brichardsson wrote:

aglane wrote:Using the REI card for purchases from them carries an additional 5% to the dividend, so any full-price purchase from REI carries a 15% discount. Pretty good if like me you're not sure that scouring the web for deep discounts is finally worth it.

exactly this. i did a fair amount of purchasing at rei last year, but nothing like i have previously. but the rei card pushed by dividend up to 393.24 this year. not bad since i can cash it out if i don't have gear to buy.

I rarely buy anything full-price from REI but do use my REI Visa for just about everything, always paying off the full balance each month so I never accrue interest. This, plus the additional 5% from even on-sale REI purchases, has translated to a $517 dividend this year for me.

I wasn't aware of the option for cashing out. That's good to know since I currently only have about $300 of gear I need to get.

If you read the fine print, you have to wait until July 1 to cash out. We just wait until then and get cash from the customer service desk.

Bob Sihler wrote:I rarely buy anything full-price from REI but do use my REI Visa for just about everything, always paying off the full balance each month so I never accrue interest. This, plus the additional 5% from even on-sale REI purchases, has translated to a $517 dividend this year for me.

I wasn't aware of the option for cashing out. That's good to know since I currently only have about $300 of gear I need to get.

Bob, my understanding is that on sale goods we don't get the 5% but only the 1% as on gasoline, groceries, and all.
Cashing out is easy: the webpage on dividends has a 'send check after July 1 option,' or as noted above you can claim cash (if they have enough on hand, otherwise a check) from any REI store after 7/1.

aglane wrote:[
Bob, my understanding is that on sale goods we don't get the 5% but only the 1% as on gasoline, groceries, and all.

Check it out from the fine print:

5% back applies to net REI purchases (purchases minus credits and returns) including full-price and discount-price items, REI gift cards, services, fees and REI Adventures-invoiced trip payments.