Just thought I'd detail a bad experience I had with REI trying to return or exchange a defective item. I bought the REI backpacking bundle online which is a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat. I used the mat for the second time this past weekend and had a serious issue with it; the inflation valve, which is only supposed to let air in, was letting air out like a huge whole, making it nearly impossible to inflate the pad. I contacted REI online and they suggested I take it to a store so I could exchange it. I drove 50 minutes to the store in Kennesaw and they wouldn't let me exchange or return it for anything. Their reasons were: they couldn't find me in the system, it was more than 30 days since I purchased it, and I couldn't just return the one item since I had bought it as part of a bundle. I was very disappointed and for sure won't be buying from them again. Their policies don't treat customers well. I think it's a shame and ridiculous that I had something with an obvious defect with REI's logo all over it and the REI store turned me away.
