s/o REI - Does being a member make sense?

[mcfelix]

Thanks the Patagonia thread, I have 8 items in my REI shopping cart. Keep in mind I live about 5 miles from an REI and have never gone in there! At checkout, it is asking if I want to be a lifetime member for $20. Is it worth it? I don't quite understand the point. Someone please school me! 

[purplecow0206]

We've had it for a few years and it's definitely paid for itself with the quarterly dividends. If you like their brands, I think it's worth it.

[indylady]

Probably, since they're running a promo right now: www.rei.com/membership/benefits

You'll get the $20 back and 10% on your purchases.

[dcn]

It does for us, we shop there often. We put our annual dividend and 20% off coupon toward big items. One year we got a dueter kid carrier and last year a double chariot.

You earn dividends for anything you buy there, but not on sale or clearance items.

[mcfelix]

Ok I ended up having over $100 in my cart, so I joined! Now I need to remember to actually shop there.

[Poppy]

DH is a member and I usually just use his number but I've considered signing up to get my own 20% off coupon each year. You basically get a thing in the mail one a year with a paper that gives you cash to spend at the store. I think it's 5% of full price purchases.

We definitely have gotten our money's worth. We do a lot of camping/backpacking/skiing and other outdoor activities. I also buy shoes there. I have some Keen sneakers that I have worn so much I've had to glue them twice. I'm still in denial that they're basically done.

[matildasun]

My mom talked me out of joining when I was 15 and heading to camp. By the time I was 18 I had the good sense to just join. Some years I get a lot back, and some years nothing at all, but over the 23 years I have been a member I have certainly earned my money back.

[Mushe]

It's $20, once! Lol. I cannot wrap my head around not just going for it. I've earned way more than $20 in dividends, even without using their branded credit card and mostly buying clearance, which I think does not earn dividends.

[holly116]

I'm 99% sure I joined while I was living in Colorado a decade ago... I wonder how I check on that?

[matildasun]

holly116, if you have a store locally they can look it up for you by you name, or if you remember it, the phone number you had at the time. There is also a way to do it online.