REI return policy is their policy. They know what they are doing and they are still in business going strong while Sports Chalet, Sports Authority and many other big sporting and outdoor brick and mortar chains are going out of business. Customer service and satisfaction is the only thing that can let companies compete with Amazon and eBay these days. And Amazon also will refund anything no question asked so it's even harder to compete. Target and Home Depot recently made their return policies longer and more liberal because they realize they need to and I shop at those stores over competitors because of it. Performance also allows bike returns for 1 year if you aren't satisfied and people return 1 year old well ridden bikes. The fact is 95% of consumers buy something and have no problem throwing it in the trash after 3 months and moving on and that offset the few people who demand satisfaction