indyfabz

Starts 5/17.

One thing that might be of real interest is 30% off all BA tents and footprints.

Also 30% off all REI Co-op brand bags, pads and accessories. Same for their branded tents.

25% off all Jetboil and Sea to Summit cook gear. (I love my S2S collapsible bowl and cup.)

Steve B.

Got the flyer. I am in the market for a Varia unit, but REI almost never discounts electronics like Garmin stuff.

indyfabz

I think I remember reading that in the fine print during one of their sales. “Excludes electronics, blah, blah, blah, Oakley eyewear,….”

pdlamb

Most of the time I read the REI fine print it looks like, "Nothing you want is included in the sale." Is it just my eyes?

But to be fair, sometimes they include bicycles.

Tourist in MSN

Generically, I find the best deals to be closeout items. Or sometimes an item is not closed out but one color is discontinued and that color is on a closeout price.

Several things I have bought from there in the past few years were discontinued colors.

Polaris OBark

They do when Garmin discounts it; you can often get the radar for $150 ($50 off).

Also, keep an eye on Bike Tires Direct.

indyfabz

If you’re a member, you can also take 20% off one full priced item and 20% off one discounted item in the “outlet” section of the website.

I have used the 20% on a new Dragonfly stove, S2S mattress and a Quarter Dome tent, among other things.

Tourist in MSN

That is on some sales, but not others. I last used a 20 percent off coupon on Mar 18, only two months ago. I have not seen the flyer yet, so I do not know about this particular sale, maybe they have that again?

And sometimes they offer a $20 gift card if you spend $100. But, you have to be careful, that gift card has a very short lifespan. A few years ago I was trying to figure out what else to buy to push my purchase up to $100 to get the gift card. Got it. Then I saw that I only had a short time to use it, ended up buying several years worth of butane canisters (at full price) instead of letting the gift card go to waste.

Some of these deals are getting a bit too gimmicky for my tastes.

indyfabz

That was probably the spring sale or member sale. This is the anniversary sale. “Exclusions Apply”.

Just noticed 20% off all Co-op bikes 25% off all CamelBak stuff and PI stuff and Kryptonite bike security.

Also, $50 off the Varia RTL515.

Steve B.

The member 20% usually excludes Garmin in my experience. I am in the market for a Varia unit (the 715). I can get 10% off at my LBS and know not to bother waiting for the REI sale as they very rarely allow a 20% on electronics, IME. I like REI, have been a coop member for 30+ years, will buy clothing and camping gear when needed but am aware they are very selective as to what they allow on sale, electronics rarely.

Tourist in MSN

I used to like them a lot, but every few years they seem to disappoint me more and more. No longer a big fan.

When I shop there they often comment on my member number having only six digits.

indyfabz

I would bet at least some of the sale restrictions are mandated by the manufacturers. I remember something about that from my antitrust law class.

indyfabz

The chain had failed to make a profit the last two years.

https://mynorthwest.com/3958888/rei-...evious%20year.

Polaris OBark

That is really unfortunate. I hope they don't go under.

Tourist in MSN

I am not too surprised. My local store, I no longer bother asking them detailed technical questions about the gear, I often find their "experts" know less than I do when I ask. I used to value their expertise, which was why I paid more to shop there.

And they used to have a good selection of the small things that campers often need, spoons, plastic bottles of varying sizes, plastic measuring cups, variety of cords, cord locks, etc. But when they decided that stuff was not profitable enough, that meant that I had to go elsewhere to get that stuff, and that meant I had fewer reasons to go into their stores.

REI started out on the west coast but developed a huge following elsewhere because they ran a robust mail order sales business. I was buying on mail order for many years before I ever saw a REI store when they opened a local shop near me. But they decided to grow too big and they lost their original purpose along the way. And when they grew too big, many of the small independent camping, rock climbing and backpacking stores were forced out of business.

pdlamb

Management's solution to losing money is to open even more stores?!

Obviously I don't have a business degree, this makes no sense to me.

Tourist in MSN

MEC, a coop that was in Canada went on a growth binge and then went belly up a few years ago, but covid might have played a role in that.

Cagouillard

I must get the same flyer that you get

indyfabz

I think it might make sense in certain markets, where you have newbs who need help/advice with products. The one store I go to outside of Philly does a brisk business much of the year. They opened another, larger store near a huge mall several years ago. I haven’t been to that one. The store in a densely populated area of S. Jersey also seems to do well. It is close to my old office. A lot more urbanites have been getting into “adventure” activities. During sales, the footwear sections are always insanely busy with people buying hiking boots and shoes.

Polaris OBark

Everything I am wearing right now, except my underwear, was purchased at REI.

I am generally a cheapskate, but if I buy it there, I know I can return it if a problem develops (I very seldom do that), and most stuff is of at least acceptable quality.

I think they have gotten a reputation for being over-priced (Really Expensive Items), but if you shop sales, and sensibly, it is a lot more cost-effective than the Amazon crap-shoot.

We've used them for travel expeditions, and they are superb and extremely cost-competitive. Most of my camping/backpacking gear is from REI. In general, my bike stuff is not, butif you want a decent touring bike, it is one of the few remaining places to buy one off the rack.

The REI credit card is a good deal again.

I think folks maybe are being a bit harsh.

They recently opened a store in our town, even though there are two others relatively close by. Unfortunately, it is rather mediocre. I think the observations about expansion are probably fairly accurate. It is hard to hire decent sales-people, especially where the cost of housing is insane (as it is here).

axolotl

I had no idea. I would have thought they'd reduce the member rebate in these circumstances. But perhaps they concluded it would be counterproductive. I imagine that in-store sales remain way down from pre-pandemic levels.

I buy a few things at REI but I generally find their non-sale prices quite high, especially for clothing. I use my 20% off coupon when I want something pricy which I can't find elsewhere.

BTW, I still haven't received my sale flyer yet.

PromptCritical 

Yeah, the one in Berkeley used to be this cool, hip place with all sorts of unusual stuff. Not so much anymore. At least the people are super nice!

StarBiker

I am in the one in Timonium all the time. On my coffee shop bike route. I only buy from them in the garage after christmas sale. Once in a blue moon they have a good deal on a knife in the garage but it's rare. That one week after Christmas garage sale is where the deals are.....

(I am a heavy thrifter so I rarely buy anything new)

Tourist in MSN

For camping I used to use Exofficio underwear. (Bought at REI, of course.) Comfortable and fast drying if you do sink laundry. But the elastic waist bands only lasted a short time. Very expensive with a short life span, last time I buy that brand.

Replaced the Exofficio with REI underwear with a closeout color on a really good sale price. Better than half price.

I bought a LOT of stuff from them up until about a decade or two ago. A lot of what I got was on their scratch and dent sales. But that was the old REI.

I also did two Europe biking trips through their travel operation. I might do another some day, both were good trips.

milesfromhome

Tempted to pick up some panniers for my partner this round, we are doing some touring in the fall and he doesn't have any. Could likely make do with cheaper but I know he'd like some ortliebs...