LL Bean Rolling Backpack Advice?

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Ok, so I pick up my kids at school (walkers) and I've been watching the flood of kids that come out of the school every day and checking out their rolling backpacks. Especially now, at the end of the year, when some of them, like my kids' Target backpacks, look like they are on their last thread.

This coming fall, instead of buying them two or three cheap target rolling backpacks every year (my kids are bookworms and the backpacks often weigh in at 20+lbs), I'm going to get two ll bean rolling backpacks.

When is the best time to buy these, and do coupons come out for them? I figure these bags will be investsments, but I still want to get the best possible price for them.

Any help is ...

 

[ajk912]

If I remember right, I got my kids' backpacks in June or so- they had some clearanced out. I do need to buy them new ones for the next school year, that's for sure!

 

[Lisa_M]

I picked up one for my sister last year in april or may on clearance from LLBean, but it was just a regular one, not rolling.

 

[crjack]

Both of my children have LL Bean packs (not rolling though.....those aren't allowed in our elementary schools and they won't fit in the lockers at middle school) They are the best bags ever and will hold up for years.

Mine werent ever on sale but still worth every penny. I have read that if the zipper breaks you can send it back to LL Bean for repair or replacement but we have never had to do that. I have seen a few colors or patterns go on clearance but not often.

I had my children each pick out a pattern/color that they could live with for a while since I had seen other children in our schools use them for years. Now that both are in middle school they are pretty full every day too so they definitely get a work out.

Good luck. I think you will be pleased with them.

 

[sunnyday123]

My daughter has the rolling LL Bean backpack....after seeing her walk out of school in 1st grade with a back pack that was bigger than her on her back ( and she actually had to go to PT because she was leaning to one side ) I bought her the bp. It is well worth the $69 I paid 3 1/2 years ago. It is still holding up and she will continue to use it literally till the wheels fall off. Much to her disapointment! Even if she only uses it for one more year, that's still about $17 per year. It's totally worth it. They clean up well too. She tends to forget that I put snacks in it for her....and if the dog doesn't go diving in it, they can get a tad icky.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

bump!

I'll probably be bumping all through the summer, in the hopes that somebody has a good coupon to share...

 

[MichelleinMaine]

(You want to check the "sale" section of their website.) There are no backpacks at all on there now. Honestly, I'd guess it's too late to get a clearanced one this year. As someone else said, your discounts from there would be discontinued styles/colors versus an actual sale. Coupons are extremely rare. They offer free shipping occassionally. You can get that (and free monogramming too) by signing up for their credit card.

Not sure if you have an LLB outlet store near you, they often have backpacks there. (About 1/2-2/3 of the regular price) They are most often mis-monograms. If you don't mind having someone else's initials (or don't mind picking them off with a seam ripper), you can get a deal that way. Stuff at the outlet is still covered by their 100% satisfaction guarantee, which is indeed they will replace if a zipper breaks or wheel falls off, etc. Very good customer service.

Their bags hold up forever. I still have the one *I* used in high school, which was, er, many years ago. In the long run, they are a much better bargain than a discount store special.

~Michelle
(right up the road from LLB )

 

[Dashzap]

No idea about deals beyond free shipping and monogramming with their credit card. LLBean regular book backpacks last FOREVER.

That said, my son's bag was so heavy (in 3rd grade!) that we got him a rolling backpack from ebags, the JanSport Driver 8. http://www.ebags.com/jansport/driver_8/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=20186

Several of his classmates have been using the bags for a while and they hold up well. I like the size of the bag, holds books, lunchbox, gym shoes, coat, waterbottle, and medicines with plenty of room to spare. The straps tuck away when you are using it rolling, so they don't get all dirty and bedraggled like cheaper backpacks.

Ebags has periodic sales, too.

My middle school aged son is still using his LLBean regular backpack (for the fourth straight year) because they aren't allowed to use rolling backpacks.

 

[englishteacha]

As long as your kids can use the rolling ones, super! We allow them where I teach, but they don't fit in lockers. We're hoping for new lockers in the next few years which should accomodate wider bags. (we have tall skinny lockers)

I'd check the LLBean site regularly on the Sale section. I think Thursday is "markdown" day. If you're in Maine, try the outlet store in Freeport, and also Maine Goodwill stores. LLBean donates a lot of returned merchandise to Goodwill stores. They often XX out the logo, but a handy WDW pin will cover that right up!

 

[java]

Don't forget Lands End too. check overstocks on Thursdays for new markdowns. I was able to score some last year - I think it was june?
LLbeans don't get discounted as frequently it seems.- LandsEnd changes their design more often so they are clearing out the old stock.

 

[ceecee]

We are no longer allowed to use the rolling ones either. DD did the first two years and we had to get the character ones, they held up fine. Next year in Middle School, they aren't allowed to carry backpacks at all.

 

[disneymarie]

We vacation in Rehoboth area and hit the outlet there for great buys sometimes at least 75% off.
My daughter has used mine I got at Office Max when I went back to college in 02. three years, and then she used it the last three years,
Still looks new. has the in line roller wheels,
Says LUCAS Equipment on it, Navy with some leather in the handle and rubbing areas. It does not even look a year old. I am not sure she will be able to use one in the future, so not worth an investment to LL Bean for me,.

We are seriously considering online school, through a PA Charter School..
Bullying issues have had her home schooled since Feb. 08. Whole other thread....
di

 

[DebMcDonald]

Also check out Lands End as they have the same policy at LL Bean about being satisfied. We bought my daughter a cheap one, well I should say several, last year as she has scoliosis and can not carry one on her back, we actually when through three of them. I should have just paid full price from LL Bean or Lands End in the beginning and it would have been the same price.

 

[LAH LAH]

Lands End is having $3 flate rate shipping...I copied this off the website:


How to get $3 FLAT RATE SHIPPING & HANDLING:

At checkout, on the Billing Information page, go to the section labeled
“Source Code” (below the credit card payment box).

Enter the Source Code LETHREE and the PIN 541541541 in the space provided.

And here is a link to their OVERSTOCK backpacks...


And LL Bean is having a promotion of purchase $50 in product and get a $10 gift card back...might be the best deal you get with them!

LL Bean backpacks

Good Luck!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Don't forget Lands End too. check overstocks on Thursdays for new markdowns. I was able to score some last year - I think it was june?
LLbeans don't get discounted as frequently it seems.- LandsEnd changes their design more often so they are clearing out the old stock.

During my unofficial research, I noticed that the land's end were not holding up as well as the LLBeans. The lands end bags have wheels that are not set on the outside edge of the bag, and as the kids turned corners, I could see the corners of the bags scraping and dragging on the ground. Having the wheels (like on the LLBeans) placed on the extreme outside edge meant that sharp turns were on the wheels, not the bags. I'm taking this all waaaaaayyyy too seriously!

 

[DebMcDonald]

During my unofficial research, I noticed that the land's end were not holding up as well as the LLBeans. The lands end bags have wheels that are not set on the outside edge of the bag, and as the kids turned corners, I could see the corners of the bags scraping and dragging on the ground. Having the wheels (like on the LLBeans) placed on the extreme outside edge meant that sharp turns were on the wheels, not the bags. I'm taking this all waaaaaayyyy too seriously!

Remember, if you order a Lands End and it wears out from six months to six years you can get the full price back in a gift card. So, if you find one for a much better price, order it, use it, and then keep checking LL Bean.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Remember, if you order a Lands End and it wears out from six months to six years you can get the full price back in a gift card. So, if you find one for a much better price, order it, use it, and then keep checking LL Bean.

Yeah, but I think I'd rather just get one that I don't have to worry about, rather than going through the hassle of boxing it up and shipping it back.

I had to do that with two Lillian Vernon POS rolling backpacks a few years ago. What a pita...