Lands' End...quality gone downhill?

[hjssk8]

Has anyone purchased throws from Land's End before? There is a fleece one I am interested in for both my nephew and my daughter. I don't want to make the purchase if they are crappy.

For those of you that purchase from L.L. Bean, are their women's items true to size? I am looking at getting my mom a fleece vest for Christmas.

After reading this thread I think I will stick to Bean for shopping.

 

[Blue Skies]

I buy most of my clothes from LE and I have not had any issues yet.

I also ordered a bunch of stuff for my DS for our Disney trip and everything seemed to be of good quality.

No complaints here!

 

[Christine]

Has anyone purchased throws from Land's End before? There is a fleece one I am interested in for both my nephew and my daughter. I don't want to make the purchase if they are crappy.

For those of you that purchase from L.L. Bean, are their women's items true to size? I am looking at getting my mom a fleece vest for Christmas.

After reading this thread I think I will stick to Bean for shopping.

I have found LL Bean has not fallen victim to "vanity sizing." I bought some hiking shorts there last year and where I wear a 6 to 8 in most other stores (which is a joke), at LL Bean I was a solid 10. My mom and my friend both went there not knowing that and walked into the dressing room with the size they are used to wearing and they were bummed that everything was kind of tight.

I actually believe I'm truly a size 10 and LL Bean is the only place that is true to size. But as compared to other stores, I would probably by one size up in pants.

For tops, I still wear a medium there.

 

[marcyinPA]

I have found LL Bean has not fallen victim to "vanity sizing." I bought some hiking shorts there last year and where I wear a 6 to 8 in most other stores (which is a joke), at LL Bean I was a solid 10. My mom and my friend both went there not knowing that and walked into the dressing room with the size they are used to wearing and they were bummed that everything was kind of tight.

I actually believe I'm truly a size 10 and LL Bean is the only place that is true to size. But as compared to other stores, I would probably by one size up in pants.

For tops, I still wear a medium there.

Agreed!! I normally wear a 10 or a 12 in pants, depending on cut. In LL Bean, I needed a 14.

 

[Kitty 34]

I still wear my Lands End coat that I bought back in 2000 but the next coat I bought about 3 years ago, is definitely not as nice as the other one. I very rarely even look at their stuff anymore.

 

[chisnpeke]

I think they are more hit and miss now than they used to be. I bought some shoes on clearance last year and one of them has torn. I wore them a lot though so for $14 I felt they were good.

I bought a swimsuit for the first time from this year and I LOVE it. The back strap comes out of its clip thing but other than that you can tell it is an awesome swimsuit...well made and looks great on me, like it was made just for me! That's hard to find in swimsuits.

I bought some sunglasses for $15 for work this summer (worked outdoors) and the one side broke off. I could glue it. I didn't treat them the best but felt the arm should have lasted longer than it did.

Just a couple weeks ago I went to Sears to buy a long sleeve tshirt for winter and think it's nice quality. Also got some tshirts on sale and they are good quality.

I won't buy their fleece...it's really not as nice as it used to be.

 

[Mermaid02]

It's 100% about the bottom line now, unfortunately. Bean seems to still have the quality.

Same here. I'd also noticed some really low prices in the catelog. I guess this is why. I can shop Old Navy for that type stuff.

LLBean was still very good last time I ordered.

I agree too, although we got my daughter a winter coat this year and it's really nice. But some of the other things I've gotten lately haven't been what I expected. Love LLBean.

Has anyone purchased throws from Land's End before? There is a fleece one I am interested in for both my nephew and my daughter. I don't want to make the purchase if they are crappy.

For those of you that purchase from L.L. Bean, are their women's items true to size? I am looking at getting my mom a fleece vest for Christmas.

After reading this thread I think I will stick to Bean for shopping.

I have found LL Bean has not fallen victim to "vanity sizing." I bought some hiking shorts there last year and where I wear a 6 to 8 in most other stores (which is a joke), at LL Bean I was a solid 10. My mom and my friend both went there not knowing that and walked into the dressing room with the size they are used to wearing and they were bummed that everything was kind of tight.

I actually believe I'm truly a size 10 and LL Bean is the only place that is true to size. But as compared to other stores, I would probably by one size up in pants.

For tops, I still wear a medium there.

Agreed!! I normally wear a 10 or a 12 in pants, depending on cut. In LL Bean, I needed a 14.

Call and place your orders on Friday- I might answer the phone! Free shipping through December 20th!

 

[crt]

I used to buy a lot of garments from Lands End in the 90s. I stopped doing so in protest to Lands End going offshore with their manufacturing. I recently tried them again. As I had feared, the quality and the workmanship has gone way downhill. It's really such a shame.

The items I bought in the 90s, which were made in the USA, have been worn and washed many times. Even with all that usage and washing, the older garments are better than the brand new ones out of the package.

It's very sad.

Chris

 

[wdw_girl_18]

yup their quality has gone way down hill. I bought a pair of fleece gloves and the seam on a finger was loose, so there was a huge hole! I went to exchange them and the lady barely let me!

So onto the second pair. The seam around the wrist is all loose and came unsewn, another loose seam on a finger, and two holes just randomly in the fleece. I've only had them 2 weeks

I have another pair I bought 2 years ago and they are still perfect

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Though I have nothing to compare to as I've never ordered a serious winter coat, the winter coat I purchased in December--though extremely comfort and warm...does have some workmanship flaws in it. Very minor, but there none the less.

Also the belt is the most ridiculous design ever. I've been meaning to go on-line to see if maybe I am not wearing it right. But I've just taken it off for now.

 

[eliza61]

outside of their bathing suits, which I still love. I don't order much. I agree since Sears brought the company, merchandise is getting worse.

 

[Pigeon]

I used to buy all Dh's outerwear there. He is very tall and needs long sizes, and Land's End is one of the few places that carries them. The parka I bought him at the end of the season last year is shot already. The fabric is falling apart and the the zipper sticks.

I don't know what I'm going to do from here. There are so few choices if you need a long.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I can't speak too much to the decline of quality, but I have to praise their customer service! I ordered a fleece parka and was disappointed with the pilling of the sleeves. (Every review of the jacket stated how wonderful it was!)

I couldn't return it to Sears bc I didn't have the receipt. So, I paid 7.50 to ship it back to Lands End. I was worried because I paid $59.50 and it was on sale for less than $30. I was thrilled when they sent me a gift card for the purchase price and the shipping!

I ordered a new winter down jacket, a different fleece, and a pair of gloves - all covered by the gift card.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I agree. IMO, their quality has really declined since Sears bought the company.

I agree. Everyone wants it at sears clearance and kmart prices and the only way that will happen is if quality goes down. It's not the same. The coats are still pretty good but I haven't bought anything else recently.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I didn't realize Sears owned them. I thought it was a marketing partnership. In any case I used to love their water shoes. The last pair I bought - last summer - were definitely not the same quality, and because of that, I won't be buying from Land's End again.

From the sound of this thread, Land's End won't be around much longer, anyway.

 

[bicker]

You mean, like Wal-Mart?

The reason why Land's End has been heading in the direction they've been heading is that so many Americans are fixated on getting the lowest price, and therefore keep these engines of ever-decreasing quality running full steam. It seems that the only retailers that are doing well are those that sell cheap crap and those that sell overpriced boutiqueware.