# I was driving by REI and got an email saying they had a package for me **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766 "2020-02-11T13:30:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/1 "2020-02-11T13:30:07Z")
What are the odds of that? I plan to buy lottery tickets. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/2 "2020-02-11T13:55:27Z")
“[REI operates 158 retail stores in 37 states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_Equipment,_Inc.)”… Most of just read the subject and wondered what the hell “REI” is. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/3 "2020-02-11T14:04:10Z")
I thought REI were pretty well known. They are well known among people who kayak,camp,hike, climb etc. Maybe not well known by city slickers. 🙂 And just a few minutes ago I was driving to a dog training place and they emailed me while I was in the car. up until recently REI guaranteed every item for life. Now it’s just 1 year. So people said it meant Rent Every Item. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/4 "2020-02-11T14:30:34Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I thought REI were pretty well known. They are well known by all the people I want to know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/5 "2020-02-11T14:39:24Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I thought REI were pretty well known. 158 stores in 37 states isn’t very much. Having said that, I’m suprised [to see that](https://www.rei.com/map/store) there is one only 11 miles from my zip code (the next two closest, 51 miles and 77 miles.) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/6 "2020-02-11T14:50:28Z")
REI does very little advertising. Never seen a REI TV ad, they run radio ads now and then, mostly for sales. Mostly they email their 17 million members with ads. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/7 "2020-02-11T15:07:08Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > They are well known by all the people I want to know. 🙂 Yep. I live in the NW where REI started so they are very well known. I was able to attend a presentation by Jim Whittaker many years ago that was fantastic. At the time, I was big into mountaineering and had the knees to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/8 "2020-02-11T15:41:49Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I thought REI were pretty well known. I would have thought so as well. I’ve never been in one, but I know of its existence. Seem to show up quite a bit in crosswords, so maybe that’s why I thought they were pretty well known. I do know one of the malls here (Oakbrook Terrace) has one, so I was familiar with it from that, as well. That Wikipedia page is slightly out-of-date. Not that it matters much, but they’re in 39 states plus DC, and 161 stores, according to the store map on their website. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/9 "2020-02-11T16:02:40Z")
they only expanded to east coast in the early 90s. They opened their store here in 92 and Jim Whittaker gave a talk and proceeds went to the local Sierra club chapter. they also mail sales catalogs to members. And for a one time fee of $20 you get around 10% of what you spend back every year. They are a co-op so all the profits go back to the members. I normally get at least $50 back a year. You don’t get the rebate on sale items ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/10 "2020-02-11T16:13:27Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I thought REI were pretty well known. They are well known among people who kayak,camp,hike, climb etc. Maybe not well known by city slickers. The flagship REI store is in downtown Seattle. Other flagship stores are in New York City and Washington DC. They wouldn’t put the stores there if “city slickers” didn’t buy their stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/11 "2020-02-11T16:14:41Z")
city slickers thing was a joke 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/12 "2020-02-11T16:25:16Z")
My sister went to Evergreen State (WA) in the 1970’s; when I visited her she took me shopping at the (only) REI store. At that time it was a funky little store with a new ethos for those days: gear for wilderness sports that do not require motors. Believe me, that was a novel concept. My sister led Sierra Club and Outward Bound trips at that time so it was already part of her world. I became a member then, and am to this day. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/13 "2020-02-11T18:09:21Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > What are the odds of that? You might want to consider getting the tracking chip surgically removed. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/14 "2020-02-11T18:15:16Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I thought REI were pretty well known. They are. I don’t know why the first response started this hijack. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/15 "2020-02-11T18:18:13Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > “[REI operates 158 retail stores in 37 states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_Equipment,_Inc.)”… > > Most of just read the subject and wondered what the hell “REI” is. It’s like Patagonia or North Face except less hippie than the former and less 20-something white girl than the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/16 "2020-02-11T18:34:07Z")
their REI branded clothing items are less expensive than Patagonia, North Face, etc. but the quality is about the same. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/17 "2020-02-11T20:09:22Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > up until recently REI guaranteed every item for life. Now it’s just 1 year. So people said it meant Rent Every Item. It’s not so recently; almost [7 years](https://www.dailyemerald.com/news/rei-changes-famous-return-policy-limiting-lifetime-warranty-to-one/article_80c22bbc-db39-5ca8-a2f2-6db4ade9c849.html) now. I had a bicycle floor pump that the bushing/o-ring/washer that held the inner tube’s valve stem wore out. I took it out & went to REI to see if they had replacement parts. The long-time, full-time employee stated that they didn’t & I should just warranty it for a new one. Ummm, okay. I went home, got the pump & brought it in; the guy who went to do the exchange was a bit incredulous given it was a number of years old but I was like, “Hey, it’s _your_ cow-orker who suggested I do this when I came in to purchase replacement parts.” Got a new(er) one, which I still have, all for a 50¢ piece. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/18 "2020-02-11T20:48:52Z")
Why would you be looking at your email while driving?:eek: ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/19 "2020-02-11T21:00:15Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > You might want to consider getting the tracking chip surgically removed. That “tracking chip” is the GPS unit plus some (Google?) software in your smart phone. Yes, I know you were joking (and probably the OP was as well), but some people may not realize this is a real phenomenon. We’ve had threads on this before. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766/20 "2020-02-11T21:44:13Z")
Within a retail store, [customers can be tracked via Bluetooth](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html) (paywall warning). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-driving-by-rei-and-got-an-email-saying-they-had-a-package-for-me/847766.md?page=2)