There's an REI around here?
You've been having excellent luck lately! Awesome!
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Two weeks ago I found the Surly LHT in a serendipitous moment at the bike swap meet. And that meant my husband and I could think about trying some bike touring, but we only have a large big car-camping style tent.
So this week, I went to the annual REI "garage sale" in hopes of finding a tent that would work for bike-touring. We have been using the REI credit card for some temporary big expenses that we paid back right away, and we had $89 in dividend credit to apply to our purchases.
I got there 20 minutes after they opened and I only found one tent that might work- I looked at it - just a few snags in the mesh on the door and carried it around for a little bit. I put it back because it was a 4 person tent and we just don't need one that large. Apparently, other shoppers also picked up tents and put them back because- Oh look- an REI Half-Dome 2 (same tent but the two person version) with a label that read: "used once, returned because it's too heavy" (5 lbs). That was one of the 3 brand new tents we had been considering - and it was less than the amount of our credit - in essence with the dividend credit - it was FREE!
I also found a good deal on a sleeping bag that is smaller and lighter than any that we already had and will also be better for bike-camping.
So I left feeling pretty lucky.
2016 Specialized Ruby Comp disc - Ruby Expert ti 155
2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker - Jett 143
There's an REI around here?
You've been having excellent luck lately! Awesome!
At least I don't leave slime trails.
http://wholecog.wordpress.com/
2009 Giant Avail 3 |Specialized Jett 143
2013 Charge Filter Apex| Specialized Jett 143
1996(?) Giant Iguana 630|Specialized Riva
Saving for the next one...
That's awesome! I think at some point we will also try bike camping but right now, we are just car camping. You will have to let us know how it goes!
***proud Hoosier, statistics nerd, and mom to a headstrong toddler***
****one car family and loving it!****
Owned by:
Le Monstre Vert - 2013 Surly Cross-check
Chessie, Scottish Terrier
Bonzai, Catahoula Leopard Dog
Owlie- You are pretty close to REI- it's at Tucson Mall- It's south of River, between Stone and Oracle. Take River to Stone, go south on Stone and there you are.
2016 Specialized Ruby Comp disc - Ruby Expert ti 155
2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker - Jett 143
Excellent purchase, azfiddle!
We considered going to the REI garage sale here in Overland Park, KS, but decided that it would be a zoo. We went there on their grand opening day in the fall (new store), and had to park SO far away, and the lines were CRAZY. And there wasn't much we really needed this time, although it's always fun to look. I'd already spent our dividend on stuff we needed anyway...oh well. Hope you and your DH can put that tent to good use. That's a good one -- I remember from when we were looking at tents awhile back.
Emily
2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
People start lining up hours before the scratch and dent sale starts, around here. There are amazing deals to be had. I routinely do small repairs on items purchased there that turn something into fully serviceable at a great deal kind of gear.
2015 Liv Intrigue 2
Pro Mongoose Titanium Singlespeed
2012 Trek Madone 4.6 Compact SRAM
At least I don't leave slime trails.
http://wholecog.wordpress.com/
2009 Giant Avail 3 |Specialized Jett 143
2013 Charge Filter Apex| Specialized Jett 143
1996(?) Giant Iguana 630|Specialized Riva
Saving for the next one...
I did hear that REI is getting stricter on returns, It seems some of the stuff is really "garage sale". Great job on the tent. We are Hennesay Hammock users which is great when we have trees. All the Desert riding we've been doing lately has me using my hammock as a bivy sack so I just purchased a sleeping pad at Sierra Trading Post - using it this coming weekend. Interesting that Sierra Trading Post can sell stuff for less than I can buy wholesale through our bike gear distributors, some the same with REI so we decided to keep our store focus on racks, bags, panniers, bikes etc and not venture into bike camping gear.
Sky King
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Emily
2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
the deals can be pretty spectacular.
2015 Liv Intrigue 2
Pro Mongoose Titanium Singlespeed
2012 Trek Madone 4.6 Compact SRAM
We're getting an REI in two weeks!!
Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler
I think that half my gear and clothes came from REI Garage Sales. I've gotten some awesome things for cheap cheap there over the years. Too many to list them all. Right now I'm wearing an Isis fleece jacket that I got for $4.
We have a tiny REI here in town. Walking distance from my apt even. They used to have large garage sales every few months. Now they have a small inside garage sale every Saturday. I try to stop by and check it out. I have $40 dividend plus a $20 gift card to spend sometime. I seldom shop retail at REI.
Specialized Ruby
Gunnar Sport
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX (Surly Crosscheck)
Jamis Dragon
...considering that some people have abused the heck out of the program, I am not surprised. However, as a repair facility, I see real inconsistencies in what they will or will not take back under warranty. I've even sat down the manager and asked them to explain why item A gets warrantied and item B doesn't, and I can't get a straight answer.I did hear that REI is getting stricter on returns,
2015 Liv Intrigue 2
Pro Mongoose Titanium Singlespeed
2012 Trek Madone 4.6 Compact SRAM
Well, I was happy they took back the x country ski boots that ripped my feet to shreds!
I've never been successful finding clothing there. Everything is just too big. But, we've bought camping equipment and things like Camelbaks there, as well as our skis.
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport
I wouldn't qualify that as abuse. It's the folks that do the whole PCT and then take their tent back saying "it didn't hold up" or similar. Years of use (not abuse) and then a return... that's what ruins it for legitimate returns.
2015 Liv Intrigue 2
Pro Mongoose Titanium Singlespeed
2012 Trek Madone 4.6 Compact SRAM