Posted: 7/1/2005 5:03:05 PM EDT
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Anyone ever been there? Good stuff? |
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I have been an REI member since around 1980. The house brand gear represents some serious value. Customer service, and product knowledge are usually excellent. They are a true co-op, a one time member fee gets you a rebate at the end of thier physcal year. The rebate has averaged about 11%, over the years. DaddyDett |
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REI has a good selection, but tends to be pricey. I like www.campmor.com Campmor only charges $5.95 shipping, no matter how much stuff you buy, and they are REALLY fast with shipping, at least to NH. Usually an internet order takes 3-4 days at most from mouse click to porch for me. |
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I like Campmor's prices over REI, but........ When it's all said and done they come out about the same. YMMV. The big plus for me is I never have to send anything back, I can try it on at the store, clothes, bags, tents, packs. So I know it fits when I walk out the doors. Oh, and if I need something now, like some spare mountain house or isobutane, it's in my hands the same day. |
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If you're car camping, hunting, fishing etc. Cabelas or other similar places are fine and probably have better prices. If you're hiking above the tree line and must carry everything you need to exist on your back for a week or more though, REI is the only way to go. FYI, I bought a pair of Italian hiking boots from them. Wore them for a month to break them in before a big hike. They didn't hurt my feet, but after a few hours my feet would start getting numb. I tried to wear them as often as possible to break them in, mowing the yard, etc., but no good. I went back to the store to see if they may know of some way to stretch them or whatever. The guy at the store said "If you're not happy, we're not happy" and swapped me out for a larger size, at no charge. Can't beat that for service. Ed P.S. Here's a hint. Go to REI-Outlet.com. You can get great deals there and if you have them ship it to a store, no shipping charges and if it turns out to not be what you want, you don't have to ship it back. Just leave it at the store. |
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REI started out supplying climbers who needed good gear. "Quality gear for people who need it" was the motto. As with everythinh, they have become more commercial over time. Many stores are nothing more than yuppy day-hiker fashion outlets. They still have the good stuff, especially at the larger stores, but it costs a pretty penny. Fortunately, the peaceniks who run the place are into low-profile these days so a lot of the gear comes in subdued colors. If they figure out they are supplying hunters and gun nuts, they will probably shit their pants and then all the equipment will go back to red and blue. |
| REI was invented in my neck of the woods actually.herBut REI tends to have almost EVERYTHING I've ever looked for. |
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I've been buying from REI since they were only catalogue sales (except for their first outlet in WA). Being a member and getting a "dividend" check at the end of the year to buy more stuff from them is a great bennie. If you are not a serious backpacker/mtn-rock climber etc, then you can probably find equally good equipment at equal or better prices at some of the other places mentioned. But the customer service at REI is second to none. Even if you do not buy from REI, before you buy elsewhere go there and ask questions of their sales people. As a rule they are experienced in hardcore outdoor activities. They can tell you what works and what doesn't. What will meet your needs and what's overkill. |
| I use to work for a subsidiary of REI, M.S.R. Mountain Safety Research R&D department. Now owned by Cascade Designs, The original MSR building was sitting were the Mariners stadium now sits. I still have my prototype stoves which work pretty damn good specially at high altitudes.They do a lot of field testing on their gear .They have come a long way since i have been gone.That was a cool job. |
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R.E.I does carry alot of yuppie gear now. if you want the best mountaineering gear go to www.mgear.com This place carries the best |
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representin SPORT CHALET!(cali/nv/az(soon)) we have some aspects of REI(high end outdoors, but add more regular clothing, scuba, full ski and snowboard and wakeboard/waterski shop and a general athletics dept. REI is good stuff man! around here REI is hippy granola more than hippy. |
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I joined the original REI while attending UW in the mid-eighties. They had great gear and the sales offered some real deals. The dividend check was always nice, too. I've pretty much quit shopping there, though, as I got tired of the anti-hunting, anti-gun atmosphere. |
Once upon a time this was true. REI (Recreational Equipment Inc) was started as a co-op for likeminded people to get the camping/climbing/adventure gear they wanted. When it was small it was good. Now, it's focus is more that of a clothing store pretending to be an equipment retailer. If you check the prices you will find that you can usually find the climbing equipment (my main shopping item) for about eight to ten percent cheaper elsewhere. Strange how that's about the exact rate of the "refund" you get each year. You don't get refund credits for sale items either, only when you pay full price. |
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REI prices put me off. Most things can be had elsewhere for less. The rebate just turns into something else to do. As Free said, SPORT CHALET. I think they always best REI prices. SPCH is the ticker. Cabela's is another source. I thought Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) is also a bit pricey buy it offers technical selections. |
yeah.. we(sport chalet) tend to be cheaper than REI. for the most part rei only beats us in the fact they have thier own brand. but they are more consistant in what they have from store to store vs sport chalet. we have a/b/c departement grades.. a getting the most product for a certain genra, c getting the least amount. |