REI return policy

I just happened to be in REI Tacoma today to return a rope (7 years old and it soaks up water like a sponge) and I had to really work hard to get them to even give me a store credit.

Seriously?

I just happened to be in REI Tacoma today to return a rope (7 years old and it soaks up water like a sponge) and I had to really work hard to get them to even give me a store credit. I finally had to ask what was going on and the clerk told me of the policy change. I argued that there was a full return policy when I bought the rope and that seemed to work.
Be prepared to  do your best Perry Mason the next time you need to return something!

I've only used the full refund policy a few times in my REI world since 1978, but got to say 7 years on a rope and you still havent gotten your money's worth? Only recently with a few broken bike frames has made me take "advantage" of the return policy...What I read about the new policy makes it sound like "real" folks will still be able to return items that dont hold up "forever"....

If you ever go to their garage sales, its pretty clear why they changed the policy.

Sometimes I read the tags for amusement, like the base layer that was "7 years old, can't wash the stink out of it"

If something's 7 years old, you have no right returning it period. That's how it goes though...

I'm a believer that sometimes you have to fire your bad customers in order to take better care of your good customers and I think that is what REI has done here. I'm pretty sure that the small independents have little interest in selling gear to folks that want their money back after years of hard use.

Really, folks???  Anyone who thinks a one-year return policy is not reasonable and fair needs to move to another planet.

Sure it's not what it was, but then in the world of commerce what is?

Let's be clear. This has nothing to do with whether it is right or wrong to return something that you have had for seven years. REI implemented their generous ( and unsustainable) return policy to attract customers who prefer the return option to a low purchase price.  The reason I shopped at REI was because of the return policy. I don't blame them a bit for changing the policy but I believe they may still be on the hook to accept returns for items that were purchased before the recent policy change.