We stumbled across the REI Scratch and Dent sale a year ago. It's their regular purge of all their returned products, complete with reason for return written on each item. Many items are incorrect sizes, have a broken piece or were "worn twice, but couldn't break-in"; but there are always items that have a surprising story behind the return.Last year's favorite? A cycling jersey covered with snags -- snags everywhere...reason for return: washed with velcro.
This year's Best Of was on a well-worn pair of hiking boots -- reason for return: wore for six years, GoreTex quit working.
I scored a great pair of hiking/backpacking boots that retail for $180, leather, waterproof, Vibram soles, mine for $30 $30! -- reason for return: wore three times, too small. They were returned without the insoles, which was the reason for the so-low price tag. I can live with that.
- The Bag loves a deal
5 comments:
OB, you're speaking to a sister. I want the good goods and I refuse to pay full retail for anything. Good for you, the beautiful boots! My Vasque hiking boots, given to me as a gift, are from the era when they were still made in Italy (not China). Some woman bought a size too small and wore them exactly once. I've put plenty of miles on them and they will serve me for years. By the way, Cabelas does a similar sale, and there are wonderful bargains to be found the next time you go to Phoenix.
A couple of years ago I scored a beautiful, beautiful sweater that retailed for $180 for $10. I coveted it for myself, but alas, it fit my sister better. It was fun to be able to give her such a lovely gift. And gee...I think I've been going about things all wrong--if I wash something that snags easily with velcro I blame myself, not the store! Who could return such an item with a straight face??
I don't get it either, and can't believe people would have the nerve to return items like that...on the other hand, I can't believe the store would accept such returns: wore for six years?!?
As an REI member for more than 30 years, I love the good deals occasionally found in "the attic" as it's called at our local store. But I'm sort of aghast at their too-liberal returns policy. Half the stuff I see there has been returned because it's nearly worn out from hard use.
We live close enough to their flagship store in Seattle that we stop by every now and then. Their basement is always full of scratch and dent items. Jenny got a new pair of merrell hiking boots for $15 once. Score. That's also where I got my bike trainer. Someone returned it because they couldn't figure out how to put it together.
Post a Comment