I no longer trust REI. I have been a faithful customer for 14 years. I tried to return some hiking poles today. When I purchased them I was told if they bent under normal wear and tear they would be replaced. They bent on a hike 3 weeks ago, I was using them as hiking poles. When I tried to return them today I was told that that was just normal wear and tear and they would not replace, just bend them back, THAT was not what i was told when I purchased them. The problem is I no longer trust the integrity of these poles and will not use them again.
I shopped REI for a reason, the warranty. If I am going to receive cheap, shoddy products with no return policy, I can spend less elsewhere.