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I grew to become an REI member 18 years in the past proper once I completed faculty 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 residence 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 and so they have the most effective no-questions-asked return coverage, so I used to be in a position to change it for one thing I discovered to be extra snug.
Since becoming a member of, my Lifetime REI Membership has saved me nicely over $3000. The Member Rewards, their 100% satisfaction assure, member-only gross sales and coupons, free delivery, used gear trade-in program, and their out of doors ability workshops are just some of the explanations I store there and selected to change into an REI Member.
I even determined to get a part-time gig at REI in 2014 once I was first beginning Bearfoot Concept, 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 (which means you get a share of REI’s annual revenue) and on this put up, I share the entire 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
is our favourite out of doors gear retailer and a long-time supporter of our work right here at Bearfoot Concept. We respect 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 really love and assume you’ll love too.
How a lot is an REI Membership?
A lifetime REI Membership prices $30. It’s a one-time price and when you’re in, you’re in ceaselessly. There are not any annual dues, charges, or hidden expenses. You possibly can or at any REI retailer. As quickly as you enroll, you get quick entry to the entire REI Member advantages that I define under.
How does the REI Membership work?
If you end up buying within the retailer, you don’t have to carry a Member card with you. They will simply search for your buy historical past by your cellphone quantity, which suggests you additionally don’t want to avoid wasting your receipts for returns. You additionally use your cellphone quantity when you’re trying out, so that you get credit score to your purchases (which you get 10% again on in March of the next yr).
If you happen to choose to buy on-line (which comes with free delivery for Members), your on-line account is related to your Membership quantity. This implies you possibly can immediately see all your previous purchases on-line and immediately apply your annual Member Rewards to future purchases.
Is an REI Membership Price it?
This lifetime membership price shortly pays for itself, so even when you’re solely an occasional REI shopper, turning into a Member will prevent cash. The advantages simply outweigh the one-time price.
To sweeten the deal, from now till March 14, 2024, whenever you join a $30 REI Membership and spend $50 on gear or clothes in the identical order, you’ll mechanically get a $30 bonus card which you could apply to your subsequent buy.
Why Store at REI?
REI is an business chief with regards to top-quality, name-brand, and eco-friendly out of doors gear. In addition they have an enormous and ever-growing product choice, so that you don’t need to restrict your decisions.
Their customer support is unparalleled, their return coverage is superb, and so they they provide workers a variety of advantages, from medical protection to “paid days off to spend time exterior to relaxation and recharge.”
For these causes and extra, REI is precisely the type of firm I like to assist – one which helps getting all folks exterior and educating them the way to do it responsibly.
REI is constructed on membership, and again in 2022 they did the largest revamp of their Membership program but including 5 new perks for Members (on prime of the prevailing perks). I can’t stress sufficient how a lot it’s value it to change into an REI Member.
12 Nice REI Member Advantages
1) Get 10% Again on Your Purchases With Your Member Rewards
Yearly in March, REI Members get 10% again on the whole lot they’ve bought over the previous yr, excluding sale objects and REI journey, lessons, and adventures.
Formally known as your annual dividend, Member Rewards 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% Member Rewards, it’s like getting a sale value on each buy you make from REI!
My REI Member Complete Rewards amounted to $137 final yr. Yearly I look ahead to this, particularly as we head into summer season as a result of there’s normally some new piece of substances I’ve been eyeing.
This yr, I’m available in the market for some new out of doors child gear and a brand new automotive tenting tent that may match my entire household. I’m excited to have the ability to use my rewards to avoid wasting a bit when making these purchases.
2) REI Member-Solely Coupons
All year long, REI has plenty of gross sales, and through these gross sales, they provide further reductions to Members.
Usually 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.
If you happen to’ve been saving for an enormous ticket merchandise, just like the REI Magma 15 Diploma Sleeping Bag, 20% off saves you $86. That’s gasoline cash to your subsequent weekend highway journey!
3) REI’s Return Coverage
I already talked about REI’s superior return coverage. As a Member, you might have 1 yr from the date of buy to one thing if it’s not understanding.*
This doesn’t imply you should use and abuse your gear and return it 364 days later, nevertheless it does imply that when you take these new climbing boots on the path and if they’re killing your ft, then you possibly can 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.
Not like the 365-day return coverage for Members, non-members solely get a 90-day return interval. The opposite good thing about being a Member is you don’t need to have a receipt. You possibly can present up with the merchandise and so they can search for your buy historical past together with your cellphone quantity – straightforward peasy and also you don’t have to fret about hanging on to your receipts. As a non-Member, when you lose your receipt, you’re out of luck if it’s essential return one thing.
*There are a couple of exclusions to the 1-year return coverage. For electronics like exercise screens, GPS gadgets, and cameras, Members have 90-days to make a return – which remains to be actually beneficiant in comparison with different retailers.
4) REI Members Get Free Normal Transport
As of 2022, REI Members get free commonplace delivery on all REI.com purchases with no minimal buy required!
It is a large perk and makes buying on-line fast and simple. If you happen to don’t reside close to an REI, simply take into consideration how a lot cash you’ll save on delivery prices – this alone makes the $30 lifetime membership value it.
5) Member-Solely Re/Provide
So what does REI do with all that lightly used stuff that will get returned? They used to promote it at in-person “storage gross sales” that occurred all year long. If you happen to ever went to a storage sale, you understand you possibly can rating some superb offers, nevertheless it was a bit aggravating. You’d need to get in line early and act shortly when you have been in, in any other case the entire great things can be snatched up.
At the moment, REI sells all that gear on their used gear website. The offers are simply nearly as good because the storage gross sales, and also you don’t need to plan your weekend round it. It additionally provides entry to individuals who don’t reside by an REI entry to all that used gear.
Shopping for used out of doors gear can also be nice for our planet contemplating the influence new gear and attire have – I like supporting manufacturers which might be advocates for secondhand gear!
6) Save on REI Courses & Journeys
Do you know REI presents a ton of various lessons? From backcountry navigation to bike upkeep, camp cooking, and full-blown Wilderness First Help programs, REI lessons are an effective way to enhance your out of doors ability 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 checklist value. Growth. REI Membership paid for.
REI additionally leads superb journeys everywhere in the USA – from their to their .
Members get a hefty low cost on these journeys too and also you additionally get to satisfy different superb Co-op members.
7) In-Retailer Service Reductions
Past serving to you buy the best 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: Members get 20% off these providers, plus free flat tire restore and machine wax on skis and snowboards.
8) Reductions on Gear Rental
Wish to attempt a brand new out of doors exercise however don’t need to commit to purchasing all the best gear? Touring out of state for an journey and don’t need to fly with all of your gear? You possibly can for all kinds 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 lease gear from REI, REI Members save as much as 33% off all gear leases.
9) Your Membership Offers Again to the Outdoor
In 2022 alone, REI gave $6.9 million to assist over 500 non-profit organizations. Meaning your membership and purchases are value extra than simply the gear you purchase.
By way of 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 concentrate on it: it’s a contribution in the direction of a more healthy, wilder, and higher future for everybody.
In whole, since 1976 REI has donated almost 70% of its earnings to its non-profit companions for out of doors stewardship initiatives going proper again into the out of doors neighborhood. And as REI grows, their contributions do too.
By being an REI Member, you’re giving again and having a direct optimistic influence on the paths and parks in your neighborhood. As a Member, you additionally get to vote of their annual Board elections, having a direct influence on the choices 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 outdoor.
You possibly can see a full checklist of companions and . Have a look, and there’s a great likelihood you would possibly acknowledge a company or two in your city.
10) You Can Commerce-In Your Used Gear
REI Co-op Members can in change for REI reward playing cards by way of their Re/Provide program – what a tremendous perk! REI accepts gently used gear discovered of their trade-in catalog. They settle for most manufacturers and objects that REI carries, together with most males’s, girls’s, and youngsters’ clothes and footwear, in addition to gear like sleeping luggage, backpacks, and tents – you possibly 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, in fact).
This isn’t solely an effective way to dump your used gear, but additionally scale back the quantity of used clothes that prematurely results in 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 presents, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and extra superior offers on gear. You’ll find these offers on their Members Assortment web page.
For instance, proper now Members can get early entry to the Arc’teryx Beta Light-weight Jacket – an impermeable rain jacket that options the model new GORE-TEX ePE waterproof membrane that’s PFC-free.
This REI membership profit doesn’t have a price ticket on it. REI advocates for folks simply as a lot as they do the out of doors areas that all of us take pleasure in.
Plus, they’ve a robust concentrate on enhancing and uplifting their fellow out of doors fans by staying dedicated to preserving the outside a various and stage taking part in subject that welcomes everybody simply as they’re.
They usually put. 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, folks of coloration have completely different experiences within the outdoor and it’s our job to be allies to all who want to benefit from the outdoor.
Extra lately, REI and Outside Afro Inc. launched a climbing assortment to “have a good time Black pleasure in nature” and “assist remedy unmet wants in out of doors attire.”
Moreover, REI introduced its determination to ban hazardous chemical compounds from all clothes and cookware (together with PFAS) by fall of 2024 to cut back emissions and advance sustainability and fairness within the outdoor. Hear hear!
REI Membership FAQ
Do you want a Membership to buy at REI?
No. Anybody can purchase issues at REI in-store and on-line with out a membership. You simply miss out on all the advantages I discussed above.
Can I exploit another person’s REI Membership?
REI Memberships are non-transferrable to household and pals. That means, it’s yours and yours solely. Nevertheless, in my expertise, I haven’t had a difficulty with my companion Ryan utilizing my membership when making a purchase order — however solely the Member can redeem REI Rewards (not a partner, member of the family, or pal) and make the most of the opposite advantages.
Do REI Memberships expire?
No. Not like many memberships that it’s essential renew yr after yr, REI Memberships are for all times. So, it’s a one-time price for a lifetime membership.
Sure. The date can be listed in your Rewards notification. Usually, they expire about in early January, rather less than two years after you earned them.
In search of nice gear to buy together with your new REI membership? Take a look at 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! When you have any questions on REI’s membership program tell us under!
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