I used to buy a lot from REI. No much at all in recent years. You can get everything they carry from other online retailers and their prices are MSRP. There's really nothing that sets them apart anymore. Years ago they carried brands and outdoor gear that only a few specialty brick and mortar shops carried. Not any more. They should be striving to keep every last customer rather than alienating some, even if we are a small subset of the typical REI customer. I doubt their main base was complaining about them selling Vista products. Just like EMS they are dying.
Yep they had a big sale recently. went there looking for a new goretex raincoat. On their "bargain" rack...found one for $420. Some bargain! I was hoping for like $100 for a serviceable one.
I was also trying to buy a white mountains parking pass for my car. The sales guy never heard of them! Then some older sales lady chimed in..."we are trying to get some, but they do not want us selling them anymore". Jeez...what good are they really now? Bought the pass online, and it was here the next day in the mail
Last time i was in hiltons tent city it seemed still to be the good old store!