HikeArizona.COM

AZ state parks are joining the whole #optout bandwagon. Free admission on Black Friday


http://www.azcentral.c...

Why do Americans associate, "Black Friday", with anything other than a mass murder or some sort of public genocide? It just sounds like something you'd learn about in a HS history class as having happened in the 1960s in a 3rd world country, perhaps during a coup d'état or a opposition cleansing by a ruling party.

Consumption's, retail's, and business's grip on our culture is so weird. So am I, I know that, but I don't care. Much like you probably don't care about this post. That said, Black Friday was originally about retailers fiscal year entering the black, and no longer being in the red, IE turning a profit. How we started to celebrate it as a pseudo national holiday boggles my mind.

All that said, it is nice that the parks are fee free, too bad I'll be at work.

Sweet! I'll be there fighting and pushing people of my way to the top of Picacho Peak in celebrating Black Friday because that's what Jesus would do.

There is a lot of misinformation going around, even in newspaper articles and REI's website ... it is not just free admission for everyone to AZ state parks on Friday - you have to go into an REI between Nov. 21st and 25th and pick up a pass to get the free admission!

azcentral article:
http://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/2 ... /76107660/

REI should have made passes available online to print at one's leisure.

I'm going to state a likely unpopular and very contrarian opinion but I think REI has milked this for way more than this is worth and its nothing more than a marketing scheme to sell more stuff at full price. If the above is true about having to go into an REI to get the pass, that all but confirms my suspicions.

I'm not trying to be anti-capitalist/marketing etc. but its almost as if they think they deserve a Nobel Peace prize. There are tons of reasons to get outside, but not going into an REI on Black Friday is way way down the list.

@skillpore

cactuscat wrote:you have to go into an REI between Nov. 21st and 25th and pick up a pass to get the free admission!

Well it doesn't make sense for me to go an hour out of my way to save $7 on a park pass. If I go to a state park on Friday I will just cough up the $7. My free time is worth a lot more than $7-$10 an hour. But it's a nice PR move on REI's part.

nikorock28 wrote:REI should have made passes available online to print at one's leisure.

But then you wouldn't have to go into a store - and probably end up buying something! ;)

cactuscat wrote:

nikorock28 wrote:REI should have made passes available online to print at one's leisure.

But then you wouldn't have to go into a store - and probably end up buying something! ;)

Oh, I know. It is actually a pretty clever idea on REI's part and will likely bolster sales. But, I am not exactly the impulse buyer that they are marketing towards. I have actually never been in an REI before or purchased anything from them! I have no clue where they are located either. My go to is Sierra Trading Post because whatever you need is generally on clearance or will be in a short period of time.

@nikorock28
Bravo! I have never been inside one of their stores either, and have no intention of ever doing so.

Along with free hiking passes REI also serves free beer, which is why I go there frequently.

rwstorm wrote:@nikorock28
Bravo! I have never been inside one of their stores either, and have no intention of ever doing so.

Actually, after thinking about it a little more, I believe I did go into one of their stores somewhere in Phoenix in 2010. I had first started hiking and the girl who got me into hiking told me to go to REI to purchase my hiking boots. I went there, but found everything overpriced, so shopped online and got something at a much more reasonable price point. I have nothing against REI or any retailer, but wherever the best deal is will always earn my business.

@nikorock28
I looked in the window of one in Santa Fe once. ;)

Jason Cleghorn wrote:its nothing more than a marketing scheme

duh... They've had no problem publicly admitting that-- the CEO has been pretty open about it in a few interviews. I think that its proof that some marketing can be positive to your community while still being profitable and I'd like to see more like it.

@skillpore
Yes, that's a free annual pass (worth $75) ... Top ten "liked" photos on Facebook win those.