Originally Posted by
Camilo
I think you don't understand that the general term "co-op" is broader than what you think.
A cooperative, often shortened to “co-op,” is a business that is owned and operated by and for the benefit of its members.
A co-op bike shop, or the mechanic ship you mentioned are ones of many types of co-op. There are co-op health food stores, co-op agri-businesses that have farmers for members, co-op apartment buildings and other residential properties, co-op retail stores, etc. etc. REI does not, and has never been known as a co-op bike shop in the sense you're thinking. They are simply a cooperative retail business, owned by (and profits shared) by its members, selling a wide variety of outdoor gear, not just bikes.
This is just so far fetched. which makes me think you're kidding.
REI's retail strategy is to sell only good quality outdoor gear at fair prices and pay its profits as dividends to members, paying fair wages and benefits to its employees. Walmart's retail strategy is to sell everything under the sun at the cheapest price possible, no matter what the quality (usually mediocre to low), paying employees the lowest wages and benefits possible, and pay it's profits as dividends to a few of the absolute richest people in the US, the various members of the Walton family. You think this is comparable?
I did mention a good friend was a mechanic for REI, right? I'll take the word of someone who actually worked for them. And the rapid employee turnover is a pretty good indicator of how well a business adheres to its stated mission.
Hey, I'll buy from REI when my LBS doesn't have something I need right away. But don't expect me to buy into their co-op kumbaya hype. The only difference between our local REI and Walmart or Target is the quality of the merchandise and their tricky strategy of annual dividends rather than simply lower prices every day.
Calling something a co-op doesn't make it one.