REI equipment

[markhusbands]

"I hear that if you do take advantage of the refund policy for evil purposes, you'll get a letter and no more refunds."

I think that due to the "membership" they have pretty good records of people who are return-frequent-flyers, and when these hit some critical level they protest.

But I have bought a lot of things over the years from there and the handful of times I've returned something because it was really junk they did not protest at all.

[stumphugger]

I love the Alcove but like the reviews have said water can pool. I have used plastic 1/2 inch pipe for support. Put 4 tees on the center section and 2 on each of the sides. Then cut a support pipe to go between the tees, two to a side. They slide well and provide a ton of support.

uploadfromtaptalk1368479119666.jpg

Is there any way you can post a picture of the inside view? Pretty please?

[Gary and Cheri]

This is what I do. Everything is friction fit.

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I leave the "T"s on permanently.

[Gary and Cheri]

I just stagger the joints and move to appropriate placement.

[stumphugger]

Thank you. I'll have to ponder doing that.

[GerryS]

I really like the PVC hack.

Ill get to the store at my next convenience. Unfortunately it's back to work after vacation with tons o stuff to do.

I agree. REI a d most other places sell the same big box junk. The other fact is REI isn't that affordable their prices are usually about the same to slightly more. The hippie co-op bull is just a ruse to get other hippie co-op types to shop there....I can't take much of their politics.

I'm posting from a phone, I can't see the post, the pole and tarp based fly looks the most reliable and least proprietary solution. If I can figure out how to do that I think I will! Maybe that's the excuse I needed to put a rack system to carry my kayaks

[pete42]

the pipe T's and added cross members looks like an quick easy fix.

thanks for the idea, much better than ranting about what some people think is wrong with America.

Pete

[stumphugger]

This "hippy" has been a member since the 1970s. I shop there when I need something not found in the box stores. I bought a kayak in Portland one time. I was there for work related stuff and needed to leave the next morning before the store opened. The employees told me to just knock on the back door, and they'd bring the kayak out and get it loaded. And they did.

There has only been one store that was snooty. I didn't go back there. Otherwise, the service is pretty good and they actually seem knowledgable, or will get somebody who is. I will need new hiking boots one of these days and since I have weird feet, I'll probably go there. I know I'll be paying dearly, but the service is good and I can take my purchase back, if it doesn't work out.

I found a 1970s vintage pack at a Goodwill Store with the REI brand tag on it. Maybe I should try to return it? Just kidding. I'd probably get a letter from them.

[tearhead]

We were lucky. When we were overenthusastic during set-up at CRA, we snapped a rod in the ceiling of our Summit Quik Shade. We were pleased to find out that we could get a new part directly from Quik Shade for less than five bucks. Good as new.

[GerryS]

"I hear that if you do take advantage of the refund policy for evil purposes, you'll get a letter and no more refunds."

I think that due to the "membership" they have pretty good records of people who are return-frequent-flyers, and when these hit some critical level they protest.

But I have bought a lot of things over the years from there and the handful of times I've returned something because it was really junk they did not protest at all.

That's fine with me...I will not do business with people who put out shoddy products (which I do not believe the Alcove to be) or stand behind the product with parts and service (which is the problem I have). It's funny....a company run by a bunch of tree hugging hippies pushing "reduce, reuse, recycle" and Eco-green beaver biscuits own policy on parts causes a large amount of garbage to be produced because they don't have a parts box. Hippocrates.

[markhusbands]

Where did you get this "hippy tree hugger" stuff? REI has been very mainstream and very corporate and hugely profitable for at least a couple decades. The "membership" is no different than Costco.

Hippocrates: "Whenever a doctor cannot do good, he must be kept from doing harm."

[alaska teardrop]

The hippie co-op bull is just a ruse to get other hippie co-op types to shop there....I can't take much of their politics.

Gerry, you've hijacked your own thread. Or is the whole point to disparage hippie types & their environmental politics?

[CarlLaFong]

Now it's clear. The root word of Hippocrates is hippie. I wonder what the Ol' Doc would think of the medical use of pot. Far Out!!
Back to our regular hijacking

[GerryS]

I could do a double jack by mentioning religion now

As far as hippies go, it's just every time I got here the folks working are the pierced types that you would expect to see in an occupy crowd. I expect be preached to about benefits of unbleached, hand woven hemp g-strings. This is obviously a stereotype, but I do assure you that me (45 year old, NRA member, with an understanding that herd management often requires the use of propellants and copper jacketed lead) would stand about a zero chance of employment at my local REI.

[markhusbands]

"help g-strings".

I assume you meant "kelp". Which is gross.