I'm done with Levis (Rant)

[downsizingnow48]

I changed to LL Beans mail order about 20 years ago. Always fits exactly the same and wears well. Plus no driving, no store searching, no fitting.

 

[M5farms]

i quit Levis last year because of their 2nd amendment stance. I was a 569 guy and I wear jeans everyday. carhartts are good but thick . For the farm its shorts and boots in the summer and overalls in the winter

 

[tractorshopper]

My last 2 pair of Levis fit weren't the same, one of them had stiches come out of a beltloop within 3 weeks (maybe worn once a week each, twice at most), holes in the upper pocket in both sides of rear within 6 months, leg seams twisted after first wash, etc. Don't think I'll ever buy them again. Overpriced poor quality now.

Wranglers are okay and better quality, but they tend to fall off my hind end more as the day goes.

Just bought first two pair of Lucky's at the outlets and like them so far especially for comfort but haven't had long enough to tell (my wife's suggestion), but Tommy Hilfiger is probably the best quality I have experienced recently, except as all the others, they are thinner than jeans used to be.

I probably average 5 pairs of jeans per year now.

Used to be a pair would last for 4 or more years, but about a year to two per pair now.

Thanks to this thread, I may try a pair of Deluth jeans now. Didn't even think of that before. Have never ordered from them before.

 

[Egon]

Cheer up folks; as you get older clothes last longer!

 

[Turbys_1700]

The lack of QC in clothing is due to inconsistent adherence to standards. I worked in the furniture industry for 12 years prior to teaching. Six of those were in the upholstery industry. My wife still works in it.

Sewers in upholstery must adhere to strict standards. Seam deviation, cutting standards, fabric variations in color, stretch, etc...all contribute to variations in quality.

I would assume that all cutting of denim is done on cnc fabric cutter's thus eliminating errors in cutting. The problem is from sewing errors and lack of QC in foreign manufacturing plants. Further compounding the issue is movement of production from one country/plant to another. I would guess lowest bidder wins the contract.

I've noticed the same issue with shirts. The same brand one time may be manufactured in China, the next time in Hondauras, etc. It's all about delivery of goods at the lowest possible price. That's global manufacturing in a nutshell. Successful companies deliver consistent products by adhering to quality standards.

 

[David Wayne]

I quit Levis years ago when they moved to Mexico, started wearing Wrangler. Stopped in a Rural King this spring had never been in one before and bought a pair of RK jeans for 9.99 so far they are holding up well and fit as good as Wrangler.

 

[California]

... same brand one time may be manufactured in China, the next time in Honduras, etc. It's all about delivery of goods at the lowest possible price. That's global manufacturing in a nutshell. Successful companies deliver consistent products by adhering to quality standards.

Harbor Freight is the worst common example. They change product # for seemingly identical items, probably because of switching suppliers. And worse yet sometimes they sell junk under the description of what was previously adequate. I noted over in the 'HF tools that don't suck' thread that I bought a combo disk/belt bench sander listed at 49 lbs on the website and on its carton, but with a 29 lb shipper's address label on it. It felt like only 29 lbs and I verified that on a bath scale. Other participants in that thread liked what must have been a previous version. The thing was junk, it couldn't be adjusted to perform as specified. I took it back. Caveat Emptor.

 

[topbuilder]

To OP, Yep same experience here. Levis all my days. Had to switch to Wrangler 936PWD which is a "slim" to get the same fit. They have been consistent. I'm anything but slim. Doesn't stop me from bringing it up every now and then...

 

[topbuilder]

"Oh, and my 'scent' is usually Eau-de Equine Plop."

I might a guessed that about you Wagtail. My name for the fragrance might not a been near as elegant!

 

[Paul Thornton]

Rswyan, be careful with the old Old Spice. I resurrected a bottle from when I was in the service (66-72) and found out it burned a bit.

 

[California]

Rswyan, be careful with the old Old Spice. I resurrected a bottle from when I was in the service (66-72) and found out it burned a bit.

You're not supposed to use it that way!

 

[rustydollar]

What their not telling you in this video is that the blend used is from recycled rags.

Years ago I used to cross the border to purchase my Levies which at the time were better quality than the same brand being sold in Canada - go figure. Today they're all crappy.

After wearing a pair of jeans for an hour the fabric stretches and I need suspenders to keep them up.

Suspenders are another whole topic, I buy mine from an outfit in British Colombia that supplies loggers with quality work wear, the snaps wear out long before the elastic gives out, I was going to try a pair of the ones that affix onto metal buttons. You can purchase the buttons to out onto your favorite pair of jeans.

Problem with suspenders is if your doing a lot of bending the strap over your shoulders do not relax to their natural position but tend to pull your frontal body forward. Not too much but after hours of being pulled into an unnatural position with a bad back life becomes a living nightmare of lower back pain.

A few weeks ago noticed that the Hutterite men use the metal buttons, their suspenders only have one strap going down the backside. I figure these folks have the uncomfortable pull forward figured out.

Next time I'm visiting the colony I'm going to come home with a pair if hutterite suspenders, and my next pair of work jeans are going to either be Japanese denim or made from Hemp.

 

[KubotainNH]

I'm in the same boat, have worn Levis for 35 years but stopped buying them a couple years ago. I used to go in the store and get my size and they would fit perfectly every time. Just needed a couple washings to soften them up. Now I have to try on every pair of pants to make sure they fit correctly and the extra cost is not worth what you get for quality. I switched to Wrangler but still check the fit because of the inconsistencies. I have one pair that I only wear when desperate because they are so loose. Wrangler also changed over to some stretchy cloth that seems to get looser as the day goes on so I buy the ones that are on the tighter side. Funny that you have to take 4 pairs of the same size into the changing room to get one that fits well. I tried some Carharts at TSC not long ago and didn't like them. They had some Schmidt jeans that felt way better. I should have bought them to try them out.

 

[tjkubota93]

I quit buying Levis when they quit making them in the USA. Figured if I'm going to get some sweat shop stuff I may as well get wranglers at walmart. Target has them too. Relaxed boot cut. The price has creeped up since I started wearing them (from 14.99 to 16.99 or 19.99) but they are a heck of a value.

 

[N80]

I changed to LL Beans mail order about 20 years ago. Always fits exactly the same and wears well. Plus no driving, no store searching, no fitting.

I quit buying from LL Bean after they started calling their Christmas wreaths and merchandise "Holiday Wreaths" etc. It is totally their prerogative to do so and if they feel their target market isn't Christians or is offended by the word "Christmas" then good for them for standing up for what they believe. But as a Christian if they want to alienate me, then done and done. It is equally my prerogative not to give them my business.

The sad thing is they went back to using the word "Christmas" to describe their Christmas products after they got a lot of flack for it and lost revenue. Which in my mind makes them look even worse since it is the dollar that drives their beliefs, not integrity.

But, since they have changed back and since forgiveness is a big part of what I believe, maybe I will give them another chance.

And in general that's the type of company I want to buy from: one that has been around and hopefully has some integrity when it comes to quality.

I think I'm going to start with a pair of Wranglers and a pair of the imported Duluth Trading 5 pocket jeans and see what I get.

 

[dragoneggs]

Rswyan, be careful with the old Old Spice. I resurrected a bottle from when I was in the service (66-72) and found out it burned a bit.

Cut it with some tomato juice... heck add a celery stick if you want to be fancy.

 

[coralhead]

Lee Jeans. Can't bear to pay for Levi Rags.

 

[Paul Thornton]

I buy LL Beans from factory outlet in Freeport, I try every pair on.

 

[Dutch445]

Over the past 3 or 4 years i started noticing the 505 jeans changed, the number
of belt loops dropped, used to have a couple around below the kidney area, and they
were breaking often. now just 2 on the sides and one in the middle of the back,
along with the front 2.
the last pair i ordered from amazon, and i have noticed the rivets coming off
around the front pockets in the wash,
and i can't seem to get the pockets to last long at all any more.
i do carry keys in my pockets for equipment at work.
maybe it's time to change,
lots of you like duluth, maybe try them next.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I've got an almost brand new pair of Levi 505's in the closet that I bought about a year ago. I compared them to several old pairs and my suspicions were confirmed. The front pockets are about an inch shallower than they used to be. If I have anything in the front pockets they are uncomfortable and I refuse to wear them. I usually buy wrangler now.