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Is this really important news or at all related to hackers? Much larger layoffs happen all the time. What's the interesting angle of this story?

prepend 3y ago
So many Patagonia jackets are bought at REI and worn at companies that employ many hackers. I wonder how common it is as a clothier of hackers. For the past few years I think I end up buying a lot of their lightweight hiking pants for travel and office work. And REI is the best store I’ve found to actually go in and check out stuff before buying.
- oldbbsnickname 3y ago
  HAHAA. ;) This is true, I did acquire some of REI's water containers and blankets when I used to vanlife. The good thing about REI is they often have good bicycle mechanics, but they're encumbered by many corporate regulations. If you're more DIY, you're probably better off going to a local bike shop who can do major things like scooter brake replacements. Anyone not from the US: REI is a fractional employee&customer co-op, brick-and-mortar glamping mecca that also sells sporting goods, hiking gear, and Birkenstocks.
yieldcrv 3y ago
very generous return policy really useful if you have a predilection for camping on the sidewalk
- latchkey 3y ago
  "Return Every Item"
iwonthecase 3y ago
I would guess that it would be interesting if: 1. It's a sign that the tech layoffs are part of a more general wave of layoffs 2. Most of the layoffs were on their eCommerce platform 3. If there was a blame towards Amazon. Just as an anecdote, I recently bought a whole set of camping gear on Amazon for about a third of the price as REI (and actually for cheaper than their rental rates.) Quality might not be the same, but I don't really need anything heavy duty.
black_13 3y ago
[dead]
bfung 3y ago
Popular outdoor equipment store in Bay Area/Silicon Valley. Chances are startup people in the valley have been to those stores.
RichardCA 3y ago
"Real Programmers don't play tennis, or any other sport which requires you to change clothes. Mountain climbing is OK, and Real Programmers wear their climbing boots to work in case a mountain should suddenly spring up in the middle of the computer room." https://multicians.org/thvv/realprogs.html https://multicians.org/thvv/realprogs.html
justinator 3y ago
I thought it interesting that the story broke on Reddit and was worthy to get the signal boosted by yc. The employees being laid off are self-reporting as long-time employees that have worked their way up whatever ladder there was and have shown loyalty to the company. Who will replace them? Chatter on the post say it may be PT workers with less experience in the company as well as in their niche. That's unfortunate, but is a pattern we're seeing in many different companies as large and larger than REI. The outcome is not always great.

prepend 3y ago

So many Patagonia jackets are bought at REI and worn at companies that employ many hackers. I wonder how common it is as a clothier of hackers. For the past few years I think I end up buying a lot of their lightweight hiking pants for travel and office work. And REI is the best store I’ve found to actually go in and check out stuff before buying.

oldbbsnickname 3y ago
HAHAA. ;) This is true, I did acquire some of REI's water containers and blankets when I used to vanlife. The good thing about REI is they often have good bicycle mechanics, but they're encumbered by many corporate regulations. If you're more DIY, you're probably better off going to a local bike shop who can do major things like scooter brake replacements. Anyone not from the US: REI is a fractional employee&customer co-op, brick-and-mortar glamping mecca that also sells sporting goods, hiking gear, and Birkenstocks.

yieldcrv 3y ago

very generous return policy really useful if you have a predilection for camping on the sidewalk

latchkey 3y ago
"Return Every Item"

iwonthecase 3y ago

I would guess that it would be interesting if: 1. It's a sign that the tech layoffs are part of a more general wave of layoffs 2. Most of the layoffs were on their eCommerce platform 3. If there was a blame towards Amazon. Just as an anecdote, I recently bought a whole set of camping gear on Amazon for about a third of the price as REI (and actually for cheaper than their rental rates.) Quality might not be the same, but I don't really need anything heavy duty.

black_13 3y ago

[dead]

bfung 3y ago

Popular outdoor equipment store in Bay Area/Silicon Valley. Chances are startup people in the valley have been to those stores.

RichardCA 3y ago

"Real Programmers don't play tennis, or any other sport which requires you to change clothes. Mountain climbing is OK, and Real Programmers wear their climbing boots to work in case a mountain should suddenly spring up in the middle of the computer room." https://multicians.org/thvv/realprogs.html https://multicians.org/thvv/realprogs.html

justinator 3y ago

I thought it interesting that the story broke on Reddit and was worthy to get the signal boosted by yc. The employees being laid off are self-reporting as long-time employees that have worked their way up whatever ladder there was and have shown loyalty to the company. Who will replace them? Chatter on the post say it may be PT workers with less experience in the company as well as in their niche. That's unfortunate, but is a pattern we're seeing in many different companies as large and larger than REI. The outcome is not always great.