Everyone tries to sell an image. Obviously they try to sell what people buy, so it is the people's fault. I refuse to wear things that display the brandname (unless they pay sponsorship :-). Obviously backpacks etc. will show a brand name somewhere, but I try to keep that as small as possible.
What bothers me is the dishonesty and the fake image of the expensive stores that justify their high prices with a "good mission" of some sort. Ultimately a store is just a distribution center and all the stuff in thee is made in a sweat shop. "Brands" are just a design office that outsources production to some low cost factory.

Funny thing is most REI brand label people I see on hiking trails are the ones with hiking poles on a 1% slope. I'm not saying everyone who buys at REI is like that, mind you. In laws of mine shop there and so i get to see larger ones in Utah etc. It always puzzles me how i just hike with normal tennis shoes and socks, while REI tells me i need special $15 hiking socks. which of course are different from the $20 running socks and the $20 cycling socks.

as for politics, that should just stay out. Again, a store is just a (expensive) middle man between user and factory.

In terms of biking accessories, I can only think of one LBS that has anywhere near the selection as my local-ish REI, and I live in an area with a lot of LBSes. Being new to cycling, I have spent some time over the past few weeks visiting just about all of them looking at bikes/accessories to replace the "good enough" gear I am using now. Seriously, REI's selection of almost everything except bikes is pretty darn good. Sure, they don't carry every good brand but no one does. They are also the only one around that I am aware of that carries Revelate products. That they ended up not having the specific item that I ordered for in-store pickup was annoying but they emailed me an additional 15%-off "I'm sorry" code that I could use to order it and I would still use the anniversary code that I had previously tried to use. That brought the price down way below what I would buy it for elsewhere. I also picked up a couple of other items that were the same price or cheaper than what I was about to order on Amazon.

I just bought a pair of Shimano SPD sandals at REI for 25% off. Can't get that deal anywhere else. And the fashion statement! ;) And they will take a return on anything that isn't trashed. Have tried out 4 saddles this way ( I was very careful with the saddles, I don't want to be jerk with their policy).

I buy stuff on sale at REI, mostly biking and hiking stuff and socks. I've purchased quite a bit of biking clothing from the clearance rack, most of it REI/Novara brand and have been happy with the quality. I stick to the lower priced brands/products, generally. I think some of the brands are waaaaay overpriced for my needs. Their quarterly sales and the Outlet/Garage (or whatever they are calling it today) often has pretty good finds. I got a nice, discontinued day pack for hiking at the outlet.

I stick with Darn Tough socks now. I see they've got them at Bass Pro, but REI is closer. Spent years wearing holes in the heels of Smartwool and REI brand merino wool socks on the mail route, then found out about Darn Tough and never looked back. Lifetime guarantee.

I personally think some of the stuff in a Cabelas, Bass Pro, REI, or dicks is just a step ahead of walmart junk. Take those Yeti tumblers for example. The walmart ones do the same thing and are a lot cheaper.

Part of this is that lots of people wear outdoorsy stuff every day casually. 25 years ago, brands like North Face and Patagonia made extremely high quality and pricey outdoorsy stuff that was actually designed for people who abuse stuff outdoors. I have a pair of thick canvas North Face hiking shorts that I purchased in 1990 for about $100 (a ridiculous sum at the time) that was built like a tank and was perfectly designed. Those shorts are still holding up (albeit with a few holes) and still better than any others I've found. This is not the case any more with that brand. Now (with a few exceptions) the North face, Patagonia, Marmot, even Mountain Hardware make commodity casual clothing for teenagers. That's what sells and that's what REI carries. You can still find the good stuff at REI but it's going to be (probably properly) expensive and limited. Their bike stuff is pretty rudimentary and geared towards commuters, again because that's what sells.

I have noticed that REI's online inventory is far better and has truly high quality stuff for enthusiasts.

They'll take stuff back for a full year even if it's trashed.

One thing you can't complain about REI about is their bomb proof return policy. Iv'e seen people bring shoes and boots back after wearing them for 5 months and are unhappy that the tread wore down to fast or the leather ripped or something of that nature....REI says "Cool. Here's your money back"

There are restrictions. I think you have to be a member. And I'm assuming they track how often you return used gear and will cancel your membership if you abuse it.

Keep in mind that's different from normal returns. I bought it, it didn't fit, and brought it back unused is WAY different than I bought it, used it for 4 months and hated it and brought it back. Normal unused returns go back on the shelf for the next customer. Used product returns are what they put in the yard sales they run every few months.

I've got 2 pair of darn tough socks. They aren't screwing around when they say they are lifeproof. (I think that's their catchphrase...though that might be someone else)

REI was having a 25% off US retail on all things Ortlieb last week. Got a new handlebar and trunk bag out of it...

I have a North Face vest I bought when the company was switching from the high quality equipment used by active outdoors people to a department store brand 20+ years ago. It was a great deal and when I tell people how I got it they just kind of look at me like they don't understand what I just said.

Is that one of those matresses with the compressed foam inside?

I just got one of those (different brand) and they are awesome!

It is basically like a Therma-Rest.... but 3.5" thick.

I must admit I bought a new cassette there last night. Only place locally that had what I wanted.

REI is a poor substitute for a LBS but I have had some success buying water filters and stove fuel there.

I have often visited an REI 3-hours away only to be told that I can order what they don't have from their website. "No kidding! I could have saved myself a trip too but I wanted to support you in exchange for the ability to try something on!"

Several of my annual 20% sale coupons have gone unused because I couldn't think of anything I wanted to buy from REI.

The Camelbak thing is ridiculous and has only served to further alienate me.

Horses for courses. Here in Houston, I 've been to two REI stores and found their technicians reasonable, doing a good job. Had everything I requested done, even if under protest (increase the spoke tension in my brand new Randonee).

I have been through 4 LBSs, ranging from small boutique 'studio' to large multi-store Local Bicycle Stores, only one (Daniel Boone Cycles) passed muster.

The other three, lied to me about needed repairs and what they would accomplish, brought me the wrong product and called it my fault, were rude to me as a customer

(as in) 'I want a 10 speed chain', he brings me from the back a seven to nine,

'please listen to me, I want a 10 speed chain'

the employee says 'this will fit'

three salesmen and one tech are looking at me as my tone of voice indicated that I am somewhat frustrated...

I say 'no it won't'

the tech very rudely intervenes and admonishes me with an order 'be polite'.

I look at him in disbelief and ask whether 'will this make a 7-9 chain fit a 10 sp cogset' to receive a rather ominous 'be polite'

I walked out to avoid worse...

No adult supervision in sight...

Pretty much my experience too. LBS are, at the end of the day, small businesses. Some are run well, some aren't. I'd trust the lady at one of the REIs shops more than most LBS around me, despite REI being a "chain". Same goes for a mechanic at one of the local Performance Bikes. The other two REIs and PBs in the area? Eh, their door of head mechanic never stops rotating. The LBS? It is difficult in Michigan to keep a mechanic employed year round full time in a local bike shop that doesn't have other departments to keep it afloat, and part time seasonal work doesn't generally net you the talent.

lol... my son joined REI with a pretty fair competency in road & MTB bikes, bike mechanics, backpacking, certainly strong enough for good customer service and product selection. What department was he put in? Snowboards.

Anyway, i think this thread has cheered me up somewhat. I am not a crazy old man, I hope REI turns it around and prospers.

Well, I'll at least continue with my love affair of Garage Sales, even if thinking the company as a whole is entry level.stuff geared towards weekend warriors. Picked up a set of nearly new returned custom order 45NRTH Wrathchild studded 4.6" fat tires for $60 this morning, that generally retail above $200 each :thumb: