Pro Tips for Pro Deals: Shopping Smarter with Outdoor Prolink
As someone on the front lines of Outdoor Prolink’s customer service team, I’ve read a lot of our customers’ feedback about our “No Returns” policy. Trust me, we hear you! While a handful of our brands have started to allow returns (shoutout La Sportiva, LIVSN, and Rab!), the vast majority of our partners still have a firm no returns or exchanges policy when it comes to pro purchases.
Why can’t we accept returns? It mostly comes down to the deep discounts we’re able to offer. With such steep savings, the tradeoff is that we lose the flexibility to process returns the way a typical retailer might. We totally get that it can be a pain if something doesn’t work out, and we’re always here to help however we can within those limits.
My hope with this post is to help our members feel more confident when making purchases. So confident, in fact, that returns won’t even cross your mind! Pro deals are a different kind of shopping experience. Because of the way our program works, there’s a little more responsibility on you, the buyer, to make sure you’re choosing the right product. That means doing your homework before you hit that “place order” button. Whether you’re buying socks, skis, or supplements, it’s worth taking the time to read reviews, check sizing charts, and dig into product details. When you know exactly what you’re getting, you’re not only setting yourself up for a better experience, you’re also better equipped to represent the brand and use your new gear to its full potential.
How do I start gathering more gear beta?
My first recommendation before any purchase is to find the product on the direct manufacturer’s site. The brand will have way more information available, specific size charts, a broader range of reviews, more product images, etc. You can copy and paste our product title into a search bar to find the correct site. Below is an example with Himali’s Eclipse Sun Hoodie.
Don’t stop there! Learn more via online reviews
I would also highly suggest searching the internet for “x product reviews.” There is almost always an article from other professionals, reddit threads, youtube videos, etc. If you have social media, you can search for #product name and find photos, videos, and posts of that item. I’ve found that Google’s “News” section features more recent publications. Keep in mind that not all reviews are from outdoor professionals– it can be refreshing to hear fresh, new perspectives.
Get in touch and ask questions
My last piece of advice is to ask questions! While we’re not familiar with every single piece of gear on our site (although we wish we were), we do have connections with brands and can get you answers. Email us at [email protected] to start the conversation. To decide what gear is right for you, we encourage you to chat, call, or email the specific brand’s customer service team. They know the ins and outs of all their equipment and love talking shop about the products they sell. It’s a bummer when members let us know that they wish they could return because our site didn’t provide all of the necessary information. With thousands of products on our site, it can be a challenge to make sure we have the most in-depth product information from each of our 150+ brands.
Please do the research and purchase with confidence. Remember, that as an Outdoor Prolink member you are responsible for representing the brands you shop. After you’ve ordered, received, and put your new gear to the test, we strongly encourage you to leave a rating and share your insights with fellow outdoor professionals. Our goal with these pro ratings is to pass down knowledge to the next generation and give brands the feedback they need to make even better products. Useful information to provide would be: How’d it fit? Was the cook time on the dehydrated meal as expected? How’d that rain jacket perform in a torrential downpour?
Starting in 2025, each month, we’ll select one lucky winner to receive $100 in Outdoor Prolink credit from leaving ratings on our website. Our goal is that these ratings will provide honest feedback to current shoppers. Members can submit as many ratings as they please (no purchase necessary) but only 5 of your ratings per month will be entered into the drawing. One rating is one entry. Our new Ratings Rewards program is just one way we’re supporting that shared knowledge. Your feedback is valuable to other members and the brands represented on Outdoor Prolink as well. By rating products, you’re not only helping others make informed decisions, you’re doing your part to strengthen the community. Your feedback is valuable to other members and the brands on Outdoor Prolink as well. We’re all in this together!
Have fun, be safe, and leave no trace!
About the Gear Tester
Maddie Trost
Maddie Trost is a CS Agent at Outdoor Prolink. You’ll typically find her running around Colorado mountain towns finding the hidden gems including hiking, gear shops, and local eats.
- Maddie Trost#molongui-disabled-link
