I have been an REI member for years now and can still remember fondly the bargain basement at the old Capitol Hill store but bargains are few and far between these days. My main objection to REI is how overpriced it seems most items are. Even with the 1% to 10% you get back at the end of the year it is still so much more expensive then other smaller local stores. I will give them props on the knowledge base on some things but in overall I have been a little let down. I will definitely say that if you can't find something elsewhere more then likely they will have it but you'll pay. Honestly every year i cash out my REI refund and spend the cash on gear up the street where i can get a little more for my money.
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