CPW

I'm constantly amazed at the balls some people have when it comes to REI's generous return policy. For those who aren't familiar w/ REI's policy, it goes like this:
If you're a member and are unsatisfied w/ a product for any reason, you can return it for exchange or refund. I don't think it even matters how long it's been since the purchase. Many abuse this privilege. I often go to "garage sales" at my local REI where the stuff people have brought back gets sold to other members. I often see items that have clearly not "failed" but have just been used to death. Examples are threadbare clothes, shoes w/ no tread left and worse.
I've always tried to be careful about using the policy. I've returned a pair of shoes because I got the size wrong and after walking in them for an hour, they were just way too big. I felt guilty about doing it but I felt like I was still acting within the spirit of the policy.
Here's one:
Tonight I went for the first ride w/ a new LED blinkie I bought a few days ago. It has a clip on the back and I clipped it onto the little horizontal strap/loop on the back of my seat bag. The first serious bump i hit, the thing flew off the bike and broke into several pieces. I went back and picked 'em all up. The lens was shattered (3 pieces) but I found the lens gasket, the batteries and the main body- all the parts. I put the batteries back in and it still worked! Put the broken pieces into my seat bag and put the blinkie back on the seat pouch and kept going. 300 yds down the road it fell off again and this time it went right down a storm drain!!!
Do I take the broken lens and the gasket back to REI and try to extract a refund/exchange?
It seems kinda weak to try to return something you really don't even have (all of). On the other hand I received less than no utility from this purchase.
What would you do?
CPW
PS It only cost $16. (Cat Eye dual-mode tailight)
PPS Should I have installed this thing differently? I kinda thought that was what that strap was for.

twahl

The moral delimna is yours...

My daughter's seat post is low enough that there wasn't room to mount the blinkie under the seat bag, so I had to use the strap on the bag. Didn't take me long to experience the same thing, except ours didn't break. When I remounted it, I used a tie strap around the bottom of the clip to hold it in place.

roadfix

At least Costco wised up and no longer issue refunds on year-old computers ....

timhines

I'm in the same boat with you on this one. Except my pickle is with Performance.
I bought their highest end shorts. I've washed them 3 or 4 times and now the seam is all fuzzed up and I am afraid it will fall apart. They have a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee policy. not sure what i'll do.

In your case, I would take the pieces back and hope to get an understanding clerk. It's a crapshoot though.

Kind of like when I have sporadic problems with my phone. The phone company won't open up a ticket when the phone is working, yet when it isn't working I can't call them to report it not working (no cell reception back here in the woods!).

supcom

What's the problem? The blinkie was supposedly desgned to clip onto a strap on the bike. You clipped it on a strap made for holding a blinkie. It fell off - twice.

Either the blinkie or the strap are defective. Return the pieces, tell them what happened and ask for an exchange for another model. There's no moral dilemma here.

timhines: If you laundered a pair of shorts per the instructions and they are deteriorating after four washings, then you should return them. With normal care, they should last much longer than that.

7stitches

People return all sorts of things to places with exceptional return policies. Here's a good one....I was working at Victoria's Secret (I'm sure all you guys are familiar with the store ) they have the same return policy you mentioned. Well, we would get all kinds of crazy returns, but one woman came in and insisted we return some panties skid marks and all!!!!! She could have at least washed them before she returned them. Anyway, I wouldn't feel bad about exchanging it with an explanation.

CPW

I did return it (somewhat sheepishly) and told my story to the guy at the counter. I could tell he was trying not to laugh as I told him the story. All I had to bring back was the box, the unused mounting hardware and the shattered lens and gasket.
I didn't insist. I just asked if they could do something. The guy said that you really have to return the product for a return but said he'd take care of it this time as I'd only purchased a few days ago.
Way to go REI. I wouldn't have really felt wronged had they refused as long as they'd been polite. I'd have bought another anyway.
As it is I'm going to experiment w/ seatpost mount as well as zip ties and rubber bands to make sure this one stays put.
CPW

scoana

Good for you and REI CPW.

BTW, I use electrical tape on mine to keep that from happening.

Longhorn

I think you did the right thing. And so did REI because you're still a loyal customer and you've shared your story with thousands of others!