I grew to become an REI member 17 years in the past proper once I completed school and determined I wished to get extra into tenting. I keep 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. Luckily I purchased it at REI and so they have the very best 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 annual dividend, their no-questions-asked return coverage, 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 develop into an REI Member.
I even determined to get a part-time gig at REI in 2014 once I was first beginning Bearfoot Theory and I couldn’t imagine they gave me three weeks off to go hike the John Muir Trail – 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 preserve me coming again in any case of those years.
Sponsored by REI Co-op
REI Co-op is our favourite out of doors gear retailer and a long-time supporter of our work right here at Bearfoot Theory. 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 really love and assume you’ll love too.
How the REI Membership Works
A lifetime REI Membership prices $30. It’s a one-time charge and when you’re in, you’re in endlessly. You can buy a membership on-line or at any REI retailer.
This lifetime membership charge rapidly pays for itself, so even for those who’re solely an occasional REI shopper, turning into a Member will prevent cash and the advantages simply outweigh the one-time charge.
Why Become a Member?
REI is an business chief relating to top-quality, name-brand, and eco-friendly out of doors gear. They even have an enormous 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 deal with their workers properly.
For these causes and extra, REI is strictly the type of firm I like to assist – one which helps getting all folks exterior and instructing them 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 high of the prevailing perks). We can’t stress sufficient how nice turning into a Member is!
12 Great REI Member Benefits
1) Get 10% Back on Your Purchases With Your Annual Dividend
Every 12 months in March, REI Members get 10% again on every part they’ve bought over the previous 12 months, excluding sale objects and REI journey, courses, and adventures.
This dividend 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% dividend, it’s like getting a sale value on each buy you make from REI!
My REI Member dividend was $137 final 12 months. Every 12 months I look ahead to this, particularly as we head into summer time as a result of there may be often some new piece of drugs I’ve been eyeing.
This 12 months, I’m out there for a brand new automobile tenting sleeping pad and can probably use my dividend in direction of this tremendous comfortable Hest sleeping pad system.
2) REI Member-Only Coupons
Throughout the 12 months, REI has a lot of gross sales, and through these gross sales, they provide further reductions to Members.
Typically 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 primarily based on the sale.
The better part? These particular coupons are given to Members all all year long, not simply as soon as.
If you’ve been saving for a giant ticket merchandise, like REI’s Half Dome 2 Tent, 20% off saves you $66. That’s gasoline cash on your subsequent weekend street journey!
3) REI’s Return Policy
I already talked about REI’s superior return coverage, however mainly, you will have 1 12 months from the date of buy to return one thing if it’s not figuring out.
This doesn’t imply you should use and abuse your gear and return it 364 days later, but it surely does imply that for those who take these new climbing 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 accomplice, and your canine in your first in a single day outing? You can return that too and get one thing that works for you.
This return coverage applies to all REI customers, each Members and non-Members, however the advantage of being a Member is you don’t need to have a receipt. You can present up with the merchandise and so they can search for your buy historical past along with your telephone quantity – simple peasy and also you don’t have to fret about hanging on to your receipts.
4) REI Members Get Free Standard Shipping
New as of 2022, REI Members get free customary delivery on all REI.com purchases with no minimal buy required!
This is a big perk and makes purchasing on-line fast and straightforward. Just take into consideration how a lot cash you’ll save on delivery prices – this alone makes the $30 lifetime membership so price it.
5) Member-Only Garage Sales
So what does REI do with all that lightly used stuff that will get returned? They promote it at their Members Only Garage Sales and now on their used gear website the place you may rating ridiculously good offers.
In the previous, REI Garage Sales occurred on sure weekends all year long however attributable to their reputation, some REI shops now have a Garage Sale part of the shop that’s at all times rotating and at all times open to buy. Call your native retailer to find out about their Garage Sales.
Buying used out of doors gear can be nice for our planet contemplating the influence new gear and attire have – we love supporting manufacturers which can be advocates for secondhand gear!
6) Save on REI Classes & Trips
Did you recognize REI gives a ton of various courses? From backcountry navigation to bike upkeep, camp cooking, and full-blown Wilderness First Aid programs, REI courses are a good way to enhance your out of doors ability set.
Some courses are even free, just like the John Muir Trail course I taught a few years again on the Henderson retailer. For the fee-based courses, REI Members save $20-30 off the record value. Boom. REI Membership paid for.
REI additionally leads superb journeys all around the USA – from their Yellowstone and Grand Teton Hiking and Camping journey to their guided backpacking journey alongside California’s Lost Coast.
Members get a hefty low cost on these journeys too and also you additionally get to fulfill different superb Co-op members.
7) In-Store Service Discounts
Beyond serving to you buy the appropriate gear, REI additionally helps you preserve and tune up your gear in-store.
Did you recognize most REI shops have full bike and ski retailers in-house? Even higher: Starting in 2022, members get 20% off these companies, plus free cycle flat tire restore and machine wax.
8) Discounts on Gear Rental
Want to attempt a brand new out of doors exercise however don’t wish to commit to purchasing all the appropriate gear? Traveling out of state for an journey and don’t wish to fly with all of your gear? You can lease gear from REI for all types of actions like backpacking, canoeing, climbing, biking, and snowshoeing.
Don’t have a motorcycle rack or a roof rack? REI rents these too. Although anybody can lease gear from REI, REI Members save as much as 33% off all gear leases.
9) Your Membership Gives Back to the Outdoors
In 2021 alone, REI gave $7.1 million to assist over 450 non-profit organizations. That means your membership and purchases are price extra than simply the gear you purchase.
Through 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 direction of a more healthy, wilder, and higher future for everybody.
In whole, since 1976 REI has donated greater than 70% of its income to its non-profit companions for out of doors stewardship tasks going proper again into the out of doors group. 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 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 Action Fund for each new Member. This fund helps provide grants to nonprofits that promote justice, fairness, and belonging within the outdoor.
You can see a full record of companions and REI’s full giving report right here. Take a glance, and there’s a very good probability you would possibly acknowledge a corporation or two in your city.
10) You Can Trade-In Your Used Gear
REI Co-op Members can commerce in gently used out of doors gear in alternate for REI reward playing cards by means of their Re/Supply program – what an incredible perk! REI accepts gently used gear that REI has bought previously 6 years together with most males’s, girls’s, and children’ clothes and sneakers, in addition to gear like sleeping luggage, backpacks, and tents – you might obtain as much as 50% of the retail worth.
The better part? You can commerce in gear that you just didn’t even purchase from REI (so long as REI additionally carries that product, in fact).
This will not be solely a good 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 Access to New Gear + Exclusive Gear
Co-op members obtain early entry, restricted editions, particular gives, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and extra superior offers on gear. You can discover these offers on their Members Collection 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 possibility.
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 get pleasure from.
Plus, they’ve a robust concentrate on enhancing and uplifting their fellow out of doors fans by staying dedicated to maintaining the outside a various and degree enjoying subject that welcomes everybody simply as they’re.
And they put their cash the place their mouth is. For instance, in 2020 REI donated $100,000 every to the National Urban League and to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, historic civil rights and advocacy organizations that work to battle injustice and inequality. As we all know, folks of colour have totally different experiences within the outdoor and it’s our job to be allies to all who want to benefit from the outdoor.
Looking for nice gear to buy along with your new REI membership? Check out our hottest gear posts:
Are you an REI member? If so, tell us within the feedback what your favourite member profit is! If you will have any questions on REI’s membership program tell us beneath!
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