A lot of it they try to sell for clearance on their online stores. Others are sold on pallets to liquidators and end up at those bin stores, eBay, or stores like Ollie's Bargain Outlet. But a lot of stores destroy it.
Unfortunately these “overstock” type stores also have a lot of lower-quality items [manufactured specifically for them](https://remake.world/stories/tj-maxx-marshalls-and-ross-arent-just-selling-other-brands-overstock/).
Anecdotally, I feel like I see this more and more at the Ross and TJ Maxx locations near me.
I don’t have a source handy, but this is common knowledge in /r/femalefashionadvice. The fabrics for similarly cut shirts are different, for example. Some brands use different tags so items returned to the store are identifiable by staff. There are 3x as many Nordstrom Racks in the country as there are Nordstroms - the math literally doesn’t work. With the internet and availability of data tracking tools, it’s much easier for brands to forecast demand and avoid overproduction altogether. Add just-in-time manufacturing and online wishlists and notifications for restocking and there’s just not a whole lot going to physical clearance stores.
Gap has done this with their outlets as far back as the early 2000’s. The tags on their outlet clothes had 3 little squares on them under or near the wordmark.
I asked because I see no (noticeable) difference at all between Nike shoes and Nike Outlet/Factory ones. The quality looks the same to me. Thanks for your response. :)
I think it can differ quite a bit by brand, and outlet stores might be more real about sneakers since they actual have “seasons” or fashion years with distinct colors and styles (compared to say, button down shirts and flannels that are the same year on year). And there are some outlets that are definitely stocking actual overstock (like some of the Saks Off 5th stores) in addition to lower quality versions. Probably easiest to google the specific store and see what you can find out.
I was looking into buying jewelry from Saks. They sell expensive jewelry but little to no information on weight or gold type. I started digging into the brands they were selling… all no name brands!
Coming from Seattle where they are (maybe were) headquartered, every kid here had guaranteed for life Eddie Bauer backpacks growing up. They are now garbage.
Is there an Avoid It For Life sub?
These BIFL companies seem to change hands or change strategies so often, that it’s very difficult to keep tabs on their continued claims of quality.
I want some transparency.
Is there something/someplace online that tracks/monitors this kind of thing?
Ah, the good ol' capitalism race to the bottom as investors try to flip their money faster and faster. At least with communism the potato sacks are included.
Who knew making something that you'll take back anytime or lasts forever is an unsustainable business model. Often they change hands because they aren't innovating past that one gimmick and that model becomes financially insolvent. So they sell off to an off shore company, who buys them because they know they can cut quality then milk it for years to come. Decades even. It pays to read financial news for this reason, most of the time those things aren't all that secret.
I fell in love with EB as a kid in the 80's. Back when they had the sleeping bags, tents, and other hard goods. I would look at their catalog for hours and I was in heaven on the rare occasion that we would go to the store.
My parents got Eddie Bauer gear for a hiking trip to the Alps back in about 1972, each got a parka and my dad got a hiking backpack. Those parkas are still their winter jackets until today, and have zero wear and look good. His backpack I used through a good portion of school too, and it is still going strong, although the design is pretty old-timey looking today.
I suppose the secret now is finding vintage Eddie Bauer stuff on ebay if you want something that lasts.
I wear their t shirts almost exclusively mainly for one reason- they sell a Men’s Tall size which gives me the length I like without the rest of the shirt being too baggy. They’re pretty good quality imo. Just bought five for about $100 and I’ll get a lot of wear out of them at my job before they transition to yard work shirts
Shout out for their petite line! It's one of the few stores that sells a specific petite winter coat line. They also hold up really well.
Their kids line is also pretty good and reasonable. My kids have been able to use their winter coats everyday all through winter for two years in a row without it looking worn out or like the arms are too short.
This is why I buy EB products the tall sizing. Ive been disappointed by the T shirt quality lately the six I purchased turned to junk after 3 wash cycles.
They did for me. Bought some shirts before I left on a 6month trip. Lost like 20lbs. Came back and they let me exchange them in store (Kansas City store) for free. Even though I had washed and worn them before my trip.
They do and it is why ill still pick up a product or two from them. Returning a product that I know will be thrown away is not something I will do if I can find a use for it, be it a shirt to paint in, or sleep in. That said it is not buy it for life if it cant survive 3 cycles with out little cotton balls forming.
Freshcleanthreads.com is the only place I buy t-shirts anymore. They’re tall sizes for great and the shirts are lightweight enough, while still being high-quality. I’ve had a rotation of 7 or 8 of their shirts for a year and they are all still holding up well.
That said, I buy all other torso clothing from Eddie Bauer for their tall sizing as well.
Okay, so how tall are you? I always think a tall size would work for me, but the sizing varies so much between brands. I’m 6’2” and wear a 32” inseam pant for proportion reference.
6’ even about 170 right now - jeans are usually 32x34 but loose fit styles- I’ve always had a small frame (wrists, ankles, waist) but over the past 5-7 years my shoulders and upper back are no joke now lol
I like thier shirts alot. The garbage in Sam's and Costco is truly garbage, but the stuff from the outlets is ok. Thier normal store stuff is actually not terrible as far as price/quality t-shirts.
They started carrying the Tall shirts at a Khols near me. As a 6'7" 200lb man I declared it a blessing from the Lord and bought one in every color they had. Good thing too cause I just went back last week and they stopped carrying them. The big and tall section is back to only 48x30 jeans
100%. The xl tall is perfect for me. The dark colors can pile and the collars get permanently wrinkled but it’s a tshirt so I replace them periodically. Love the t shirts.
I bought a big puffy winter coat from their outlet store 3 years ago and think it's holding up really well so far. Im not tough on it by any means but I'm happy with the way it's holding up.
Reputable, sure? BIFL? Not anymore.
They have a 1-year warranty (and getting them to honor that is like pulling teeth) instead of the previous lifetime warranty. And even the lifetime thing has kind of sucked in the last 20 years -- they didn't have any repair facility, so for the most part, they'd just exchange your item for something similar. I had a couple store managers over the years that agreed to reimburse me to have a local shop make a repair (eg, zipper or patch), but that's pretty much gone now.
As a Seattle local, this kind of kills me, yet I keep buying their stuff because they're one of the only place that makes decent (First Ascent line) outdoor gear in tall sizes. And even that is starting to go away. I'm not sure who I'll shop with when that happens. REI and LL Bean carry talls, but not generally in their best technical gear. North Face only has a few things in tall. Columbia is crap. I'd love to buy Patagonia, but damn Yvon is so short everything they make seems to be sized for him then scaled up from there.
>Kuiu or First Lite
Unfortunately, those are bit too hunting-focused for me (would it kill them to drop a navy blue or a red or a yellow into the available colors?), even if they came in Tall sizes (which it looks like they don't, aside from the inseam on a couple pants).
[Beyond](https://beyondclothing.com/) is a another quality brand I forgot about. IIRC they got their start making tactical gear for the military, Made in USA and (some) tall sizes. I have a pair of 15 year old soft shell pants that are still in great shape. A decade ago I didn't like any of their coats (they were all built to some weird military fit spec), but just from a peek at the website, I need to give them another look.
Kuiu started by designing technical clothing specifically for backcountry hunting. They’re starting to transition from that to go for more general market appeal but they just make durable stuff. I have a pair of their Yukon pants that have always kept me dry in the woods in WA even in downpours plus they’re stretchy (but also loud as hell). Kuiu is damn pricey too tho I’ve ended up buying the 5-6 garments I own secondhand.
This part! When I first got into hiking they were the most "affordable" quality brand I could afford. Ended up getting a pair of first ascent pro pants and fleece lined pants in the same line. SUPER COMFORTABLE pants that I ended up buying another pair as well as shorts, and they were all fantastic during my Japan trip. Bc of this line, I trust the brand for entry-level stuff and when the weather isn't super demanding.
When did you last buy their flannels? Just bought a pair of flannel sleep pants for my boyfriend with the sale and all. Waiting for them to get delivered still.
When did you last buy their flannels? Just bought a pair of flannel sleep pants for my boyfriend with the sale and all. Waiting for them to get delivered still.
They make OK stuff. Not terrible. Full price, I would search elsewhere but they are always having 40-50% off sales so it can still be a decent value even if not truly BIFL. Note that most outlet clothes regardless of brand are a completely different line of clothes, and are made at a lower quality.
There shit is solid and reasonably priced. I got a button up shirt jacket from Costco (which usually has lower end stuff) a few years ago and its holding up great. One of my favorite pieces.
I almost exclusively wear Eddie Bauer. Their legend wash t shirts I probably have 30 of. Flannel button ups are fantastic, when on sale. Jeans have all be excellent as well, again when on sale. I have a bunch of their "ripstop" shorts, also fantastic. I also own about 6 of their windbreaker/rain coats and they're by far the best fitting and quality jackets I've ever had. I am a huge fan of Eddie Bauer. Great value and great quality imho. However, I do not shop at outlets. Regular retail or online only. Love their stuff.
Ive had the stitching fall apart on me on the last three pairs of ascent guide pants. The only product that has lasted longer than 5 years in the last decade of buy there apparel is a heavy down bomber coat.
My old (really old!) First Ascent Guide pro shorts and pants are better made than the newer ones. The older fabric is a little heavier and not quite as stretchy (still plenty stretchy though, that was one of the things I liked about the OG Guide Pros), has no Velcro on the back pockets (which I prefer, but I'm sure many folks prefer the velcro, and they just seem better made. I had to sew the button back on a newer pair shortly after buying.
They're still good, though, IMO. They just went from being an incredible bargain on sale to a good deal on sale.
The zipper is damaged on one of my early pairs and I'm going to try to get it replaced versus replacing the shorts.
Me and a buddy would always lose the stitching in the cargo pockets under our harnesses. We switched to the 5 pocket pants that fit a bit tighter and don't have cargo pockets for this reason. Is that what happened to you?
I use them for hikes, climbing, and work. The back pockets fail first for me then the seems in the crotch. My earliest pair I like the pocket placment the most and have mended the crotch three times. The first time was half way through a backpacking trip.
I never knew they had a good reputation for long lifespans. I wear Eddie Bauer tshirts almost exclusively just because I love the fit and they are pretty cheap if you buy 4+ of them at a time. My entire wardrobe of shirts is basically just stopping at Eddie Bauer once every 3-4 years and buying 4 tshirts that I wear every day til there are holes in the armpits and such.
Echoing others about them being a go to for tall sizing. It's sad tho as Eddie Bauer, land's end, etc used to be high quality brands for a decent price. Now you even have sizing inconsistency where you'll buy 1 shirt in 2 different colors and they fit differently.
I can't speak for LL bean as I haven't bought from them in a long time but I wonder if they've retained their quality better over the years.
I have purchased almost exclusively LL Bean the last few years. So far I haven’t had a single quality problem. Now sometimes I will get two of the same things I.E. pants and one pair will fit differently than the other but they look like the day I bought them after between 50-100 wash wear cycles.
I've experienced the same thing. Two of the same pullover, different colors, same size, one fit poorly. Exchanged it a little bit later with the same sweater, same size. Ended up larger. So, 3 pullovers, tagged the same, but all 3 different fits.
Yeah, I can deal with lower quality clothes these days because for the most part that's just the norm unless you want to pay a premium. And sometimes I do. But the size inconsistency is so frustrating.
They’ve been going downhill for over 30 years. Tried to revamp a core/ quality outdoor line with their ascent products several times. It always fails bc they’re so fashion driven vs actual tech.
They make decent everyday pants for the office though. Skip them.
Is the ascent stuff BIFL tho?
I think they look bad too. I just figured someone must like that look and colors. But I always wondered if they are hard wearing or not.
I'm no construction worker or anything, so idk about hard wearing, but I have a few pairs I've worn weekly every summer (shorts)/winter(pants) year round for 13 years that are still going strong and have no holes. So circa 2010 it might not be BIFL, but they might be buy it for a half life. I have bought a couple more recently and have noticed their quality decline. Some stitching has popped on those within a few years. Still perfectly wearable and no issues, but it makes me question the brand.
Yah I just retired 2 fleece shirts from their First Ascent line that lasted about 13 years. Wore on a lot backpacking trips and got near constant use on ski days and winter lounging.
Only thing. I’ve ever owned from them is a leather toiletry bag I was given when I went to college overseas. The fact 26 years later it is the same bag I use when I travel kind of gives me a perspective they might be quite durable. But I don’t k ow about any other product
It seems like quality is inconsistent. I have a couple of their puffer jackets…they work great…but one is obviously a more substantial outer layer than the other.
Eddie Bauer hoodies and t-shirts go on 50% sale every black friday here in MI malls. I always get it, but I am not sure they've lasted more than 2-3 yrs.
Not sure about bags. Try Osprey or NorthFace.
So their made-for-outlet stuff is lower quality than their standard retail, and their standard retail has gone downhill. Their warranty is no longer for life.
Agreed. Used to get great, 100% cotton tees for reasonable prices and great fits. A lot of their stuff is blended with polyester now and don’t last as long. I have 15+ year old tees that I still wear, albeit faded.
Mid-level/mid-lower level brand. If you're looking for high quality stuff you can forget it. They've taken a dive for the worst. Temp ratings are completely false. First Ascent line is ok. Never buy regular retail, always wait for the big sales - black friday where you get between 40-60% off. Non-First Ascent line are a joke. Cheap china made goods. Their quality have taken a negative dive. For example their Peak XV model was the shit. Peeps climbed Everest and traveled to the arctic/antarctic with this jacket. Quality has dived since about 2012/13. No longer offering 850 down, now only 800 and outer shell material not as durable. If you can afford better, skip Eddie Bauer, point blank. Not the same company they once were.
I like their belts and most of the First Ascent gear but the quality on the other has gone done hill. And the vibe of the button downs is still 40s suburban dad who peaked in 1996.
I buy a lot more Patagonia now. I can't kill the stuff even though it's f'ing expensive
FWIW
* I've been wearing an EB jacket for 15 years that doesn't have so much as a fray.
* I have 2 pairs of EB jeans (one 5 years old, the other bought last year). Both are holding up great.
I’ve bought a few things from them over last several years. Flannels and the k2 boots. all quality been impressed.
Never pay full price. Always a sale to be had if you wait or abandon a cart. Ex. I paid 120$ for the k2 boots
Purchased an eddie bauer jacket in 2018? 2019? And it’s still going strong. Has survived regular wear and tear, multiple holidays etc. and still just as warm as day 1
I think depending on what you buy from them you can still depend on the quality. Imo the winter jackets are worth it
a clerk at a Brooks Brothers outlet confirmed for me that they and some other brands have two grades of clothing... stuff sold at the outlets and stuff sold in retail stores.
and it seems to be easy to see which outlets have this policy and which do not.
When i went into a Brooks Brothers outlet... they would have a full selection of shirts in my size... well sorta my size. instead of dress sleeves that say 34 or 35 or 36 inch length, they say "32-33" and "34-35". When i went to a Brooks in a major city center the sleeves would be a single measurement.
I live near an outlet mall. The old Orvis store seemed to have only one grade of stuff for every store. If i went into the outlet and looked for a jacket they might only have one or two jackets in each style and color. Same thing with the old Helly Hansen store. Neither of those outlets are still around though....
I wonder if Eddie Bauer online and in outlets are the same quality...
Outlet malls lost their appeal for me when, instead of finding beautiful wool in the Pendleton store, it was all made-in-China knock off clothing. It’s so sad what’s happened to brands that were once great.
Their women’s clothing used to excellent and is now mostly crap. Sweatshirts look raggedy and pilled after a few wears. Their knits used to look good for years, and now they shrink and fade after a few launderings. And this is not the outlet stuff.
The men’s clothing seems to have held on longer, but I haven’t bought anything for husband in the last year.
Their quality in materials has gone dramatically over the last 8-ish years. Their jeans used to be my favorites, now they all have elastane in them. Makes them softer with a bit of stretch, but also means they are thinner material and wear quickly.
I also used to buy their henleys. The last henley I bought was a tall medium that shrank a significant amount in the wash. The tall medium is measurably smaller than the straight up regular medium I bought five years ago.
I like their sweat pants and the camp shorts, but the rest is crap for the price. *Maybe* worth it at one of their many 50% off sales through the year.
Scott Galloway mentioned EB last month when talking about director responsibility. Historically the board was only responsible to shareholders, but his view is that there are other "stakeholders". He was on the board of EB and they received an offer for the \_name\_ and were considering shutting down...but it was better for the employees to recapitalize and stay in business.
I attribute much of the enshitification of legacy BIFL to Private Equity - their model of buying a company and then jacking it up for resale (or grinding out cost) all in search of shorter term than "life" has done enormous damage to many beloved companies. Look at the performance of all the IPOs of the past year or two - all down. The "value extraction" of business has accrued to VC/PE and the already wealthy.
The First Ascent stuff is still really good for the price. I’ve had FA items last over 10 years with no issues. I really love their guide pants.
My only gripe is that their jackets are starting to get a bit thin in terms of fit, which disqualifies my dad-bod. I’d stay away from anything that isn’t branded First Ascent.
"Eddie Bauer" has [been at least a half-dozen different companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bauer) since the 1970s. The original made good outdoor gear, including expedition quality stuff. Since then it's been hit or miss, mostly miss, as various holding companies bought the brand, went bankrupt, sold it off, etc. It sold again during the pandemic and is now [owned by a holding company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentic_Brands_Group) that specializes in buying failing brands and using their IP to market cheap imported goods.
I would not consider anything made by EB since the mid-1970s to be anything more than a fashion item, though I do have a few pieces from \~20 years ago that were functionally designed, probably the equivalent of the Columbia stuff imported from Vietnam in that era.
I have several pairs of their Guide Pro pants, both lined and unlined. I like them and wear them constantly. No obvious signs of wear after 3 years and I am rough on my pants, like carrying firewood, washing and drying weekly, hiking over rocks and logs kind of rough. I buy them at the Eddie Bauer store, not at an outlet. I have read about the quality degradation a lot on Reddit but that hasn’t been my personal experience.
I've been wearing Eddie Bauer for like 15+ years because of their tall sizes. Their stuffs good. Yeah a thread here or there needs trimming but otherwise I have some of their shirts that are 10-15 years old still. Their jeans rock, their K6 boots are bomb (leather, goodyear welt, etc), their technical hiking packs are great, quarter zips are similar quality to roots, and in generally all their technical fabrics like in their ascent series are great. Like every brand they may have a line or run of clothing options that aren't great but those are far and few. I've bought some of their nylon sweaters and not been too impressed, and a wool field sweater with very off proportions, and their outlet selection is sometimes not as good (as people mentioned) but overall I would say 85-90 percent of what I bought from them was worth the $$$ and very long lasting considering how tough I am on my clothes and gear. In regards to the outlet, you can tell they get other places to make their clothing there to top off their selection since I've had shirts part of the same series over the years but the fabric composition and weave is SOMETIMES different on the outlet shirts. My counter argument is also that I've bought things like a rain jacket, corduroy shirts, fishing shirts, etc, that were from their main store/online store and ended up in the outlet and they were the same quality. Recently I've been noticing an uptick in their quality that last 2-3 years and have loved everything I bought but for a while I did notice a lot of synthetics/cheaper fabrics (probably for like 2-3 years).
You can buy their products at Costco for next to nothing. Their return policy is scary! I purchase two pants less than two weeks ago and paid with my credit card. I went back to change part of my payment to gift card that I purchased at Christmas. I was told that I had to pay today's price of extra 25% over what I originally paid for the pants I had in my hand, with my original receipt. I ordered something online about 6 weeks ago, and I'm still waiting ... Never again Eddie Bauer, I'm voting with my wallet. I have been patronizing this company for over 25yrs. No more. And I urge you to take your business somewhere else. Their quality have deteriorated, their staff are awful and arrogant, also their customer service sucks (located in Asia - a different time zone and simply bad). No more Eddie Bauer for me.
This is an old post, but as someone who’s worked for several apparel brands including Eddie Bauer, the Lower quality in Factory Outlet is not unique to Eddie Bauer. We all do it and it has as much to do with seasonality. A little hard to sell clearance down jackets in June.
Eddie Bauer Full Price is still great quality and hasn’t yet cheapened the production the extent you see at Columbia Sportswear. My $0.02
Interesting that you responded. I just found an EB flannel at my thrift store yesterday and it felt really nice so I got it. After a wash it feels like good quality. Disappointing that there’s such a disparity between two products with the same name on them.
It disappoints me as well. You can find some good stuff in the outlet occasionally when excess inventory from the full price stores move to them, but it will always be mixed with the lower quality stuff that is ordered specifically for the outlets.
I buy the ascent pants/shorts and large tall shirts/polos for Dad type use. I pay $15-30 each on sale. For that price point there isn’t anything really that comes close quality wise IMO, EB will hold up for years with light use.
For techie outdoor gear I buy pata and arcteryx.
I've really liked them for a few years, specifically the flannels. During one of their huge summer sales a few months ago I bought a ton of stuff to try, I think like 15 or so items. Flannels, jackets, shirts, joggers.
Every single thing besides 2 were either A) cheaply made polyester crap B) fit for someone morbidly obese C) a combination of both. Everything besides the ONE thing I like from them- Eddie's favorite flannel or whatever it's called, it's still 100% cotton. (The other thing I kept was a 100% cotton hoodie that's cut poorly but was too cheap to pass up just for lounging at home).
So yeah, that's the only thing I'd really even consider as of now.
PHEW! I specifically came to this thread hoping someone talked about those flannels. They have one pattern that’s brown and red that aren’t silly or obnoxious looking and I just bought a pair for my boyfriend since they’re having a sale. I saw it said 100 percent cotton but wasn’t sure if it’s the actual flannel type material - is it?
Some are just plain cotton with flannel design. Others are the actual flannel cotton material. Wasn’t sure.
Yeah if it's labeled as "Eddie's Favorite Flannel" (regular or slim fit) and 100% cotton I would say it's pretty flannely material. It's got a good weight to it and is pretty thick.
Alternatively, since I posted that original comment I've also tried one from Eddie Bauer called the "Hemplify Flannel" and I really like it as well. It's not 100% cotton though- it's a cotton, hemp, and polyester combination but it feels nice and has a good weight as well.
I've actually gotten a weirdly large amount of compliments on the Hemplify one. The color I have looks to be sold out though.
Nice! Glad to hear both pairs are working out well for you!
The “Eddie’s favorite flannel” is definitely the item I ordered for him. That is the type of description I was hoping to hear. Can’t wait to get them delivered and give them to him.
Thanks for the response!
The brand went out of business in 2003, since then it's been bought and sold, never been as good since. The quality is still very good but the main problems I have are inconsistent fit and models that are only available for short times at specific stores. I'm going to speculate but it seems like they are having other factories make the clothing for them which means short runs of things and different factories having differing sizes.
Hello /u/Aceritus! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Used to buy a lot of clothes from there. I don't anymore because prices have gone up and quality has gone down. Also, I shopped there because of the abundance of tall sizes and they seem to be dramatically reducing the skus that are available in tall sizes.
Based on recent experiences I would rate their support somewhere between incompetent and atrocious. It would seem that support is contracted out to India where, to nobody's surprise, support reps know nothing of the products they support or the manufacturer's policies.
I'm currently attempting to exchange a pair of boots purchased online and while awaiting a response from support, I found my answer in the site's FAQ where it states you must return and reorder in lieu of exchange and once the return is complete, the purchaser may contact support who will assist in adjusting any price differences. I'm skeptical and apparently a glutton for punishment so I'm going to give it a shot despite two different support reps telling me that my only option is to return the item. Regardless of the outcome, I won't be doing business with EB down the road.
Outlets are no longer past-season or factory seconds. Brands produce lower quality items for their Outlet stores.
…which sucks, in and of itself 😕
And rather begs the question, where do we now find the factory seconds and last season stuff?
A lot of it they try to sell for clearance on their online stores. Others are sold on pallets to liquidators and end up at those bin stores, eBay, or stores like Ollie's Bargain Outlet. But a lot of stores destroy it.
TJ Max, Ross
Unfortunately these “overstock” type stores also have a lot of lower-quality items [manufactured specifically for them](https://remake.world/stories/tj-maxx-marshalls-and-ross-arent-just-selling-other-brands-overstock/). Anecdotally, I feel like I see this more and more at the Ross and TJ Maxx locations near me.
Do you have a source on this? I'd love to understand it further.
I don’t have a source handy, but this is common knowledge in /r/femalefashionadvice. The fabrics for similarly cut shirts are different, for example. Some brands use different tags so items returned to the store are identifiable by staff. There are 3x as many Nordstrom Racks in the country as there are Nordstroms - the math literally doesn’t work. With the internet and availability of data tracking tools, it’s much easier for brands to forecast demand and avoid overproduction altogether. Add just-in-time manufacturing and online wishlists and notifications for restocking and there’s just not a whole lot going to physical clearance stores.
Gap has done this with their outlets as far back as the early 2000’s. The tags on their outlet clothes had 3 little squares on them under or near the wordmark.
I asked because I see no (noticeable) difference at all between Nike shoes and Nike Outlet/Factory ones. The quality looks the same to me. Thanks for your response. :)
I think it can differ quite a bit by brand, and outlet stores might be more real about sneakers since they actual have “seasons” or fashion years with distinct colors and styles (compared to say, button down shirts and flannels that are the same year on year). And there are some outlets that are definitely stocking actual overstock (like some of the Saks Off 5th stores) in addition to lower quality versions. Probably easiest to google the specific store and see what you can find out.
I was looking into buying jewelry from Saks. They sell expensive jewelry but little to no information on weight or gold type. I started digging into the brands they were selling… all no name brands!
That may be because modern Nike quality is shit alltogether
Nike Outlet quality is fine but they rarely have the popular shoe models.
I presume you’re capable of a google search…
Yup. I shop at banana republic outlet because it’s the same quality as the GAP was 15 years ago
Coming from Seattle where they are (maybe were) headquartered, every kid here had guaranteed for life Eddie Bauer backpacks growing up. They are now garbage.
I'm still using an Eddie Bauer backpack I bought at the outlet in 1997.
Same for my 2004 backpack from the outlet!
My grandmother used to make the clothes for EB back in those days. I still have a goose down jacket she made there in the 70's.
That's so cool!
Is there an Avoid It For Life sub? These BIFL companies seem to change hands or change strategies so often, that it’s very difficult to keep tabs on their continued claims of quality. I want some transparency. Is there something/someplace online that tracks/monitors this kind of thing?
Acquisitions (listed on Wikipedia) are often a good indicator. I know it was for Tumi.
Ah, the good ol' capitalism race to the bottom as investors try to flip their money faster and faster. At least with communism the potato sacks are included.
Who knew making something that you'll take back anytime or lasts forever is an unsustainable business model. Often they change hands because they aren't innovating past that one gimmick and that model becomes financially insolvent. So they sell off to an off shore company, who buys them because they know they can cut quality then milk it for years to come. Decades even. It pays to read financial news for this reason, most of the time those things aren't all that secret.
Agreed.
I still use my Dad's Eddie Bauer down sleeping bag from the 1980s.
I fell in love with EB as a kid in the 80's. Back when they had the sleeping bags, tents, and other hard goods. I would look at their catalog for hours and I was in heaven on the rare occasion that we would go to the store.
What a shame
My parents got Eddie Bauer gear for a hiking trip to the Alps back in about 1972, each got a parka and my dad got a hiking backpack. Those parkas are still their winter jackets until today, and have zero wear and look good. His backpack I used through a good portion of school too, and it is still going strong, although the design is pretty old-timey looking today. I suppose the secret now is finding vintage Eddie Bauer stuff on ebay if you want something that lasts.
I’ve been considering buying their shearling lined joggers. This is very sad to know.
I wear their t shirts almost exclusively mainly for one reason- they sell a Men’s Tall size which gives me the length I like without the rest of the shirt being too baggy. They’re pretty good quality imo. Just bought five for about $100 and I’ll get a lot of wear out of them at my job before they transition to yard work shirts
I know this sub is BIFLIFE but I really appreciate a cheap ish BIFafewyears purchase too.
Same. I love the tall sizes and the prices aren’t bad if it’s on sale. Not BIFL but I haven’t had any quality issues with their clothes
Eddie Bauer Tall gang rise up.
Shout out for their petite line! It's one of the few stores that sells a specific petite winter coat line. They also hold up really well. Their kids line is also pretty good and reasonable. My kids have been able to use their winter coats everyday all through winter for two years in a row without it looking worn out or like the arms are too short.
I was on the same boat until I discovered Duluth
Wish their logo wasn't plastered all over so much of their stuff
Duluth is the best for tall sizes in my experience
I've had two pairs of sleep pants split within 6 months.
I love their women’s tshirts too for the same reason. I have dozens of them and wear them all the time. The quality still seems good on these.
Tall medium forever
This is why I buy EB products the tall sizing. Ive been disappointed by the T shirt quality lately the six I purchased turned to junk after 3 wash cycles.
Don’t they have a generous return policy?
They did for me. Bought some shirts before I left on a 6month trip. Lost like 20lbs. Came back and they let me exchange them in store (Kansas City store) for free. Even though I had washed and worn them before my trip.
They do and it is why ill still pick up a product or two from them. Returning a product that I know will be thrown away is not something I will do if I can find a use for it, be it a shirt to paint in, or sleep in. That said it is not buy it for life if it cant survive 3 cycles with out little cotton balls forming.
Freshcleanthreads.com is the only place I buy t-shirts anymore. They’re tall sizes for great and the shirts are lightweight enough, while still being high-quality. I’ve had a rotation of 7 or 8 of their shirts for a year and they are all still holding up well. That said, I buy all other torso clothing from Eddie Bauer for their tall sizing as well.
Okay, so how tall are you? I always think a tall size would work for me, but the sizing varies so much between brands. I’m 6’2” and wear a 32” inseam pant for proportion reference.
6’ even about 170 right now - jeans are usually 32x34 but loose fit styles- I’ve always had a small frame (wrists, ankles, waist) but over the past 5-7 years my shoulders and upper back are no joke now lol
I like thier shirts alot. The garbage in Sam's and Costco is truly garbage, but the stuff from the outlets is ok. Thier normal store stuff is actually not terrible as far as price/quality t-shirts.
They started carrying the Tall shirts at a Khols near me. As a 6'7" 200lb man I declared it a blessing from the Lord and bought one in every color they had. Good thing too cause I just went back last week and they stopped carrying them. The big and tall section is back to only 48x30 jeans
100%. The xl tall is perfect for me. The dark colors can pile and the collars get permanently wrinkled but it’s a tshirt so I replace them periodically. Love the t shirts.
I bought a big puffy winter coat from their outlet store 3 years ago and think it's holding up really well so far. Im not tough on it by any means but I'm happy with the way it's holding up.
Reputable, sure? BIFL? Not anymore. They have a 1-year warranty (and getting them to honor that is like pulling teeth) instead of the previous lifetime warranty. And even the lifetime thing has kind of sucked in the last 20 years -- they didn't have any repair facility, so for the most part, they'd just exchange your item for something similar. I had a couple store managers over the years that agreed to reimburse me to have a local shop make a repair (eg, zipper or patch), but that's pretty much gone now. As a Seattle local, this kind of kills me, yet I keep buying their stuff because they're one of the only place that makes decent (First Ascent line) outdoor gear in tall sizes. And even that is starting to go away. I'm not sure who I'll shop with when that happens. REI and LL Bean carry talls, but not generally in their best technical gear. North Face only has a few things in tall. Columbia is crap. I'd love to buy Patagonia, but damn Yvon is so short everything they make seems to be sized for him then scaled up from there.
Kuiu or First Lite
>Kuiu or First Lite Unfortunately, those are bit too hunting-focused for me (would it kill them to drop a navy blue or a red or a yellow into the available colors?), even if they came in Tall sizes (which it looks like they don't, aside from the inseam on a couple pants). [Beyond](https://beyondclothing.com/) is a another quality brand I forgot about. IIRC they got their start making tactical gear for the military, Made in USA and (some) tall sizes. I have a pair of 15 year old soft shell pants that are still in great shape. A decade ago I didn't like any of their coats (they were all built to some weird military fit spec), but just from a peek at the website, I need to give them another look.
What’s so great about Kuiu? I’ve been seeing it a lot lately.
Kuiu started by designing technical clothing specifically for backcountry hunting. They’re starting to transition from that to go for more general market appeal but they just make durable stuff. I have a pair of their Yukon pants that have always kept me dry in the woods in WA even in downpours plus they’re stretchy (but also loud as hell). Kuiu is damn pricey too tho I’ve ended up buying the 5-6 garments I own secondhand.
Great response thank you
I believe they underwent either a bankruptcy or a new owner. The business wasn’t doing so well about 5 years ago.
They've changed ownership probably 5 times in the past 20 years.
I’ve had great luck with their first ascent line, I’ve got fleeces and down jackets from them that have lasted 10+ years.
Same here. I love the cloud layer half-zip fleeces in the winter.
This part! When I first got into hiking they were the most "affordable" quality brand I could afford. Ended up getting a pair of first ascent pro pants and fleece lined pants in the same line. SUPER COMFORTABLE pants that I ended up buying another pair as well as shorts, and they were all fantastic during my Japan trip. Bc of this line, I trust the brand for entry-level stuff and when the weather isn't super demanding.
They make good button down shirts and pants still. My Eddie Bauer flannels are some of my favorites.
Agreed. My flannels are about half EB and half LL.
Same. I have a couple of old filson and woolrich shirts as well. Love them all. The LLBean shirts pill up a bit. That’s my complaint about them.
When did you last buy their flannels? Just bought a pair of flannel sleep pants for my boyfriend with the sale and all. Waiting for them to get delivered still.
My last new shirt was March of 2020. I bought some flannel pj pants a couple of winters ago and they’re great too.
Thanks for the quick response! That’s good to hear! I’m hoping this pair turns out good enough - we’ll see!
You got it. Hope your bf enjoys them!
Thanks me too! :)
When did you last buy their flannels? Just bought a pair of flannel sleep pants for my boyfriend with the sale and all. Waiting for them to get delivered still.
They make OK stuff. Not terrible. Full price, I would search elsewhere but they are always having 40-50% off sales so it can still be a decent value even if not truly BIFL. Note that most outlet clothes regardless of brand are a completely different line of clothes, and are made at a lower quality.
There shit is solid and reasonably priced. I got a button up shirt jacket from Costco (which usually has lower end stuff) a few years ago and its holding up great. One of my favorite pieces.
I almost exclusively wear Eddie Bauer. Their legend wash t shirts I probably have 30 of. Flannel button ups are fantastic, when on sale. Jeans have all be excellent as well, again when on sale. I have a bunch of their "ripstop" shorts, also fantastic. I also own about 6 of their windbreaker/rain coats and they're by far the best fitting and quality jackets I've ever had. I am a huge fan of Eddie Bauer. Great value and great quality imho. However, I do not shop at outlets. Regular retail or online only. Love their stuff.
My neighbor growing up had a ford Eddie Bauer truck. Apparently that was fancy.
I think it’s decent, and they actually run sales. Most companies have gone down hill, LL Bean being one of them. What company hasn’t???
Their ascent guide pants are decent. I use them for climbing/hiking. Otherwise i would recommend nothing from them.
Ive had the stitching fall apart on me on the last three pairs of ascent guide pants. The only product that has lasted longer than 5 years in the last decade of buy there apparel is a heavy down bomber coat.
When did you buy them? I haven't picked up a new pair in over 5 years - maybe they are made worse now?
First two were about 4-5 years ago.
My old (really old!) First Ascent Guide pro shorts and pants are better made than the newer ones. The older fabric is a little heavier and not quite as stretchy (still plenty stretchy though, that was one of the things I liked about the OG Guide Pros), has no Velcro on the back pockets (which I prefer, but I'm sure many folks prefer the velcro, and they just seem better made. I had to sew the button back on a newer pair shortly after buying. They're still good, though, IMO. They just went from being an incredible bargain on sale to a good deal on sale. The zipper is damaged on one of my early pairs and I'm going to try to get it replaced versus replacing the shorts.
Exactly my experience (stitching comes out of the pants (jeans aside) and the coats I’ve purchased have been good quality.
Me and a buddy would always lose the stitching in the cargo pockets under our harnesses. We switched to the 5 pocket pants that fit a bit tighter and don't have cargo pockets for this reason. Is that what happened to you?
I use them for hikes, climbing, and work. The back pockets fail first for me then the seems in the crotch. My earliest pair I like the pocket placment the most and have mended the crotch three times. The first time was half way through a backpacking trip.
Speaking of which. The Costco version of the ascent pants are 1/4 of the price..on sale
No. I ordered expensive slippers and I swear to god they sent me ONE slipper. Then refused to pay return shipping. Done with them.
I never knew they had a good reputation for long lifespans. I wear Eddie Bauer tshirts almost exclusively just because I love the fit and they are pretty cheap if you buy 4+ of them at a time. My entire wardrobe of shirts is basically just stopping at Eddie Bauer once every 3-4 years and buying 4 tshirts that I wear every day til there are holes in the armpits and such.
I love their t-shirts. They are thicker than any other store I’ve tried.
Echoing others about them being a go to for tall sizing. It's sad tho as Eddie Bauer, land's end, etc used to be high quality brands for a decent price. Now you even have sizing inconsistency where you'll buy 1 shirt in 2 different colors and they fit differently. I can't speak for LL bean as I haven't bought from them in a long time but I wonder if they've retained their quality better over the years.
I have purchased almost exclusively LL Bean the last few years. So far I haven’t had a single quality problem. Now sometimes I will get two of the same things I.E. pants and one pair will fit differently than the other but they look like the day I bought them after between 50-100 wash wear cycles.
I've experienced the same thing. Two of the same pullover, different colors, same size, one fit poorly. Exchanged it a little bit later with the same sweater, same size. Ended up larger. So, 3 pullovers, tagged the same, but all 3 different fits.
Yeah, I can deal with lower quality clothes these days because for the most part that's just the norm unless you want to pay a premium. And sometimes I do. But the size inconsistency is so frustrating.
They’ve been going downhill for over 30 years. Tried to revamp a core/ quality outdoor line with their ascent products several times. It always fails bc they’re so fashion driven vs actual tech. They make decent everyday pants for the office though. Skip them.
I have those lined ascent pants. They were highly recommended but i cant say they scream quality.
Is the ascent stuff BIFL tho? I think they look bad too. I just figured someone must like that look and colors. But I always wondered if they are hard wearing or not.
I'm no construction worker or anything, so idk about hard wearing, but I have a few pairs I've worn weekly every summer (shorts)/winter(pants) year round for 13 years that are still going strong and have no holes. So circa 2010 it might not be BIFL, but they might be buy it for a half life. I have bought a couple more recently and have noticed their quality decline. Some stitching has popped on those within a few years. Still perfectly wearable and no issues, but it makes me question the brand.
Realistically, that’s pretty much BIFL by my books.
Yah I just retired 2 fleece shirts from their First Ascent line that lasted about 13 years. Wore on a lot backpacking trips and got near constant use on ski days and winter lounging.
Only thing. I’ve ever owned from them is a leather toiletry bag I was given when I went to college overseas. The fact 26 years later it is the same bag I use when I travel kind of gives me a perspective they might be quite durable. But I don’t k ow about any other product
It seems like quality is inconsistent. I have a couple of their puffer jackets…they work great…but one is obviously a more substantial outer layer than the other.
Eddie Bauer hoodies and t-shirts go on 50% sale every black friday here in MI malls. I always get it, but I am not sure they've lasted more than 2-3 yrs. Not sure about bags. Try Osprey or NorthFace.
I bought my kids $17 Eddie Bauer coats from Costco last week. I'll be psyched if they make it through winter.
They sell it at Kohl's.. What do you think? That being said, they're good value, just not BILF.
So their made-for-outlet stuff is lower quality than their standard retail, and their standard retail has gone downhill. Their warranty is no longer for life.
Outlet clothing is terrible quality, regardless of brand.
Short answer is no. Despite the warranty the quality of product they sell has a lifespan of 1-3 years now.
If I got 3 years out of the sweater I saw for $22 Canadian I would be happy although I hate the principle of planned obsolescence
Agreed. Used to get great, 100% cotton tees for reasonable prices and great fits. A lot of their stuff is blended with polyester now and don’t last as long. I have 15+ year old tees that I still wear, albeit faded.
They are still 100% cotton now. They switched from a blend.
I bought pants that came with holes inside the pocket, you could tell the needle work was worst then most chinese stuff…
Mid-level/mid-lower level brand. If you're looking for high quality stuff you can forget it. They've taken a dive for the worst. Temp ratings are completely false. First Ascent line is ok. Never buy regular retail, always wait for the big sales - black friday where you get between 40-60% off. Non-First Ascent line are a joke. Cheap china made goods. Their quality have taken a negative dive. For example their Peak XV model was the shit. Peeps climbed Everest and traveled to the arctic/antarctic with this jacket. Quality has dived since about 2012/13. No longer offering 850 down, now only 800 and outer shell material not as durable. If you can afford better, skip Eddie Bauer, point blank. Not the same company they once were.
I like their belts and most of the First Ascent gear but the quality on the other has gone done hill. And the vibe of the button downs is still 40s suburban dad who peaked in 1996. I buy a lot more Patagonia now. I can't kill the stuff even though it's f'ing expensive
FWIW * I've been wearing an EB jacket for 15 years that doesn't have so much as a fray. * I have 2 pairs of EB jeans (one 5 years old, the other bought last year). Both are holding up great.
I’ve bought a few things from them over last several years. Flannels and the k2 boots. all quality been impressed. Never pay full price. Always a sale to be had if you wait or abandon a cart. Ex. I paid 120$ for the k2 boots
I have two fleeces I’ve had for almost 30 years and a parka that’s almost as old. They used to be BIFL, but now are just OK.
Purchased an eddie bauer jacket in 2018? 2019? And it’s still going strong. Has survived regular wear and tear, multiple holidays etc. and still just as warm as day 1 I think depending on what you buy from them you can still depend on the quality. Imo the winter jackets are worth it
I had a pair of EB hiking boots. Lasted maybe a year.
a clerk at a Brooks Brothers outlet confirmed for me that they and some other brands have two grades of clothing... stuff sold at the outlets and stuff sold in retail stores. and it seems to be easy to see which outlets have this policy and which do not. When i went into a Brooks Brothers outlet... they would have a full selection of shirts in my size... well sorta my size. instead of dress sleeves that say 34 or 35 or 36 inch length, they say "32-33" and "34-35". When i went to a Brooks in a major city center the sleeves would be a single measurement. I live near an outlet mall. The old Orvis store seemed to have only one grade of stuff for every store. If i went into the outlet and looked for a jacket they might only have one or two jackets in each style and color. Same thing with the old Helly Hansen store. Neither of those outlets are still around though.... I wonder if Eddie Bauer online and in outlets are the same quality...
Outlet malls lost their appeal for me when, instead of finding beautiful wool in the Pendleton store, it was all made-in-China knock off clothing. It’s so sad what’s happened to brands that were once great.
All I can say is that their jeans outlast LL Beans by years and years. Not sure about the rest of their stuff but at least that is something to say.
They are not repairable in climbing / guide / athlete circles anymore. Partly their products partly the mgmt of the company.
It’s ok stuff! I would say that they are reputable but not BIFL like Patagonia or such.
Their women’s clothing used to excellent and is now mostly crap. Sweatshirts look raggedy and pilled after a few wears. Their knits used to look good for years, and now they shrink and fade after a few launderings. And this is not the outlet stuff. The men’s clothing seems to have held on longer, but I haven’t bought anything for husband in the last year.
Their quality in materials has gone dramatically over the last 8-ish years. Their jeans used to be my favorites, now they all have elastane in them. Makes them softer with a bit of stretch, but also means they are thinner material and wear quickly. I also used to buy their henleys. The last henley I bought was a tall medium that shrank a significant amount in the wash. The tall medium is measurably smaller than the straight up regular medium I bought five years ago. I like their sweat pants and the camp shorts, but the rest is crap for the price. *Maybe* worth it at one of their many 50% off sales through the year.
Certain things I’d say. I love their hiking shorts, their down gloves hold up very well, and the stadium down parka keeps me warm even in Chicago
I buy beddings from them. They are not all good - have to pick the ones with good material.
Scott Galloway mentioned EB last month when talking about director responsibility. Historically the board was only responsible to shareholders, but his view is that there are other "stakeholders". He was on the board of EB and they received an offer for the \_name\_ and were considering shutting down...but it was better for the employees to recapitalize and stay in business. I attribute much of the enshitification of legacy BIFL to Private Equity - their model of buying a company and then jacking it up for resale (or grinding out cost) all in search of shorter term than "life" has done enormous damage to many beloved companies. Look at the performance of all the IPOs of the past year or two - all down. The "value extraction" of business has accrued to VC/PE and the already wealthy.
I have an older camo shell from them that works very well in frigid temperatures. Not too sure about the quality of their newer products though.
The First Ascent stuff is still really good for the price. I’ve had FA items last over 10 years with no issues. I really love their guide pants. My only gripe is that their jackets are starting to get a bit thin in terms of fit, which disqualifies my dad-bod. I’d stay away from anything that isn’t branded First Ascent.
"Eddie Bauer" has [been at least a half-dozen different companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bauer) since the 1970s. The original made good outdoor gear, including expedition quality stuff. Since then it's been hit or miss, mostly miss, as various holding companies bought the brand, went bankrupt, sold it off, etc. It sold again during the pandemic and is now [owned by a holding company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentic_Brands_Group) that specializes in buying failing brands and using their IP to market cheap imported goods. I would not consider anything made by EB since the mid-1970s to be anything more than a fashion item, though I do have a few pieces from \~20 years ago that were functionally designed, probably the equivalent of the Columbia stuff imported from Vietnam in that era.
I have several pairs of their Guide Pro pants, both lined and unlined. I like them and wear them constantly. No obvious signs of wear after 3 years and I am rough on my pants, like carrying firewood, washing and drying weekly, hiking over rocks and logs kind of rough. I buy them at the Eddie Bauer store, not at an outlet. I have read about the quality degradation a lot on Reddit but that hasn’t been my personal experience.
I've been wearing Eddie Bauer for like 15+ years because of their tall sizes. Their stuffs good. Yeah a thread here or there needs trimming but otherwise I have some of their shirts that are 10-15 years old still. Their jeans rock, their K6 boots are bomb (leather, goodyear welt, etc), their technical hiking packs are great, quarter zips are similar quality to roots, and in generally all their technical fabrics like in their ascent series are great. Like every brand they may have a line or run of clothing options that aren't great but those are far and few. I've bought some of their nylon sweaters and not been too impressed, and a wool field sweater with very off proportions, and their outlet selection is sometimes not as good (as people mentioned) but overall I would say 85-90 percent of what I bought from them was worth the $$$ and very long lasting considering how tough I am on my clothes and gear. In regards to the outlet, you can tell they get other places to make their clothing there to top off their selection since I've had shirts part of the same series over the years but the fabric composition and weave is SOMETIMES different on the outlet shirts. My counter argument is also that I've bought things like a rain jacket, corduroy shirts, fishing shirts, etc, that were from their main store/online store and ended up in the outlet and they were the same quality. Recently I've been noticing an uptick in their quality that last 2-3 years and have loved everything I bought but for a while I did notice a lot of synthetics/cheaper fabrics (probably for like 2-3 years).
Outlet is terrible. My jackets are all leaking the down filling, and the zippers are breaking. It’s totally junk quality.
You can buy their products at Costco for next to nothing. Their return policy is scary! I purchase two pants less than two weeks ago and paid with my credit card. I went back to change part of my payment to gift card that I purchased at Christmas. I was told that I had to pay today's price of extra 25% over what I originally paid for the pants I had in my hand, with my original receipt. I ordered something online about 6 weeks ago, and I'm still waiting ... Never again Eddie Bauer, I'm voting with my wallet. I have been patronizing this company for over 25yrs. No more. And I urge you to take your business somewhere else. Their quality have deteriorated, their staff are awful and arrogant, also their customer service sucks (located in Asia - a different time zone and simply bad). No more Eddie Bauer for me.
This is an old post, but as someone who’s worked for several apparel brands including Eddie Bauer, the Lower quality in Factory Outlet is not unique to Eddie Bauer. We all do it and it has as much to do with seasonality. A little hard to sell clearance down jackets in June. Eddie Bauer Full Price is still great quality and hasn’t yet cheapened the production the extent you see at Columbia Sportswear. My $0.02
Interesting that you responded. I just found an EB flannel at my thrift store yesterday and it felt really nice so I got it. After a wash it feels like good quality. Disappointing that there’s such a disparity between two products with the same name on them.
It disappoints me as well. You can find some good stuff in the outlet occasionally when excess inventory from the full price stores move to them, but it will always be mixed with the lower quality stuff that is ordered specifically for the outlets.
I buy the ascent pants/shorts and large tall shirts/polos for Dad type use. I pay $15-30 each on sale. For that price point there isn’t anything really that comes close quality wise IMO, EB will hold up for years with light use. For techie outdoor gear I buy pata and arcteryx.
As a former Eddie Bauer explorer owner I can confirm they are not BIFL
I've really liked them for a few years, specifically the flannels. During one of their huge summer sales a few months ago I bought a ton of stuff to try, I think like 15 or so items. Flannels, jackets, shirts, joggers. Every single thing besides 2 were either A) cheaply made polyester crap B) fit for someone morbidly obese C) a combination of both. Everything besides the ONE thing I like from them- Eddie's favorite flannel or whatever it's called, it's still 100% cotton. (The other thing I kept was a 100% cotton hoodie that's cut poorly but was too cheap to pass up just for lounging at home). So yeah, that's the only thing I'd really even consider as of now.
The flannel has weird colours. The yellow one with the black flicks makes you look like an over-ripe banana.
PHEW! I specifically came to this thread hoping someone talked about those flannels. They have one pattern that’s brown and red that aren’t silly or obnoxious looking and I just bought a pair for my boyfriend since they’re having a sale. I saw it said 100 percent cotton but wasn’t sure if it’s the actual flannel type material - is it? Some are just plain cotton with flannel design. Others are the actual flannel cotton material. Wasn’t sure.
Yeah if it's labeled as "Eddie's Favorite Flannel" (regular or slim fit) and 100% cotton I would say it's pretty flannely material. It's got a good weight to it and is pretty thick. Alternatively, since I posted that original comment I've also tried one from Eddie Bauer called the "Hemplify Flannel" and I really like it as well. It's not 100% cotton though- it's a cotton, hemp, and polyester combination but it feels nice and has a good weight as well. I've actually gotten a weirdly large amount of compliments on the Hemplify one. The color I have looks to be sold out though.
Nice! Glad to hear both pairs are working out well for you! The “Eddie’s favorite flannel” is definitely the item I ordered for him. That is the type of description I was hoping to hear. Can’t wait to get them delivered and give them to him. Thanks for the response!
The brand went out of business in 2003, since then it's been bought and sold, never been as good since. The quality is still very good but the main problems I have are inconsistent fit and models that are only available for short times at specific stores. I'm going to speculate but it seems like they are having other factories make the clothing for them which means short runs of things and different factories having differing sizes.
Hello /u/Aceritus! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yeah i think it’s good quality stuff
Used to buy a lot of clothes from there. I don't anymore because prices have gone up and quality has gone down. Also, I shopped there because of the abundance of tall sizes and they seem to be dramatically reducing the skus that are available in tall sizes.
Bookbag quality has deteriorated, from my experience.
Based on recent experiences I would rate their support somewhere between incompetent and atrocious. It would seem that support is contracted out to India where, to nobody's surprise, support reps know nothing of the products they support or the manufacturer's policies. I'm currently attempting to exchange a pair of boots purchased online and while awaiting a response from support, I found my answer in the site's FAQ where it states you must return and reorder in lieu of exchange and once the return is complete, the purchaser may contact support who will assist in adjusting any price differences. I'm skeptical and apparently a glutton for punishment so I'm going to give it a shot despite two different support reps telling me that my only option is to return the item. Regardless of the outcome, I won't be doing business with EB down the road.
No. They've gotten dramatically worse.
Hate the new jeans. Miss the old material