this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2025
667 points (99.6% liked)

News

28764 readers
4209 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.


Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.


7. No duplicate posts.


If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners.


The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

REI apologized for endorsing Trump interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum, citing backlash over his support for fossil fuel drilling and deregulation.

CEO Mary Beth Laughton, who took over March 31, called the endorsement “a mistake” and pledged to refocus REI on protecting public lands.

The co-op will lead a new coalition, Brands for Public Lands, to lobby for conservation.

The REI Union, which had criticized the endorsement, praised the retraction. The company also faces legal challenges over alleged anti-union practices and benefits withholding.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 18 points 6 days ago

"why golly golly gumdrops we had no idea asshole mcbabyeater was a baby eating freak that wanted to eat our babies, we just thought he would let us dump out trash in the local pond and lower our taxes. We take full responsibility for this one, so we're going to start a branding coalition. Sorry, guys :("

[–] ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] FlyingSpaceCow@lemmy.ca 5 points 6 days ago

Yeah I have a friend from the UK who voted for Brexit. He regrets it now and I'm like: "WHAT DID YOU THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?!"

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 3 points 6 days ago

A mistake like that gets people fired.

It is being called a mistake because it's costing them more money than they thought it would.

[–] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 129 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Oh no. Anyways, still on my list of places not to buy.

[–] KingGordon@lemmy.world 79 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Right? They cant have it both ways. Dine with a nazi and you’re a nazi. Simple as that.

[–] knightly@pawb.social 47 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Maybe once they recognize the union and give them everything they ask for. 'Til then they get none of my money.

[–] BossDj@lemm.ee 40 points 1 week ago (4 children)

On that note, the Union requests that all REI members (if you have an REI account, this means you) vote in the board election.

The union was backing two candidates for the board. The current board, however, has intentionally left the pro-union candidates off the ballot.

REI's union would like you to log in and vote "Withhold" for all three current candidates. It takes only a few minutes!

A "Withhold" majority vote would result in the candidates not joining the board.

Here are details on how to vote: https://www.ourrei.com/2025-rei-board-elections

To be able to vote, you must have made a purchase at REI in 2024 tied to your account.

[–] unsettlinglymoist@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Done! Wouldn't have bothered voting if I hadn't read your comment, so thanks for sharing. Voting was really easy, just had to enter my member number and zip code.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Jaysyn@lemmy.world 100 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Don't care. REI is dead to me.

Shop at Academy instead, they don't give to any political parties & their employees mostly give to non-Fascist groups.

[–] ElDuderino96@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Is this true? I’m a fan of Academy. Don’t let me down.

[–] BakerBagel@midwest.social 46 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Academy is iwned by the same Private Equity firm that tanked Toys-R-Us. They are also the only national retailer that sells AR-15's. Corporations are not your friends. You should not idolize them

[–] ElDuderino96@lemmy.world 50 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Picking and choosing which retailer you buy your goods from based on their business practices is HARDLY idolizing them.

[–] raoulduke85@lemm.ee 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So yall don’t have pics of Toys R Us that you pray to every morning?

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] imsufferableninja@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Thanks, I was wondering where to go to pick up an AR-15

[–] Tempus_Fugit@midwest.social 1 points 6 days ago

Honestly, at least around my parts, gun stores are charging at least $200 over online prices, that includes big box stores. Best to take the online route. You'll have to ship to an FFL, so best to check which ones are the cheapest (any gun store is an FFL). Mine only charges $50.

If you're concerned about politics, I'd say let the gun industry slide, it's full of right-wingers and not worth it to sift through them. Honestly, you might be surprised how much of a leftist message many of them sympathize with. You'll have to be the judge on who is cool or not, people are people.

Best to do your research on which rifle you want, there is a plethora. For cheap while decent quality, many folks like the budget PSA AR-15s for as little as $400. A lot of folks will buy a cheap lower like the PA-15 for around $150 and attach a better quality upper as the lower isn't the most important. The lower is the only regulated part that needs to be picked up from an FFL.

Lastly, if you purchase any firearm, learn it and practice. Know every detail about it as you'll be tearing it down and cleaning it every so often. Above all else, be safe and have fun.

[–] ProfHillbilly@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I would say buy from your local gun shop but most of them are fucking racist nazis.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 80 points 1 week ago (1 children)

REI is corpo scum. They are not a co-op. This retraction is nice to hear but ultimately meaningless as long as they continue forcing corpo trash board candidates into their rigged board elections system.

[–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 78 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This combined with them being anti union means I won't be shopping there for a while.

[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 41 points 1 week ago (1 children)

how you gonna call yourself a co-op and be anti-union

[–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 31 points 1 week ago

The board is cooperative with their bank accounts. 🙂

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 62 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is beyond not knowing their customer base. Where are people going to hike once national Parks are clear cut?

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago

Doesn't matter, line went up.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 45 points 1 week ago (3 children)

So odd that REI put themselves with this group. They look very out of place in this group.

Here are the other signatories on that letter from January supporting Burgum:

  • American Bus Association
  • American Horse Council
  • American Prairie
  • American Sportfishing Association
  • Archery Trade Association
  • Association of Marina Industries
  • Boat U.S.
  • CHM Government Services
  • Diving Equipment & Marketing Association
  • Eddyline Kayaks
  • International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
  • Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
  • Motorcycle Industry Council
  • National Forest Recreation Association
  • National Marine Manufacturers Association
  • National Park Hospitality Association
  • National Ski Areas Association
  • National Wild Turkey Federation
  • Outdoor Hospitality Industry
  • Outdoor Industry Association
  • Paddlesports Trade Coalition
  • PeopleForBikes
  • Professional TrailBuilders Association
  • Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
  • REI Co-op
  • RV Dealers Association
  • RV Industry Association
  • Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals
  • Specialty Equipment Market Association
  • Specialty Vehicle Institute of America
  • Sports & Fitness Industry Association
  • The Corps Network
[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 60 points 1 week ago (2 children)

REI turned corporate or at least pro-corporate shortly after the pandemic. This all went down probably not coincidentally right after they hired an ex-Amazon exec, Cameron Janes, to be their "Chief Commercial Officer."

They're turning into another profit motivated shitshow and have become explicitly anti-union, hostile to their own labor, and also hostile to their own customers. They did this in the name of making more money, but given that it pissed off swath of their core customer base who are probably more vocal, left leaning, and activist than the average bunch of consumers who all quit buying from them, I'm pretty sure this wasn't a net gain.

[–] aegis_sum@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (4 children)

REI was already fully transitioned from a co-op to another big box store well before that.

REI has consistently hired executives and board members with backgrounds in traditional retail and other for-profit ventures since 2010.

They have chosen to run REI like their prior companies, focusing on margins and profitability rather than its primary responsibility, the members.

They have continued to open new stores and over extend themselves because profit must go up, though the main revenue generator for them is the membership fee. And because it is a one time fee, rather than recurring, they have to continue to open new stores to stay profitable.

On top of no longer acting like a co-op, REI has decided to fight its employees unionization efforts. Numerous REI stores have voted to unionize, and REI has refused to recognize the unions, in some cases for years at this point. REI has also hired notorious union- busting lawyers, removed PPE from repair shops, and illegally laid off dozens of individuals.

REI is now clearing house; laying off long term staff and replacing them with new, less expensive, and less knowledgeable employees. In 2010 the average camping department employee got 15+ hours of training; whereas by 2018 it was less than 4 hours.

REI is following exactly in the footsteps of Mountain Equipment Co-Op in Canada. Once on par with REI, MEC is just another shell of a company raped by private equity. And unfortunately for a lot of good people, I think REI will suffer a similar fate.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)

Yeah honestly I was completely baffled by that move

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] lka1988@sh.itjust.works 45 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

No shit, everybody knew Trump and his team of morons was exactly that - fucking morons.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] errer@lemmy.world 43 points 1 week ago

REI makes a large amount of money selling bikes which almost entirely come from China. This about-face is purely a reaction to tariffs and the Orange turd affecting their bottom line, not some moral epiphany.

[–] sploosh@lemmy.world 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm an REI member and I hadn't voted in a board election until this. I voted against all of them.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (6 children)

I'm also an REI member, how do we vote?

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] ProfHillbilly@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I had no idea they endorsed Trump. I will never buy from them again.

[–] Marleyinoc@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

They endorsed a Trump nominee, I thought. Or was still enough for me to vote withhold and I'm not likely to shop there until it's clear all the rot is removed.

[–] TomMasz@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Damn, even REI. The disappointments won't stop coming.

[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 41 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Not a case of "even REI." REI revealed themselves into just another boardroom full of bad guys in 2022 and have not improved since.

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago

"We just wanted to treat our employees like slaves! Why is he doing this to us?"

[–] SSNs4evr@leminal.space 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

"We have many values, but the most valuable value to us is profit, far and away. As a business pursuing profit above all else, supporting this administration, and always being ready and willing to bootlick, anywhere, anytime, at a moments notice, was thought to be our best shot at the highest profitability possible for our members. Unfortunately, like most of the supporters of trump, his administration, and his best-picked people, we're left embarrassed, and holding a (figurative) bag of shit, with nothing to show for it except for smelly hands. Sorry. Can we get a do-over?"

[–] nthavoc@lemmy.today 12 points 1 week ago

"We have a problem considering everyone that buys our stuff are campers that camp at these parks. We totally did not see or hear anything about this and caught completely by surprise the administration was going to do this. The "Drill baby Drill" slogan we thought he was referring to drilling for profits in OTHER people's lands! Who are we going to sell all this crap to now?!"

The leopards have never seen such a buffet of faces to eat. Only the best buffets. The biggest. Buffets like nobody has ever seen before! Billions of faces. Ok I'll see myself out now.

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 22 points 1 week ago
[–] skozzii@lemmy.ca 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Resign, they endorsed because they thought they would be the winners, turns out it wasn't the popular move they thought it was, now watch them burn.

[–] Marleyinoc@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

Is it a new board because I'm pretty sure we all voted withhold.

[–] Freshparsnip@lemm.ee 16 points 1 week ago

Trumps entires presidency is a big oopsie

[–] boolean_sledgehammer@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Choke on every rhino dick in Africa, REI.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] rivan@lemm.ee 11 points 1 week ago

Too fucking late

load more comments
view more: next ›