I grew to become an REI member 17 years in the past proper after I completed school and determined I needed to get extra into tenting. I bear in mind being within the Seattle retailer shopping for my first Gregory pack whereas the man within the inexperienced vest helped me stuff the pack stuffed with sandbags. Then I walked across the retailer for a bit earlier than I made a decision to make the leap.
Two weeks later, I returned house from my first backpacking journey and, because it seems, I didn’t just like the pack all that a lot. Fortunately I purchased it at REI they usually have one of the best no-questions-asked return coverage, so I used to be capable of change it for one thing I discovered to be extra comfy.
Since becoming a member of, my Lifetime REI Membership has saved me properly over $3000. The annual dividend, their no-questions-asked return coverage, member-only gross sales and coupons, free delivery, used gear trade-in program, and their outside talent workshops are just some of the explanations I store there and selected to develop into an REI Member.
I even determined to get a part-time gig at REI in 2014 after I was first beginning Bearfoot Principle and I couldn’t imagine they gave me three weeks off to go hike the John Muir Path – proof that the corporate practices what it preaches.
REI is a 100% member-owned co-op (that means you get a share of REI’s annual revenue) and on this publish, I share all the perks you get as a lifetime REI Member and the advantages that hold me coming again in any case of those years.
Sponsored by REI Co-op
REI Co-op is our favourite outside gear retailer and a long-time supporter of our work right here at Bearfoot Principle. We recognize their 1-year return coverage, their Member-only coupons, and the truth that REI Members obtain 10% again on their purchases yearly. We solely suggest merchandise we actually love and suppose you’ll love too.
How the REI Membership Works
A lifetime REI Membership prices $30. It’s a one-time price and when you’re in, you’re in ceaselessly. You possibly can buy a membership on-line or at any REI retailer.
This lifetime membership price rapidly pays for itself, so even in case you’re solely an occasional REI shopper, turning into a Member will prevent cash and the advantages simply outweigh the one-time price.
Why Turn out to be a Member?
REI is an business chief in relation to top-quality, name-brand, and eco-friendly outside gear. In addition they have an enormous product choice, so that you don’t must restrict your selections.
Their customer support is unparalleled, their return coverage is wonderful, they usually deal with their workers properly.
For these causes and extra, REI is strictly the type of firm I like to help – one which helps getting all individuals outdoors and instructing them how you can do it responsibly.
REI is constructed on membership and in 2022 they did the most important revamp of their Membership program but including 5 new perks for Members (on prime of the present perks). We are able to’t stress sufficient how nice turning into a Member is!
12 Nice REI Member Advantages
1) Get 10% Again on Your Purchases With Your Annual Dividend
Yearly in March, REI Members get 10% again on every little thing they’ve bought over the previous yr, excluding sale gadgets and REI journey, lessons, and adventures.
This dividend might be redeemed at an REI retailer, REI.com, REI Outlet, for an REI journey journey journey, or by way of the REI app.
With the ten% dividend, it’s like getting a sale worth on each buy you make from REI!
My REI Member dividend was $137 final yr. Yearly I look ahead to this, particularly as we head into summer season as a result of there may be often some new piece of drugs I’ve been eyeing.
This yr, I’m out there for a brand new automotive tenting sleeping pad and can seemingly use my dividend in the direction of this tremendous comfortable Hest sleeping pad system.
2) REI Member-Solely Coupons
All year long, REI has quite a lot of gross sales, and through these gross sales, they provide extra reductions to Members.
Sometimes throughout these gross sales, Members get 20% off one full-priced merchandise and an additional 20% off an already discounted merchandise, though this could change based mostly on the sale.
The very best half? These particular coupons are given to Members all all year long, not simply as soon as.
Should you’ve been saving for an enormous ticket merchandise, like REI’s Half Dome 2 Tent, 20% off saves you $66. That’s fuel cash to your subsequent weekend highway journey!
3) REI’s Return Coverage
I already talked about REI’s superior return coverage, however mainly, you could have 1 yr from the date of buy to return one thing if it’s not figuring out.
This doesn’t imply you should utilize and abuse your gear and return it 364 days later, however it does imply that in case you take these new mountaineering boots on the path and if they’re killing your ft, then you may return them for a full refund.
Or that tent that ended up being just a bit bit too small for you, your companion, and your canine in your first in a single day outing? You possibly can return that too and get one thing that works for you.
This return coverage applies to all REI buyers, each Members and non-Members, however the advantage of being a Member is you don’t must have a receipt. You possibly can present up with the merchandise they usually can search for your buy historical past along with your cellphone quantity – straightforward peasy and also you don’t have to fret about hanging on to your receipts.
4) REI Members Get Free Normal Delivery
New as of 2022, REI Members get free commonplace delivery on all REI.com purchases with no minimal buy required!
This can be a enormous perk and makes procuring on-line fast and simple. Simply take into consideration how a lot cash you’ll save on delivery prices – this alone makes the $30 lifetime membership so value it.
5) Member-Solely Storage Gross sales
So what does REI do with all that lightly used stuff that will get returned? They promote it at their Members Solely Storage Gross sales and now on their used gear website the place you may rating ridiculously good offers.
Up to now, REI Storage Gross sales occurred on sure weekends all year long however attributable to their reputation, some REI shops now have a Storage Sale part of the shop that’s at all times rotating and at all times open to buy. Name your native retailer to find out about their Storage Gross sales.
Shopping for used outside gear can also be nice for our planet contemplating the affect new gear and attire have – we love supporting manufacturers which might be advocates for secondhand gear!
6) Save on REI Courses & Journeys
Do you know REI gives a ton of various lessons? From backcountry navigation to bike upkeep, camp cooking, and full-blown Wilderness First Support programs, REI lessons are an effective way to enhance your outside talent set.
Some lessons are even free, just like the John Muir Path course I taught a few years again on the Henderson retailer. For the fee-based lessons, REI Members save $20-30 off the record worth. Growth. REI Membership paid for.
REI additionally leads wonderful journeys all around the USA – from their Yellowstone and Grand Teton Mountaineering and Tenting journey to their guided backpacking journey alongside California’s Misplaced Coast.
Members get a hefty low cost on these journeys too and also you additionally get to satisfy different wonderful Co-op members.
7) In-Retailer Service Reductions
Past serving to you buy the appropriate gear, REI additionally helps you keep and tune up your gear in-store.
Do you know most REI shops have full bike and ski retailers in-house? Even higher: Beginning in 2022, members get 20% off these companies, plus free cycle flat tire restore and machine wax.
8) Reductions on Gear Rental
Need to attempt a brand new outside exercise however don’t need to commit to purchasing all the appropriate gear? Touring out of state for an journey and don’t need to fly with all of your gear? You possibly can hire gear from REI for all types of actions like backpacking, canoeing, climbing, biking, and snowshoeing.
Don’t have a motorbike rack or a roof rack? REI rents these too. Though anybody can hire gear from REI, REI Members save as much as 33% off all gear leases.
9) Your Membership Offers Again to the Outside
In 2021 alone, REI gave $7.1 million to help over 450 non-profit organizations. Meaning your membership and purchases are value extra than simply the gear you purchase.
By your membership and purchases, you’re serving to REI present funding for parks, public lands, sustainable transportation, and efforts to “rewild” our cities with inexperienced areas.
So possibly a easy $30 membership isn’t so easy when you consider it: it’s a contribution in the direction of a more healthy, wilder, and higher future for everybody.
In complete, since 1976 REI has donated greater than 70% of its earnings to its non-profit companions for outside stewardship initiatives going proper again into the outside neighborhood. And as REI grows, their contributions do too.
By being an REI Member, you’re giving again and having a direct optimistic affect on the paths and parks in your neighborhood. As a Member, you additionally get to vote of their annual Board elections, having a direct affect on the selections made by the coop.
REI additionally donates $5 to the REI Cooperative Motion Fund for each new Member. This fund helps provide grants to nonprofits that promote justice, fairness, and belonging within the open air.
You possibly can see a full record of companions and REI’s full giving report right here. Have a look, and there’s probability you may acknowledge a company or two in your city.
10) You Can Commerce-In Your Used Gear
REI Co-op Members can commerce in gently used outside gear in change for REI reward playing cards via their Re/Provide program – what an incredible perk! REI accepts gently used gear that REI has bought up to now 6 years together with most males’s, ladies’s, and children’ clothes and sneakers, in addition to gear like sleeping baggage, backpacks, and tents – you can obtain as much as 50% of the retail worth.
The very best half? You possibly can commerce in gear that you simply didn’t even purchase from REI (so long as REI additionally carries that product, after all).
This isn’t solely an effective way to dump your used gear, but additionally scale back the quantity of used clothes that prematurely leads to landfills – a win for our planet!
11) You Get Early Entry to New Gear + Unique Gear
Co-op members obtain early entry, restricted editions, particular gives, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and extra superior offers on gear. You could find these offers on their Members Assortment web page.
For instance, proper now Members can get early entry to the brand new REI Trailmade 2 Tent, which is an reasonably priced, but nonetheless light-weight, backpacking choice.
This REI membership profit doesn’t have a price ticket on it. REI advocates for individuals simply as a lot as they do the outside areas that all of us get pleasure from.
Plus, they’ve a robust give attention to enhancing and uplifting their fellow outside fanatics by staying dedicated to holding the outside a various and stage taking part in subject that welcomes everybody simply as they’re.
And so they put their cash the place their mouth is. For instance, in 2020 REI donated $100,000 every to the Nationwide City League and to the NAACP Authorized Protection Fund, historic civil rights and advocacy organizations that work to struggle injustice and inequality. As we all know, individuals of coloration have completely different experiences within the open air and it’s our job to be allies to all who want to benefit from the open air.
On the lookout for nice gear to buy along with your new REI membership? Try our hottest gear posts:
Are you an REI member? If that’s the case, tell us within the feedback what your favourite member profit is! In case you have any questions on REI’s membership program tell us beneath!
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