As of November, thousands of REI members may no longer be eligible for returns or exchanges.
As of November, thousands of REI members may no longer have access to one of the retailer's best perks: a 365-day return window. In fact, they won't be able to make any returns at all.
The company reportedly emailed as many as 4,800 customers -- about 0.02 percent of its membership base -- informing them of changes to its return policy and that "past abuse" would disqualify of them making returns and exchanges moving forward.
"You may still make purchases, but any purchase made on or after November 6th will not be eligible for return or exchange," the email read. "If you attempt to make a return or exchange, your item(s) will be refused and/or mailed back to you."
REI famously has one of the most generous return policies in all of retail and for years maintained a lifetime return policy before dialing it back in 2013.
Still, its current policy of 365 days for members and 90 days for non-members stands as one of the best among major retailers, and it's one of the company's main incentives to sign up for its $30 membership.