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SendMasterJack
Jan 15, 2009, 8:48 PM
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Okay so here's the deal, My sister works at an REI establishment and has worked there for many months now. Im almost 100% positive that qualifies her for the employee discount which is about 30% maybe? Anyways, she chooses not to give me her discount claiming that it might cause her to lose her job. Can anyone out there shed light on this problem, Im almost positive any retail discount applies to immediate family as well, am I wrong? ANyone who has worked at REI in the past might know
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suilenroc
Jan 15, 2009, 8:53 PM
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If you are referring to a "pro deal" forget it. If she has some kind of in store 30% off retail discount it shouldn't really matter.
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SendMasterJack
Jan 15, 2009, 9:05 PM
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not pro deal, just general discount on gear and whatnot. Is there any stipulation that states you cannot use the discount for family? considering I were to pay for the gear at this reduced price
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Gmburns2000
Jan 15, 2009, 9:15 PM
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SendMasterJack wrote: Okay so here's the deal, My sister works at an REI establishment and has worked there for many months now. Im almost 100% positive that qualifies her for the employee discount which is about 30% maybe? Anyways, she chooses not to give me her discount claiming that it might cause her to lose her job. Can anyone out there shed light on this problem, Im almost positive any retail discount applies to immediate family as well, am I wrong? ANyone who has worked at REI in the past might know
I'm pretty sure she's telling you the truth.
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armsrforclimbing
Jan 15, 2009, 9:16 PM
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Seriously though, I used to work at an EMS, similar to REI in the Northeast (i.e. an expensive GAP-esque store that sells a few cams). Their policy was ALWAYS to let anyone go that abuses their discount. Abuse would include purchasing any non-gift item for someone else. Since you are likely going to pay your sister for the gear that she would buy with her discount, then its not a gift and you will probably get her fired.
But like anything else, its not gauranteed. I have seen people do it before, and they will again, but is it worth getting your siter fired?
(This post was edited by armsrforclimbing on Jan 15, 2009, 9:17 PM)
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shimanilami
Jan 15, 2009, 9:26 PM
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I worked at REI for a while. Your sister is giving you the "official line". Every retailer - including REI - needs to have one.
In reality, you'd have to really abuse the system to get someone to notice. A shirt here, a rope there, a pair of shoes ... these can reasonably be explained as gifts. On the other hand, if you buy ten sets of cams, a new bike and canoe, a complete wardrobe, etc., then the sheer dollar values will draw attention. Probable reprimand. Possible firing.
If you get caught buying stuff on discount and then selling it for a profit, then you'll be fired and in all likelihood prosecuted.
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moose_droppings
Jan 15, 2009, 9:47 PM
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shimanilami wrote: If you get caught buying stuff on discount and then selling it for a profit, then you'll be fired and in all likelihood prosecuted.
You'll be shot first, survivors of that will be prosecuted.
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shoo
Jan 15, 2009, 9:48 PM
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Your sister is telling the truth. I currently manage the pro-deal accounts at a local establishment. Gear companies are extremely sensitive about who they give discounts to. People abusing it means companies pull their programs. In some scenarios, especially for larger establishments (like REI), it may mean someone gets fired.
Basically, pro-deals exist for three reasons:
1. As an incentive for people with high exposure in the outdoors community to use their gear. If I can get your stuff for way cheap and use it, people around me see it, ask questions, etc, and then want to buy it. It's a sort of advertising.
2. To establish and foster business relationships with the retailers.
3. To reward industry professionals for the good of a greater outdoors community.
Abusing pro-deal privileges means that everyone loses. It means pro-deal programs get canceled, people get fired, etc.
If you do not have legal and contractual access to a pro purchase program, there are plenty of legal ways to score good deals. If you beg your sister or whoever to break their rules and try to sneak some stuff in for you, you're being an ass.
For those who DO have direct and legal access to a prodeal program, DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRODEALS. They are a privilege for you and you alone.
Edited because I can't count.
(This post was edited by shoo on Jan 15, 2009, 9:48 PM)
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gothcopter
Jan 15, 2009, 9:50 PM
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The more important question is why you don't respect your sister enough to take her at her word.
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shoo
Jan 15, 2009, 9:51 PM
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shimanilami wrote: In reality, you'd have to really abuse the system to get someone to notice. A shirt here, a rope there, a pair of shoes ... these can reasonably be explained as gifts.
In general you are not allowed to give gifts through pro purchase programs. There are some exceptions, sometimes around the holidays, but they are on a case-by-case basis.
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suilenroc
Jan 15, 2009, 9:52 PM
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shoo wrote: Your sister is telling the truth. I currently manage the pro-deal accounts at a local establishment. Gear companies are extremely sensitive about who they give discounts to. People abusing it means companies pull their programs. In some scenarios, especially for larger establishments (like REI), it may mean someone gets fired. Basically, pro-deals exist for three reasons: 1. As an incentive for people with high exposure in the outdoors community to use their gear. If I can get your stuff for way cheap and use it, people around me see it, ask questions, etc, and then want to buy it. It's a sort of advertising. 2. To establish and foster business relationships with the retailers. 3. To reward industry professionals for the good of a greater outdoors community. Abusing pro-deal privileges means that everyone loses. It means pro-deal programs get canceled, people get fired, etc. If you do not have legal and contractual access to a pro purchase program, there are plenty of legal ways to score good deals. If you beg your sister or whoever to break their rules and try to sneak some stuff in for you, you're being an ass. For those who DO have direct and legal access to a prodeal program, DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRODEALS. They are a privilege for you and you alone. Edited because I can't count.
Think you went a little over board shoo... the op stated:
In reply to: not pro deal, just general discount on gear and whatnot 
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suilenroc
Jan 15, 2009, 9:53 PM
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gothcopter wrote: The more important question is why you don't respect your sister enough to take her at her word.
Never TRUST a sister... they are women.
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Valarc
Jan 15, 2009, 9:53 PM
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(This post was edited by Valarc on Jan 15, 2009, 9:54 PM)
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shimanilami
Jan 15, 2009, 10:03 PM
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For pro deals, I think you're right on.
For the REI discount, I think there is a grey zone. I think managements want to allow gift-giving as a benefit to employees, but doesn't want to be grossly taken advantage of. I think that it's expected that employees will operate within that grey zone, and as long as there are no blatent violations, they'll avoid enforcing the "letter of the law".
I wasn't a manager so I don't have the straight dope, but it sure seemed like this was the situation.
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SendMasterJack
Jan 15, 2009, 10:14 PM
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suilenroc wrote: shoo wrote: Your sister is telling the truth. I currently manage the pro-deal accounts at a local establishment. Gear companies are extremely sensitive about who they give discounts to. People abusing it means companies pull their programs. In some scenarios, especially for larger establishments (like REI), it may mean someone gets fired. Basically, pro-deals exist for three reasons: 1. As an incentive for people with high exposure in the outdoors community to use their gear. If I can get your stuff for way cheap and use it, people around me see it, ask questions, etc, and then want to buy it. It's a sort of advertising. 2. To establish and foster business relationships with the retailers. 3. To reward industry professionals for the good of a greater outdoors community. Abusing pro-deal privileges means that everyone loses. It means pro-deal programs get canceled, people get fired, etc. If you do not have legal and contractual access to a pro purchase program, there are plenty of legal ways to score good deals. If you beg your sister or whoever to break their rules and try to sneak some stuff in for you, you're being an ass. For those who DO have direct and legal access to a prodeal program, DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRODEALS. They are a privilege for you and you alone. Edited because I can't count. Think you went a little over board shoo... the op stated: In reply to: not pro deal, just general discount on gear and whatnot
So the general discount is pretty inflexible? I mean i would basically be giving her some money to buy some gear. Whats so wrong with that? Ive been working retail at a major chain for many years and my discount applies to family directly. Why shouldnt a general discount at rei be similiar if not exactly the same? Maybe i should just suck it up and quit whining, but i was just wondering what the EXACT policy states if anyone knows. Not a huge deal and not worth arguing about.
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sidepull
Jan 15, 2009, 10:17 PM
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your sister can do whatever she wants. if she says "the boss" won't let her then either A) it's true or B) she doesn't like you. why not choose to believe it's A and be done with it rather than whining to nameless hoodlums on the intardweb?
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billcoe_
Jan 15, 2009, 10:18 PM
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Once your sister has been there for a while, and realizes that she is making peanuts and getting shit on while upper management is making bank and shitting on her as well, she'll come back to ya bro. As any REI employee can tell you, REI sucks. One of the only reasons to get that sand pounded in your ass while working there is to get a deal on gear and share this with your loved ones....she'll figure this out on her own soon enough.
I've banked plenty of deals via REI employee buddies in that mental state over the years and trust me on this: she'll see that blood is thicker than water sooner or later:-) Don't pressure her, back off for a bit, let on that you understand, blah blah. At some point in the future, she'll be thanking you for replacing the battery in her car, or dog sitting her pain in the ass mutts, or for fixing her trashed out front stairs that you pimped out for her: and she'll be ripe for you to bring this up again.
Good luck!
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Valarc
Jan 15, 2009, 10:19 PM
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SendMasterJack wrote: Maybe i should just suck it up and quit whining, but i was just wondering what the EXACT policy states if anyone knows. Not a huge deal and not worth arguing about.
Whatever the policy is, she obviously doesn't want to use her discount for you. What do you plan to gain by asking this question? Are you gonna prove what a bitch she is for not helping you? Are you gonna try to say "look what the people on the internet said, you should give me your discount"? What is it going to gain?
At the end of the day, official company policy aside, this kind of shit is gonna be up to the manager. Maybe your sister has a really strict manager, or maybe she just really loves her job and doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize it in any way, no matter how minute the chance.
And maybe your sister just doesn't like you. Maybe you whine too much?
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kyote321
Jan 15, 2009, 10:22 PM
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what is your sisters email? i need prodeal too
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SendMasterJack
Jan 15, 2009, 10:23 PM
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thank you all for your valuable and kind responses.
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shimanilami
Jan 15, 2009, 10:28 PM
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One crucial point is that you ask your sister for a 2-week notice before she quits. This is the time when you and she should take full advantage of the benefit, with no concern about getting fired.
When I found out I'd be starting a "real job" again, I spent ~$3K on REI gear and pro-deals, for myself and family and friends alike. Did they ever notice? I have no clue because I was long gone.
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tb69hikeclimb
Jan 15, 2009, 10:43 PM
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Clearly your sister hates you!
you should stop trying to handjam her friends and leach off her. Try telling her she is pretty and smart.
if that doesn't work tear all the heads off her barbie dolls and post her diary on the web.
that will teach her a lesson.
(This post was edited by tb69hikeclimb on Jan 15, 2009, 10:58 PM)
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Adk
Jan 16, 2009, 12:00 AM
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You must have a special day that you celebrate and exchange gifts with your sister right?
You bring in her flowers with $$ attached and she buys you a rope.
A Brotherly/sisterly Valentine gift/relationship works in some hick states.
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