REI: The REI Member Refund

Sharing our profits with our members is important to us. We've been giving member refunds in the form of annual dividend notices every year since the Co-op began in 1938. Keep reading to learn about how the REI member refund is calculated, how to spend your refund and more.

Refund Calculation

The member refund is typically 10% of your eligible REI purchases.* For example, a member who purchased $500 in eligible merchandise in 2006 received a refund of $50 (10% of $500). Since 1938, REI has never failed to return a dividend to its members.

*Excludes sale/clearance items (prices ending in $._9 or $._3), items discounted 15% or more, gift cards, REI Adventures trips, REI Outdoor School classes and outings, sales tax, postage, mounting, engraving, labor, rental fees and membership fee.

Spending Your Dividend

Dividend notices are mailed annually in late February to active members with eligible purchase activity for the previous year. After receipt of your dividend notice, you can immediately buy more gear at REI.com, REI-OUTLET.com at any REI store or through phone, fax or mail order. If spending your REI dividend online, you can use your dividend to pay for your purchase in Step #3 at checkout.

Redeeming Dividend for Cash

From July 1 through December 31, you can request to redeem the member dividend for cash. A request to redeem a dividend notice for cash in our retail stores may be handled as a check request at our store's discretion. Please note: Your member refund balance expires on December 31 of the year after it was issued.

Requesting a Dividend Check

Your dividend notice is good for merchandise immediately upon receipt, or you may request a check for your dividend at any time prior to the expiration date stated on your notice. REI issues checks weekly, from July 1 through December 31, yearly. Request a check.

Note: Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Our Membership Services team is here to help you. If you have additional questions about your refund or anything else regarding REI membership, visit our Member Help page or contact us at 1-800-426-4840. REI is your co-op—we're here to serve you. Thanks for your patronage!