REI Employees- do you judge people who frequently return things?

Ive returned stuff that didn't fit correct but that was known when it showed up on on my first outdoor use of the item. I've also blown out gloves over a season of use. I bought new gloves because I used the hell out of the first ones. 

I judge myself!  I just took a 70M Edelrid TC Pro rope in and returned it after the sheath frayed after 1 sport climbing sesh (with no rock rubbing).  I am not a person that returns things just because I wear them out/abuse them, but some situations are warranted.  It sucked to see that rope get junked as it seemed like such a waste, but it was defective.  Over the years I have returned almost nothing that I have purchased, even when friends have said I should just take it back and "get a new one".  

Breaking an item you purchased, using the shit out of it, or taking it back because you found something better is not grounds for returning an item IMO.  Neither is using REI as a rental store for that matter.

Eric Larson wrote:

I wish REI had a stricter return policy that it actually honored instead of a generous policy that it does not honor. This would enable customers to make informed buying decisions. During the past 5 years at my local REI, I have made 3 returns for legitimate reasons (e.g., delamination of a shoe sole after only a week of use), but I also have spent about $2,500 at their store. Now, the staff not only refuse to adhere to REI's return policy but also verbally abuse me when I politely ask if I can return an item for legitimate reasons. If their return policy was consistent, I wouldn't have to ask these apparently taboo questions. REI is stricter about returns than most stores such as Walmart. I don't think I'll shop with REI anymore.

Sorry you're having a terrible REI experience.  This is a stark contrast from the response I have gotten every time I've returned an item at the 3 REI's in my area (Silverdale, Tacoma, Flagship Seattle).  Always I have gotten a happy employee gladly accepting my return, as recently as October when I returned 2 items after nearly a year that didn't meet my expectations (gloves that had failing seams and a sun hoody with a good too small).  

I have a really hard time even imaging someone in a green REI vest verbally abusing to a customer.  Something doesn't add up.

Andy Shoemaker wrote:

Sorry you're having a terrible REI experience.  This is a stark contrast from the response I have gotten every time I've returned an item at the 3 REI's in my area (Silverdale, Tacoma, Flagship Seattle).  Always I have gotten a happy employee gladly accepting my return, as recently as October when I returned 2 items after nearly a year that didn't meet my expectations (gloves that had failing seams and a sun hoody with a good too small).  

I have a really hard time even imaging someone in a green REI vest verbally abusing to a customer.  Something doesn't add up.

Eric Larson joined MP today and the above post is his only activity. something does add up here.

Andy Shoemaker wrote:

Sorry you're having a terrible REI experience.  This is a stark contrast from the response I have gotten every time I've returned an item at the 3 REI's in my area (Silverdale, Tacoma, Flagship Seattle).  Always I have gotten a happy employee gladly accepting my return, as recently as October when I returned 2 items after nearly a year that didn't meet my expectations (gloves that had failing seams and a sun hoody with a good too small).  

I have a really hard time even imaging someone in a green REI vest verbally abusing to a customer.  Something doesn't add up.

Andy, while I've also had largely positive experiences with returns at REI, I've definitely had a few encounters with employees that were incredibly condescending and aggressive about the return. I think it's great that you've been lucky, but those encounters do happen, and crummy people exist - even at REI. I recall telling an REI employee friend about my experience, and they informed me that the manager who I had my first negative experience with was shortly fired after that, for pulling a knife on someone trying to shoplift. YMMV. 

mark felber wrote:

Eric Larson joined MP today and the above post is his only activity. something does add up here.

Dang.  I'm part of the problem.