February marks the month I became an REI Member back in 1999. It also marks my 20th year of shopping at REI for the majority of my adventuring needs. That’s a long time! Long enough to show loyalty to a quality brand, a solid business and a trusted partner that shares a love with me for the great outdoors. This got me to thinking… shouldn’t that count for something?
I appreciate REI’s annual dividend program and giving back a little on what I’ve spent over the previous 12 months. But what about complimenting their profit sharing with a loyalty benefit – an added perk of sorts for being a consistent customer over longer periods of time, say every 10th anniversary.
It would work something like this:
- Spend X amount of dollars in your first 10 years and get 10% off any 1 item
- Continue shopping towards your 20 year member anniversary for 20% off any 1 item
- 30 years – 30%
- 40 years – 40%
- 50 years? If any anyone has been a spending member that long, they absolutely deserve 50% off!
In order for this to be genuinely meaningful, it would have to come with no restrictions nor exclusions and redeemable within a lengthy window after that anniversary’s date (like within 6 months).
Where membership does have its privileges, long-term loyalty should have additional advantages.
I think recognizing someone for such loyalty would be pretty meaningful in today’s marketplace.
How long have you been a member with REI? What are your thoughts about this idea?
