Ok, let’s talk. REI isn’t always the cheapest outdoor store in the world, but there return policy rivals all of them. They have a 100% satisfaction rating & it’s a co-op. So this means that if we pay a one time lifetime membership (it’s like twenty bucks), then we “own” the place. If we buy something and for ANY REASON we don’t like it, we return it. It’s like sticking an ugly shirt back in your closet that you thought was cool that one dumb night. So you buy something at REI and in a day, month, year don’t like it, then take it back. Now HONEST people don’t take back stuff that they wear out but we are not all honest. I’ve taken back shoes after a year because the waterproofing didn’t work anymore. Another pair because they were too narrow. So 2-3 times a year they have what’s called a garage sale where owners go and buy the returned stuff. (None of which can be returned, and they mark it all with silver magic markers to make sure we don’t.) Two years ago we bought our first full sized family tent at a garage sale. The person returned it because it had a tear; the tear was an inch long on along an inside theme! We paid $50. It ran $350 brand new! Not bad. I’ve picked up $100 pants for $10 because the button fell off (did you ever hear of sewing?).

So today was the most recent garage sale at our local Tempe, AZ store. I arrived late and the hoards were out in full force. The October/November sale is always huge! Most of the time we’re looking for nothing particular and there are people who will camp out the night before. I arrive at 9:20 am and people walked around with huge hands of clothes, boots, and stuff. I always look for kid’s shoes because my child goes through sizes fast and warm clothes are always cool to grab in the fall. I found a pair of North Face pants for the wife that were missing a button but still had the tags attached. I paid $10.83. They had a pair of Vasque boots that inside the store brand new were $275.00 but the tag said they were returned because they were “dirty”. They were marked $40.83. I snagged them and another pair; the other pair of shoes were $14.83 and were just ok. They were newish and suede but obviously worn (some of the stuff were obviously worn well for over a year and looked it!). I figured I’d grab these shoes. I found a women’s watch in the bottom of a box. The tag said the owner replaced the battery but it didn’t work. There was no price. I shoved it into the boot to ask the price later. I found a $10 shirt that is usually $45 & several pairs of wool socks that were still brand new but marked down to $2.83 for my daughter.

The employees announced that today’s garage sale was buy one get one shoes, so when I made my way to check out the cashier asked which pair or shoes were the cheaper of the two. I pointed to the $15~ ones so he charged me for THOSE and gave me the $40~ for free! Way to go! Half way home I remembered the watch shoved down in the one boot. Damn. Nothing I was going to do then as I had a meeting but when I got home I tinkered with it. I figured I’d buy a battery and try to make it work. If it didn’t, I’d toss it. The thing had a nice solid band, large numbers (this is for my 6 year old so numbers are a must!) and a scratch free face. I pulled the pin out of the “lock position” and immediately the second hand started moving. Tick tock tick tock. Yep, someone was an idiot. The retail price? $175.00 for the watch. My price, free. But do remember I am owner and I really do spent a lot of money at this place. I appreciate the garage sales and always roll my eyes when people return things like $275 boots because they’re dirty or $100 Keen dress shoes because they “squeak”.

Shop at REI, pay a little more for the reassurance that if you’re gear truly does suck, you can take it back.