I think my favorite part about MEC is that they have a record of all your purchases. I came in once with fleece I couldn't remember if I'd bought there or not, they confirmed it and had it fixed up for me! Another time I came in with my BD Fliklok poles that the entire basket assembly and attachment point I had managed to pop off somehow on a ski lift at Mt. Washington. The guy looked at it, said, 'yeah, I think I can fix that', hammered away for fifteen minutes and had it all fixed up. Good stuff.

Also Cilogear. They respond to emails and are excited to hear about you using the pack. They tossed in some extra straps when i asked nicely. Hampered by being based in the eastern US, but good customer service regardless.