REI Return Ethics?
 

I just bought a tail light from REI at a pretty sweet price: $40 for a Cygolite 150 lumens. A great value, but I find the side lighting inferior to a 30 lumens Nite Rider.

I believe REI has a 1 year return/exchange policy. I wouldn't return a used tail light after a year. However, I'm thinking about holding on to the tail light to see if I can't get a similarly nice price on a Nite Rider 150 lumens tail light. If so, I would return the cygolite and buy the Nite Rider from REI.

Arbitrarily, I'd be checking on a sale from REI through, say, Black Friday. That's a rather arbitrary, self imposed 2 month return policy. I don't know if I'd even feel comfortable using the tail light, and wouldn't return it at all if there was any noticeable damage: scratches, missing accessory. I MIGHT feel comfortable returning it if it were lightly used, but in pristine condition.

What do you think is a ethical use of the REI 1 year return policy?

I think REI has factored in that most people don't abuse their return policy which allows them to continue to offer it. If you're unhappy with the light, return it, otherwise, I think it's poor form to use it and return it when you find a better deal.

I look at it this way, if you're paycheck to paycheck than go ahead and abuse it cause you know its down to wire, every penny. But if you're doing OK in life don't do it cause its just wrong and you don't need to save every penny out there cause you can.

I think I'm just going to keep it. Too much of a PITA to drive back to the store.

You are caught between what you have the right to do and what is right to do. Here, as so often is the case, those are not the same things. Returning the light as soon as you discover that is what you need to do for whatever reason is okay whenever that may occur. Keeping it longer purposely and returning it after that point is not.

rpen, makin' me agree with him and stuff.

And the end isn't even near.

Return policy is a year. If he returns it within a year it's not abusing the policy. I know someone that works at an REI and people do abuse it like returning 10 year old clothing and camping gear that's falling apart and they still take it back. If you're returning something that's still within the stated policy it's not abuse.

Because you "can do" something does not make it right. Rpennmarker already nailed it though.

only god and the internet can judge you

That's not abusing the policy, that's ignoring the policy. I'm assuming such customers are refused.

Actually, I'm only concerned about REI's opinion. :-)

So what the OP is saying is "can I borrow it for 2 months then bring it back for a refund"?

Not trying to be judgmental OP, but you asked.

Legal, or at least within the rules - return policies are primarily contractual matters - and ethical differ.

Personally I would think it's a little tacky to use it 2 months then return it. Since the OP knows it's not what he wants it should go back ASAP.

The year return policy is great - but ethically I would say use it after the fact if a product is defective. If you just don't like something take it back right away so the merchant can reshelve it or whatever.

The product is not exactly what I expected, but I'm keeping it. I like it well enough. It's more an issue of cygo issuing a misleading claim about side lighting than anything else.

REI's Return Policy since it opened was Lifetime Satisfaction Return Warranty. Less than five years ago that was changed to a One Year Right of Return, because of the ABUSE of the Return Policy.

I have personally seen numerous people who buy new camping gear in the Spring, return after heavy use during the camping season (without a legitimate complaint), and use the Refund to Ski gear for the Winter Season, only to return the Ski Gear at the end of the season and buy camping gear with the refund. Those people do the same thing every year. As a result there is very little new money bing put into the system by these people, they are using REI as a Free Loan Store. Like the Auto Parts Stores that Loan Tools for free.

This is morally wrong, regardless of whether it is legitimate as far as store policy goes. The idea behind the policy is to give value to the purchase by making sure that the consumer gets an item that he really wants. Not to load new items to individuals who have no intention of keeping the items in the first place and treat the policy as a Free Load Program.

If you have an item you bought that you don't like after trying it (and I say trying it, not using it for a whole season or a vacation), then go ahead and return and get your money back.

If you simply don't feel like paying for something, then don't buy it in the first place.

Have you tried going to some REI Scratch and Dent (Used Gear Sales)? I found them to be an excellent way to purchase gear at a reduced priced that I want to try. If I don;t like the item, I simply eBay it off, and wait and watch for something else that might work out better.

My primary 2-man backpacking tent is a 12 year old REI Half Dome 2. It's been all over the US, and Canada. I had earlier models of the same tent, and I've bought many, later model tents at REI Used Gear Sales. After trying them out and finding out that I don't like a feature or find flaw/s in the design or materials, I get rid of them.

The Used Gear Sales really work out well for me, as I get to try newer technologies without paying the high price of this season's new toys (which often end up being design or marketing failures). I have a Brunton LED candle lamp that I got at the end of the season that it was introduced at $40, and I paid $10 at a REI Used Gear Sale. If I had known how poor/low the light output was (despite the ads), I would not have paid $10 for it. In the years since then (it was discontinued that first year), the outlet camping places have been selling them brand new for $10.

The point of the return policy is that you can buy something without worrying to much that you'll get it home and use it and realize you don't like it.

It would make more sense to me if you just drove back right now, returned the light that hasn't worked well, and bought the new light. If you're thinking about ethics just buy the new light at full price. I mean they have the return policy for a reason.

I would never return something (unless it was still brand new inside it's original packaging) in order to save a few bucks, but I absolutely would return something that had worked poorly - that's why they have the return policy.

I think the ethics of the situation turn largely on what's in your mind.

It's been my experience that people who are wondering about the ethics of a course of action often (usually?) do so because they already have a sense that it isn't.

If you're genuinely unhappy with then light, return at at your first convenience. If you're genuinely on the fence about keeping it, then think about it a while then decide to either keep it, with the understanding that you still may return it if it fails, or return it now.

In my mind, you're trying to game the system, and I suspect that you agree, which is why you asked in the first place.

If you have to come to the 41 to ask an ethics question, well I think that you already know the answer

You could ride your bike you know....

REI policy is make all customers happy especially if they are members. Most people who bring something that old back are members and they usually give them store credit. The official policy is 100% satisfaction. If you are not happy within a year you have right to return it. It's not 1 year if it breaks or defective, its 100% satisfaction. And returns get resold at the used gear sales which is one of the biggest perks for members.

Oh hell, that there is just rationalization to explain away doing what you view as wrong not being wrong.

It's hard to believe they still take stuff past a year even after changing their policy. Even if it's only for store credit, how can they flip stuff that's badly worn?

Anyway, I went on a ride with the cygolite and it is awesome. All reservations gone. I have to find a simple fix to prop up the light clipped to my saddle bag, but it shouldn't be a huge problem.

And everyone has to realize that REI's policy is nothing more than marketing, founded by some business sense probably established by some quants who also develop actuarial tables for insurance companies. Their policy doesn't derive out of some form of beneficent altruism.

I wonder how commonplace a 100% satisfaction guarantee is for retailers internationally?

I spent about $160 at REI during their last sale. I bought a cycling bib, gloves and bike stand. I'm ready to return all three. The gloves were by Pearl Izumi, they are already sun bleached and give make my hands numb. I I purchased another brand and I no longer have the pain. They will most deff get those back. The bike stand is cool just bulky for my small DC studio. I bought a air pump that had detachable bike stand that would allow for minor repairs. Im not so sure about the bib, I'm still testing those.

i don't think the OP is abusing the return policy at all, because the OP didn't get the light there with the intention of using it for as long as he was allowed and then return it, he tried it and wasn't happy with it and is going to return it if and/or when he finds one he is happy with...

someone that is abusing the return policy would go into the store and buy the same light with the intention of not keeping it, use it for say 11 and a half months, and then return it. more times than not that same person would rinse and repeat the process, so they'll most likely get another light and repeat the process cause they know they can get away with it. completely different than the OP. after 21+ years of retail management experience, i've seen a LOT of situations like that, the worst one being when i was a SM at PACSUN (who has since filed chapter 11) i had a kid literally take the sneakers off his feet and put them on the counter and said he wanted to return them...