They have some cool stuff there, but was super displeased by the attitude of the lady at the check out. She was basically guilt tripping me to be a member(we don't have REIs in VT, so I didn't want it). Gavin ended up giving his number so she'd stop.
REI public relations
- Thread starter paxton
- Start date
I know, they work it. I'm in sales and understand what a dog-eat-dog world it is. This kind of stuff doesn't bother me much. The exception is a car salesmen.
Were you wearing your Feel the Bern t-shirt? If so, maybe she figured you were a soft touch.
True, I feel that. But this was ridiculous. I basically couldn't even check out without agreeing to buy a membership.
I was wearing my "get high on life, eat granola" shirt, just to fit in.
I'm currently implored by REI. All of those employee complaints are true. I love working there but it's way too corporate. I'm a hard worker who knows and sells the products well. We just hit our slow season so they cut my hours, hired 4 new idiots, promoted some dumb girl who was hired the same day as me to be my department lead and made me train her. I've had a few "talks" about how low my membership sales are.
I was offered a lead tech position for a 15¢ raise (bumping me up to just under$11 an hr). I took it as an insult and declined the position.
We like to call ourselves a Coop but there is nothing coop about it.
Our CEO Jerry is a douche who's last job was for Victoria secrets. Upper management is great and I don't hold it against them, they have no control over the BS.
I'm still working there for the killer arcteryx deals.
I was offered a lead tech position for a 15¢ raise (bumping me up to just under$11 an hr). I took it as an insult and declined the position.
We like to call ourselves a Coop but there is nothing coop about it.
Our CEO Jerry is a douche who's last job was for Victoria secrets. Upper management is great and I don't hold it against them, they have no control over the BS.
I'm still working there for the killer arcteryx deals.
It's retail sales. No large companies are going cater to your needs and wants. See how the $15/hr. worked out the Mickey D's workers?
You make your own luck in this world. Seeing our coddled youth at universities lately is making me sick to my stomach.
In general, grow a pair...
You make your own luck in this world. Seeing our coddled youth at universities lately is making me sick to my stomach.
In general, grow a pair...
I did the same when I bought my hammock. F that place, last time i give them any money. if I want to spend top dollar prices Ill go go backwoods or whole earth provisions. at least they sell fishing equipment for my next adventure in the colorado river
And the point here is? They sell shit at retail. Wal Mart does the same thing. The fact that Wal Mart doesn't give you a little dividend to spend at their store has nothing to do with REI's purpose. I'm a member of the REI "co-op". I don't go there much because most of the employees don't know a whole lot about the things they sell. It's a big box outdoor store in a pretty facade.
This is one of the great perks of the industry and I enjoyed it while I worked as a guide and at an indie outdoor retailer. Then I realized I can either
a) get paid shit but get a sweet discount on gear while living the life of a climbing dirtbag, or
b) get a career job and earn a lot more, pay more for gear, and have better financial security.
After 3 years of (a) and 8 years of (b) I have no regrets about leaving the industry.
They were able to buy big tvs, eat whatever they wanted and even brought unicorns back from extinction.
The only time I will go to REI is when I want to have their great return policy on my back pocket. Most recently for a Garmin Fenix 3. If I dont like it 9 months later, I can take it back no problem.
Yup, sounds like every other retail job out there.
I've worked a few retail jobs ovwr the years. They all sucked for basically the same reasons. Pay sucked. Management sucked. Hours/scheduling sucked. The only part time job that was decent was when I was part time in fishing at Bass Pro. I got to BS fishing and sell gear, no commission so I could be honest). I ended up getting canned for "breaking" a fishing rod. Douchebag HR lady didn't understand how rods were made and that a splintered blank means its already broken. So in the end that job ended up sucking too, because management sucked.
I've worked a few retail jobs ovwr the years. They all sucked for basically the same reasons. Pay sucked. Management sucked. Hours/scheduling sucked. The only part time job that was decent was when I was part time in fishing at Bass Pro. I got to BS fishing and sell gear, no commission so I could be honest). I ended up getting canned for "breaking" a fishing rod. Douchebag HR lady didn't understand how rods were made and that a splintered blank means its already broken. So in the end that job ended up sucking too, because management sucked.
Closing on Black Friday sends a message to consumers. It's not the stores that have created this fanaticism in relation to the holidays, it's the people. The stores react. That's their job.
That said, the reaction has become bullshit.
This season is about being nice to people and thinking about good shit. People are beginning to forget that, and it's become two months of rampant purchases, decorating, going too far with feasts, and generally forgetting what life is all about.
Black Friday has gone out of control. "Doorbuster" deals are almost universally cut-models built earlier in the year of spare parts specifically for the event. The fact that they are even called doorbusters should remind people how foolish they are for indulging themselves in such a frantic manner.
If I can understand the holidays and enjoy them peaceably, the rest of the world ought to be able to do the same. I don't give a fuck about much of anything, but Christmas... I protect that in my environment with great jealousy.
To me, it should be the pinnacle of human cooperation, peace, and understanding.
Let us not forget that warfare has been stopped in the past to observe the magic of Christmas. Cannot average consumers understand the magnitude of that? If even for a few hours, enemies surrounded by their dead in a blasted and hopeless landscape can neigh on hold hands and sing...
Frenzied, sometimes violent behavior, as well as stress and general foolishness among neighbors is shameful.
Black Friday is a terrible event that should be stopped, and regardless of REI's internal intentions, regardless of how much it might hurt the bottom line, and regardless of how much people love to hate them; it's an example to everyone.
Cheers,
Kennith
I worked retail once. Ended up being sent to the warehouse after throwing a cashier over his register. I think he was hassling a female customer or something. Can't entirely remember why I did it.
That was at Sears, and at least at that time, I recall it being a great place of employment. Obviously, I've been wrong all these years. They didn't pay much, and you had to listen to managers, so it must have sucked, right? :rofl:
Later, I found a place that let me design, build, and install outdoor water features. I actually miss that. Didn't pay shit but it was a hell of a lot more fun than my everyday schemes now.
Cheers,
Kennith
I disagree with this statement. I believe the inverse of the relationship holds true. Retailers didn't respond to customer demand for Black Friday. They created it. Invention is the mother of necessity.
In 1985 nobody was saying "Man, this plastic toothbrush I have just isn't getting the job done. What I really could use is a fancy, battery powered model that brushes my teeth for me, has multiple modes, incorporates 3 forms of pseudoscience into its design, and has a snappy name." People were just brushing their teeth.
Then the SoniCare toothbrush came along and suddenly you were a cave man if you were still brushing your teeth with the basic model that humanity had been using just fine for the previous hundred years.
I don't believe the conversation in board rooms was "Well guys, people are swarming us after thanksgiving so I guess we should respond with some kind of dedicated event." I believe it was closer to "What can we do to get people off the couch and into our stores?"
Successful retailers are very good at selling things and creating demand. REI is no exception (before them convertible zip-off pants were a rarity, now they are everywhere). Their public stand against the reckless consumerism that Black Friday has become is a welcome move and I hope it catalyzes other retailers to do the same.
I agree. it was something to drive people into the stores so that the stores would be in the black again.
I lasted 10 years, Master Tech at three stores, moved across the country three times and worked at both the HQ and the DC and I had finally had enough. Left for a job that I had zero experience in and pays a hell of a lot more with better benefits.
REI lost their way years ago when they decided they wanted to compete with Amazon and other online retailers. It's sad, I liked the people but hated the mentality of the BoD and the upper management.
The writing was on the wall when Sally Jewel left.
Everything in the video is correct, and sad.
Although I am happy for my friends that still work there and get Black Friday off.