REI's Garage Sale

“I decided to go to REI?s "garage sale" Saturday in Seattle. I got there about 6:30 thinking that it started at 7 but it was actually 8. Oh well. After standing in line for quite a while I noticed a whole bunch of people were getting out of line to get to the REI employee at the front of the line who had the tickets with numbers on them. I asked someone what the tix were for and she said you needed one to get in. So I decide to go get a number as well -- at about that time he said he wasn't handing any more tickets out to people unless they were in line, the bastard! So I had to get back in line and wait for a ticket while a bunch of people in line already had tickets. Not exactly fair.

So I finally get my ticket and he says it will be about a 4 hour wait by the time my number is called. Great... so I go in REI and walk around for a while. I check out their "attic" (where they keep their clearance items) and I picked up a few things. Then went back to check on the line and it hadn't moved at all so I finally decided to go home and wait a while and come back later. You can call REI to ask them what number they're on. So I did that and finally around 4:30 my number is up (much longer than the couple hours I was hoping for). So I drive back there and walk right in...still a ton of people in line. I spent about 2 hours rummaging through things and finally leave with a bag full of goodies.

Was it worth all the trouble? I would say yes. There was a TON of stuff there I got lots of clothes and a couple pairs of shoes. And all of it was dirt cheap. There were some people that camped out overnight just so they could be the first in the door. I don't know if I'd go that far, but maybe next time I'd go even earlier just to get a number and then leave till it opened. I heard they had a bunch of snowshoes for like $20, but they went fast. Next time I'll know what to expect.”

“I love a bargain! Too bad I live in Michigan instead of Washington! I'd probably be there at O'dark thirty to get a low number, but I don't think I'd camp out either.

Kleet, how about if I send you a list of stuff I want so next year you can do some shopping for me too? Would you mind buying womens' coolmax undies? ;^)”

“for someone besides himself?”

“Thats a good one LL.

This site has a delicious sense of humor, I'm impressed.”

“What size?”

“Sorry, Joy, my hands will be full of the stuff Rad/Lizard asked me to pick up...geez Rad, do ya rilly need 4 sport bras?”

“yes, your poor squirrel needs some nut-slings.”

“A trip report about shopping? Great idea Kleetn, I can't wait to read about your trip to the grocery store.

Pick me up a couple cans of Spam while you are there.”

“Ok...since someone brought up the squirrel. I have to ask. ....ahem.....Is that the usual size for a male squirrel or is that one just extra popular with the girl squirrels?”

“I never looked at it that way. You're so right, bacpac. REI has nothing to do whatsoever with gear or the outdoors. Forgive me?

Now back to bacpac's thoughtful insight on minorities, dogs and religion.”

“One word.....boring”

“No one asked for a description of your life.”

“*****shopping trip report alert******

Kleetn's trip report reminded me of a sale at an outdoors store in Portland about 20 years ago. Anyone who went between midnight and 2am wearing long johns got 30% off everything and anyone there from 2am to 4am wearing jammies got 60% off. Needless to say, I was there in my nightie and it was a total blast seeing all the people in their nighties. There was one stubby hairy guy wearing a filmy blue negligee. I got a great sleeping bag for cheep!”

“Willow, Kleety's squirrel is a genetic mutation. Kleetn was having sex with his guinea pig and.... Well anyway the squirrel got Kleety's dominant genes.

...from his Mother's side of the family.”

“Well, I guess that explains Kleetn's mustache too.”

“Sorry Kleetn...I was just joking around.”