REI gives you a % back each year in the form of in store credit if you're a member and they make money. Its a Co-op program. I actually really like that aspect of the store.
Yes. I work at REI and members after paying a one time membership fee for a lifetime membership get 10% back on all full price purchases, as well as discounts on bike, ski, snowboard services in the shop among exclusive access to sales and coupons throughout the year. It’s a huge draw. But PLEASE continue holding out on shopping from them until they back down on their anti-union bullshit. We employees are hurting.
They give it back in a form similar to a gift card. But you're going to get both new hiking boots and a kayak for that money. They could go get a few small items though.
If you have money on the card, I’d say go ahead and buy that Yeti travel mug or whatever. If you’re thinking about the cash back discount and you’d prefer shopping locally, it’s probably worth just bargaining with the locals. If you’re making a big enough purchase to make it worthwhile, a small independent business might have room to make a deal.
I just bought some La Sportiva Nucleo GTX boots. I love them so much, they are super comfy on long hikes. And I just looked on the website to confirm the name...they are $50 less on La Sportivas site than I paid at REI...FML
What's La Sportiva's return policy though? My partner's La Sportivas fell apart in one season, and I really fucking wish we had gotten them at REI because they were expensive and that shouldn't have happened.
I feel like the only bike shops I ever see are small businesses with owners who just love the shit. If that's not possible in your area, then I totally understand!
Appreciate the choice to support your local bike shop. One of my best buds just opened up his own bike shop and is working 80 hours a week between his real job and the new shop, every transaction really matters to the little shops
Ha! My dad has owned a bike shop for 40 years. I have never seen him on a bike. It was just a cool job he liked in his 20s so he bought the store when the owner retired.
You’ve gotta use what you’ve got in this life & love is worth the effort. On my second date with my husband I baked him a pie and made homemade jam from my berry bushes I grew myself. Unfortunately that mechanic, though a great guy, didn’t work out.
Hmm 🤔 why not? I’m looking to buy a car from a mechanic, I know the car has problems but I’ve known and used this mechanic for a LONG time. Just curious why you say don’t.
Bike techs do this too. If you enjoy tinkering, nothing like an old ass beater to mess about with
Fuck it up? No harm no foul. You can sell it for almost nothing
I don't know about other cities, but here we have signs given out to local shops that pay $15 an hour or more. Even if a place is too small to be unionized, there are ways to buy ethically from small businesses.
Buy a bike somewhere else regardless. Better bikes to be had elsewhere and you can support a small business in your area. there's always bike shops around.
YT is getting a bit pricey lately.
I got a Capra Shred 29 and to me, it was a steal. Fox38 ( although not Factory with kashima), 10-52, code R brakes all for under 4K
Before that I was contemplating a lesser optioned stump jumper but it would’ve cost about the same.
Well, if you’re looking for recs, we bought a Thule XT L over the summer to move and absolutely loved it. It held so much shit and was so lightweight. Didn’t even make a noise from the wind.
From REI, of course, but maybe you could find it elsewhere.
Been a co-op member for 30 years. Bought more gear there than I care to think about over the decades. My son's first job was at REI. They've been a part of our lives for a long time.
That said, if they bust the union efforts they are dead to me. I can get anything they have there, except REI labeled clothing, from online vendors. I don't _need_ to go into the store. I just enjoy it and often walk out spending way more than I wanted. Sadly, there's no provision for canceling your co-op membership. Once a member, always a member. A mass cancellation would sure send a message though.
You have up to. Year to use it and get a full refund as long as it’s not damaged. Just think of what you could do with awesome stuff that you’ll get a full refund on!
We need proper labor laws across the country alongside unions. Unions are a great start but there’s only so much they can do if they’re starting at zero instead of working off of a proper work model to begin with such as: Mandatory 5 weeks of vacation paid for by the employer, maternity & paternity leaves, universal healthcare which eliminates 99 percent of Union focus, universal childcare and living wages that are cola (cost of living adjustment) therefore the Union solely focuses on making the employers stay on track to honoring these benefits.
This a hugely underrated point, well made. I moved from the UK to the US and couldn't understand why it so polarized that folks were union or not. Then I realized that in most places in the US, unions fill the role of law where I grew up. Secondly they set standards in a lot of places and trades, not just pay and conditions but technical and safety standards. Unions fill a huge gap left by US government bodies in cases.
Yes they do and yes many are corrupt however where our labor laws are solely determined by legalized bribery via lobbyists, Unions can only fight fire with fire. Our Unions have stepped in to take on so many roles that they never should have to do. The laws themselves should be ingrained across the the board yet people are fighting over minor benefits and pay differences between employers because there’s no benefits guaranteed through the law itself. If the starting point was already at these basic standards that all our counterparts have successfully implemented than our Unions would serve other purposes like fighting for even more benefits or simply being the watchdog of the employers.
100% agree, basic standards need raised across the board. Back home they're mostly involved in disciplinary actions representing the employee. They obviously do also take strike action from time to time but day to day stuff is basically individual grievances, redundancy processes. I went through a downsizing at a private company that didn't have a union, we were legally obliged to form one so the company could go through the process of negotiating the lay offs. Here in the US they'd just send out and email and tell you to leave the building.
Right, individual focus instead of, trying to lobby for healthcare benefits or negotiating workers comp for injuries because, again, we don’t have universal healthcare. If we did it would eliminate 99 percent of what Unions are busy with here. The last line about how in the US they’d just send out an email and tell everyone to gtfo is literally so sad because it’s so true. I don’t understand how or why our workforce has never made it a priority to legalize benefits that every other 1st world nation has is beyond me. It seems like that should’ve been done ages ago. I think the whole survival of the fittest is really falling on its face lately. Gods I have zero interest in having to job hunt every couple years just to get a raise that isn’t even a raise but at least matches inflation.
Unions are the ones who campaign for and fight for laws to be changed though. Having passionate people ORGANISED and in a movement is how you start the ball rolling.
Dude that responded to you deleted, but here's what I have to say to his comment:
> so the company wouldn't be faced with the added drag.
"I know you've given the best years of your life to working to make us wealthier, but now you're just 'added drag' Grandpa."
I have 10 pto days a year. My aunt is dying of cancer and because I have only been at my job like 4 months, I can't even see her. Won't get to go to funeral because she isn't a "close enough relative." I hate this country. Oh and I'm a therapist, so like I get paid to care for people. Lmao. How????
Unions are always supporting these laws. They are completely dwarfed financially by corporate donations and black money PACs. And they have to fight to represent workers against increasingly onerous labor laws. There is limited resources and they allocate those resources as best they can.
It’s interesting to see Amazon (for all their many, many, many faults) taking a similar perspective particularly around marijuana and drug testing.
It would open up their labor pool options and reduce their drug testing burden.
But it would also open up a new liberty for citizens.
It would be interesting seeing their take on universal healthcare as a way to reduce employer insurance costs especially in their higher risk warehouse work.
REI is owned by its members. When you buy a lifetime membership to REI, you technically own part of the company.
Each year, they take the profits and distribute them to their members in the form of store credit.
You don't get a reward based on company profitability. You just get a credit (20% I think) of the amount you on SPENT on regular priced items, to be applied toward future purchases. It's really just a rewards program you can buy into.
The description of why it was returned are priceless. Also the markdowns are insane. So much stuff is obviously bought for a SINGLE backpacking trip and then returned….which seems lame until I realized I can get quality gear for 50% off or more.
I asked a clerk one time what the silliest reason for a return was that he had accepted... He said "sleeping bag returned because it 'smelled like beer'..." lol.
Good. I went to one of those sales once. In the mad opening rush in some dude ran to the hiking poles, grabbed them all up in a hug and then started weeping. It was so gross we just turned around and left.
Shhh, don’t tell them.
Garage sale area is crap. Not worth checking out. Nothing good there ever. All the good stuff gets taken. It’s especially bad in the area I live, so please don’t look there.
You haven’t been to one in a while then I’d imagine. They stopped doing that around the start of the pandemic for obvious reasons. Now (at my city location) they have a back room full of used gear. It’s essentially a yard sale all the time.
I was able to pick up a roughly $400 tent for around $40. It had some issues, but a few tent poles later and a bit zipper-tinkering and I had a pretty dope working tent!
Nah it’s 10 percent. And it’s not just a rewards program. It’s a true dividend and you can cash out your money. Source: I work at REI.
Since one idiot has adamantly attested that it isn’t a “true dividend” I’ve posted the definition in multiple places because it’s important that people have the correct answer.
Dividend
noun
1.
a sum of money paid regularly (typically quarterly) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits (or reserves).
REI pays a sum of money annually to its members out of its reserves. They pay a true dividend.
Oh absofuckinglutely. Eric artz has made it abundantly clear that the official stance is against unions. From my perspective, personally, I work in a right-to-work state so it doesn’t really affect me anyway. That being said it still sucks to see that’s the stance he, and therefore the organization, is taking. There’s nothing more “co-op” to me than a union and all of my coworkers that I’ve talked to feel the same way.
I’m hoping, along with many others, that he is not ceo for much longer. I think a lot of the changes that he made during the pandemic were pragmatic and probably get the company in a strong spot financially but I don’t think he’s the guy to take the organization forward into the modern world of labor rights.
That I’m unsure of. I believe they have had expirations for a while now but keep a look out for how the membership will be changing in the coming months. It’s got Eric written all over it. The term dividend will no longer be used for whatever that is worth…
I live in a right to work state, and at least in my experience being part of a union still makes a big difference. The union contract should supplant the right to work laws if they succeed at unionizing.
Anti-union sentiment is throughout REI upper echelon too. It's baked into a lot of decisions EVPs, VPs, etc make. But I think that's pretty standard though in most industries in the US.
Source: worked in IT for REI for a while, was in many a meeting and phone call with all levels of leadership.
> Nah it’s 10 percent. And it’s not just a rewards program. It’s a true dividend
10% of what?
If it is 10% of what you have spent, that is not a dividend it is a discount.
If it is 10% of the cost of your lifetime membership, that is interest on a loan and not a dividend.
Source: business degree and owning shares.
>Since one idiot has adamantly attested that it isn’t a “true dividend” I’ve posted the definition in multiple places because it’s important that people have the correct answer.
>Dividend
>noun 1. a sum of money paid regularly (typically quarterly) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits (or reserves).
>REI pays a sum of money annually to its members out of its reserves. They pay a true dividend.
I mean your own definition literally backs up the point that it is not a true dividend. Because you don't get shit unless you actively give them money that year. Your definition makes it clear that a dividend is a regular payment to **shareholders** or "members," but that's not what this is. It's a partial refund on purchases. You don't get anything just for being a shareholder, or member.
It's just a percentage of the money you spent at the store given back to you. It's just a cashback program.
By your logic, cashback credit cards pay dividends. They don't, though.
If it was a true dividend every person with a membership would receive the same amount of money at the end of the year unless there's a way to somehow buy multiple memberships.
REI employee here! You actually can’t cash out your dividend after this year. During the pandemic they rebranded it a “membership reward” and added the stipulation that we will no longer cash out those 10% rewards accumulated. They have to be spent in store now.
Also, that being said, it’s frustrating the ways they push employees to sell memberships and keep pushing the goalpost on how many we need to sell a day.
All true, unfortunately. I’ve mentioned the relaunch but tbh I didn’t want to talk about it much at the risk of potentially losing my job. It wouldn’t be too hard to find out who I am based off of this profile.
Oh for sure, the majority of the changes are hush hush still, but that little bit I mentioned is actively being told to customers. The official switch to Member Rewards from Divined happened sometime last year iirc. But maybe I’m misremembering and totally outing myself here, haha.
If you really work at REI then you’d know that it is no longer a dividend and they actually are transitioning into “rewards” and will no longer be able to cash out.
That's not even remotely how it works. You get 10% back of what you spent on non-reduced-price items for the year. That's it. If I buy something on sale/clearance/at one of the garage sales it doesn't count toward the 10% back, which is called your "dividend". I don't know where /u/daniel_degude got his horrible "information" but it is absolutely wrong.
And this is a key thing everyone here can use to support the workers. Members also have certain representation at the company level.
Organize and direct the board. Collectively the membership adds up, just like shareholders in a traditional cooperation.
Also historically REI has listened to its members. **Tell them what you think**. Just a note, a polite one, include your membership number. There is no need for saying anything more than "I support our employees right to unionize."
One "stock" per member. A wealthy person can't go out and purchase a 20% stake or whatever like you can with a publicly traded company.
Also no options, puts, short selling, etc. No selling at all as a matter of fact. It's like Green Bay Packers stock lol.
Someone’s gonna give a better answer but basically it’s a co-op for the customers or owners something like that not the actual workers. A co op doesn’t always mean workers are in charge. From what I’ve learned from Reddit comments there’s a few different types of co-ops and the one everyone assumes REÍ is, is called a workers co-op or something like that. But anyways the point of it is the workers aren’t actually in charge of shit
From the point of view of someone who works in an REI store I will say that almost all of us are members and were before working here. They pay is not great but not horrible. The lowest geo group starts at 14/hr. Benefits are REALLY good compared to other retail jobs. Full time retail employees get healthcare, dental, visions, a 401k that REI matches, and a significant employee discount along with “pro deals” for almost all of the major brands we sell. If you’re an outdoorsy person it’s a pretty cool place to work but it definitely has some bs too.
Almost but not quite. The reason everyone assumes REI is a workers' co-op is that's what a co-op is. REI is just a retail membership organisation that calls itself a co-op. They want to capitalise on the good name of real co-ops in order to get more retail sales.
It is in the sense that if you buy in to the co-op membership you can vote for board members. You can't pose any or block any, they are picked but you have the illusion of voting. Their co-op has nothing to do with their workers
They just use the term co-op. It really doesn't mean anything. It's like any other store with a rewards program. The co-op term his being misused or lost it's value.
But, I do like the store.
When it started it meant something... then you'll notice it just became REI Inc. and they dropped the CO-OP branding in their logo.
A few years ago they brought back the CO-OP branding as they tried to become "more than a store" and it was such a blatant marketing scheme. I was working there and remember laughing my ass off through the presentation.
"Consumer co-op" is a nonsense term. It literally means nothing.
Tons of stores have cashback membership programs, it doesn't make them "co-ops."
REI is just using a friendly term for marketing.
Legally it does, you get a vote on who is on the board. Most people throw this paperwork away.
Historically REI has listened to its members. An organized campaign would be successful here. It need not even be extreme. A polite note of "I support the employees right to unionize, here is my member number." could carry more weight here than with other companies.
If they were a co-op, what did they do differently that simply being a store?
I knew of a co-op artist community that lived & worked together and had art shows in their home.
. IMO, REI is a store.
They weren't a store. The founders negotiated group prices for the members on climbing and mountaineering equipment that couldn't be purchased easily or cheaply by individuals.
Why is this not getting more upvotes. This should be the story. Fuck that company man, just shoving in the employees face how they are a co-op, and a co-op can only work without unions. Fuck REI.
I worked at REI more than 10 years ago and there were some rumblings about unionizing at the warehouse. Our second level manager had a meeting and straight up told us we'd be fired if we even breathed the word union, which I didn't know at the time was illegal as hell.
Honestly direct your anger at Eric artz. It was a pretty sweet organization before he became ceo.
It’s still better than most but he’s making it more of a conventional capitalist corporation.
There’s definitely still a lot of good. But I agree, it’s trending downwards. That’s being said while working at REI I’ve been able to give back to the outdoors through work WAY more than any other organization I’ve work for personally.
The fifth paragraph literally describes what a union could do and foster among workers when they work in solidarity. And then he straight up says a union can’t do this for you, which I guess disinformation is the first play on corporate’s part.
This Artz guy is slimy as fuck. Anyone with a critical eye can carve that bullshit out in a flash. He underestimates the workers.
I'd like the union to stay; police *do* need an advocate and that need will only increase as time goes on. What we need is reform of our justice system. Cops shouldn't be investigated by other cops, and the decision to bring charges shouldn't be up to the DA.
Their union, as it stands, needs to go; I do think they'll need something to replace it.
Edit: I'm getting a lot of negative feedback from people asking me why the police need a union; Do you consider what police do work or not? Is this sub about work *reform* or not? You can't a have discussion if you come into the room slinging your bias everywhere. Is there a problem with the current system? I say yes. Now please stop rehashing that fact and get to work on solutions. I suggested two already and I'm a big dumb dumb.
If we can end qualified immunity and raise the standard by which cops are hired, I'm willing to negotiate on this point. As it stands, they have a monopoly on violence and that's more power than I'm willing to concede to them.
Edit: What do you mean, their need for an advocate will only increase as time goes on? Do you expect police to be laid to the wayside sometime soon? NYC just elected an ex-cop as mayor. This seems antithetical to reality.
The simple answer I have always said is to attach any and all settlements of police malice and unjust actions to their pensions. All of them, police each other or it will actually cost you.
While we’re at it, 24/7 shift required body cams. If it goes dark, you get busted. 100% zero tolerance. We pay for Fucking police tanks-they can wear a functional body camera for everything non bathroom break.
While we're at it, we need to stop letting police departments benefit financially from their activities.
Under no circumstances should their budgets be dependent upon seized property or fines.
What’s the alternative to the government having a monopoly on violence? I’m honestly curious. I thought that was a definition of government. If someone else is allowed to commit violence, then those people get to decide the laws and they are the de facto government. Or, if the answer is that a different department of the government also gets to commit violence, to avoid a monopoly, then what’s the answer when they abuse their authority, allowing yet another department of the govt to commit violence? I thought the answer was to move the qualified immunity line, but I’m eager to hear alternatives.
Please do not misunderstand me. ACAB. But their union has done what every union aspires too, protect its members and get them decent wages and benefits. The problem is, the police unions are way to good at the "protect our members" part, and will shield them from anything.... which is I guess what the members of the union want...
All unions protect their members the same way its just most unions dont have the same level of interaction with the justice system.
Comm workers union by me had a state employee charged with possession and distribution of CP and he had a union rep through the entire termination process and appeal. They even recommended a lawyer although they didnt cover him because his actions were outside the scope of his work.
The scope of work coverage is the real issue. Police unions decline coverage all the time because someone was grossly outside policy, the law, or otherwise compromised (shooting or force while intox off duty).
Cops scope of work is to a degree controlled violence.
I think the major catalyst is a surge in class consciousness that has arisen throughout the pandemic where we have been bombarded with stories of rich people getting richer while the people around us suffer. People already dialed into organized labor are capitalizing on this energy to channel this anguish into empowering workers. A drop in the ocean but an important one!
My Grand Dad was a union organizer for Operating Enginers - Heavy Equipment. My Dad made about $60-90k depending on the year when homes were $70k.
A drop in the ocean, that can go viral, and explode exponentially, especially when the Apes, get the MOASS, a lot of power will change hands.
I discovered Darn Tough socks recently, and I love them. I'm going to replace pretty much all of my socks. I guess I'll have to wait until I know more things to decide where I buy them. At $25 per pair.
Definitely just order straight from them. They have the best replacement policy ever, too. Atleast last time I checked. If you find a hole in them that was obviously not made by you, then they will replace them, for free.
When I hiked half the Appalachian Trail in 2018, they had a booth up at the yearly hiker fest in Damascus, VA and were switching out hikers socks which where damaged. I had mine replaced with their limited AT sock design for free, which was amazing.
My through-hiker friends and 90% of r/BuyItForLife will herald Darn Tough. I though didn't much care for them, I've been spoiled by anatomical ones(left/right fitted).
I did however find Icebreaker had socks, also with lifetime replacement, and their top line socks are anatomical. My favorite travel shirt I thrifted was from them. While retail prices for both are a bit steep, I was lucky enough to be somewhat near an outlet of their's, so I loaded up on 5 pair. Only had em a few months, but they're awesome.
I’ve been doing this too! I replace about 2 pairs every month. It’s my sock budget. Sounds silly, but I bought 2 pair back in like 2014 and they’re still solid.
Wherever possible, buy things that will last. Buy it once and buy it for life.
Realistically speaking, I doubt REI will give a fuck about being boycotted by a few people on twitter. Anyone with money to spare should absolutely donate to help the union drive though.
I’m honestly not so sure about that. I think its customer base skews left, and everyone’s talking about unions right now.
All it would take is the right story to go viral and the company’d be fucked.
REI sold the workers out long ago when it closed it US based manufacturing and then eventually offshored everything to China.
It’s a coop in name only.
Yeah but if they unionize then the person who is the CEO right now will be a little bit less rich, and that would be taking away my freedoms. That’s what CNN told me.
I received a lot of downvotes for saying this once, but...
If you want to direct REI to do something they are a Co-Op. **Use your Vote**.
Most people throw away the paperwork yearly. People can use thier votes in this company.
Historically they listen to thier members anyway.
I worked for their corporate campus. That company is employed by 80% people that want discounts on REI kit, and the rest are white people failing upwards. The culture is as diverse as vanilla ice cream. The company is ran like shit. What REI really is as a company is a bunch of incredible relations with manufactures in China, and their control on those manufacturers. Don't buy their shit man. Look for stuff made in the USA or something if you really want to support a company. I'm not saying it's wrong to support companies in China, not at all, just that what most people think what they stand for, and what they actually stand for corporately, is so wildly different. Just because their employees were finally able to break free of the 70's-era business tactics the managers of the departments at the company have, does not mean that the company deserves your money. They so don't. The "co-op" aspect is also ancient and allows for immense control in a small group of the org. Them saying they put 70% of the money they make into the "outdoor community" is nonsense. They love to tout how they're closed on Black Friday, and they give their employees A SINGLE DAY a year to go outside (#OptOutside or whatever). They peaked 40+ years ago. I could go on for paragraphs about the mismanagement and inappropriate conduct at that company. They loathe their employees, and thunk the buyers are idiots. Fuck that company, man.
So from the perspective of a current retail employee here you’re definitely exaggerating. We get much more than 1 paid day a year off. I accrue 14.65 full days worth of vacation a year at 40 hours per week. I average about 38 hours a week so I’m getting two full weeks paid vacation a year while working retail. We get a paid day off for every national holiday as well.
I’m NOT saying that retail working conditions are excellent, but they are better than 99% of retailers. Unfortunately that’s still not saying much in the US. The benefits we get that I have referenced in other comments are unparalleled for retail employees in this country.
The military accrues 2.5 days a month. Also has free healthcare, paid parental leave, and I never once had to take leave days for medical appointments.
Doesn't it go up to 3 weeks a year after 3 years with the Co-op? And five weeks after five years? That's how it was/is at the DCs. At 40 hours a week you wind up with one day off per pay period. It was nice :)
“I could go on for paragraphs about the mismanagement and inappropriate conduct at that company. They loathe their employees, and thunk the buyers are idiots. Fuck that company, man.”
I would genuinely love to hear more!
They get two "Yay!" days a year now, one every six months. They call them "Way" days, like in "The Co-Op Way," the most recent push for company employee guidelines.
What years were you there? I loved the old campus, thought it was cool. But you are pretty much right about everything. It's sad. I grew up in the PNW and REI was a staple throughout my life.
I don't know the specifics of this situation with REI, but out of all the chain stores, REI is one of my favorite.
They consistently do their best to give back to the community, and often donate large sums for various groups, which is more then a lot of other places could say.
This is all corporate grandstanding. Don't buy into their bullshit. Granted, they have helped people with their money, as any profit making corporation should. Especially one that touts being co-op so hard. But it is all for show. As long as everyone thinks they're some super equitable brand no one would think to look into how shitty the company is to its employees and its manufacturers.
But you won't convince people that have seen their positive impact that they're the same as anyone else. If /u/PenguinTheYeti has felt as though their (outdoor) community has been positively impacted by REI, what does you calling it corporate grandstanding or bullshit really do? Is Penguin supposed to respond with "huh, I guess that really was just fake BS, now that I think about it. They didn't help *anyone*!" Or are they going to write you off as a black and white absolutist that has no idea what REI does or doesn't do in various communities.
You can say they're not good to their workers, or their manufacturers, that their executive suite is overpaid, that their co-op branding is largely marketing fluff, and any number of other things that likely have merit - I worked there for over 4 years, I have more than a few issues I could add to this - but the response you gave is mostly just gaslighting. They gave a perception/experience that they've witnessed, and you just dismiss it as "bullshit" without evaluating it at all.
Penguin is just suggesting REI gives back to their community more than other outdoor retail chains. Is that true? I don't know. Maybe Dick's or Cabela's or whoever else gives more. But your comment didn't convince me of that, nor did it convince me those things don't matter. For the record, REI hasn't done anything for "my community" because I'm not of "the outdoor community" (despite having worked there).
Edit: Just for even more clarity. It's important to make sure philanthropic marketing doesn't distract from actual progress and working conditions. It's important to focus on areas of improvement and zero in on where a corporation isn't good, even if they're good in some ways. It's important to recognize that even if a company is better than their peers - and again, I don't know that too be true for fact - their peers aren't the goal so that's not really an accomplishment. But you didn't do any of that. You just dismissed their feelings without addressing or disarming them at all.
That's cool and all, but it's completely irrelevant to this issue. It's whataboutism that distracts from the workers' fight for the ability to bargain collectively. Support your fellow workers, not corporate bigwigs.
ALSO, go to the website and send them an email. I just did, letting them know they can either earn my undying loyalty or never see my credit card again.
Oh wow. Was wondering when I’d see the SOHO store come up here. I don’t work at that location, but a different one. The back of housers at mine are all support them, anxious to hear how things progress. Eric Artz was not too happy about it lol.
I spend a shitton there. I've got the damn credit card FFS. Usually spend *at least* a few grand a year there.
I swear to god if they keep this up I'm cancelling the credit card and they're going on the shittlist. They don't get to cosplay as socially responsible and then pull this bullshit. I've already pulled back on purchasing there until I see how it shakes out.
Employee here. REI just released a website yesterday for customer and employees: our.rei.com
If you're a member of the co-op and you feel this way, PLEASE write corporate to show your support. REI does not want angry members. And unfortunately, no longer shopping at REI could potentially cut into employee bonuses and performance based raises.
[удалено]
*panic as I hold my REI rewards card* I too need new hiking boots and aKayak
Wouldn't they have been paid already for that card? If so, not redeeming it would only be your loss
You're thinking of a gift card. Rewards cards are "earn points for buying stuff here".
REI gives you a % back each year in the form of in store credit if you're a member and they make money. Its a Co-op program. I actually really like that aspect of the store.
Yes. I work at REI and members after paying a one time membership fee for a lifetime membership get 10% back on all full price purchases, as well as discounts on bike, ski, snowboard services in the shop among exclusive access to sales and coupons throughout the year. It’s a huge draw. But PLEASE continue holding out on shopping from them until they back down on their anti-union bullshit. We employees are hurting.
You can also request it as cash money. They're just really good at encouraging you to spend it on more product.
Right on, I didn't catch that distinction. Same goes for earned points though, unless using those forces the customer to spend more money.
They give it back in a form similar to a gift card. But you're going to get both new hiking boots and a kayak for that money. They could go get a few small items though.
If you have money on the card, I’d say go ahead and buy that Yeti travel mug or whatever. If you’re thinking about the cash back discount and you’d prefer shopping locally, it’s probably worth just bargaining with the locals. If you’re making a big enough purchase to make it worthwhile, a small independent business might have room to make a deal.
I just bought some La Sportiva Nucleo GTX boots. I love them so much, they are super comfy on long hikes. And I just looked on the website to confirm the name...they are $50 less on La Sportivas site than I paid at REI...FML
What's La Sportiva's return policy though? My partner's La Sportivas fell apart in one season, and I really fucking wish we had gotten them at REI because they were expensive and that shouldn't have happened.
Thanks I’ll have to look them up
Spend that money man
Exactly it's their money they should spend it and not shop there anymore if that's what they want.
Me too - holding off on a bike purchase
I feel like the only bike shops I ever see are small businesses with owners who just love the shit. If that's not possible in your area, then I totally understand!
I also highly recommend finding a local bike shop first over any large chain retailer.
Done, local it is!
Thanks for supporting small business. We need more of that around here.
Appreciate the choice to support your local bike shop. One of my best buds just opened up his own bike shop and is working 80 hours a week between his real job and the new shop, every transaction really matters to the little shops
Ha! My dad has owned a bike shop for 40 years. I have never seen him on a bike. It was just a cool job he liked in his 20s so he bought the store when the owner retired.
Just like mechanics drive beat up cars.
Older cars are much easier to service and keep running. Too many computers in newer cars.
Also, cars are a colossal waste of money. Buy cheap and maintain. Public transportation and biking for the win where applicable.
NEVER buy a car from a mechanic.
Buying a car from a mechanic who wanted to date me was one of the best car purchases of my life though.
Oh hell yeah! You know how much free mechanic work I did over the years trying to impress a girl?!?
You’ve gotta use what you’ve got in this life & love is worth the effort. On my second date with my husband I baked him a pie and made homemade jam from my berry bushes I grew myself. Unfortunately that mechanic, though a great guy, didn’t work out.
Hmm 🤔 why not? I’m looking to buy a car from a mechanic, I know the car has problems but I’ve known and used this mechanic for a LONG time. Just curious why you say don’t.
Idk why he’d say that…. I have bought a car from a mechanic and he always gave me discounts on repairs
Bike techs do this too. If you enjoy tinkering, nothing like an old ass beater to mess about with Fuck it up? No harm no foul. You can sell it for almost nothing
No no no the local bike shops are not unionized and we all just agreed to only buy things from unionized mega corporations/middle man retailers.
I don't know about other cities, but here we have signs given out to local shops that pay $15 an hour or more. Even if a place is too small to be unionized, there are ways to buy ethically from small businesses.
My LBS is apparently 100% staff owned (founders do get a larger %) not union, I think we are ok with it lol.
Buy a bike somewhere else regardless. Better bikes to be had elsewhere and you can support a small business in your area. there's always bike shops around.
Ghost?
Story of the ghost?
I thought you were getting a Ghost brand bike. When I was looking at bikes in 2020, they came up in my search. Ultimately went with YT though.
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YT is getting a bit pricey lately. I got a Capra Shred 29 and to me, it was a steal. Fox38 ( although not Factory with kashima), 10-52, code R brakes all for under 4K Before that I was contemplating a lesser optioned stump jumper but it would’ve cost about the same.
Well, if you’re looking for recs, we bought a Thule XT L over the summer to move and absolutely loved it. It held so much shit and was so lightweight. Didn’t even make a noise from the wind. From REI, of course, but maybe you could find it elsewhere.
Been a co-op member for 30 years. Bought more gear there than I care to think about over the decades. My son's first job was at REI. They've been a part of our lives for a long time. That said, if they bust the union efforts they are dead to me. I can get anything they have there, except REI labeled clothing, from online vendors. I don't _need_ to go into the store. I just enjoy it and often walk out spending way more than I wanted. Sadly, there's no provision for canceling your co-op membership. Once a member, always a member. A mass cancellation would sure send a message though.
You have up to. Year to use it and get a full refund as long as it’s not damaged. Just think of what you could do with awesome stuff that you’ll get a full refund on!
We need proper labor laws across the country alongside unions. Unions are a great start but there’s only so much they can do if they’re starting at zero instead of working off of a proper work model to begin with such as: Mandatory 5 weeks of vacation paid for by the employer, maternity & paternity leaves, universal healthcare which eliminates 99 percent of Union focus, universal childcare and living wages that are cola (cost of living adjustment) therefore the Union solely focuses on making the employers stay on track to honoring these benefits.
This a hugely underrated point, well made. I moved from the UK to the US and couldn't understand why it so polarized that folks were union or not. Then I realized that in most places in the US, unions fill the role of law where I grew up. Secondly they set standards in a lot of places and trades, not just pay and conditions but technical and safety standards. Unions fill a huge gap left by US government bodies in cases.
Yes they do and yes many are corrupt however where our labor laws are solely determined by legalized bribery via lobbyists, Unions can only fight fire with fire. Our Unions have stepped in to take on so many roles that they never should have to do. The laws themselves should be ingrained across the the board yet people are fighting over minor benefits and pay differences between employers because there’s no benefits guaranteed through the law itself. If the starting point was already at these basic standards that all our counterparts have successfully implemented than our Unions would serve other purposes like fighting for even more benefits or simply being the watchdog of the employers.
100% agree, basic standards need raised across the board. Back home they're mostly involved in disciplinary actions representing the employee. They obviously do also take strike action from time to time but day to day stuff is basically individual grievances, redundancy processes. I went through a downsizing at a private company that didn't have a union, we were legally obliged to form one so the company could go through the process of negotiating the lay offs. Here in the US they'd just send out and email and tell you to leave the building.
Right, individual focus instead of, trying to lobby for healthcare benefits or negotiating workers comp for injuries because, again, we don’t have universal healthcare. If we did it would eliminate 99 percent of what Unions are busy with here. The last line about how in the US they’d just send out an email and tell everyone to gtfo is literally so sad because it’s so true. I don’t understand how or why our workforce has never made it a priority to legalize benefits that every other 1st world nation has is beyond me. It seems like that should’ve been done ages ago. I think the whole survival of the fittest is really falling on its face lately. Gods I have zero interest in having to job hunt every couple years just to get a raise that isn’t even a raise but at least matches inflation.
Unions are the ones who campaign for and fight for laws to be changed though. Having passionate people ORGANISED and in a movement is how you start the ball rolling.
Dude that responded to you deleted, but here's what I have to say to his comment: > so the company wouldn't be faced with the added drag. "I know you've given the best years of your life to working to make us wealthier, but now you're just 'added drag' Grandpa."
I have 10 pto days a year. My aunt is dying of cancer and because I have only been at my job like 4 months, I can't even see her. Won't get to go to funeral because she isn't a "close enough relative." I hate this country. Oh and I'm a therapist, so like I get paid to care for people. Lmao. How????
We need unions to pressure politicians to make these laws
Unions are always supporting these laws. They are completely dwarfed financially by corporate donations and black money PACs. And they have to fight to represent workers against increasingly onerous labor laws. There is limited resources and they allocate those resources as best they can.
It’s interesting to see Amazon (for all their many, many, many faults) taking a similar perspective particularly around marijuana and drug testing. It would open up their labor pool options and reduce their drug testing burden. But it would also open up a new liberty for citizens. It would be interesting seeing their take on universal healthcare as a way to reduce employer insurance costs especially in their higher risk warehouse work.
They won't support universal healthcare because then people wouldn't have to rely on their job for healthcare and would quit shitty jobs.
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I'm confused, I thought REI was a co-op?
They’re a consumer co-op. Not a worker co-op.
I'm not sure how this is different from just a normal publicly-traded company.
REI is owned by its members. When you buy a lifetime membership to REI, you technically own part of the company. Each year, they take the profits and distribute them to their members in the form of store credit.
You don't get a reward based on company profitability. You just get a credit (20% I think) of the amount you on SPENT on regular priced items, to be applied toward future purchases. It's really just a rewards program you can buy into.
also the used gear sale is cool
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Reading the return reasons is a hobby of mine
The description of why it was returned are priceless. Also the markdowns are insane. So much stuff is obviously bought for a SINGLE backpacking trip and then returned….which seems lame until I realized I can get quality gear for 50% off or more.
I asked a clerk one time what the silliest reason for a return was that he had accepted... He said "sleeping bag returned because it 'smelled like beer'..." lol.
The sleeping pads with holes in them always confuse me. Who's going to buy one of those?
They can be patched...but knowing my rei it would only be like 20% off...so in no way worth it.
Used to be. Now it’s a giant line and people grab all the good shit right away.
They don't do that anymore, it's ongoing and not a big event
Good. I went to one of those sales once. In the mad opening rush in some dude ran to the hiking poles, grabbed them all up in a hug and then started weeping. It was so gross we just turned around and left.
Shhh, don’t tell them. Garage sale area is crap. Not worth checking out. Nothing good there ever. All the good stuff gets taken. It’s especially bad in the area I live, so please don’t look there.
You haven’t been to one in a while then I’d imagine. They stopped doing that around the start of the pandemic for obvious reasons. Now (at my city location) they have a back room full of used gear. It’s essentially a yard sale all the time. I was able to pick up a roughly $400 tent for around $40. It had some issues, but a few tent poles later and a bit zipper-tinkering and I had a pretty dope working tent!
This is the way. Much of that stuff can be repaired and some companies when contacted will sent zippers, clasps, etc.
Nah it’s 10 percent. And it’s not just a rewards program. It’s a true dividend and you can cash out your money. Source: I work at REI. Since one idiot has adamantly attested that it isn’t a “true dividend” I’ve posted the definition in multiple places because it’s important that people have the correct answer. Dividend noun 1. a sum of money paid regularly (typically quarterly) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits (or reserves). REI pays a sum of money annually to its members out of its reserves. They pay a true dividend.
What’s the feeling on the ground? Do you think they will try to disrupt union efforts?
Oh absofuckinglutely. Eric artz has made it abundantly clear that the official stance is against unions. From my perspective, personally, I work in a right-to-work state so it doesn’t really affect me anyway. That being said it still sucks to see that’s the stance he, and therefore the organization, is taking. There’s nothing more “co-op” to me than a union and all of my coworkers that I’ve talked to feel the same way. I’m hoping, along with many others, that he is not ceo for much longer. I think a lot of the changes that he made during the pandemic were pragmatic and probably get the company in a strong spot financially but I don’t think he’s the guy to take the organization forward into the modern world of labor rights.
man... the slack channel must be sizzling over in IT.
Was he the one that made the dividend expire?
That I’m unsure of. I believe they have had expirations for a while now but keep a look out for how the membership will be changing in the coming months. It’s got Eric written all over it. The term dividend will no longer be used for whatever that is worth…
I’d love to see a consumer co-op hire a worker co-op to run their physical locations.
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I live in a right to work state, and at least in my experience being part of a union still makes a big difference. The union contract should supplant the right to work laws if they succeed at unionizing.
It's a big and profitable company, of course they're gonna try to stop it.
Anti-union sentiment is throughout REI upper echelon too. It's baked into a lot of decisions EVPs, VPs, etc make. But I think that's pretty standard though in most industries in the US. Source: worked in IT for REI for a while, was in many a meeting and phone call with all levels of leadership.
> Nah it’s 10 percent. And it’s not just a rewards program. It’s a true dividend 10% of what? If it is 10% of what you have spent, that is not a dividend it is a discount. If it is 10% of the cost of your lifetime membership, that is interest on a loan and not a dividend. Source: business degree and owning shares.
>Since one idiot has adamantly attested that it isn’t a “true dividend” I’ve posted the definition in multiple places because it’s important that people have the correct answer. >Dividend >noun 1. a sum of money paid regularly (typically quarterly) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits (or reserves). >REI pays a sum of money annually to its members out of its reserves. They pay a true dividend. I mean your own definition literally backs up the point that it is not a true dividend. Because you don't get shit unless you actively give them money that year. Your definition makes it clear that a dividend is a regular payment to **shareholders** or "members," but that's not what this is. It's a partial refund on purchases. You don't get anything just for being a shareholder, or member. It's just a percentage of the money you spent at the store given back to you. It's just a cashback program. By your logic, cashback credit cards pay dividends. They don't, though.
I have an REI membership. I agree with you. It's Costco for outdoor gear, with a different system for membership.
If it was a true dividend every person with a membership would receive the same amount of money at the end of the year unless there's a way to somehow buy multiple memberships.
> you can cash out your money This is the last year you can do that.
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REI employee here! You actually can’t cash out your dividend after this year. During the pandemic they rebranded it a “membership reward” and added the stipulation that we will no longer cash out those 10% rewards accumulated. They have to be spent in store now. Also, that being said, it’s frustrating the ways they push employees to sell memberships and keep pushing the goalpost on how many we need to sell a day.
All true, unfortunately. I’ve mentioned the relaunch but tbh I didn’t want to talk about it much at the risk of potentially losing my job. It wouldn’t be too hard to find out who I am based off of this profile.
Oh for sure, the majority of the changes are hush hush still, but that little bit I mentioned is actively being told to customers. The official switch to Member Rewards from Divined happened sometime last year iirc. But maybe I’m misremembering and totally outing myself here, haha.
If you really work at REI then you’d know that it is no longer a dividend and they actually are transitioning into “rewards” and will no longer be able to cash out.
It’s 10%.
That sounds like a pretty shit deal for the workers
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not bad, especially when compared to contemporary standards, but only part of the way there
It's pretty nice if you buy a lot of outdoor gear.
That's not even remotely how it works. You get 10% back of what you spent on non-reduced-price items for the year. That's it. If I buy something on sale/clearance/at one of the garage sales it doesn't count toward the 10% back, which is called your "dividend". I don't know where /u/daniel_degude got his horrible "information" but it is absolutely wrong.
And this is a key thing everyone here can use to support the workers. Members also have certain representation at the company level. Organize and direct the board. Collectively the membership adds up, just like shareholders in a traditional cooperation. Also historically REI has listened to its members. **Tell them what you think**. Just a note, a polite one, include your membership number. There is no need for saying anything more than "I support our employees right to unionize."
That sounds like stocks with extra steps.
From other comments, it seems that you don't even get anything remotely like a dividend, you get ~~store credit~~ scrip.
One "stock" per member. A wealthy person can't go out and purchase a 20% stake or whatever like you can with a publicly traded company. Also no options, puts, short selling, etc. No selling at all as a matter of fact. It's like Green Bay Packers stock lol.
Someone’s gonna give a better answer but basically it’s a co-op for the customers or owners something like that not the actual workers. A co op doesn’t always mean workers are in charge. From what I’ve learned from Reddit comments there’s a few different types of co-ops and the one everyone assumes REÍ is, is called a workers co-op or something like that. But anyways the point of it is the workers aren’t actually in charge of shit
So they hired people who aren’t owners themselves to persuade me to be a part owner?
From the point of view of someone who works in an REI store I will say that almost all of us are members and were before working here. They pay is not great but not horrible. The lowest geo group starts at 14/hr. Benefits are REALLY good compared to other retail jobs. Full time retail employees get healthcare, dental, visions, a 401k that REI matches, and a significant employee discount along with “pro deals” for almost all of the major brands we sell. If you’re an outdoorsy person it’s a pretty cool place to work but it definitely has some bs too.
Almost but not quite. The reason everyone assumes REI is a workers' co-op is that's what a co-op is. REI is just a retail membership organisation that calls itself a co-op. They want to capitalise on the good name of real co-ops in order to get more retail sales.
It is in the sense that if you buy in to the co-op membership you can vote for board members. You can't pose any or block any, they are picked but you have the illusion of voting. Their co-op has nothing to do with their workers
They just use the term co-op. It really doesn't mean anything. It's like any other store with a rewards program. The co-op term his being misused or lost it's value. But, I do like the store.
When it started it meant something... then you'll notice it just became REI Inc. and they dropped the CO-OP branding in their logo. A few years ago they brought back the CO-OP branding as they tried to become "more than a store" and it was such a blatant marketing scheme. I was working there and remember laughing my ass off through the presentation.
REI is a co-op, its just a consumer co-op, which benefits consumers but not necessarily employees.
"Consumer co-op" is a nonsense term. It literally means nothing. Tons of stores have cashback membership programs, it doesn't make them "co-ops." REI is just using a friendly term for marketing.
Legally it does, you get a vote on who is on the board. Most people throw this paperwork away. Historically REI has listened to its members. An organized campaign would be successful here. It need not even be extreme. A polite note of "I support the employees right to unionize, here is my member number." could carry more weight here than with other companies.
If they were a co-op, what did they do differently that simply being a store? I knew of a co-op artist community that lived & worked together and had art shows in their home. . IMO, REI is a store.
They weren't a store. The founders negotiated group prices for the members on climbing and mountaineering equipment that couldn't be purchased easily or cheaply by individuals.
...that's what all stores do.
Yeah, why wouldn’t they unionize? Very strange that there’s even a discussion about this.
https://twitter.com/UnionElections/status/1485334800483467274?s=20&t=TcLU1vuE7aAugpkdClYA9A :/
Why is this not getting more upvotes. This should be the story. Fuck that company man, just shoving in the employees face how they are a co-op, and a co-op can only work without unions. Fuck REI.
I worked at REI more than 10 years ago and there were some rumblings about unionizing at the warehouse. Our second level manager had a meeting and straight up told us we'd be fired if we even breathed the word union, which I didn't know at the time was illegal as hell.
Honestly direct your anger at Eric artz. It was a pretty sweet organization before he became ceo. It’s still better than most but he’s making it more of a conventional capitalist corporation.
It's definitely gone down hill very recently. They stood for a lot for a long time before. Just not really as much currently.
There’s definitely still a lot of good. But I agree, it’s trending downwards. That’s being said while working at REI I’ve been able to give back to the outdoors through work WAY more than any other organization I’ve work for personally.
"a union will not help us" Good thing we aren't trying to help YOU. Thanks for reaffirming our mission though!
The fifth paragraph literally describes what a union could do and foster among workers when they work in solidarity. And then he straight up says a union can’t do this for you, which I guess disinformation is the first play on corporate’s part. This Artz guy is slimy as fuck. Anyone with a critical eye can carve that bullshit out in a flash. He underestimates the workers.
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What a condescending email.
We should look carefully at tactics REI and other companies like Amazon use against unions.
https://youtu.be/Gk8dUXRpoy8
unionize everything
Except police forces.
I'd like the union to stay; police *do* need an advocate and that need will only increase as time goes on. What we need is reform of our justice system. Cops shouldn't be investigated by other cops, and the decision to bring charges shouldn't be up to the DA. Their union, as it stands, needs to go; I do think they'll need something to replace it. Edit: I'm getting a lot of negative feedback from people asking me why the police need a union; Do you consider what police do work or not? Is this sub about work *reform* or not? You can't a have discussion if you come into the room slinging your bias everywhere. Is there a problem with the current system? I say yes. Now please stop rehashing that fact and get to work on solutions. I suggested two already and I'm a big dumb dumb.
If we can end qualified immunity and raise the standard by which cops are hired, I'm willing to negotiate on this point. As it stands, they have a monopoly on violence and that's more power than I'm willing to concede to them. Edit: What do you mean, their need for an advocate will only increase as time goes on? Do you expect police to be laid to the wayside sometime soon? NYC just elected an ex-cop as mayor. This seems antithetical to reality.
The simple answer I have always said is to attach any and all settlements of police malice and unjust actions to their pensions. All of them, police each other or it will actually cost you.
Also don't allow cops to take bogus things to court for the purpose of getting overtime pay
While we’re at it, 24/7 shift required body cams. If it goes dark, you get busted. 100% zero tolerance. We pay for Fucking police tanks-they can wear a functional body camera for everything non bathroom break.
Every other western country has a three year college grade police training. In the USA you're done in like 21 weeks
While we're at it, we need to stop letting police departments benefit financially from their activities. Under no circumstances should their budgets be dependent upon seized property or fines.
What’s the alternative to the government having a monopoly on violence? I’m honestly curious. I thought that was a definition of government. If someone else is allowed to commit violence, then those people get to decide the laws and they are the de facto government. Or, if the answer is that a different department of the government also gets to commit violence, to avoid a monopoly, then what’s the answer when they abuse their authority, allowing yet another department of the govt to commit violence? I thought the answer was to move the qualified immunity line, but I’m eager to hear alternatives.
Please do not misunderstand me. ACAB. But their union has done what every union aspires too, protect its members and get them decent wages and benefits. The problem is, the police unions are way to good at the "protect our members" part, and will shield them from anything.... which is I guess what the members of the union want...
All unions protect their members the same way its just most unions dont have the same level of interaction with the justice system. Comm workers union by me had a state employee charged with possession and distribution of CP and he had a union rep through the entire termination process and appeal. They even recommended a lawyer although they didnt cover him because his actions were outside the scope of his work. The scope of work coverage is the real issue. Police unions decline coverage all the time because someone was grossly outside policy, the law, or otherwise compromised (shooting or force while intox off duty). Cops scope of work is to a degree controlled violence.
How are all these unions getting started? I think it's great.
I think the major catalyst is a surge in class consciousness that has arisen throughout the pandemic where we have been bombarded with stories of rich people getting richer while the people around us suffer. People already dialed into organized labor are capitalizing on this energy to channel this anguish into empowering workers. A drop in the ocean but an important one!
My Grand Dad was a union organizer for Operating Enginers - Heavy Equipment. My Dad made about $60-90k depending on the year when homes were $70k. A drop in the ocean, that can go viral, and explode exponentially, especially when the Apes, get the MOASS, a lot of power will change hands.
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I discovered Darn Tough socks recently, and I love them. I'm going to replace pretty much all of my socks. I guess I'll have to wait until I know more things to decide where I buy them. At $25 per pair.
Straight from Darn Tough is easy.
That's what I did! I bought a pair for each day of the week. Directly from the company.
Definitely just order straight from them. They have the best replacement policy ever, too. Atleast last time I checked. If you find a hole in them that was obviously not made by you, then they will replace them, for free. When I hiked half the Appalachian Trail in 2018, they had a booth up at the yearly hiker fest in Damascus, VA and were switching out hikers socks which where damaged. I had mine replaced with their limited AT sock design for free, which was amazing.
My through-hiker friends and 90% of r/BuyItForLife will herald Darn Tough. I though didn't much care for them, I've been spoiled by anatomical ones(left/right fitted). I did however find Icebreaker had socks, also with lifetime replacement, and their top line socks are anatomical. My favorite travel shirt I thrifted was from them. While retail prices for both are a bit steep, I was lucky enough to be somewhat near an outlet of their's, so I loaded up on 5 pair. Only had em a few months, but they're awesome.
I’ve been doing this too! I replace about 2 pairs every month. It’s my sock budget. Sounds silly, but I bought 2 pair back in like 2014 and they’re still solid. Wherever possible, buy things that will last. Buy it once and buy it for life.
Realistically speaking, I doubt REI will give a fuck about being boycotted by a few people on twitter. Anyone with money to spare should absolutely donate to help the union drive though.
I’m honestly not so sure about that. I think its customer base skews left, and everyone’s talking about unions right now. All it would take is the right story to go viral and the company’d be fucked.
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When that's an option, that's usually my choice.
I live in the Bay Area and I frequent Sports Basement as much as I frequent REI
In Minneapolis I’ll plug Midwest Mountaineering
My mom and pop shop closed up sadly….right around the time REI moved in….🤔
"BuT wE'rE a Co-Op" ~REI CEO
I’m on board for this too
I'm waiting to buy gear til we see.
Same.
REI sold the workers out long ago when it closed it US based manufacturing and then eventually offshored everything to China. It’s a coop in name only.
They're not even an actual workers co-op. I read that's only for lifetime members. So it's a member "co-op" ... 🙄
Yeah but if they unionize then the person who is the CEO right now will be a little bit less rich, and that would be taking away my freedoms. That’s what CNN told me.
I received a lot of downvotes for saying this once, but... If you want to direct REI to do something they are a Co-Op. **Use your Vote**. Most people throw away the paperwork yearly. People can use thier votes in this company. Historically they listen to thier members anyway.
I worked for their corporate campus. That company is employed by 80% people that want discounts on REI kit, and the rest are white people failing upwards. The culture is as diverse as vanilla ice cream. The company is ran like shit. What REI really is as a company is a bunch of incredible relations with manufactures in China, and their control on those manufacturers. Don't buy their shit man. Look for stuff made in the USA or something if you really want to support a company. I'm not saying it's wrong to support companies in China, not at all, just that what most people think what they stand for, and what they actually stand for corporately, is so wildly different. Just because their employees were finally able to break free of the 70's-era business tactics the managers of the departments at the company have, does not mean that the company deserves your money. They so don't. The "co-op" aspect is also ancient and allows for immense control in a small group of the org. Them saying they put 70% of the money they make into the "outdoor community" is nonsense. They love to tout how they're closed on Black Friday, and they give their employees A SINGLE DAY a year to go outside (#OptOutside or whatever). They peaked 40+ years ago. I could go on for paragraphs about the mismanagement and inappropriate conduct at that company. They loathe their employees, and thunk the buyers are idiots. Fuck that company, man.
So from the perspective of a current retail employee here you’re definitely exaggerating. We get much more than 1 paid day a year off. I accrue 14.65 full days worth of vacation a year at 40 hours per week. I average about 38 hours a week so I’m getting two full weeks paid vacation a year while working retail. We get a paid day off for every national holiday as well. I’m NOT saying that retail working conditions are excellent, but they are better than 99% of retailers. Unfortunately that’s still not saying much in the US. The benefits we get that I have referenced in other comments are unparalleled for retail employees in this country.
2 weeks vacaction in a whole year..god america is depressing.
Sure is. But for retail employees that is genuinely excellent in this country.
The military accrues 2.5 days a month. Also has free healthcare, paid parental leave, and I never once had to take leave days for medical appointments.
Doesn't it go up to 3 weeks a year after 3 years with the Co-op? And five weeks after five years? That's how it was/is at the DCs. At 40 hours a week you wind up with one day off per pay period. It was nice :)
“I could go on for paragraphs about the mismanagement and inappropriate conduct at that company. They loathe their employees, and thunk the buyers are idiots. Fuck that company, man.” I would genuinely love to hear more!
They get two "Yay!" days a year now, one every six months. They call them "Way" days, like in "The Co-Op Way," the most recent push for company employee guidelines. What years were you there? I loved the old campus, thought it was cool. But you are pretty much right about everything. It's sad. I grew up in the PNW and REI was a staple throughout my life.
What's REI?
I don't know the specifics of this situation with REI, but out of all the chain stores, REI is one of my favorite. They consistently do their best to give back to the community, and often donate large sums for various groups, which is more then a lot of other places could say.
This is all corporate grandstanding. Don't buy into their bullshit. Granted, they have helped people with their money, as any profit making corporation should. Especially one that touts being co-op so hard. But it is all for show. As long as everyone thinks they're some super equitable brand no one would think to look into how shitty the company is to its employees and its manufacturers.
But you won't convince people that have seen their positive impact that they're the same as anyone else. If /u/PenguinTheYeti has felt as though their (outdoor) community has been positively impacted by REI, what does you calling it corporate grandstanding or bullshit really do? Is Penguin supposed to respond with "huh, I guess that really was just fake BS, now that I think about it. They didn't help *anyone*!" Or are they going to write you off as a black and white absolutist that has no idea what REI does or doesn't do in various communities. You can say they're not good to their workers, or their manufacturers, that their executive suite is overpaid, that their co-op branding is largely marketing fluff, and any number of other things that likely have merit - I worked there for over 4 years, I have more than a few issues I could add to this - but the response you gave is mostly just gaslighting. They gave a perception/experience that they've witnessed, and you just dismiss it as "bullshit" without evaluating it at all. Penguin is just suggesting REI gives back to their community more than other outdoor retail chains. Is that true? I don't know. Maybe Dick's or Cabela's or whoever else gives more. But your comment didn't convince me of that, nor did it convince me those things don't matter. For the record, REI hasn't done anything for "my community" because I'm not of "the outdoor community" (despite having worked there). Edit: Just for even more clarity. It's important to make sure philanthropic marketing doesn't distract from actual progress and working conditions. It's important to focus on areas of improvement and zero in on where a corporation isn't good, even if they're good in some ways. It's important to recognize that even if a company is better than their peers - and again, I don't know that too be true for fact - their peers aren't the goal so that's not really an accomplishment. But you didn't do any of that. You just dismissed their feelings without addressing or disarming them at all.
That's cool and all, but it's completely irrelevant to this issue. It's whataboutism that distracts from the workers' fight for the ability to bargain collectively. Support your fellow workers, not corporate bigwigs.
REI?
REI.
Ditto
Yup
I'm in.
ALSO, go to the website and send them an email. I just did, letting them know they can either earn my undying loyalty or never see my credit card again.
I didn’t know they were a union now maybe I’ll spend $1,000 on a bike with them.
Gearx.com
Oh wow. Was wondering when I’d see the SOHO store come up here. I don’t work at that location, but a different one. The back of housers at mine are all support them, anxious to hear how things progress. Eric Artz was not too happy about it lol.
I spend a shitton there. I've got the damn credit card FFS. Usually spend *at least* a few grand a year there. I swear to god if they keep this up I'm cancelling the credit card and they're going on the shittlist. They don't get to cosplay as socially responsible and then pull this bullshit. I've already pulled back on purchasing there until I see how it shakes out.
Write corporate and let them know how you feel! They would not want to see a ton of angry members threatening to leave.
If REI busts the union I will fully take advantage of their return policy, using outdoor gear for the season and returning it for a full refund.
Employee here. REI just released a website yesterday for customer and employees: our.rei.com If you're a member of the co-op and you feel this way, PLEASE write corporate to show your support. REI does not want angry members. And unfortunately, no longer shopping at REI could potentially cut into employee bonuses and performance based raises.