As a former long time MEC member (when it was a coop), the controversy to me was that management strayed far from the coop philosophy in trying to become a general retailer, spending far too much time on unsuccessfully attempting to generate profits at the expense of members and community. Final straw was in selling the business (IMO the coop charter required member approval which they did not seek or get). True coops take their responsibilities seriously and MEC to me let their members down.

Now that they are Mountain Equipment Company (instead of Coop) I don’t shop there. And if they are collecting coop fees then report them.