This will be the last year I'll have any REI dividend to speak off. While most of the items I buy from them are via REI-Outlet, we did use the REI Visa card as our primary card until their vendor, US Bank, failed to maintain its online capacity in a responsible manner. After several months of total ineptitude on US Bank's part, we pulled the plug on that account and cancelled it.
I'll miss the REI dividend that purchases via that Visa card provided. However, I've been getting a bit disgusted with REI of late anyway. Who needs 75 different LED headlamp choices? Or 35 different hiking boots? Or 20 different rain shells? That's an excessive number of selections, and it drives the item costs up.
I visited my first MEC recently. It's what REI used to be. Let's hope they don't follow the same path.
And - back on track - a pair of MH softshell pants are on the way thanks to the dividend. My old EMS ones are getting a bit weary.
