What is the problem with companies offering sales?
One of their values is that:
"We know that our business activity—from lighting stores to dyeing shirts—is part of the problem. We work steadily to change our business practices and share what we’ve learned. But we recognize that this is not enough. We seek not only to do less harm, but more good."
Running sales, just generates more impulse purchases and consumerism. If the products they make are truly the best that they can, they wouldn't have the need to clear out stock on a regular basis and to make way for new styles being made all the time.
Furthermore, they love to plaster their branding all over the "Big Oil, Don't Surf" campaigns (of which I do think is a good cause), but it's a little hypocritic when the surf industry wouldn't exist without oil, not to mention that their own wetsuits contain synthetic rubber (derived from oil).
Patagonia has admitted that at the end of the day, they are a company in a capitalist society. They know, and have said many times, it's better to re-use or keep longer what you have than to buy something new. But at the end of the day, do you want to buy from a company that does absolutely nothing for the environment or a company that at least, tries to minimize their impact? They are probably one of the best company out there when it comes to sustainability.
Let's stop trying to bring down the companies that are actually doing better and criticize the companies that do absolutely nothing. Perfect is the enemy of good.
The ultimate act of conservation is suicide. Few are that committed. We are all hypocrites.
You probably didn't hear of their "Don't buy this jacket" campaign: https://www.patagonia.com/blog/2011/11/dont-buy-this-jacket-... They also promote buying used items through their WornWear program.
If people didn't buy from Pata, they'd probably be giving their money to TNF or Columbia or some other company that is far worse for the environment. None of the others are certified B corporations. I'm glad it exists as a better option, even if it's not perfectly zero impact.
But unlike most other companies, Patagonia also plans ahead for some inventory to go at sale prices, in order to serve dirtbag outdoors lifers who would never pay full price... the same sort of people who started Patagonia a long time ago.
This was explained to me by a Patagonia sales rep about 20 years ago when I worked retail. I assume it’s still true because their end of season sales still seem to have prime inventory in them.