REI

[olyclimber]

I know it’s long been sport to rip on REI, I’ve even at one point torn up my membership after they pissed me off with whatever, but man they have fallen since the days back when they were on Capitol Hill. 

I even now know multiple really good people who work for them (or I think they still work for them…been lots of layoffs).

But man they just keep digging deeper into the shite hole in my opinion.   I admit I still do have a membership. Bought a pair of cycling shoes a couple weeks ago with the sale.  But this kind of crap:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/national-parks/2024/03/24/rei-signature-campground-grand-canyon/73085605007/

Its sad.   The concept of a coop for outdoor gear is nice but they are instead of a corporate beast that lays off the people in the store who actually know anything and only hires seasonally to avoid paying benefits.

With Promountain Sports going out of business where do you shop these days?  I think our sponsor has an American Alpine Institute  has a store up in Bellingham (never made it up during the right hours to check it out).  There is the place in Ballard, that just moved to somewhere else (used to be Second Ascent).  I’m talking places the actually have a good chosen selection of climbing, mountaineering, and skiing gear. 

[JasonG]

Sigh, that really is lame.  Not really much else to say at this point.

But, moving on...

https://ascentoutdoors.com/  ...is great!  Locally owned by a climber friend of a friend of mine. 

Also, I will be forever a fan of  https://featheredfriends.com/

If you are up north, make sure to support Chris and the crew at https:// backcountryessentials.net/         along with our flagship sponsor, https://shop.alpineinstitute.com/

For just ski gear in Seattle.... https://www.proskiseattle.com/

 

[cfire]

"These range from a two-night weekend hike that includes a night at Phantom Ranch ($2,599) to a seven-night trip that starts at Grand Canyon and also includes Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly National Monument ($4,299)."

 

Seems reasonable. At $2600 for 2 nights of "camping", maybe we should give them the Enchantments too. Accessible prices like that would open up the lottery.

[olyclimber]

Imagine the Enchantments “opened up” by instead of a lottery….an auction.   Highest bidder gets to camp.  ‘Merica! Fuck yeah!

[genepires]

On 3/29/2024 at 9:22 PM, cfire said:

"These range from a two-night weekend hike that includes a night at Phantom Ranch ($2,599) to a seven-night trip that starts at Grand Canyon and also includes Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly National Monument ($4,299)."

 

Seems reasonable. At $2600 for 2 nights of "camping", maybe we should give them the Enchantments too. Accessible prices like that would open up the lottery.

you got too much time on your hands now that you are "retired" 

 

 

[bedellympian]

Yeah, REI is just another corporate behemoth, coop or not. I've been disappointed for years in how and what they have to offer.

In Central Oregon we have Mountain Supply near down town Bend which is awesome. Also, near Smith there is Redpoint, though that is more rock oriented. Also near down town Bend is Gear Fix which does resole/repair, consigned used gear, and some new options. If anyone is down this way they are great options.

I've also had good luck ordering from quality establishments like Climb On in Squamish (Canadian guidebooks, G7 gear, etc), Fixe in Bishop (not just bolts), and Mtn Tools in Carmel (aid/big wall stuff). Finally, ordering direct from quality companies like Beartooth Alpine in Bozeman, G7 in Squamish, Edelrid NA in Redmond is great. You can usually call them up with questions or stop in if you're in the area and want to try some stuff out.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

On 3/30/2024 at 8:21 PM, olyclimber said:

Imagine the Enchantments “opened up” by instead of a lottery….an auction.   Highest bidder gets to camp.  ‘Merica! Fuck yeah!

I would love to see the Enchantment lottery run more like hunting tags.  Your chances go up the more years in a row you try and don't get a permit, and if you get one, you have to wait years before you can get it again (maybe once per lifetime even).

[AlpineK]

Mountain Gear in Spokane used to be a good shop, unfortunately they are closed,

 https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/dec/22/off-belay-mountain-gear-is-closing-after-37-years-/

[Jason4]

I haven't been into the new American Alpine Institute gear shop but they recently relocated to the north side of Bellingham and expanded into more space.  They haven't always had the biggest selection of gear but they have always had the right gear.

[Stefan]

Gentlemen.  The last word in the acronym REI is "Incorporated"

[olyclimber]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rei-hemorrhaged-money-two-years-080000494.html

"Artz, CEO since 2019, had already warned that more pain was likely in 2024. “We have borrowed from our savings, but we cannot do that forever,” he wrote in a letter to stakeholders published a week before the meeting. He blamed the company’s wages—which are higher than average for retail—and REI’s decision to continue paying a dividend to members for the steep losses. "

 

Or maybe that is the reason for any success they have had? When they had good employees who provided good service and the fact that you'll get a dividend for full priced items you buy is the whole reason you'd shop there at all?

It definitely couldn't be the leadership that steered the company with a unique
"coop" business model in an unsustainable direction.  No, that couldn't be it. 

[Rad]

Return Everything Inc

They used to be fairly unique in that regard, now not so much. Amazon is likely eating their lunch and they'll have to decide what their model is going forward. 

[plasticprincess]

Wonderland Gear Exchange is a great option in the seattle area! It's a cool small business and they've got some great deals (particularly on skis in the winter)

[olyclimber]

Not to worry.  Your local cooperative is of sound mind.