That’s part of their business, the other side is serving true outdoorsmen who actually use the gear.
That’s the side I fall into.
I camp usually a couple nights a month (winter too), hike, backpack, cycle, kayak, boat, hunt etc. All that stuff needs special gear and REI is a good resource for much of it.
I have one well worn pair of shoes with a North Face logo, nothing else. I refuse to wear the trendy clothes. Mine is usually well worn and sometime dirty and sweaty.
“REI has gone from a blue-collar outdoor supply company to a frou-frou, latte-sipping, overpriced hangout for limousine liberals.”
You got that right! As a kid it was the place to buy decent, reasonably priced stuff. Now I go in there only if I have to. I shop the thrift stores for clothing (just picked up an REI double-pocket safari shirt for $4.!) But REI is needed for some things. But I have to laugh at snow/rain jackets at $900. It’s crazy. (I have a Northface rain coat from the thrift store, but that was pricey at $24!)