Jack C.

I used to think that I needed to see outdoor gear before I purchased. Backcountry.com has convinced me that there are many items that I don't need to see in person. Their gear advisors have great knowledge about the product categories in which they specialize unlike most of the staff that now works at REI. Also, their return policy is among the best in the industry: [From their site] "New, unused gear can be returned at any time for a full refund. Used gear must be returned within 30 days of delivery for store credit."

I think evo.com is probably the best online place to buy skis along with Backcountry.com. The people that answer the phones know what they are talking about and are interested in making sure you buy the right product. The folks in their physical store in Seattle are super friendly and helpful. All the people that I've been in contact at Evo have a "no-worries" attitude. I like that especially for buying stuff that should be all fun.

For price-shoppers, the Evo Outlet which is also at www.evo.com has some fantastic pre and early season deals.

Costco is great for a reason that many other retailers now fail to understand. Costco is hitting on all cylinders for the traditional retail attributes of product, price & service. It is truly a worry-free shopping experience from all angles. They carry high quality products that are priced super-competitively and have generous return policies when products don't perform as expected. There is a reason why Costco attracts such a high % of high income shoppers.\

We've purchased our last three TVs at Costco and will be purchasing any computers or electronics there without shopping other retailers.

Over the past several years, REI's continued promotion of its 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed policy and its Limited Warranty under which if "your item has a manufacturing defect in its materials or workmanship, you can return it at any time." has been a sham.

The 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed policy is still generous compared to that of other retailers. However, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed means within 1 year as compared to being able to return an item without a time limit under the previous policy. No big deal.

The Limited Warranty, however, doesn't seem to mean much any more. For most premium outdoor brands, a lifetime warranty means that an item is repaired or replaced if the materials or construction is defective within a reasonable product lifetime. REI's private label product purport to be a better value as the higher priced, but one thing you should know is that REI is now much more restrictive in what they accept under the REI product warranty than the warranty provided by most premium outdoor brands. You need to both show proof of purchase and be able to prove the defect is due to materials or construction to have any chance of claiming under the warranty for REI brand products. The burden is on you, as the customer, to provide that something is not right with REI products. I have a REI brand blow-up sleeping pad which was given to me as a gift. I've used it for about 12-15 nights total. On my last trip, I woke up two nights in a row finding my sleeping pad halfway deflated and me lying on the ground. REI refused to warranty the product claiming that they could not find a record of a member purchase of the sleeping pad. Clearly, there was something wrong with the product.

I'll buy name brand products from REI, but no more REI branded products for me. Honestly, if REI considers their own branded products to be disposable, I need to rethink where I buy value-priced outdoor products. Decent outdoor gear is no longer only available at the high-priced outdoor stores. I got some great carbon fiber hiking poles from Costco. They aren't as slick as the pricy carbon poles at REI and don't have a lifetime warranty, but at 2 for $30, I'm willing to take a chance on an unproven product for a usage that is not mission-critical if the poles happen to break while on a trip. I will also add that Costco has a great return policy and has taken away $thousands of our spending away from grocery stores/Target/Wal-Mart since it is just a no-hassle place to shop with great prices if you are willing to buy higher volumes.