Summary

REI apologized for endorsing Trump interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum, citing backlash over his support for fossil fuel drilling and deregulation.

CEO Mary Beth Laughton, who took over March 31, called the endorsement “a mistake” and pledged to refocus REI on protecting public lands.

The co-op will lead a new coalition, Brands for Public Lands, to lobby for conservation.

The REI Union, which had criticized the endorsement, praised the retraction. The company also faces legal challenges over alleged anti-union practices and benefits withholding.

  • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.comEnglish
    3·
    5 months ago

    A mistake like that gets people fired.

    It is being called a mistake because it’s costing them more money than they thought it would.

    • FlyingSpaceCow@lemmy.ca
      2·
      5 months ago

      Yeah I have a friend from the UK who voted for Brexit. He regrets it now and I’m like: “WHAT DID YOU THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?!”

  • SSNs4evr@leminal.space
    2·
    5 months ago

    “We have many values, but the most valuable value to us is profit, far and away. As a business pursuing profit above all else, supporting this administration, and always being ready and willing to bootlick, anywhere, anytime, at a moments notice, was thought to be our best shot at the highest profitability possible for our members. Unfortunately, like most of the supporters of trump, his administration, and his best-picked people, we’re left embarrassed, and holding a (figurative) bag of shit, with nothing to show for it except for smelly hands. Sorry. Can we get a do-over?”

  • conditional_soup@lemm.ee
    2·
    5 months ago

    “why golly golly gumdrops we had no idea asshole mcbabyeater was a baby eating freak that wanted to eat our babies, we just thought he would let us dump out trash in the local pond and lower our taxes. We take full responsibility for this one, so we’re going to start a branding coalition. Sorry, guys :(”

  • skozzii@lemmy.ca
    1·
    5 months ago

    Resign, they endorsed because they thought they would be the winners, turns out it wasn’t the popular move they thought it was, now watch them burn.

    • Marleyinoc@lemmy.world
      1·
      5 months ago

      They endorsed a Trump nominee, I thought. Or was still enough for me to vote withhold and I’m not likely to shop there until it’s clear all the rot is removed.

  • Jaysyn@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 months ago

    Don’t care. REI is dead to me.

    Shop at Academy instead, they don’t give to any political parties & their employees mostly give to non-Fascist groups.

  • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 months ago

    So odd that REI put themselves with this group. They look very out of place in this group.

    Here are the other signatories on that letter from January supporting Burgum:

    • American Bus Association
    • American Horse Council
    • American Prairie
    • American Sportfishing Association
    • Archery Trade Association
    • Association of Marina Industries
    • Boat U.S.
    • CHM Government Services
    • Diving Equipment & Marketing Association
    • Eddyline Kayaks
    • International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
    • Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
    • Motorcycle Industry Council
    • National Forest Recreation Association
    • National Marine Manufacturers Association
    • National Park Hospitality Association
    • National Ski Areas Association
    • National Wild Turkey Federation
    • Outdoor Hospitality Industry
    • Outdoor Industry Association
    • Paddlesports Trade Coalition
    • PeopleForBikes
    • Professional TrailBuilders Association
    • Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
    • REI Co-op
    • RV Dealers Association
    • RV Industry Association
    • Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals
    • Specialty Equipment Market Association
    • Specialty Vehicle Institute of America
    • Sports & Fitness Industry Association
    • The Corps Network
    • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      5 months ago

      REI turned corporate or at least pro-corporate shortly after the pandemic. This all went down probably not coincidentally right after they hired an ex-Amazon exec, Cameron Janes, to be their “Chief Commercial Officer.”

      They’re turning into another profit motivated shitshow and have become explicitly anti-union, hostile to their own labor, and also hostile to their own customers. They did this in the name of making more money, but given that it pissed off swath of their core customer base who are probably more vocal, left leaning, and activist than the average bunch of consumers who all quit buying from them, I’m pretty sure this wasn’t a net gain.

      • oatscoop@midwest.social
        1·
        5 months ago

        I contacted their customer support and had them delete my account. I also sent them an email as to why, and stated I’d be telling everyone I know not to shop at REI.

        Fuck them.