I said that what you wrote was incorrect.
In 1994 I was 34 years old, I fail to see the relevance. I'd been a member of REI for over 10 tears by then. As for what states I'd "explored", by 1994 I'd lived in 3 different U.S. states, worked on assignments in 5 different countries and traveled to Western Europe a couple of times. Again, I fail to see the relevance.
You can shop anywhere you please, you can make any claims you wish, that doesn't mean I or anyone else can't call them out when they're incorrect.
The guy at the store may have told you what you claimed he did, that doesn't make it true. I've been a member for quite a while, I knew that the co-op didn't financially support political parties but after you posted your story I contacted them to confirm it. It's not hard to find the truth if you want to.
As for personal comments about me, never smoked anything in my life, don't drink Koolaid either...iced tea is my drug of choice. With the occasional Advil on the side.
I guess the point to this is this, we can agree or disagree with the action and policies of companies and individuals without attempting to demonize them or spreading unfounded rumors about them. If you believe that REI is secretly supporting the Green Party and all their employees are too liberal then you certainly have the right to spend your money elsewhere, I'd prefer to try and discover the truth and choose where to spend my money based on that.
As you said, we choose our own lifestyles.
Regards.
Sorry John E I did not mean to spill the chili in your lap and I apologize for the weed comment. We are the same age and I was born there in Cali.
By 1994 I had fought in 3 wars, (Panama, Desert Storm, and Bosnia. I had only lived in the UK and Korea and had actually outbacked southeast Cali, Florida, GA, North Carolina, Kansas, and the 4 Corners area. The military took me to many places.
Back in 1994 the store here in Albuquerque did support the Green party just by allowing a poster truck in the parking lot during the campaign months and I wished I had the picture
(X-wife destroyed all my 35mm stuff just befor the divorce).As for the 5% going to the Green Party I did not claim they where doing it currently, but I did state that money can be filtered through company expenditures. As for the transparency thing by law a co-op is not required by any law to itemize all expenditures for tax purposes which is how we can or can't find out what they spent/donated money to. Or they can volunteer the information but I won't hold my breath on that one being a true amount.
If REI does go public then all bets are off as they will have to cough up the information but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
I also stated that I returned to the ABQ store complimenting the management and staff who where very knowledgable and friendly.
I can get better pricing through multiple outlets that I don't have to become a member of to get the added benifits.
One caveat to the last I will if I need to actually feel and look at the item I will stop by the store if I am in ABQ. ABQ is my nearest store at 220 miles 1 way so I generally use Campmor or Amazon or E-Bay.
We can get into the Amazon thing in another retailer bashing LOL.
Anyway sorry again John E for my abrasive comment.
Have a great one!
BEAR
