Rei-Outlet is for the true bargain hunters... if you can find what you want!
Written: Aug 09 '01
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The Bottom Line
The prices are near unbeatable... but you have to find it first! It does feel like shopping in a B&M outlet store in more ways than one!
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| Full Review |
Rei-Outlet.com is the liquidation branch of REI.com. Selling a decent variety of sporting goods at breakneck prices is what Rei-Outlet is. Prices are near unbeatable at the outlet site... however, if you can find what you've looking for is the main problem.
Selection
The REI-outlet will not contain every item that many sporting goods, camping store, or outdoors store offers... it just carries stock that really needs to go... and go fast! It easy to browse through the small selections of goods on the site to see if you can find anything that you want. In many ways, it feels like you're shopping at a brick and mortar outlet center or even overstock.com! If you can find something that you want or need, the price is significantly less than just about any retail store you can find the same item in! New items are constantly being added, but items that are sold out are usually permanently out of stock!
Even if you find the item you want, your desired size may be a problem. You may often find that the size is already out of stock on the product page... which is rather frustrating.
Prices
REI-Outlet strongest point is how cheap it is! Items are frequently discounted at least 30%... most of the items are discounted 40-60%. A few items go as far as 75%. These prices compare only to sites like Overstock.com and Eastbay.com as well as huge clearance sales in B&M stores and e-tailers. A pair of Nike all weather sport clogs that cost $59.95 outside cost me $29.95 before S&H.
Shipping and Handling
order cost US surface 2-day Overnight
0-$75 $5.99 $15.99 $19.99
$75.01-$125 $6.99 $16.99 $20.99
$125.01 and over $7.99 $17.99 $21.99
That's REI-outlet shipping costs... a little higher than overstock.com but comparable to eastbay.com.
Customer Service
I haven't had to deal with them since I have already viewed the purchased items at a store or through a friend or family member. Otherwise, REI-0utlet sends email confirming the order. They do not send an email when the order ships however!
Is REI-Outlet.com better than Overstock.com or Eastbay.com then?
No... they are all comparable to each other and carry slightly different stock made by different manufacturers. All three places sell excellent brand names for great prices. Overstock.com does have the lowest shipping however with $3.95 for any order. Overstock.com outdoor goods come through the older and defunct GEAR.com site that overstock.com brought out a little more than a year ago.
The one thing that REI-Outlet is better at is the goods in climbing gear that can be found and purchased. It easily beats out the stock at overstock.com and Eastbay.com.
Overall
I think REI-Outlet is a great place to shop if you know what you want and what you're settle for. Prices are very low for most of the stocked items. All the items I've purchased have been in good to excellent overall condition. However, I would still keep other sites in mind since there is a good chance that you won't find what you want since all the stock is really overstock or closeouts.
By the way, ebates.com has a 2% rebate to this site! Check out my ebates.com review!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
yusakugo
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 - Top 10 |
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Member: Rich Go
Location: Somewhere in the NorthEast
Reviews written: 399
Trusted by: 497 members
About Me:
Losing Sleep and Lacking Time... sigh...
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