Hypothetical scenario: Purchase hiking boots (and potentially lots of other stuff), wear them out, return and get new ones...
Depreciation: Zero
Feeling dirty: > Zero
Tempting... What d'you guys think? Too evil?
Early Retirement Extreme Forums » Lifestyle Questions
Abusing REI return policy... Too far?
(15 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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I'm missing something. Why would they let you return them if you wear them out. That would take quite a while.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ehh.. don't they have to be in an unused/resellable condition to return them?
In my opinion, it's bad karma to buy something, use it, and then return it. No free rides.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@photoguy They have a really generous return policy. You can return anything anytime...
@jacob Yeah, I know some people do do this. I don't think I could take the scorn of the employees :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
No offense, but this is lame. What's the difference between this and taking an "unemployment holiday" or tax fraud?
Posted 2 years ago # -
REI does have a pretty generous return policy...so you could conceivably wear something completely out and then return it. I think as long as it isn't abused, the return policy is actually good business sense, since much of the gear they sell is pretty expensive and also might conceivably be crap but not break down within typical 30-90 day return policies or even within say, a year (if you buy a pair of $250 hiking boots and they crap out after two years with moderate use and perfect care on your part, they're clearly not good quality/defective, for example). Given the cost involved in purchasing a lot of outdoor/camping gear, knowing that there is a generous return policy will encourage more people to buy more stuff that they might not ordinarily buy, knowing that they can try it out and return it even if it is obviously used.
I know people who do the purchase with the intent to wear out and then return thing, and I am of the opinion that it's a bad practice. If nothing else, your local REI store might get to know you and give you a lot of dirty looks/make returning or purchasing anything in store an unpleasant experience.Another thing to consider is that the "cost" of this return policy is that buying things at REI can be pricey, because they have to build the cost of absorbing all those returns into their pricing. If people really only use the return policy to return defective items, then it's not a big deal. But I think if you are deliberately abusing the return policy, that's driving up prices for other people, not cool. Also, if a lot of people were to start abusing the return policy, you can bet it would eventually get a lot stricter, and then you might have trouble returning something that was actually defective.
Posted 2 years ago # -
BTW REI is opening in Manhattan sometime soon, a huge store. The consumer side of me is excited; the ERE planner says, "So? You need a weekend activity or...?"
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you buy a high end item with a lifetime warranty, then I would say you have a blank check to return it. I have enough trouble buying something that was defective, and returning it the next day. Unless the item is costly, or I get mad in the process, I usually don't bother returning. I would never return anything to World*Mart unless I was pretty upset about it. Standing in the return line for basically ever, and being quizzed by the gum popping girl or boy, and/or the "all too wise and been there all her life" manager, is not in my list of things I like doing.
I say buy a good product, at a very reputable business, with a no questions life time warranty.Posted 2 years ago # -
"No offense, but this is lame. What's the difference between this and taking an "unemployment holiday" or tax fraud?"
Well you pay unemployment insurance, so if you do get laid off, you're basically taking money out of a savings account. I don't see any problem with waiting to find a job until your unemployment runs out.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@AlexOliver - That's not exactly how insurance works. It's more like a pooled savings account minus the administrative fee scaled to the probability of someone using it times the amount they'd take out.
In other words, the those, who wait (unemployment holiday) and get the maximum amount of money, benefit from those, who scramble to find a job as soon as possible.
If everybody waited, premiums would be higher. Also in that case, people might as well have their own individual savings accounts. If everybody scrambled, premiums would be lower.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That's true. Except you're not exactly paying it, it's your (hypothetical) employer right? And it's not usually the case that if that expense was reduced, they would give you more cash. So it doesn't really matter what your premiums are.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The REI return policy is not Renaissance Man approved. ;-)
On the flip side, check out the scratch and dent sales. I bought a pair of polarized sunglasses for 80% off (without ever figuring out where the scratch and/or dent is). It is my understanding the scratch and dent sale is from returns.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think that ethically speaking you can/should use this trick exactly the amount that offsets how much you've paid into the system.
I think about the same thing is true of collecting unemployment.
Calculating this amount would be really hard.
Back of the envelope: once in your life if you shop at REI a lot?
PS: The North Face has a similar policy:
all merchandise featured online and in our retail stores carry a lifetime warranty, enabling athletes to Never Stop Exploring™. If you purchase merchandise with defects in workmanship or materials, even after extended use, we’ll repair the product, without charge, or replace it, at our discretion.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I don't think this is abusive at all - it is built into the cost of the item #1, plus, it is their culture and consumer experience that they have developed.
TSD had a huge war over this awhile back, with the result being what I just said.
I tend to be like HS where I buy high quality (I hope) and rarely return anything unless there is a problem...and even then it makes me feel odd.
Take the example further (I know, treading a line), and I've seen this - Costco, nearly everything is returnable regardless of use, including food! I've seen someone return Milk with just a bit yet, 3/4 of cookies, etc. At tax time, I see people returning the Tax software. People of all races and perceived classes (my perception).
Karma hits back hard, to me at least.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Doing a little evil...is still evil.
Posted 2 years ago #
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