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redlegrangerone
Nov 8, 2006, 6:04 PM
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I was on the REI website looking for a pair of hard shell boots for ice climbing. Before driving to Phoenix to try on a couple of pairs, I decided it would be smart to call first.
So I get their mountaineering expert on the phone and ask if the have any plastic shell boots in stock. First he asks me what those are....... After I explain what they are, he asks what I would use something like that for.
Ice climbing I say....
He then says "Well, REI does not carry anything for that."
So I say "You mean you do not have any there?"
And he then says" No, none of the REI stores have ever carried that kind of gear."
Hmmmmm. Seems to me, this was why REI was formed in the first place. :shock:
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mlcrisis
Nov 8, 2006, 6:09 PM
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sounds like their competent staff is at it again...perhaps he never looks at his own companies website.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47810150&parent_category_rn=40003544&vcat=REI_SSHP_CLIMBING_TOC
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redlegrangerone
Nov 8, 2006, 6:10 PM
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Yes, I was looking at the website myself. But it was just too much trouble to explain to him.
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the_climber
Nov 8, 2006, 6:11 PM
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That guy is setting himself up to get into the "gearshope quotes" thread on RC.com really fast.
He's probably one of those people who buys the $500 Gore-tex XCR to wear around the city.
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mrodaddy
Nov 8, 2006, 6:12 PM
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I'm afraid what you ran into was what one would call "a moron." They're all over and, it would seem, multiplying at a dizzying rate. REI has been good enough to give many of them phone and customer service/contact privileges. Apparently, they are just trying to make sure that the outdoor products industry is just as frustrating to deal with as most of the rest of the world.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?storeId=8000&crumb=Men%27s+Hiking+and+Climbing+Boots%5E%26title%3DMen%2527s%2BHiking%2Band%2BClimbing%2BBoots%26link%3D1%26query%3D*%26cat%3D4500216%252C4500222%7EMountaineering+Boots+--+Men%27s%5E%26cat%3D4500222&title=Men%27s+Hiking+and+Climbing+Boots&link=1&query=*&cat=4500222&vcat=searchrefine:N
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the_climber
Nov 8, 2006, 6:33 PM
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In reply to: I'm afraid what you ran into was what one would call "a moron." They're all over and, it would seem, multiplying at a dizzying rate. REI has been good enough to give many of them phone and customer service/contact privileges. Apparently, they are just trying to make sure that the outdoor products industry is just as frustrating to deal with as most of the rest of the world.
When I first read this my eyes saw
In reply to: I'm afraid what you ran into was what one would call "a Mormon." They're all over and, it would seem, multiplying at a dizzying rate. REI has been good enough to give many of them phone and customer service/contact privileges. Apparently, they are just trying to make sure that the outdoor products industry is just as frustrating to deal with as most of the rest of the world.
After I LMFAO, I re-read it and it made more sence.... hehehe well almost. :D
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tomtom
Nov 8, 2006, 9:22 PM
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In reply to: I was on the REI website looking for a pair of hard shell boots for ice climbing. Before driving to Phoenix to try on a couple of pairs, I decided it would be smart to call first. So I get their mountaineering expert on the phone and ask if the have any plastic shell boots in stock. First he asks me what those are....... After I explain what they are, he asks what I would use something like that for. Ice climbing I say.... He then says "Well, REI does not carry anything for that." So I say "You mean you do not have any there?" And he then says" No, none of the REI stores have ever carried that kind of gear." Hmmmmm. Seems to me, this was why REI was formed in the first place. :shock:
Soon that will be true.
The margin for clothing (women's lifestyle) is much higher than that for technical gear, so REI is moving in that direction to increase their profit margin.
In the REI Flagship store in Seattle, clothing has displaced gear completely on one floor while seasonal clothing is taking over the other. There are fewer boots and more lifestyle shoes. Climbing gear, which once surrounded the entrance of the store, has been pushed back to a small corner in the back.
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greenketch
Nov 8, 2006, 9:59 PM
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In reply to: .... Climbing gear, which once surrounded the entrance of the store, has been pushed back to a small corner in the back.
Oh come on, they have those cool ice axe in plastic door handles. They are right on the front door. REI is thus insured to always be a climbing store. :wink: :wink:
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the_climber
Nov 8, 2006, 10:07 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: .... Climbing gear, which once surrounded the entrance of the store, has been pushed back to a small corner in the back. Oh come on, they have those cool ice axe in plastic door handles. They are right on the front door. REI is thus insured to always be a climbing store. :wink: :wink:
:roll:
(I'm still laughing about the post where I thought it said Mormon and not moron though.)
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krusher4
Nov 8, 2006, 10:41 PM
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Oh come on, they have those cool ice axe in plastic door handles. They are right on the front door. REI is thus insured to always be a climbing store. :wink: :wink:
Good point! The store here in Boulder has the climbing gear right in the middle of the store, in a section that is like a work cube and it is staffed by sport rappers hahah.
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hacksaw
Nov 8, 2006, 10:48 PM
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In reply to: He's probably one of those people who buys the $500 Gore-tex XCR to wear around the city.
Yea, in Phoenix.... :lol: :lol: :lol:
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anykineclimb
Nov 9, 2006, 2:30 AM
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well come on! its Phoenix!
don't you have a pretty good shop down in Tuscon? Mountain Hut or something??
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phase_nine
Nov 9, 2006, 2:53 AM
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Fvckin' Mormons....
And fvckin REI. I can't wait for some tool who actually works there to pipe up on these forums in defense. Better to keep quiet bro.
Either way, buy local. Support your local businesses. In most places, if you go just the slightest bit out of the way, or spend just the slightest bit more, you can have a hand in attempting to rebuild our crippled local economies. We're gonna need it when the shite hits, and there's no gas to go out to the strip mall to buy groceries that aren't even there because there's no gas to truck it all in. Buy from your local farmers (in season.) Buy from your local gear shop. Buy from your local hardware store. Damn the man. Save the empire.
And fvck REI. And EMS. And Home Depot. And Kroger. Fvcking cocksvckers have ruined us.
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curt
Nov 9, 2006, 4:04 AM
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In reply to: Fvckin' Mormons.... And fvckin REI. I can't wait for some tool who actually works there to pipe up on these forums in defense. Better to keep quiet bro. Either way, buy local. Support your local businesses...
REI is the local store here, bitch. Sad, but true.
Curt
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reese_7
Nov 9, 2006, 5:19 AM
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I had the same problem at my local REI. The "specialist" suggested that I just order a few pairs on line and return the ones that don't fit. :? Or he suggested that I just wait till I'm out in CO to ice climb and hope that I can find good boots.
Bright guy!
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kellrp
Nov 9, 2006, 6:04 AM
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Well "Bro" I guess I'll be the one to pipe up and defend REI. I will not defend the individual store or the "moron" that was encountered, but I will defend the company as a whole.
I have been employed at REI off and on for over 9 years. REI is number 9 on Fortune's best companies to work for list for a reason. They provide all employees regardless of hours worked with health insurance, flexible schedules, gear discounts, upward mobility and unlimited store to store mobility.
Everyone who works at every REI store is by no means an expert in every field. Every employee has there own area or areas of expertise. In the vast group of outdoor enthusiasts climbers are a very small minority and true mountaineers even smaller. This being said, at every moment there is not a true climbing expert on the clock in every store. You call yourself a climber but your knowledge is probably fairly limited, judging by your profile (no offense). If you were an employee and no expert was on shift then you might be given the phone to field a climbing question. What if you didn't know the answer, like... do you sell Leeper cam hooks. You would most likely say we don’t sell that, and when I described it you might still not understand the specific use. This doesn't make that person an idiot or discredit the company does it? If you have nothing better to do than Make fun of a very influential company that had a huge part in bringing the first climbing equipment to North America than don't shop there and don't waste the time of the employees on the phone.
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kellrp
Nov 9, 2006, 6:06 AM
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Well "Bro" I guess I'll be the one to pipe up and defend REI. I will not defend the individual store or the "moron" that was encountered, but I will defend the company as a whole.
I have been employed at REI off and on for over 9 years. REI is number 9 on Fortune's best companies to work for list for a reason. They provide all employees regardless of hours worked with health insurance, flexible schedules, gear discounts, upward mobility and unlimited store to store mobility.
Everyone who works at every REI store is by no means an expert in every field. Every employee has there own area or areas of expertise. In the vast group of outdoor enthusiasts climbers are a very small minority and true mountaineers even smaller. This being said, at every moment there is not a true climbing expert on the clock in every store. You call yourself a climber but your knowledge is probably fairly limited, judging by your profile (no offense). If you were an employee and no expert was on shift then you might be given the phone to field a climbing question. What if you didn't know the answer, like... do you sell Leeper cam hooks. You would most likely say we don’t sell that, and when I described it you might still not understand the specific use. This doesn't make that person an idiot or discredit the company does it? If you have nothing better to do than Make fun of a very influential company that had a huge part in bringing the first climbing equipment to North America than don't shop there and don't waste the time of the employees on the phone.
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mattyp
Nov 9, 2006, 6:30 AM
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Whoa, whoa, whoa... I think his answer did prove that he is a moron. If you don't know the answer to a question, you don't just make one up. You reply "I don't know" or "I'm not sure, let me look into that for you". Then you get the person's contact info, find out the ANSWER, and call them back. That is customer service and non-moronic behavior. If I make up answers in my job, people can die. Most of these problems come from people not facing up to the fact that they are NOT experts. Be honest and most customers will be understanding and appreciate your candor.
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curt
Nov 9, 2006, 6:35 AM
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In reply to: Whoa, whoa, whoa... I think his answer did prove that he is a moron. If you don't know the answer to a question, you don't just make one up. You reply "I don't know" or "I'm not sure, let me look into that for you". Then you get the person's contact info, find out the ANSWER, and call them back. That is customer service and non-moronic behavior. If I make up answers in my job, people can die. Most of these problems come from people not facing up to the fact that they are NOT experts. Be honest and most customers will be understanding and appreciate your candor.
Good advice--something fairly rare around here.
Curt
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chossmonkey
Nov 9, 2006, 12:41 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: Whoa, whoa, whoa... I think his answer did prove that he is a moron. If you don't know the answer to a question, you don't just make one up. You reply "I don't know" or "I'm not sure, let me look into that for you". Then you get the person's contact info, find out the ANSWER, and call them back. That is customer service and non-moronic behavior. If I make up answers in my job, people can die. Most of these problems come from people not facing up to the fact that they are NOT experts. Be honest and most customers will be understanding and appreciate your candor. Good advice--something fairly rare around here. Curt
Curt agreeing with someone else's post! :shock: I think that is almost more rare. :lol:
Anyway, gold trophy to you mattyp.
As for the problem with no boots.
Can't you have a bunch of pairs sent to the store? Then they notify you when they come in and you go try them out and buy the pair you want and let them deal with the rest.
At one time they would do that with climbing shoes. The thing is it needs to be something that the REI would carry but that store doesn't.
And what do you want with plastic boots anyway? They are so 90's. :roll:
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skinner
Nov 9, 2006, 3:14 PM
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This is why the small independent climbing shop is a necessity these days. As the REI's and MEC's adopt the WALMART philosophy, only carrying what sells to the masses and refusing to bring in items that they do not *stock*, even though they are dealers for the brand, more often then not, one has to settle for what's available.
While mail order equipment is becoming the flavor of the day, it's definitely not the ideal way to purchase items like plastic mountaineering boots. Some Internet/mail order houses have return policies that allow you to get the proper fit, trying on a couple different styles/sizes becomes a 6 month project. Being able to compare styles/models side-by-side is virtually impossible.
In mountaineering, foot-ware is not only one of the most important pieces of equipment, but if you plan on working at extreme altitude or temperatures, it's mission critical, life dependent gear.
Ranting? me? the plastic boot thing has been a major source of frustration for over a year now. REI and MEC offer few options and even less help.
It was the owner of a small local climbing shop who would call me every time he brought in a different type of boots in my size. He not only knew my size, but how different brands fit on me. I wasn't alone in my quest as the boots he was bringing were for others that have been going through the same thing. Finally.. and many pairs later I will be sporting a new set of Scarpa Omega's this winter. It would take another long winded ramble to explain how he acquired these for me, but rest assured.. REI, MEC, or any other outdoor gear chain would have never put the effort in.
I said all that.. to say this; Screw the REI's and MEC's, and support your local independent climbing shop, even if you have to drive a little further, pay a little more (which has never been the case). With out them we could all find ourselves with mail order houses being the only source/option for anything other then Gortex Urban-wear and Nalgene bottles.
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granite_grrl
Nov 9, 2006, 5:11 PM
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Good post Skinner! I'm sick of my only options for climbing gear being what MEC carries.
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mattyp
Nov 9, 2006, 5:51 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: Good advice--something fairly rare around here. Curt Curt agreeing with someone else's post! :shock: I think that is almost more rare. :lol:
Thanks for the trophies. I'm sure we can get someone to disagree with me and turn this thread into a RC.com style !!!!!BATTLE ROYALE!!!!!
I prefer to shop at "Mom and Pop" shops. They MUST know what they are doing in order to stay in business. They can't afford to make the same boneheaded mistakes that giant companies can. So, support your local gear shop. (Disclaimer: I do not own/have any connection to your local gear shop (unfortunately, because then I would be getting some killer deals)) :lol: :lol:
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redlegrangerone
Nov 10, 2006, 1:43 AM
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First of all I do know what a leeper is for. Second I tried the local store also. In Tucson, I understand why they do not carry plastic boots for the one person a year who wants them. But I will not agree it is proper to expect such and uncaring level of customer service. I might not have the climbing resume of the quote real climbers, but I do know what I need and want from a store.
And REI has gone a long way down hill from the old days. My company also pays everyone health insurance and all the other benifits. But I would never tell a customer we do not do or have that without making sure first.
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