout. Moderate creasing at toe caps". Take a look at the attached image and tell me if you think this qualifies as "moderately used"? I knew it was a bit of a gamble but I hoped REI wouldn't be charging for garbage. For what its worth I have reached out for a refund and have yet to hear back. I'd like to believe that they could be a reliable source for used gear but I will probably be steering clear in the future unless others have had consistently better experiences.

I F wrote:

Has anyone else tried to buy used climbing gear from the REI site? How was your experience? I've recently ordered a pair of Scarpa Helix' that were tagged with the condition "moderately used" with the wear description being, "Moderate discoloration throughout. Moderate creasing at toe caps". Take a look at the attached image and tell me if you think this qualifies as "moderately used"? I knew it was a bit of a gamble but I hoped REI wouldn't be charging for garbage. For what its worth I have reached out for a refund and have yet to hear back. I'd like to believe that they could be a reliable source for used gear but I will probably be steering clear in the future unless others have had consistently better experiences.

The sad thing is that REI accepts returns in that condition, probably with a full refund. And I am an REI fan!

Obviously heavily used and likely marked by someone who knows nothing about the product. In person always seems to be the best way to buy used. Although I have to add it annoys me that someone even returned a clearly blown out pair of shoes in the first place.

That is not moderate creasing. But I would never buy used gear from REI without having that gear in my hands before the point of purchase.

Agreed. I've seen tons of climbing shoes on the used gear site, which I assume is meant to be a way to do garage sales online (though my local REI still has a small "garage sale" section). I would never buy used shoes online at REI because of the inconsistencies I've seen in pricing out climbing shoes at previous garage sales. I've seen trashed shoes for only 20% off, and brand new TC Pros for <$20. You never know what you're gonna get...

I like that Worn Wear from Patagonia includes pictures of the actual item. I might be inclined to buy used REI online if they included such pictures.

I bought two pairs of shoes from the REI used site last year and returned a third that didn't fit. They had an extra percent off the used site and the stores weren't open at that time, so the gamble was worth it. They were runners/approach shoes, not rock shoes, but the descriptions of condition were accurate. 

They used another company to handle their used gear and the return process was not as simple as usual. The descriptions also seemed generic, they might not have a check box for worn completely through the rand and about to fall apart.

I have bought a handful of used items from REI, but none climbing related.  In my experience, all the products were better than I was expecting.  Items labeled minor and moderate wear, were in almost brand new condition.  Those shoes though, I would return.

At the REIs in Colorado, (and I’m sure other big climbing regions) they would do a professional job of making you feel bad about returning that. I was working a contract in Michigan a little while back and witnessed people returning shoes like this there. I’d also hear others in the gym talking about how cool it was that you only had to buy one pair of shoes and never resole it because the customer service at REI there would think this is a defect (not user error/normal use) and gladly process the return.

At the red rock campground I met a group of people who had flown in with a small carry on, then got everything they needed to climb and camp at REI in Las Vegas with the plan to return all of it on their way back to the airport.

At least those things (apart from the climbing hardware/rope that get destroyed) could be re-sold used... re-selling shoes with blown toe caps is ridiculous

It all puts the blanket return policy at risk

Sniv lac wrote:

"At the red rock campground I met a group of people who had flown in with a small carry on, then got everything they needed to climb and camp at REI in Las Vegas with the plan to return all of it on their way back to the airport."

I had a missionary roommate that told me they literally have to sit down the new missionaries before they get deployed, and tell them that they cannot buy gear at REI and return it when they get back. The trip was 11 countries in 11 months, with a lot of tent living and such... Some people would return from the mission trip and return absolutely everything they bought and used for the trip. Like $1000+ worth of stuff. So yeah, people suck. Even missionaries are trying to take advantage of that return policy.

I was at the REI Garage Sale store in Manhattan Beach and there were TC Pros on sale with vertical cuts all the way through the leather in the toes on both shoes. I stared at them for awhile trying to understand how that would have even happened. On both shoes.

Brent Monfort wrote:

I have bought a handful of used items from REI, but none climbing related.  In my experience, all the products were better than I was expecting.  Items labeled minor and moderate wear, were in almost brand new condition.  

my experience as well. i have purchased numerous pairs of trail running shoes through REI used and am always quite satisfied with the condition (meaning exactly as they were described). 

Esther P wrote:

I was at the REI Garage Sale store in Manhattan Beach and there were TC Pros on sale with vertical cuts all the way through the leather in the toes on both shoes. I stared at them for awhile trying to understand how that would have even happened. On both shoes.

"It's not a bug; it's a feature".

Seriously, that's a design flaw with those shoes (see photo of mine). I've seen more TCP's with that damage than I can count.

Gunkiemike wrote:

"It's not a bug; it's a feature".

Seriously, that's a design flaw with those shoes (see photo of mine). I've seen more TCP's with that damage than I can count.

No way! That’s exactly what they looked like. What causes that? Just sharp rock? I have finales, which I believe have the same rubber, but they don’t have this problem.

Esther P wrote:

No way! That’s exactly what they looked like. What causes that? Just sharp rock? I have finales, which I believe have the same rubber, but they don’t have this problem.

I'm pretty sure it's a seam in the leather. Fault-by-design.

Tragic.

REI is the equivalent of Walmart. They put most of the local shops to bed. Do you really trust them? Remember how many locally owned stores that were here before they moved into Boulder early 2000s. Oh wait Moose Jaw is owned by Walmart. Support local.

horsedickery wrote:

REI is the equivalent of Walmart. They put most of the local shops to bed. Do you really trust them? Remember how many locally owned stores that were here before they moved into Boulder early 2000s. Oh wait Moose Jaw is owned by Walmart. Support local.

The internet put most locally owned stores down under. I can see where REI capitalizing on online sales would hurt the competition that didn't adapt. But they definitely are not the type of monster that Walmart is.

I have bought two different pair of hiking boots from the REI online used gear store in the past year.  Both pair of boots were in almost new condition, even better than the "excellent" and "lightly used" categorizations by REI.  

Erik, you think Walmart is the monster?  Perhaps they are, but take a look at Amazon, the new monopolistic monster.  Indeed Walmart was hated in the 90's for putting local shops out of business, but Amazon is much worse putting all types of stores out of business.  But we forget about that because we need our stuff delivered in two days, instead of shopping local inside a store. Sorry Ian, I've digressed off topic...

Charles Iguana wrote:

I have bought two different pair of hiking boots from the REI online used gear store in the past year.  Both pair of boots were in almost new condition, even better than the "excellent" and "lightly used" categorizations by REI.  

Erik, you think Walmart is the monster?  Perhaps they are, but take a look at Amazon, the new monopolistic monster.  Indeed Walmart was hated in the 90's for putting local shops out of business, but Amazon is much worse putting all types of stores out of business.  But we forget about that because we need our stuff delivered in two days, instead of shopping local inside a store. Sorry Ian, I've digressed off topic...

I go out of my way not to use amazon for anything. I worked in a warehouse for 2 months, and that's all I needed to see to know I would never want to support that company. The only things I'll order are car parts. Because I need it ASAP and I live outside Atlanta, where massive amazon warehouses can be seen every 2.5 miles.

They're 15 an hour tactic isn't to give livable wages. It's to get rid of the competition because they cant afford to employ people at those rates. Amazon makes sure to get their moneys worth out of you; by making it nearly impossible to have a potty break without getting in trouble, amongst many other things. 

I'm an old old member of REI from back when living in Midwest meant my only choice was mail order catalogs from west (REI)  or EMS and L.L.Bean from the east.   Prices seemed fair for the era, but then again I had no comparisons or choices either in early 70's..AND no internet.   Never bought from their 'used' resale stuff, only in person at local store in the 90's when I could actually see  what the gear was like.    I've had much more success in HONEST and real sellers here at MP..  They know that their name and climbing lives would be in ruin if they tried to cheat you on gear here, so if you can't see stuff in person, I'd better trust your fellow MP members in the gear sale section.   

So,,,it's like when tennis players wear out a new pair of shoes in a month in only the toe,  with their serve 'toe drag', that opens a big hole over big toe.