While waiting for a business appointment yesterday I looked at the current issue of Outside Magazine. There was an article in it about the outdoor clothing elite companies becoming a political powerhouse. They mentioned they did not need to cater to "Redneck voters" and they were the powerhouse to deal with the NRA. Makes your blood boil, at least it did mine. The companies mentioned were Patagonia, North Face, REI and a few others. I just I would mention this article, to help me vent.

I've read that before. I don't shop at any of those businesses, their products are overpriced and of poor quality. I don't care for the granola overtones.

I have subscribed to Outside for many years and they usually give hunters a pretty fair shake, frequently publishing articles by Steve Rinella and Rick Bass to name a few. They have also been giving a lot more attention in recent years to non traditional folks (their subscriber base) that are taking up hunting for health and subsistence reasons. I read that article which really focused on the CEO of Patagonia and gave some great insight into how these companies operate (and are transforming the marketplace). I have a fair bit of North Face clothing that I bought for its quality. I have shopped at REI for 30yrs because they stand 100% behind EVERYTHING that they sell and more importantly because their employees generally use and understand the products they are selling (unlike the usual gun counter dumb ass)who has never worn a backpack, slept in the woods, filtered stream water or cooked on small gas stove.

The old CEO of Patagonia was a big hunter, fisherman and all around outdoorsman.

JCS271, those are the reasons I shopped there also. As far as dumb ass gun counter employees are concerned, we seem to be breeding them everywhere. I don't know what the answer to that situation is. Maybe we expect too much from folks who are probably not making much of a wage. My big concern is when some snowflake wants to get into a confrontation when I ask a question. After hunting for the last fifty years maybe I don't know anything.

I haven't read the article so I'm speaking with limited knowledge...... I have been an REI member for quite a while and I buy from them on a somewhat regular basis because I like their price/selection/quality and service. Most of my 8yo daughter's "quality clothing" comes from REI.

I can't see any reason for REI to take a stance against the NRA except to pander to the bleeding heart portion of their clientele. Maybe it is time for us hunters and gun-owners who buy from REI to make it known that we make-up a significant portion of their patronage.

Impala#3

REI and Patagonia poor quality? You obviously have neither owned or used either.

Dave,
As a matter of fact I have. I stand by my statement. I think there are better choices.

quote:

Originally posted by impala#03:
I've read that before. I don't shop at any of those businesses, their products are overpriced and of poor quality. I don't care for the granola overtones.

Opinions on quality and price are subjective so I won't debate your point except to say that my opinion is the opposite of yours with regards to REI.

As to the "granola overtones", I know exactly what you are talking about but they don't bother me as much as the "redneck overtones" that I see form some of the hunting/fishing related outdoor retailers.

I think that we, as hunters, should let our buying power be known. If REI or any other retailer knows that they are going to lose business by alienating a portion of their customer base they are more likely to stay neutral. JMO, of course.

JBrown,
Point taken, I also agree about the redneck overtones. It's a real problem.

I don't get it. Why would a business want to bring up politics and alienate a big part of their customer base? What financial gain is there to be had in doing this? Why not say "we'll be happy to sell you whatever you need for your outdoor adventures, no matter what they are?"

Some years ago didn't Sports Afield drop their traditional "cast and blast" fare to cater to the mountain bike / kayak / rock climbing crowd? How did that work out for them?

I went back and reread the article which was almost entirely on the political activism of the Patagonia owner. Who by the way was taking REI and North Face to task for not being politically active. While REI is mentioned about 5 times in a six-page article it is always lumped in with all the other large outdoor retailers. The only quote in there from their CEO is "we stay away from political matters" and they reference the fact that that's because their constituency is selling products to both Backpackers and swing voters. They never had any thing to do with the NRA. I think what the op misread was the author of the article comparing REI's 16 million members as being three times the NRA membership when it came to exercising political clout should they choose to use it (which they don't). I think we are all quite safe continuing to shop at REI!

With so many people taking pot-shots at the NRA, I'm probably just gun-shy. However you need to be careful about drinking the Kool-Aid that liberal minded retailers throw out. As far as "redneck overtones" are concerned, I could not agree more.

Maybe it's me or maybe it's a Texas rural thing, but what the hell are "redneck overtones" and I'd appreciate examples to educate myself.

quote:

Maybe it's me or maybe it's a Texas rural thing, but what the hell are "redneck overtones" and I'd appreciate examples to educate myself.

The definition of "redneck overtones" is subject to interpretation but I'd take it to mean working class, mostly rural, gun owners and hunters.

In this instance it's shorthand for Trump voters.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Maybe it's me or maybe it's a Texas rural thing, but what the hell are "redneck overtones" and I'd appreciate examples to educate myself.

Michael Waddel?

quote:

Originally posted by Bigasanelk:

quote:

Maybe it's me or maybe it's a Texas rural thing, but what the hell are "redneck overtones" and I'd appreciate examples to educate myself.

The definition of "redneck overtones" is subject to interpretation but I'd take it to mean working class, mostly rural, gun owners and hunters.

In this instance it's shorthand for Trump voters.

No and no.... Being that I was the person who used the term "redneck overtones" maybe I should try to define it. What I mean is celebrating the loud-mouthed, in-your-face, "I ain't to smart but I'm proud to be a redneck" crap. Michael Waddell's public(TV) persona is a good example.

The average hunter does not look or act like this but a lot of the outdoor retailers tried to exploit the redneck movement or whatever you want to call it.

I find that there are far more hunters who fit the label "intelligent, thoughtful conservationist" than there are those who fit the "loud-mouth, uneducated redneck" label.

quote:

I find that there are far more hunters who fit the label "intelligent, thoughtful conservationist" than there are those who fit the "loud-mouth, uneducated redneck" label.

I agree..
Especially when speaking of serious hunters.