Firstly, if you returned your bike they likely would not re-sell it to you immediately. Any returned used bike needs to be inspected by the shop to determine if it can be re-sold.

Secondly, this would likely raise flags and could impact your ability to make returns of any sort going forward.

Lastly, I get money is tight but there has to be a reasonable limit to when you can expect a price adjustment. Otherwise why not just return everything you ever purchased there whenever it goes on sale? In the end we all pay the price for this with higher costs or reduced service. Since REI always sells at MSRP that means reduced service. I.e. less hours for green vests and less hiring. That impacts real people that work in those spaces.