[Bartweiss]

> A lot of mountaineering gear costs a lot, but lasts for a really long time.

Precisely. REI has some stuff which is wildly overpriced - I wouldn't buy hiking shorts there. But if I'm buying climbing gear, no one will sell it cheap anywhere. REI dividends and a good warranty make the competitive, because I'm expecting to keep the gear for a decade or more.

[justinator]

Being cheap when buying climbing gear is like being cheap when getting a tattoo, except the latter won't kill you. Usually.

[weaksauce]

They changed the return policy on climbing gear to be much shorter. The gear coop has pretty good climbing deals and a good selection and a lifetime return policy(iirc) just don't abuse it.

Edit not lifetime anymore. Both places are one year.

[praneshp]

But most other places don't offer return on climbing gear. Even REI said they wouldn't take back my approach shoes if I didn't like them.

[Bartweiss]

That's a bit odd - I wonder if it's just a sanitation issue?

Certainly no load-bearing climbing gear is ever returnable. Harnesses, ropes, draws, and pro aren't (and shouldn't be) returnable or resalable ever. I assume helmets can't be either.

But non-safety gear like chalk bags can be returned, and I'm surprised they won't take back approach shoes since they aren't even used on a wall.

[weaksauce]

They used to take all gear back. They would be obligated to destroy it in the back if it was safety critical equipment though.

[calbear81]

They took back climbing harness a friend bought two years ago but told them that even though it's in their right to return, they would basically destroy/dispose of the harness since it's a critical safety equipment. Other stuff goes to the Garage sales.