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IMO, that's not a valid reason to return something, but it's just the tip of the iceberg on REI returns. There's an outdoors forum I read, and one of the membe

IMO, that's not a valid reason to return something, but it's just the tip of the iceberg on REI returns. There's an outdoors forum I read, and one of the members there works part time for the REI in Boulder, and he's mentioned on several occasions that many people take advantage of the return policy in ways that nobody would find reasonable. He claims to have seen people return several year old hiking boots, worn out and falling apart, then walk into the store and buy a similar pair. I suspect it was a small group of people who were taking advantage of it to that extreme, but they probably ruined it for everybody.

rconti 11y ago
I think it is. I bought a 10f down sleeping bag from an online discount merchant, and I've been consistently disappointed with its performance. I wouldn't return it (because I don't need 10f performance), but it's barely capable of keeping me warm enough to sleep at 30f while wearing long underwear and a beanie to sleep. I'm not saying I'd return it, because I don't plan to sleep anywhere colder than 30f, but these are the kinds of things a coop can and should keep an eye on when selecting product and deciding what to continue carrying. And yeah, some people ruined it for everyone. I saw a crashed mountain bike at REI that some dude returned. My REI story was backpacking boots. I went back and forth on two sizes, and ultimately decided the larger size would probably have me sliding around too much. I had to wear them for 30 or 40 miles before it became clear that they were not going to work, and the other size would be better. It was well worth the extra $15 or whatever to buy from a retailer that was friendly about returns.
- jlarocco 11y ago
  My complaint is more about the length of time in the OP's comment. Buying boots before a trip and then realizing on the trip that they're the wrong size is exactly what the return policy is for, but it shouldn't take two years of use to decide a sleeping bag isn't warm enough.

rconti 11y ago

I think it is. I bought a 10f down sleeping bag from an online discount merchant, and I've been consistently disappointed with its performance. I wouldn't return it (because I don't need 10f performance), but it's barely capable of keeping me warm enough to sleep at 30f while wearing long underwear and a beanie to sleep. I'm not saying I'd return it, because I don't plan to sleep anywhere colder than 30f, but these are the kinds of things a coop can and should keep an eye on when selecting product and deciding what to continue carrying. And yeah, some people ruined it for everyone. I saw a crashed mountain bike at REI that some dude returned. My REI story was backpacking boots. I went back and forth on two sizes, and ultimately decided the larger size would probably have me sliding around too much. I had to wear them for 30 or 40 miles before it became clear that they were not going to work, and the other size would be better. It was well worth the extra $15 or whatever to buy from a retailer that was friendly about returns.

jlarocco 11y ago
My complaint is more about the length of time in the OP's comment. Buying boots before a trip and then realizing on the trip that they're the wrong size is exactly what the return policy is for, but it shouldn't take two years of use to decide a sleeping bag isn't warm enough.