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I grew to become an REI member 18 years in the past proper after I completed faculty and determined I wished 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 the perfect no-questions-asked return coverage, so I used to be capable of alternate 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 Member Rewards, their 100% satisfaction assure, member-only gross sales and coupons, free transport, used gear trade-in program, and their outside ability workshops are only a few of the explanations I store there and selected to grow to be an REI Member.
I even determined to get a part-time gig at REI in 2014 after I was first beginning Bearfoot Concept, and I couldn’t consider 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 put up, 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 Concept. We admire their 1-year return coverage, their Member-only coupons, and the truth that REI Members obtain 10% again on their purchases yearly. We solely advocate merchandise we actually 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 costs. You’ll be able to buy a membership on-line or at any REI retailer. As quickly as you join, you get speedy entry to all the REI Member advantages that I define under.
How does the REI Membership work?
When you’re procuring within the retailer, you don’t have to convey a Member card with you. They’ll simply lookup your buy historical past by your telephone quantity, which implies you additionally don’t want to avoid wasting your receipts for returns. You additionally use your telephone quantity when you find yourself trying out, so that you get credit score on your purchases (which you get 10% again on in March of the next yr).
For those who favor to buy on-line (which comes with free transport for Members), your on-line account is related to your Membership quantity. This implies you may 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 in the event 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, once you join a $30 REI Membership and spend $50 on gear or clothes in the identical order, you’ll robotically get a $30 bonus card that you could apply to your subsequent buy.
Why Store at REI?
REI is an trade chief in terms of top-quality, name-brand, and eco-friendly outside gear. In addition they have an enormous and ever-growing product choice, so that you don’t should restrict your selections.
Their customer support is unparalleled, their return coverage is wonderful, they usually they provide workers a spread of advantages, from medical protection to “paid days off to spend time exterior to relaxation and recharge.”
For these causes and extra, REI is strictly the form of firm I like to assist – one which helps getting all folks exterior and educating them how one can 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 present perks). I can’t stress sufficient how a lot it’s value it to grow to be 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 every thing they’ve bought over the previous yr, excluding sale objects and REI journey, courses, and adventures.
Formally known as your annual dividend, Member Rewards could 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 worth on each buy you make from REI!
My REI Member Complete Rewards amounted to $137 final yr. Yearly I sit up for this, particularly as we head into summer time as a result of there’s often some new piece of drugs I’ve been eyeing.
This yr, I’m out there for some new outside child gear and a brand new automotive tenting tent that may match my complete 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 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 may 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.
For those who’ve been saving for an enormous ticket merchandise, just like the REI Magma 15 Diploma Sleeping Bag, 20% off saves you $86. That’s fuel cash on 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 in the event you take these new mountaineering boots on the path and if they’re killing your toes, 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 accomplice, and your canine in your first in a single day outing? You’ll be able to 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 advantage of being a Member is you don’t should have a receipt. You’ll be able to present up with the merchandise they usually can lookup your buy historical past together with your telephone quantity – simple peasy and also you don’t have to fret about hanging on to your receipts. As a non-Member, in the event you lose your receipt, you’re out of luck if you have to return one thing.
*There are a number 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 Customary Delivery
As of 2022, REI Members get free normal transport on all REI.com purchases with no minimal buy required!
It is a big perk and makes procuring on-line fast and straightforward. For those who don’t stay close to an REI, simply take into consideration how a lot cash you’ll save on transport 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. For those who ever went to a storage sale, you understand you could possibly rating some wonderful offers, nevertheless it was a bit hectic. You’d should get in line early and act shortly when you have been in, in any other case all the great things can be snatched up.
As we speak, 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 should plan your weekend round it. It additionally offers entry to individuals who don’t stay by an REI entry to all that used gear.
Shopping for used outside 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 Lessons & Journeys
Do you know REI presents a ton of various courses? From backcountry navigation to bike upkeep, camp cooking, and full-blown Wilderness First Help programs, REI courses are an effective way to enhance your outside ability set.
Some courses are even free, just like the John Muir Path course I taught a few years again on the Henderson retailer. For the fee-based courses, REI Members save $20-30 off the record worth. Increase. REI Membership paid for.
REI additionally leads wonderful journeys everywhere in 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 suitable gear, REI additionally helps you preserve and tune up your gear in-store.
Do you know most REI shops have full bike and ski outlets 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 strive a brand new outside exercise however don’t need to commit to purchasing all the suitable gear? Touring out of state for an journey and don’t need to fly with all of your gear? You’ll be able to hire gear from REI for all kinds of actions like backpacking, canoeing, climbing, biking, and snowshoeing.
Don’t have a motorcycle 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 Open air
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 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 perhaps 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 almost 70% of its earnings to its non-profit companions for outside stewardship initiatives going proper again into the outside group. And as REI grows, their contributions do too.
By being an REI Member, you might be giving again and having a direct optimistic influence on the paths and parks in your group. 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’ll be able to see a full record of companions and REI’s 2022 Impression report right here. Have a look, and there’s a great probability you may acknowledge a corporation 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 alternate for REI reward playing cards by means of their Re/Provide program – what an incredible 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 could possibly obtain as much as 50% of the retail worth.
The very best half? You’ll be able to 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 in addition cut 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 presents, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and extra superior offers on gear. You will discover 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 outside areas that all of us get pleasure from.
Plus, they’ve a powerful concentrate on enhancing and uplifting their fellow outside lovers by staying dedicated to protecting the outside a various and stage taking part in area 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, folks of colour 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 not too long ago, REI and Out of doors Afro Inc. launched a mountaineering assortment to “rejoice Black pleasure in nature” and “assist clear up unmet wants in outside attire.”
Moreover, REI introduced its determination to ban hazardous chemical substances 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 should buy issues at REI in-store and on-line and not using 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 mates. That means, it’s yours and yours solely. Nevertheless, in my expertise, I haven’t had a problem with my accomplice 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 good friend) and make the most of the opposite advantages.
Do REI Memberships expire?
No. Not like many memberships that you have to renew yr after yr, REI Memberships are for all times. So, it’s a one-time price for a lifetime membership.
Sure. The date will likely be listed in your Rewards notification. Typically, they expire about in early January, rather less than two years after you earned them.
On the lookout for 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! You probably have any questions on REI’s membership program tell us under!
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