My wife was delivering our daughter back to school in Maine so I asked her to return/repair my 6 slot decoy bag to ll bean. Well they don't repair them but they were glad to replace it. When she brought the new bag to the register they gave a her a 10.00 coupon for a purchase over 50.00. I don't mind spending a little more when I know the company is going to stand behind their product. The bag was 5 years old.
LLBean
- Thread starter Kevin B
- Start date
Probably get slammed for this but the quality of their products is not the same as years ago. Much of their brand name items are made in China of some other country from the Asian Continent. Years ago the workmanship and materials didn't warrant constant replacements. I believe the replacement is built into the pricing and figuring most people do not take them up on the guarantee. While the warranty and customer service reputation is to be commended the quality is second rate, just look at the cork decoys.
Sorry to rain on the parade.
Sorry to rain on the parade.
True, but $700 simms will last just as long as $250 bean waders. What are you getting for your $700? A little better build with a weak warranty. When beans leak return em for new ones, over and over again. Your return on investment is a no brainier with LL bean. Other brands half your money is just paying for a label.
Kevin, where is your daughter in school?
I still pine for the old days when Bean's was a store on the corner, and the boots and fishing gear took up more than half the floor space, but there is no denying that their customer service is second to none.
As for Simms, I've never owned a pair of their waders, but they have a warm place in my heart as the last remaining manufacturer who makes a pair of wading boots that fit my size 16 feet. Orvis used to make a pair of size 15's that fit well, but they discontinued it this year, and the replacement is much smaller. Bean's drops out at size 13.
Those Simms are nice boots, too!
I still pine for the old days when Bean's was a store on the corner, and the boots and fishing gear took up more than half the floor space, but there is no denying that their customer service is second to none.
As for Simms, I've never owned a pair of their waders, but they have a warm place in my heart as the last remaining manufacturer who makes a pair of wading boots that fit my size 16 feet. Orvis used to make a pair of size 15's that fit well, but they discontinued it this year, and the replacement is much smaller. Bean's drops out at size 13.
Those Simms are nice boots, too!
Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
I've been a LL Bean customer since the 1960's. When ever I had a issue or problem, they took care of it pronto. Even a SA fly fishing reel, I bought from them that a large Muskie put the kibosh to the drag. They repaired it for free, and said if it failed again they would replace, for free. That was 20 years ago, no problem with the reel. I will gladly pay a little more up front for very good service, and equipment like that.
Capt. Jack Passie
Well-known member
Love LL Bean . Be sure to check out their outlet store accross the street. Fantastic bargins
David Allen
Active member
Beans has absolutely changed over time. You once got a great product for the outdoorsman at a fair price. Now you can get an OK product for the outdoorsman at a high price, and a ton of stuff for the indoor folk that like to think they are at one with nature also at high prices.
There guarantee is great but the store it is being ruined by those that take advantage of it. As an honest man I can not return my fly rod that was stepped on, but many people do. Similarly people return products that they did not care for properly, or just plain worn out. That drives the price up to the point I can not buy their product. Sure I can get my wife a sweater, but it would be damn nice to buy a decoy bag (at a fair price) that would last if I do my part. I am still using a gun case my grandfather bought to protect his deer rifle (now mine). I miss the day of great products for the outdoorsman.
There guarantee is great but the store it is being ruined by those that take advantage of it. As an honest man I can not return my fly rod that was stepped on, but many people do. Similarly people return products that they did not care for properly, or just plain worn out. That drives the price up to the point I can not buy their product. Sure I can get my wife a sweater, but it would be damn nice to buy a decoy bag (at a fair price) that would last if I do my part. I am still using a gun case my grandfather bought to protect his deer rifle (now mine). I miss the day of great products for the outdoorsman.
I was at Bean's today, staffing the TU booth at their Spring Fishing Expo. This is always a fun event, though today's crowd was a little slow.
I was looking to replace the broken buckle on the waist belt of a daypack. It's 10+ years old, and I've beat the snot out of it. It's still perfectly functional except for the broken belt buckle, but I've certainly gotten my $40 or 50 worth of use out of it at this point.
Anyway, they didn't have any replacement buckles, so offered to replace the pack altogether with a new one. I'm guessing the buckle retails for about $2 or 3, and probably costs them less than half of that.
I still can't decide if that's great customer service or just an invitation to be taken advantage of by the world's low-lifes, but they just announced healthy profits and gave all their employees a bonus, so they must be doing something right.
In the end, I couldn't bring myself to accept a new pack. I'd like to say it was out of principle, but the truth is I'm just too attached to the old one, and I figure I can find a buckle on line for a few bucks, or crib one off another backpack in a closet some place.
I did pick up an $80 fly line on sale for $30, and got a $10 coupon on my next Bean's purchase.
I was looking to replace the broken buckle on the waist belt of a daypack. It's 10+ years old, and I've beat the snot out of it. It's still perfectly functional except for the broken belt buckle, but I've certainly gotten my $40 or 50 worth of use out of it at this point.
Anyway, they didn't have any replacement buckles, so offered to replace the pack altogether with a new one. I'm guessing the buckle retails for about $2 or 3, and probably costs them less than half of that.
I still can't decide if that's great customer service or just an invitation to be taken advantage of by the world's low-lifes, but they just announced healthy profits and gave all their employees a bonus, so they must be doing something right.
In the end, I couldn't bring myself to accept a new pack. I'd like to say it was out of principle, but the truth is I'm just too attached to the old one, and I figure I can find a buckle on line for a few bucks, or crib one off another backpack in a closet some place.
I did pick up an $80 fly line on sale for $30, and got a $10 coupon on my next Bean's purchase.
David Allen
Active member
Way to stand Tall, Jeff!
I was hoping to go down and attend a few seminars with my son on Sunday. Unfortunately he had been misbehaving so he lost that priviledge.
If you attend a Kennebec Valley chapter meeting maybe he and I will see you.
Bytheway Thanks for your work with TU.
I was hoping to go down and attend a few seminars with my son on Sunday. Unfortunately he had been misbehaving so he lost that priviledge.
If you attend a Kennebec Valley chapter meeting maybe he and I will see you.
Bytheway Thanks for your work with TU.
I agree with David. The warranty is for those times that a product fails prematurely.
I do love my LLBean Mocassins.
I do love my LLBean Mocassins.