Levis 505 Jeans

[NoTrespassing]

Has anyone noticed that Levis jeans, in this case 505's have changed recently? I just put on a new pair today and noticed the front pockets are at least 1 inch shorter than the other pairs I have. To me the material seems slightly thinner too. I also noticed that the zipper is different. The short pockets are a deal breaker for me. I'll be changing brands after 30 plus years.

Kevin

 

[Tollster]

Perhaps a pair of knockoffs? The market is full of knockoffs replicating every major brand and industry there is, with only a very small portion ever being seized by US customs..

 

[jeff9366]

No, Levi has changed the 505 jeans for the worse. You can read the details, and complaints, on Amazon.

 

[jlgurr]

Common practice today. Make it lighter, thinner, shorter, smaller, etc. and still raise the price. GREEDiINE$$ at work! Our Direct TV bill just went up again. More than $40 increase in 10 years but there are less channels. Channels they drop due to the provider wanting more $$$$ yet they still feel compelled to raise their cost for more profit.

 

[MikePA]

Companies have always been looking for ways to reduce costs in order to increase profits. It's not a sin. If they go too far and reduce quality, the best consumer reaction, as the OP mentioned, is to buy from someone else, the most effective variation of complaining.

 

[jeff9366]

Our Direct TV bill just went up again. More than $40 increase in 10 years but there are less channels. Channels they drop due to the provider wanting more $$$$ yet they still feel compelled to raise their cost for more profit.

I would buy Direct TV stock.

I would NOT buy stock in Levi. (VF Corp.) Cheapening an iconic international brand is a bad marketing decision.

 

[jlgurr]

Companies have always been looking for ways to reduce costs in order to increase profits. It's not a sin. If they go too far and reduce quality, the best consumer reaction, as the OP mentioned, is to buy from someone else, the most effective variation of complaining.

Exactly why we are not brand loyal AND we have ordered Dish Network to be installed. :smile:

 

[MikePA]

Channels they drop due to the provider wanting more $$$$ yet they still feel compelled to raise their cost for more profit.

DirecTV has costs other than what they pay providers, e.g., labor. It's not always in pursuit of profit, which seems to be a popular pejorative, that appears to make some people feel better. I often wonder if these same people walk into their local store and accuse the local owner of the same 'evil motive'. Profit is what keeps paying the bills. To the consumer, why a company raises prices is irrelevant, even if it could be known, instead of information-free speculation.

 

[jmc]

I think the price of cotton spiked several years ago and they decided to change material. My new ones are wearing at the pocket rims and rear cuffs already. The old style took years to do that. Lee jeans did it too. $40 or $50 from something made in the fourth world out of modest material in huge quantity is a little greedy, in my opinion.

 

[MikePA]

I think the price of cotton spiked several years ago and they decided to change material. My new ones are wearing at the pocket rims and rear cuffs already. The old style took years to do that. Lee jeans did it too. $40 or $50 from something made in the fourth world out of modest material in huge quantity is a little greedy, in my opinion.

Then don't buy Lee or Levi jeans.

Labeling someone as 'greedy' means you know what their profit is after expenses and you do not know this.

 

[bullbreaker]

At 54 I buy my jeans @ TSC . There Wranglers have a lot of room in the azz ! :laughing:

 

[jeff9366]

$40 or $50 from something made in the fourth world out of modest material in huge quantity is a little greedy, in my opinion.

Wranglers, in multiple styles, are $17 at Walmart.

 

[Ken45101]

Companies have to make profits to stay in business. The commercial world is very competitive. If a company doesn't keep it's costs down, they will lose to the competition and eventually go out of business.

The challenge for good management is to stay profitable and keep customers happy. It's not an easy job.

Remember, companies are not competing with the company across town, they are competing with China and Malaysia.

 

[jeff9366]

Exactly why we are not brand loyal AND we have ordered Dish Network to be installed. :smile:

After TEN YEARS with DIRECT TV your move to DISH has been carefully considered.

 

[Reyer Farms]

It's aggravating! I wear carhartt. They changed their style too. Had to shop for different size and cut. Carhartts last longer than any jeans I know of, so I buy them. I will buy something else if they keep changing without notice.
I think it should read:
" hey fella who has faithfully been a repeat customer and buys them by the dozen! We changed the style to appease some yuppy marketing group under the supervision of our bookkeeper. We saved $.05 a pair and they don't take so long to break in. It's win-win for everybody but you !"

 

[MotorSeven]

No, Levi has changed the 505 jeans for the worse. You can read the details, and complaints, on Amazon.

^this

I have been wearing 505's for over 40 years. The change was not recent, it was at least 20 years ago(or more). We can argue back and forth about the merits or non-merits of a global economy, but the fact is as soon as Levis stopped producing their jeans in the USA the quality fell. The outsourced jeans are thinner, are made from a different pattern(they just don't fit me like the old one's), and are not as durable. Seams come apart...sometimes abruptly when you are working, kneeling, squatting....not good and sometimes just plain embarrassing for me and Levi. I do not buy them anymore and it's a bummer.

Brookstone sells Made in USA Levi 501's for $148 ea...but not in my size(36x36)

I am thinking about trying these Made in USA since they do make my size:
All American Classic Jean Made in USA: All American Clothing Co

 

[NoTrespassing]

^this

I have been wearing 505's for over 40 years. The change was not recent, it was at least 20 years ago(or more). We can argue back and forth about the merits or non-merits of a global economy, but the fact is as soon as Levis stopped producing their jeans in the USA the quality fell. The outsourced jeans are thinner, are made from a different pattern(they just don't fit me like the old one's), and are not as durable. Seams come apart...sometimes abruptly when you are working, kneeling, squatting....not good and sometimes just plain embarrassing for me and Levi. I do not buy them anymore and it's a bummer.

Brookstone sells Made in USA Levi 501's for $148 ea...but not in my size(36x36)

I am thinking about trying these Made in USA since they do make my size:
All American Classic Jean Made in USA: All American Clothing Co

The pocket length change was recent. I have about 10 pair ranging from 20+ years old to brand new. I don't begrudge Levis the right to change their product, but it does give me more incentive to buy a cheaper brand since the quality is now about the same.

Kevin

 

[MotorSeven]

Your are correct, most of the really "bad" changes were within the past 5-8 years and that is when I quit buying them. Thanks for the reminder, I just ordered the "All American Classic Jean Style# AA1873" from All American Clothing Company. If you sign up, they will send you a 10% off coupon, so my total shipped for one pair was $52.04 which I am willing to pay if the quality/fit is there. I read their reviews and many said that the AA1873 is very close in fit to the 505 so I am giving them a try....I'll post up my review when I get them.

I still have a few pair if 505's that I covet. I just looked at the tag on them and they were made in Canada, so if you can find some of these the fit and quality are very good.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have always preferred Wrangler jeans to any other brand but Lee also feels good. I do have some Levi, Wrangler, Lee and a few pair of off brand that were about $10 a pair. They are good for wearing when greasing the tractors and digging in the dirt as you don't mind getting them stained up that bad, but they are very thin and wear out quickly. The Levi jeans always fit a bit tight in the crotch of me so I buy the relaxed fit Wranglers, they feel the best to me. Of course I haven't bought any jeans in a few years now, many years for Levi.
I wont pay $60 or more for a pair of jeans. I get mine at Walmart for around $25 which is still more than they should cost considering that they are made with quarter a day labor.

I don't know which is worse though, having shallow pockets or ones that you have to reach in to the elbow to get stuff out. I have some dress pants that are like that and I hate them.

 

[MotorSeven]

For work jeans I buy mine at the COOP for about $25, they are Carhartt's work line and they hold up pretty well. They are a little high in the waist, so I always want to say in a gritty low angry tone..."Git off my LAWN":laughing: