# What are you getting with your REI dividend? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 13, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427 "2002-04-13T12:23:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/1 "2002-04-13T12:23:00Z")
Last year I used my REI dividend to get a new pair of Vasque hiking boots. The year before that I got a Yakima rack for the Jeep. The year before that (or maybe the previous year) I bought Vasque hiking boots. So what will you/did you use your REI dividend for? ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Spider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Barking\_Spider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Spider)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/2 "2002-04-13T19:46:36Z")
OK, I have to ask, what is an REI dividend? Is that like a tax refund check? ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/3 "2002-04-13T20:12:46Z")
[REI](http://www.rei.com) is an outdoor equipment store in the U.S., where you can buy all sorts of camping, hiking, backpacking, rafting, rock climbing, etc., gear – for relatively cheap. If you sign up as a member, REI sends you a refund for 10% of your full-priced purchases every year. You can use it in-store, or wait for them to mail you a check (the Canadian equivalent is [MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op)](http://www.mec.ca). ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/4 "2002-04-13T20:16:45Z")
REI is a chain of stores selling outdoor-sports gear. Anyone can shop there, but if you become a [member](http://www.rei.com/reihtml/help/membership.html), you’ll receive an annual refund based on your purchases from the previous year. You also get to vote for their board of direcotrs, so yeah, it’s like a tax refund check for the Republic of REI. Damn, Johnny, you must spend serious money there. I get enough back this year to buy some socks. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/5 "2002-04-13T22:59:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Damn, Johnny, you must spend serious money there. I get enough back this year to buy some socks. Actually, I rack up most of my dividend elsewhere. I signed up for the REI MasterCard (which they discontinued and replaced with Visa a couple of months ago) and I get 1% back on all of my non-REI purchases. This year’s dividend is $236.54, but I don’t know what I should get. I already have two tents, three sleeping bags, a stove and a backpack. The backpack is army-surplus, so I suppose I could get a Kelty or REI pack. Or maybe a Coleman two-burner stove for car camping. I’d put it toward a kayak or a bicycle, but I’m not in Washington yet. I’d like to get some new skis, but they don’t carry Kneissl. I suppose I could always wait until July and just redeem it for cash. All in all, I think I’ve had a pretty good return on my $10 investment I made back in 1983. > [@](#): > > gear – for relatively cheap. Well, _some_ of their stuff is relatively cheap. REI brand gear is excellent quality and is generally less expensive than other well-known brands. I could have got a better REI tent than the on-sale North Face I ended up with, for a little less money. Oh well; live and learn. And I got a pretty good deal on that Yakima rack system (20% off). But for some of the stuff you’ll pay the same as anywhere else. The best thing is that using the REI credit card amounts to “free money”. I mean, I have to pay for stuff with _something_; why not get a nice cheque after the new year? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/6 "2002-04-13T23:04:52Z")
Oh – my $10 investment now costs $15. But it’s a one-time fee and it’s paid for itself over and over and over again. My best **fiend** joined before I did, then didn’t buy anything there for 10 or 15 years. He called them up and was issued a new membership card with no hassle. (I still have my old brown-printed card, but there’s no need to use it since the member number is on the Vida.) Dang! I haven’t been hiking since last summer on Quarda Island! I’m going to have to move north soon… ---
**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:** [April 14, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/7 "2002-04-14T01:13:45Z")
Spent it on some random stuff last time I was there. It didn’t amount to much, only $25 or so for two reasons. One, I have pretty much all the gear I need. Two, I only buy stuff on sale anymore and that doesn’t get a refund. ---
**Author:** ![smaft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@smaft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaft)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/8 "2002-04-15T17:25:22Z")
My dividend check was in the amount of… $4.38. That’s not enough for one sock, let alone a pair. Hey, give me a break- I joined last fall. It’ll be more a lot more this year, at the rate I’m going. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/9 "2002-04-15T17:47:49Z")
Mine was just under $50… (Bought a GPS last year.) Let’s see… (looks in closet…) I’ve got 2 sleeping bags, 2 tents, 5 packs (don’t ask), 2 hydration systems, 2 filters, camp stove, hiking pole, boots, trail runners, teva’s, climbing harness, ATC, climbing shoes and more random backpacking gear than I can list. Oh yeah, (opens drawer) 8 pair of socks. I have no idea what I’m going to spend mine on yet. Was actually at the store the day before yesterday but only picked up a new trail guide. First backpack for this year is May 4 so I’ll probably spend it between now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/10 "2002-04-15T22:14:19Z")
I’m not certain I’ll be getting one at all this year- I don’t think I bought anything at REI last year at all. A shame, 'cause I LOVE the feeling of going to REI, knowing I can buy something guilt-free. What a dangerous store that is… ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/11 "2002-04-15T22:44:11Z")
My dividend was about $55. I got a new Leatherman Micra (had my last one confiscated at the airport last time I flew. Meh. The scissors needed sharpening anyway.) and a pair of microfiber hiking shorts for Mrs K. I do most of my outdoor shopping at [Sierra Trading Post](http://www.sierratradingpost.com). They don’t always have everything, but what they do have is usually good quality and often deeply discounted. I got a North Face tent there a few years ago for 50% off. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/12 "2002-04-15T22:52:18Z")
Saved $5.68 on a bunch of rock-climbing equipment. Whoo-hoo!! ---
**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:** [April 16, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/13 "2002-04-16T03:46:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tanstaafl \* > \*\*Let’s see… (looks in closet…) I’ve got 2 sleeping bags, 2 tents, 5 packs (don’t ask), 2 hydration systems, 2 filters, camp stove, hiking pole, boots, trail runners, teva’s, climbing harness, ATC, climbing shoes and more random backpacking gear than I can list. Oh yeah, (opens drawer) 8 pair of socks. > \*\* So, ya wanna play that game, do ya? (Probably not, but what the heck…) I’ve got 3 sleeping bags, 3 tents, 7 packs (plus a few fanny packs), 7 pairs of skis, 6 pairs of ski boots, 2 sleeping pads, 3 bikes, 6 pair of ski poles (don’t ask), 2 pair of snowshoes, 6 pair of hiking boots, and lord knows what else. Gee, looking at the list, that’s pretty depressing. Oh well, time to buy more gear I guess… ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/14 "2002-04-16T03:54:07Z")
never really get a dividend because im a cheap yankee and wont buy anything unless its on sale. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/15 "2002-04-16T04:34:26Z")
Oh goody! The gear game! As far as whitewater boats, I’ve got you all beat. Our garage contains: 3 standard whitewater kayaks 1 whitewater sit-on-top 1 Aire inflatable kayak 1 Aire raft 1 Aire cataraft and one raft frame that is about to be traded for 2 C-1s. And all the accessories needed for the above boats, including enough PFDs, helmets, paddles, etc. for a full load of people on the raft. And a 19-foot Grumman canoe that does not belong to us. As far as the general lists of outdoor gear above, I’m right there with ya. I just realized that we have 8 sleeping pads. Yikes! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/16 "2002-04-16T04:37:54Z")
Oh, and to answer the question–there are no REIs around here, so I don’t shop there often. We are members, though. We both work in the outdoor industry, so we never pay full-price for anything anyway. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-getting-with-your-rei-dividend/103427/17 "2002-04-16T05:43:56Z")
I did most of my shopping at I. Goldberg’s in Cherry Hill until they closed. I used my scant first-year dividend to reduce the price of 3 pair of Gramicci pants. They rule. I’d like to get a Gore-Tex parka this year. Chrome