Ending the life time guarantee ......
Probably be a hundred guys in waders at their door tomorrow ...

Three of the eyelets pulled out of my 4 year old wader boots... Guess I'll go looking.... Bass Pro's any good?

I can't say I really blame them when you hear the stories that I read today. My favorite was the CEO I believe said that he had a shirt with his name on it that he donated to charity. Someone ended up bringing it back for a credit.
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New policy started today so tomorrow is too late.

People take advantage of well meaning policies. Satisfaction guarantee is just to open ended when people feel entitled to a lifetime of use from a $100 purchase. J Crew and several other companies used to have same policy but had to stop for same reason.
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Good for them. It was just a matter of time before they changed this policy. People suck
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I returned waiders after two seasons,,,,
I thought about the boots but figured I got my money's worth....
The next pair will be a dif brand...

I can't say I really blame them when you hear the stories that I read today. My favorite was the CEO I believe said that he had a shirt with his name on it that he donated to charity. Someone ended up bringing it back for a credit.
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Bass pro still sells a few that are warrantied for life, online they have a better pick then in the store and better then cabelas.

What happens to waders a couple of years back under the old policy? Many guys bought because of that policy. i understand that a few guys took serious advantage of it.

What happens to waders a couple of years back under the old policy? Many guys bought because of that policy. i understand that a few guys took serious advantage of it.

This is my issue. I have a couple of purchases I made that I believe I overpaid for based on the lifetime warranty. Now they want to tell me that warranty is no longer valid?

I returned my leaking waders last week. I had paid $300 for them, and the 100 % satisfaction guarantee was the main reason for buying them at LLbean. Weird because they charged me sales tax on the return...which I don't get.
Not sure why it is so hard to make waders with seams that don't leak.....and their $150 wading boots didn't last the season...corroded eyelets all broke off.
Make better products and there will be less returns

if your waders have leaky seams and it’s a craftsmanship issue, they will still exchange them.
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It took me years to buy thier waders bc I knew and was told they were lifetime warranties and also knew I would breach them,
Yeah I was old school and was a neoprene guy but, finally caved and bought my first pair back in 13 and felt guilty on the first leak bringing them back and getting a newer version of what I bought the previous year...

Any hoo, got a new pair every year at someone's expense and lost touch with reality,but deep down knowing nobody works for free.

I don't,do you?


I don't blame them at all,I'm a huge contributor / buyer of LL Bean. I still have jackets that are 20 YO and are up to snuff.



Yea I'm gonna miss that trade in of my waders, but the bottom line is being responsible for what we own and purchase.


5/0
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What happens to waders a couple of years back under the old policy? Many guys bought because of that policy. i understand that a few guys took serious advantage of it.

So I had a guy I surf fished with for 10 or 12 years (died a few years ago.) He would beat the piss out of Bean waders for 3 or 4 years and send them back for a new pair. He did it with waders, boots, jackets. Totally abused the policy.

Ending the life time guarantee ......
Probably be a hundred guys in waders at their door tomorrow ...

Three of the eyelets pulled out of my 4 year old wader boots... Guess I'll go looking.... Bass Pro's any good?

Went to Bass Pro a few weeks ago to pick-up some new Simms wading boots....nothing in stock. Clerc said he could place an order, told him no thanks, I want to see, touch and try boots before buying. My LLBean boots were a total failure...lost my sales receipt so didn't bother to return.

Went to Bass Pro a few weeks ago to pick-up some new Simms wading boots....nothing in stock. Clerc said he could place an order, told him no thanks, I want to see, touch and try boots before buying. My LLBean boots were a total failure...lost my sales receipt so didn't bother to return.

Bears Den carries them but check in advance if they have the size and model for which you are looking. Be aware that in addition to a standard size Simms makes short and long versions of each model as well.

I returned my leaking waders last week. I had paid $300 for them, and the 100 % satisfaction guarantee was the main reason for buying them at LLbean. Weird because they charged me sales tax on the return...which I don't get.
Not sure why it is so hard to make waders with seams that don't leak.....and their $150 wading boots didn't last the season...corroded eyelets all broke off.
Make better products and there will be less returns

LL Bean doesn't make (manufacture) anything.

LL Bean doesn't make (manufacture) anything.

You sure about that? I think you are wrong.
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I returned my leaking waders last week. I had paid $300 for them, and the 100 % satisfaction guarantee was the main reason for buying them at LLbean. Weird because they charged me sales tax on the return...which I don't get.
Not sure why it is so hard to make waders with seams that don't leak.....and their $150 wading boots didn't last the season...corroded eyelets all broke off.
Make better products and there will be less returns


Same here Bob,,, eyelets popped, still wearing with 3 missing... Dah

It took me years to buy thier waders bc I knew and was told they were lifetime warranties and also knew I would breach them,
Yeah I was old school and was a neoprene guy but, finally caved and bought my first pair back in 13 and felt guilty on the first leak bringing them back and getting a newer version of what I bought the previous year...

Any hoo, got a new pair every year at someone's expense and lost touch with reality,but deep down knowing nobody works for free.

I don't,do you?


I don't blame them at all,I'm a huge contributor / buyer of LL Bean. I still have jackets that are 20 YO and are up to snuff.



Yea I'm gonna miss that trade in of my waders, but the bottom line is being responsible for what we own and purchase.


5/0
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So, I guess we'll see ya on the 24th.... Just thought I'd throw that in.. :-) :happy:

I would assume that when I bought waders there a year ago I also purchased the lifetime warranty too. Don’t think you should be able to adjust the terms of a prior agreement.
Where’s the damn manager !
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You sure about that? I think you are wrong.
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👀
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👀
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https://m.llbean.com/custom.html?&skCatId=516915&page=manufacturing-and-labor#516915
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It’s not a lifetime warranty, it’s a satisfaction guarantee. I’m sure some lawyer somewhere can explain how that means they can get away with modifying the terms after purchase, and that person would be much smarter than me.
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https://m.llbean.com/custom.html?&skCatId=516915&page=manufacturing-and-labor#516915
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I knew you were correct sir.
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I think they should do what Patagonia does: offer to repair goods that have worn out:

Resole a boot
Patch a jacket or waders
Restitch a seam

Heck, I’d even pay the fee if I could just bring it to a store and that service was available.

I think if more companies started to treat their products as life long products rather than warranty fodder (where every little problem warranted a complete replacement) we would start to see less people abusing the policies.

The end result wouldn’t be far from what we have now: people would be less likely to abuse the policy because they would get their product back but with repairs, and the people who truly value the gear and enjoy its function would still feel like they have a company that has their back when they make a purchase. Plus, you hire some good customer ambassadors to perform those repairs and boom: you’ve got more people singing your conpany’s praises. I’m pretty sure that’s how Patagonia does it.
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Cleaning out my grandmother's estate years ago I found a really old LLBean carbon steel camp knife with a leather wrapped handle...nearly perfect condition. It's very cool. Favorite thing I took home.
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Don't they still resolve their signature boot?
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Same here Bob,,, eyelets popped, still wearing with 3 missing... Dah




So, I guess we'll see ya on the 24th.... Just thought I'd throw that in.. :-) :happy:miss you too Gup,yeah I'll be there and I give ya a big kiss and pinch your ass.
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miss you too Gup,yeah I'll be there and I give ya a big kiss and pinch your ass.
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I should learn to keep my mouth shut....

I returned mine yesterday and didn't feel bad about it whatsoever. I only fished half a season last year and like others said the boots were completely corroded and falling part. I had gorilla glued them back together at one point. The waders were leaking at the seams and the cord that tightens up the top end had snapped. This was from only fishing April thru July.

The girl I dealt with was really nice. She had me come in to evaluate them. Said they needed to see if there was "excessive use," but I'm not sure what would constitute that. If you wore them once a day for a season would that be considered "excessive use?" Still not clear on that one. Regardless, the girl was nice and she saw all the issues with my gear so no dispute there. She said in the future if anything happens to immediately return the waders so they can evaluate them. I was very happy with the service i received and was happy to relay my experience through their online customer survey.

I still think $350 waders/boots should get you through more than one season, though. I'll probably go with Simms from now on.

Some people have a similar story Bart but they had already returned them five times over the previous six years which can be considered excessive. But those days are over for such examples.
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Taking care of your gear goes a long way.
I think too many people are careless about how they treat their stuff, whether it's while they're using it, or how they clean and store it.
Lot a guys talk the talk...(about proper care of their gear)...but I think a good amount of folk, don't take the time, or make the time. Most people just aren't honest enough with themselves. (me included)

Rushing to bed, due to work in a couple of hours...and thinking that cleaning later on, after work...it'll all still be fine....or think, I'll be in em' again later, so no big deal...or just don't rinse enough in the right areas (been there, done that...but learned me lessonz$)

Boots have lasted me a lot longer due to adequate rinsing and being cognizant while in em'.
I've only had one pair fail within one season. They were cheap, so I wasn't surprised...some big-box store. But with the higher quality boots, I've had much success with proper care.
I've seen guys with loosely tied boots, dragging their feet on any surface, dirt path, asphalt, etc...and then before the season ends, they're complaining that the boots were junk? It doesn't work like that.
On the flip side, I know a guy who used to carry water bottles in the vehicle...as soon as he'd get back to the truck, he'd rinse all metals...eyelets, zippers, snaps, etc...

I wouldn't say I abused their policy with waders, but I definitely had no issues with returning them. Not surprised at all, that they're changing it either. If they made products that lasted forever, they'd be out of business....that thought process went out the window decades ago.

Maybe now they'll drop the price of their waders and boots. I'd assume returns were a significant percentage..............

same thing happened with Orvis
naturally I paid full price and then years later they did not honor the lifetime thing so I was out the shipping cost too.

Good for them. It was just a matter of time before they changed this policy. People suck
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Agree totally. People have no shame. Costco is next..
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It took me years to buy thier waders bc I knew and was told they were lifetime warranties and also knew I would breach them,
Yeah I was old school and was a neoprene guy but, finally caved and bought my first pair back in 13 and felt guilty on the first leak bringing them back and getting a newer version of what I bought the previous year...

Any hoo, got a new pair every year at someone's expense and lost touch with reality,but deep down knowing nobody works for free.

I don't,do you?


I don't blame them at all,I'm a huge contributor / buyer of LL Bean. I still have jackets that are 20 YO and are up to snuff.



Yea I'm gonna miss that trade in of my waders, but the bottom line is being responsible for what we own and purchase.


5/0
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Stop swinging and missing on fish and you wont have to worry about falling on your a$$ and putting holes in them : )
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They make their waders as cheaply as they possibly can, then promise customer satisfaction. I am not ashamed of expecting a product to perform the task that it is supposed to. I have my doubts about the quality control, and if they actually test them for leaks, because I've had some leak after being used only a few times.
I won't be buying from LLBean again.....and would have moved on after being dissatisfied with my original purchase, but their policy encouraged me to return them, when I was inclined to write them off and buy another brand.
Label inside explains a lot too.

Next pair I buy, after my brand new "Made in China" beans start leaking, will be Simms.

https://youtu.be/s3D8cg1swhk?t=39

Next pair I buy, after my brand new "Made in China" beans start leaking, will be Simms.

https://youtu.be/s3D8cg1swhk?t=39

I bought my Simms from........ wait for it........LL Bean I have had zero complaints with them. I’ll buy my next pair from them as well.
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Nice looking Simms bootfoot for only a thousand bucks.
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I bought my Simms from........ wait for it........LL Bean I have had zero complaints with them. I’ll buy my next pair from them as well.
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I could be mistaken but I dont think LLBean is selling Simms waders anymore.

I could be mistaken but I dont think LLBean is selling Simms waders anymore.
If that’s that is the case, it’s thanks to dirtbag fishermen who took advantage of this loophole of unlimited returns.
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I bought my Simms G3 waders from cabelas. When they leaked, cabelas gave me a credit and I bought a cheap pair of cabelas. The cabelas with the zipper have been great but they don’t make them anymore.
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If that’s that is the case, it’s thanks to dirtbag fishermen who took advantage of this loophole of unlimited returns.
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Are you sure about this?
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Are you sure about this?
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I’m sure of one thing 100%. mant Many fishermen bought 1 pair of waders and would return them as soon as a leak occurred.
As far as Simms goes, no I am not sure, but common sense dictates cause and effect outcomes.
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There was a good article in the paper a week or so ago talking to this subject of LL Bean and the unlimited return policy and the inevitability of finally having to eliminate it. It was abuse across all their product lines and the stories and examples they cited were pretty crazy. People would scour yard sales and flea markets looking for LL Bean labels to return, kids in entire school systems in Maine would get the latest new backpacks every year just by turning in their old ones. The company president, LL Bean's grandson, donated a bunch of his own clothes to a goodwill type charity. He had his name written on the tags and found some of his stuff later returned to the store for gift cards. They had no choice but to change the policy. I think they mentioned something about a new 1 year policy now.

Guess it’s back to wearing rain pants and waterproof socks under my waders.
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Just heard on the radio that someone in IL or IN just filed a class action lawsuit against them hoping to reinstate the policy, at least for past purchases. I can see a court affirming the lawsuit on the basis of a contractual commitment.

Don't throw those boots out just yet!
64968

Ya, I know, I need to work on my riveting skills

I think this is much more a statement about our society today than it is about a corporation and their decision to change a policy. The change was necessary because so many people cannot be trusted to DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.......

Stop swinging and missing on fish and you wont have to worry about falling on your a$$ and putting holes in them : )
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Maybe a swing and a miss to you,but not stopping a fish after a minute and a spap happens.

Then retrieve and find out the brand new HD 6/0 snapped & not the knots...

The hook gave way not the knots, I still have that hook on my key ring.


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Bump for HLS!
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