These are good return policies, I've used them too - they're net good for the retailer, they create almost frictionless customer service: angry customer comes in, gets money back, no arguments, no bad retail experience - maybe a bad product, but not a bad seller. Tracking what gets returned, feedback to the manufacturer, maybe weed it from inventory. In a world where every bad experience gets posted to the internet, even isolated bad experiences develop into bad reputations. I can whine about how REI carries way too much cotton clothing, some sales associates who don't know much about what they sell, or the dearth of boot selection (which tend to get returned alot), but on the whole they're a good retailer.

And preparedness minded folks benefit from the returned equipment offered at lower prices in the basement shop. I'm inherently cheap, and some of my best buys have come in the REI gear garage.