REI trying to bully Vista Outdoors (aka Savage Arms)

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D.B. Cooper

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I don't know if I should even post this here, but here goes.

REI, once one of my favorite retailers, is pulling all Vista Outdoors products (principally Camelbak hydration products and Bell cycling gear) simply because they are owned by the same holding company (Vista Outdoors) that owns Savage Arms and Federal Ammunition.

It seems a stretch to ban water bladders in an effort to attack the 2nd Amendment, but that seems to be their tack.

I've spent at least a couple grand over the past years at REI, and I've got a significant wish list at REI right now, as I plan to upgrade gear and completely outfit my teenage son for upcoming A.T. section hike of the White Mountains. Because REI opposes my most basic Constitutional rights and freedoms, I will be buying all of that gear elsewhere, and I won't be back after this blows over. REI will not use my own money, earned by own labor, against me.

I understand that it is every person's 1st amendment right to "vote with their dollars," and I understand that, since the Citizens United decision, "corporations are people too," and REI is on solid legal ground.

My concern is that corporations will now start currying favor with consumers by choosing up sides on every political issue, and, for the 2nd Amendment at least, it will become an end run around the Constitution. I think our best defense is to make sure and certain that investors and CEOs understand that there is a significant number of gun owners who are will to spend their money elsewhere as an extension of our voting rights at the polls.

I fear that this whole issue is going to spiral and expand into every aspect of our lives very quickly, and we will not have a moment's peace. We are going to be shamed into submission much like was done with tobacco users.
 
I’m with you
I posted earlier about this.
I’ve been an REI member for over 30 years.
Like you I’m nkt spending any more there until they reconsider. I will be writing to them. I’m not sure if I’m going to tell them to end my membership or not, but I will be clear I won’t be shopping there anytime soon.
 
I stopped shopping at REI about 5 years ago when they started being outspoken about shutting down 4x4 trails. You just provided another good reason not to shop there.
 
I stopped shopping at REI about 5 years ago when they started being outspoken about shutting down 4x4 trails.
Write/email to tell them what you're doing and to let them know what you've bought and were going to buy.

Silent boycotts are pointless.
...I've got a significant wish list at REI right now...
Email or write them to tell them what you're doing and include your wishlist and recent orders.

Silent boycotts are pointless.
 
Write/email to tell them what you're doing and to let them know what you've bought and were going to buy.

Silent boycotts are pointless.
Email or write them to tell them what you're doing and include your wishlist and recent orders.

Silent boycotts are pointless.

The far left understands that they’re a minority. So they scream loud to appear as the majority. If we remain the silent majority we’ll be permanently silenced by them.

So I agree. We need to become the VOCAL MAJORITY.
 
Write/email to tell them what you're doing and to let them know what you've bought and were going to buy.

Silent boycotts are pointless.
Email or write them to tell them what you're doing and include your wishlist and recent orders.

Silent boycotts are pointless.

I told them the last time, haven’t shopped there since.

I’ll tell them, “you’ve REALLY lost a customer this time!l
 
I posted the entirety of the paragraph in my 4th line down from my first post above on the facebook page, and I sent it to them in a pvt message via facebook. I'll be sending them an email as well.
 
Silent boycotts are pointless.

Exactly.

Just voting with your dollars leads to a message delivered late to the fight. Tell them how much you'll be giving to their competitors for engaging in politics unrelated to the business. Point out how such behavior penalizes great businesses that are part of large conglomerates and amounts to punishing all the kids for one's unacceptable behavior.
 
It's tricky territory.
All those "coastal" loud voices represent high disposable income marketing targets, and therefore must needs be courted.
But. driving off your sure customers out in "fly over" country is not a way to national business success.

Which redoubles hso's admonition--we have to tell people like REI that we are turning our backs on them if they turn their backs on us.

(Which is hugely complicated for me, REI priced themselves out of my comfort/price zone decades ago.)
 
I could be wrong but it seems retailers that are in financial troubles is using the "anti gun/NRA" option to boost their sales and improve bottom line.

As soon as a company makes such announcement, I immediately stop shopping there and tell everyone about it (Believe me, word spreads fast). I will gladly spend my money on their competitors who are pro gun/NRA.

And they can join other companies that have gone bankrupt.

I think the corporations underestimate the buying power of pro gun/NRA customers.
 
For those of you who are REI Co-op members, you can login to your account and view your purchase history going back to 2012. I did some research and some basic math to figure out how much I have spent there during that time and averaged that tout to dollars per year. I then added up what was in my wish list for the coming year and included all of that i the email I sent this morning. Including that information does two things: it proves I am a long-time customer, and it gives them something concrete to grasp; it proves to the company that their decision will cost them x dollars per year in losing me as a customer.

Of an interesting side note, viewing my purchase history allowed me to see every single item I've purchased in the past seven years. There was not one single item on that list that I can't buy at another retailer in my town. Not one. It also showed me how much prices have gone up in 7 years. ($17 increase in the price of a can of bear spray for example.)
 
For those of you who are REI Co-op members, you can login to your account and view your purchase history going back to 2012. I did some research and some basic math to figure out how much I have spent there during that time and averaged that tout to dollars per year. I then added up what was in my wish list for the coming year and included all of that i the email I sent this morning. Including that information does two things: it proves I am a long-time customer, and it gives them something concrete to grasp; it proves to the company that their decision will cost them x dollars per year in losing me as a customer.
EXCELLENT!

That is exactly the kind of thing that will make a company sit up and take notice. If enough people do that, they will have a very hard time ignoring them. When it comes to businesses, the bottom line is the bottom line. No matter how lofty your ideals are, you still have to make money.
 
How do we get a list of company's who are pro gun/NRA. Now is the time pro gun people need to act in every way possable.
 
Here's one list of anti-gun organizations, persons and companies (scroll to bottom of link) - http://newyorkcityguns.com/the-anti-gun-list-do-not-support-them-they-hate-you/

Another list - http://www.2acheck.com/the-boycott-list/nras-list-of-antis/

Recent list of companies that cut ties with NRA - http://www.newsweek.com/nra-boycott...t-ties-gun-lobby-over-florida-shooting-819050

Anti-gun organizations - https://www.nraila.org/articles/20140820/anti-gun-lobbying-organizations

If you are not sure about a company, I would call the company headquarters and ask point blank, "Are you pro-gun/NRA or anti-gun/NRA?"

I am sure you will get some sort of an answer.
 
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I got a canned response from REI to the email I sent them, advising me to read their statement on their newsroom webpage. (copy/pasted below) Essentially, they are deliberately, admittedly, trying to put financial pressure on Vista Outdoor group to somehow "contribute" toward a "common sense solution." Given that Vista is a manufacturer, and not a retailer, I'm not sure what they want. The only thing I can think of is they want to see Vista discontinue the manufacture of "modern sporting rifles."

Wouldn't it be awesome if Vista acquired the producers of even more stuff that REI sells? LOL


REI statement on relationship with Vista Outdoor
03.01.2018

REI does not sell guns. We believe that it is the job of companies that manufacture and sell guns and ammunition to work towards common sense solutions that prevent the type of violence that happened in Florida last month. In the last few days, we’ve seen such action from companies like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart and we applaud their leadership.

This week, we have been in active discussions with Vista Outdoor, which has recently acquired several companies that are longtime partners of REI. These include Giro, Bell, Camelbak, Camp Chef and Blackburn. Vista also owns Savage Arms, which manufactures guns including “modern sporting rifles.”

This morning we learned that Vista does not plan to make a public statement that outlines a clear plan of action. As a result, we have decided to place a hold on future orders of products that Vista sells through REI while we assess how Vista proceeds.

Companies are showing they can contribute if they are willing to lead. We encourage Vista to do just that.
 
Not gonna happen.

Vista Outdoor owns Federal, Speer, CCI, American Eagle, Blazer, Independence, Estate Cartridge, Alliant Powders and has military contracts to manufacture at Lake City plant.

Vista Outdoor also owns Bushnell, RCBS, Hoppes, Gunslick Pro, M-Pro 7, Redfield, Simmons, Weaver, Tasco, Millett, Night Optics, Promos Hunting, BlackHawk!, Uncle Mikes, Champion, Butler Creek, Outers, Gunmate, Savage, Stevens etc. etc.

My guess is military contracts and firearms related revenue far surpass their non-firearm sporting revenue.
 
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The response to them should include admonitions that Dick's and Walmart are disingenuous since neither have sold the types of firearm used in Parkland. Their "activism" bears no financial impact directly and represents no sacrifice on their part.

It is a sham and REI is dishonest citing them. Worse, their behavior towards Vista is akin to beating all the kids when only one warrants a scolding since all the companies in the conglomerate aren't participants in the industry in question.
 
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My guess is military contracts and firearms related revenue far surpass their non-firearm sporting revenue.

I read in a recent article about this (REI) that Vista Outdoors' firearm related revenue is about 54% of its total revenue. I apologize for not linking to that article. I can't recall where I read it, and I've searched for it, but now I can't seem to find it. SO, as with all things on the web, verify, verify, verify.
 
The response to them should include admonitions that Dick's and Walmart are disingenuous since neither have sold the types of firearm used in Parkland.

Actually, they did. I know that the Mall-Warts up here sold ARs (they also sell handguns-the ONLY Wal-Marts in America that do so), and my friends in the Lesser 48 tell me that Dick's had quietly reintroduced ARs to their inventory a couple years after their previous faux outrage after the Newtown shooting.

...their behavior towards Vista is akin to beating all the kids when only one warrants a scolding since all the companies in the conglomerate aren't participants in industry in question.
Agreed.
 
I spent alot of money at REI in the past ten years or so. Now, with this new development, I've requested my yearly member dividend ($200+) as a check this year and let them know they're not getting another penny from me.
 
On that note, however, I have a significant "dividend" this year. (Co-op members get about 10% of the value of their annual purchases back in store credit every year in March) So I'm kind of stuck at the moment. Do I throw-away that "free" money (it's really jut a rebate) that will only benefit REI in an effort to protest their activism (an effort that will go unnoticed by the company), or do I just use up that rebate (I'm in need of a new down ultralight sleeping bag) and then began my boycott?

(On a side note. Alaska is a Constitutional carry state that allows open carry. Although I never carry or concealed carry in town, I'm tempted to open carry my Redhawk in if I decide to spend my dividend - even though I've always considered those kinds of protests to be somewhat juvenile.)
 
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I’ve always liked REI. But the snobby customers are oft put
I spent alot of money at REI in the past ten years or so. Now, with this new development, I've requested my yearly member dividend ($200+) as a check this year and let them know they're not getting another penny from me.

If you’re not a Life Member, if it’s economically possible, use it to become an NRA Life Member. Then send REI a letter saying your dividend went to it. If you’re a Life Member upgrade to the next level!
 
I’ve always liked REI. But the snobby customers are oft put


If you’re not a Life Member, if it’s economically possible, use it to become an NRA Life Member. Then send REI a letter saying your dividend went to it. If you’re a Life Member upgrade to the next level!

I’m a lifetime member of the NRA, but that’s where my contribution to NRA ends until they stop with some of their own nonsense. I am 95% for their gun rights efforts, but less so for their foray into conservative politics and won’t be funding their Dana Loesch videos...
 
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