Sometimes I'm just nosy...

[HoneyBBQ]

I was in REI the other day (why did I think Memorial day weekend was a good time) returning some gifts from my mother and the line for customer service was insssssssssssssane.

So to pass the time I was just watching the people ahead of me.... watching them exchange stuff or returning things. Most people had one or two items, etc.

Then the woman next to me pulled out 2 huge bags of clothing items. They were ringing up pant after pant and shirt after shirt. Now... some websites give free shipping and returns so sometimes I'll order 2 of one thing if I'm between sizes and figure out what fits better and return the other.

But--This woman's return total was over $900 when I was done returning my items... and she was still going!!

What the heck was this person doing? There was a HUGE pile of clothes I could hardly see the register. Did she try to clothe a whole town of adults with zip off quick dry pants? Did she accidentally order 10 items instead of 1? What gives? What was this person up to? LOL. 

I just wonder. People are weird. Especially REI - Seattle people!! 

[ArchietheDragon]

returning stolen goods?

[giramomma]

I dunno.
We went to REI on Monday. The check out line wrapped half way around the store. Just for saving 20% of Keens.

Maybe the trip she was going on got cancelled..

Were they women's clothes?

I've resorted to buying a metric crap ton of things for my kids and then returning what doesn't fit. Because clothes shopping with three kids, including a three year old, is one of the Levels of Hell Dante forgot to write about.

[Lizard Queen]

My ex-SIL explained to me once how her sister had a spending problem (and bipolar as well).  When she shopped, she'd just throw just a ton of clothes in her shopping basket.  Then when she ran out of money, then look for clothes she could return to the store in order to pay bills. 

[HoneyBBQ]

May 28, 2015 11:17:50 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

returning stolen goods?

She seemed to have receipts... 

[Abby Normal]

May 28, 2015 11:25:37 GMT -5 giramomma said:

I dunno.
We went to REI on Monday. The check out line wrapped half way around the store. Just for saving 20% of Keens.

Maybe the trip she was going on got cancelled..

Were they women's clothes?

I've resorted to buying a metric crap ton of things for my kids and then returning what doesn't fit. Because clothes shopping with three kids, including a three year old is one of the Levels of Hell Dante forgot to write about.

We were at REI the other weekend (when the sale started). It was crazy.  In the end, they didn't have DS's size and we ordered on line.  

Levels of Hell Dante forgot to write about  

[HoneyBBQ]

May 28, 2015 11:25:37 GMT -5 giramomma said:

I dunno.
We went to REI on Monday. The check out line wrapped half way around the store. Just for saving 20% of Keens.

Maybe the trip she was going on got cancelled..

Were they women's clothes?

I've resorted to buying a metric crap ton of things for my kids and then returning what doesn't fit. Because clothes shopping with three kids, including a three year old, is one of the Levels of Hell Dante forgot to write about.

They at least appeared to be adult's clothing. Who can tell men's v women's - especially with khaki and green hiking gear!

The trick for the check out line is to ask really nicely in the 'section' you are in for them to check you out at that register. I checked out in the bike section because I got my daughter a new helmet (after I waited in the customer service line). 

And thank God I was alone!!! Yeah, the 3 year old thinks she's in a park or playground when we're in there... and I think "Hey, this is MY playground!"

[Opti]

May 28, 2015 11:28:09 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

May 28, 2015 11:17:50 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

returning stolen goods?

She seemed to have receipts... 

Sometimes it is people using clothes for shooting films. They use them and then return.

[shanendoah]

My guess is she had started dating a guy who was really into outdoor stuff, so she went and bought all the trappings. And then they broke up because they probably didn't actually have anything in common, so now she's returning stuff.

I try not to bad mouth REI people too badly, because Firebird and her hubby are kind of REI people - seriously, I bought their wedding gift from their REI registry.

[HoneyBBQ]

LOL. Don't get me wrong. I love REI. But I actually use the equipment I buy there.

[ArchietheDragon]

May 28, 2015 11:36:57 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

I try not to bad mouth REI people too badly, because Firebird and her hubby are kind of REI people - seriously, I bought their wedding gift from their REI registry.

that explains a lot.    

[Deleted]

Not nosy enough since you didn't go over and ask her WTF?

[shanendoah]

May 28, 2015 12:18:44 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

I find this store odd.   I went in looking for a camping pan.  I explained to the sales guy that I was not backpacking,  I didn't care about weight,  I was only going to a KOA site,  I just needed a cheap pan. 

What do you think he showed me first.  Yep... the "Titanium Multi Compact Cookset"   for $100. 

I explained 4 different times what I needed and finally gave up.  I ended up taking my worst pan from home and dubbing it the camping fry pan. 

This is REI. That's likely the cheapest set they had... 

[HoneyBBQ]

May 28, 2015 12:18:44 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

I find this store odd.   I went in looking for a camping pan.  I explained to the sales guy that I was not backpacking,  I didn't care about weight,  I was only going to a KOA site,  I just needed a cheap pan. 

What do you think he showed me first.  Yep... the "Titanium Multi Compact Cookset"   for $100. 

I explained 4 different times what I needed and finally gave up.  I ended up taking my worst pan from home and dubbing it the camping fry pan. 

Try a Coleman store. Actually... my car camping pan IS my old kitchen one. Or cast iron is great, too.

REI is .... and acquired taste and budget lol.


Just saw Optimizing beat me to the cast iron pan suggestion. It is seriously awesome. 

[busymom]

I used to work at a major retailer, where a couple of our customers had SERIOUS shopping addictions.  These women were buying 100's of dollars of clothing each time they came in, & then they'd come back and return 99% of what was on their receipts. I don't know if they had husbands who told them to "take it back", or if they had shopper's remorse after they arrived home, but they were a huge waste of time for our employees. Someone has to check all of that merchandise for flaws, someone has to retag some of it, & then it has to be sent back to the proper departments. Major PITA!

[CarolinaKat]

May 28, 2015 11:36:57 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

My guess is she had started dating a guy who was really into outdoor stuff, so she went and bought all the trappings. And then they broke up because they probably didn't actually have anything in common, so now she's returning stuff.

I try not to bad mouth REI people too badly, because Firebird and her hubby are kind of REI people - seriously, I bought their wedding gift from their REI registry.

Hey! We got some presents from REI (although we weren't registered there).

[tskeeter]

May 28, 2015 12:18:44 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

I find this store odd.   I went in looking for a camping pan.  I explained to the sales guy that I was not backpacking,  I didn't care about weight,  I was only going to a KOA site,  I just needed a cheap pan. 

What do you think he showed me first.  Yep... the "Titanium Multi Compact Cookset"   for $100. 

I explained 4 different times what I needed and finally gave up.  I ended up taking my worst pan from home and dubbing it the camping fry pan. 

If you want dedicated camping cookware, you might want to check out your nearest restaurant supply store.  The commercial quality cookware they sell is often surprisingly cheap, yet very durable.  One of the last things I bought was a half dozen half sheet pans.  About $20 each at places like BB&B, etc.  About $5 - $6 at one of our local restaurant supply houses. 

Something to think about including in your camping cookware is a pair of tongs.  These are usually availble at major retailers in about 9 inch length.  Restaurant supply houses have them in a wide variety of lengths, from about 6 inches to about 16 inches.  And they are really heavy duty compared to a lot of the stuff you usually see.  Since campground cooking is often done over heat sources that are not as contained as a burner on a stove, longer tongs are often nice to have.  Longer tongs are helpful in the kitchen, too.  A friend has asked me to pick up a pair of longer than normal tongs for her to use when browning meat.  To keep her hands away from those hot spatters of grease as she turns the meat to brown the other side.   

[cktc]

May 28, 2015 13:03:21 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

May 28, 2015 12:18:44 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

I find this store odd.   I went in looking for a camping pan.  I explained to the sales guy that I was not backpacking,  I didn't care about weight,  I was only going to a KOA site,  I just needed a cheap pan. 

What do you think he showed me first.  Yep... the "Titanium Multi Compact Cookset"   for $100. 

I explained 4 different times what I needed and finally gave up.  I ended up taking my worst pan from home and dubbing it the camping fry pan. 

Try a Coleman store. Actually... my car camping pan IS my old kitchen one. Or cast iron is great, too.

REI is .... and acquired taste and budget lol.


Just saw Optimizing beat me to the cast iron pan suggestion. It is seriously awesome. 

I like to shop REI to figure out the quality brands/trends then go online to price shop and find last seasons models. Their packs and shoes are generally pretty in line with other retailers, and I think those items are worth the splurge.

[HoneyBBQ]

Oh, don't get me wrong cktc, there are things I spend a lot of money on in an very un-YMish fashion. But there's also stuff you don't NEED to spend all that money on. Especially if you are 'just' car camping, where space and ounces don't mean so much.

The other thing I really love about REI is that they actually know and understand the equipment they are selling. And they have great ways to test the equipment, too. I'm surprised Sroo had such trouble with the rep they were talking to. 

For instance, I bought a Deuter (250?$) toddler carrier. They have teddy bears they've filled with sand so you can haul around some weight and see how you like the carrier when it's actually weighed down. It's simple and genius and it works!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

But--This woman's return total was over $900 when I was done returning my items... and she was still going!!

What the heck was this person doing? There was a HUGE pile of clothes I could hardly see the register. Did she try to clothe a whole town of adults with zip off quick dry pants? Did she accidentally order 10 items instead of 1? What gives? What was this person up to? LOL.


I was looking for a dress for a wedding that I was going to and I had a very short time to find it.  I had gone out several weekends in town, but couldn't find anything.

I finally went online and ordered 27 dresses from Talbots, Macy's and Nordstroms.  Talbots and Macy's, I returned to the store.  Nordstrom's I had to send back (but I kept one).  My return to Talbots was over $1500, Macy's $1000.  Nordstroms nearly $3000.


My credit card got whiplash...... 

ETA:  When I got out of the hospital, nothing fit me (I lost about 40 lbs in 6 weeks) and I was clueless as to what size I could wear (plus I had some issues as to what I COULD wear due to swelling/pain).  I did the same thing then, essentially bringing the store to me and returning the stuff that didn't fit.  I only kept about 1/4 of what I bought and I spent over $2500 that month.

[Cass]

I once worked a return desk at a retail store.  A woman came in one day with two bags of product, all ours but some very old.  Like before bar codes old.

So as I'm struggling to get the system to recognize the stuff, the truth comes out:  her mother died and she just cleaned out her closets

[MJ2.0]

REI: where upper middle class people shop  when they want to camp, but not get too dirty... or sleep on the ground... or rough it in any fashion.

[giramomma]

Other places for *good* camping gear: Garage sales/craigslist

DH just bought the girls sleeping bags at a garage sale. He said they looked barely worn. They had the REI label. He thought they were $60ish each brand new. He paid $30 for two sleeping bags.

We bought DS a nice down sleeping bag off craigslist. We paid $40 for it, and it's lasted 7 years.

We also get good quality outwear for our kids there. Generally we buy on clearance. And then we use our dividends..so, *free*.

I had issues when we bought the backpack carrier for DS when he was a baby. I think we paid more for that than his crib. That has held up nicely through three kids. I don't really think there are too many signs of wear, actually.

[HoneyBBQ]

May 28, 2015 13:41:49 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

REI: where upper middle class people shop  when they want to camp, but not get too dirty... or sleep on the ground... or rough it in any fashion.

Hah. That's what most people do (quasi-roughing it). I've been doing a lot of quasi-roughing it myself since DD was born. But I also have been "hard core in the mountains not showered for a week" type person and hope to return to that soon when DD is a little older.

REI also has top-of-the-line equipment with good sales and a good stand-behind-the-product policy that I appreciate. 

[giramomma]

May 28, 2015 13:55:25 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

Just for saving 20% of Keens.

Zulily has sales on Keens every now and then.  I buy them for DS half off and stock up on future sizes.

I wouldn't mind doing that, but DS *just* announced he was no longer into Keens, and DD1's feet grew quite a bit. Last years' shoes were a size 1. This year, size 3. My days of stocking up are long gone.

[NancysSummerSip]

May 28, 2015 11:28:09 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

May 28, 2015 11:17:50 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

returning stolen goods?

She seemed to have receipts... 

Might not have been receipts for what she actually returned, though. She could be working in cahoots with someone in the store, returning stolen merchandise, getting the cash with faked receipts and splitting the money with someone else who works there. This is a fairly common scam that happens around here. One person who works at the store will pass merchandise to someone who doesn't, along with some real store receipts (not for those items, just receipts from other returned items) and the receiver will return the goods, receipts in hand. It looks good to whomever is watching (including those pesky store cameras) but it's money walking out the door.

[Deleted]

Ok, I'm not from your area of the country. Is REI the name of a store? Is it like Bass Pro Shop or something?

[CarolinaKat]

May 28, 2015 15:30:53 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Ok, I'm not from your area of the country. Is REI the name of a store? Is it like Bass Pro Shop or something?

www.rei.com/

Camping/outdoor sport type store.... not so much fishing and tackle

[Bonny]

May 28, 2015 15:30:53 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Ok, I'm not from your area of the country. Is REI the name of a store? Is it like Bass Pro Shop or something?

I think it's still mostly a "West" store. Based in Seattle.

Kind of nice in that it's more of a membership co-op where you get a "dividend" check based on a % of the full-priced merchandise you buy.

And they are fantastic about taking back returns.

[CarolinaKat]

May 28, 2015 18:17:40 GMT -5 Bonny said:

May 28, 2015 15:30:53 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Ok, I'm not from your area of the country. Is REI the name of a store? Is it like Bass Pro Shop or something?

I think it's still mostly a "West" store. Based in Seattle.

Kind of nice in that it's more of a membership co-op where you get a "dividend" check based on a % of the full-priced merchandise you buy.

And they are fantastic about taking back returns.

Well I'm East Coast. Dad has been using REI gear since he was in college. A lot of it still works.