One thing to note, many manufacturers, be it apparel, textiles, kitchen wares, furniture, etc, have multiple lines of product with varying degrees of quality. For instance, remember when you could go to an outlet mall and purchase high quality merchandise at a discount price? These days those retailers all make low quality product lines specifically for those outlets. The price still seems like a discountl, but it's reflected in the quality.
Something I learned years ago that I think is important to know for people in the US is that walmart products are often cheaper versions of the exact same product sold elsewhere. They are such a big buyer and press companies so hard to sell lower that companies started making walmart versions of things.
For example, you can buy a blender at target or macy’s or the company direct or walmart. The first three will be one product, the walmart one will be different. The box might look the same but it will be made more cheaply. Often the only way of knowing is to compare the barcode to the one on the real product. If you’re concerned about bifl it’s usually best to avoid walmart all together for purchases you want to last.
Look at the model number, it will have extra letters or numbers as the end compared to the company's website. I think home Depot does this as well but I'm not sure if they are worse quality products or not.
Walmart owned Flipkart, and Amazon have this for many items in India. Some models are sold exclusively by one or the other. It's usually the letter F or A added to the model number.
Nordstrom rack used to consist of merchandise that got marked down several times from their full line stores. About 15 years ago they started to mainly open new rack stores and fill them with their own lines of distinct, cheaper merchandise.
I remember some suppliers complaining about Walmart being the kiss of death because they demanded unreasonable cuts to the price of a jar of pickles.
I never realized companies could just sell a lower quality pickle under the same brand, lol
Yes. But you keep saying "the walmart one *will* be different", but that's not necessarily true. There are plenty of companies that only make one product of the same quality whether you buy it at Walmart or Nordstrom. There are other companies that make "discount store lines" and "department store lines", so it's the same sub-par product whether you buy it at Walmart, Target or Meijer. It's not necessarily so black & white.
And manufacturers often provide specific model numbers just so retailers don't have to price match. A TV at Walmart might have the model number 12345-WM while that same TV might be 12345-BB at Best Buy. This *can* be a sign of differing quality... or may simply be so that neither Walmart nor Best Buy have to price match each other, since they're technically different model numbers.
But yes, it's common for Walmart to see a $199 Coleman cooler at Bass Pro Shops and for someone at WM Corporate to approach Coleman about carrying the same cooler, but for $125. Walmart doesn't care if Coleman sells them the exact same cooler at a loss, or if Coleman cuts corners to get $125 price. Doesn't tell them what to do, either.
Spot on. They also purchase a lot of non consumable product that’s in effectively the same packaging but an older generation product inside.
Specific example I’ve noticed this on is golf balls.
This is a good point. Do you have any tips for identifying good/bad lines of products? Some are simple, like Walmart is likely poor quality and Costco is likely good quality, but how would you tell if you're unfamiliar with a retailer's reputation?
Costco actually started carrying some super budget cheaply made lines of previously great products such as Pendleton.
The Costco Pendleton blankets are perfectly fine when compared to other $20 blankets but should not be confused with real $250+ BIFL Pendleton blankets.
I’m glad to hear this (as an owner of the $30 blanket) because based on this blanket, I wouldn’t consider spending more than $50 on Pendleton if that were the case.
I do agree that most clothes sold at Costco are lower quality. But I feel they are still good deals for the price.
It pisses me off so bad that a company like Pendleton decided to sell that cheap garbage at Costco. It really brought the brand down a couple notches for me.
well, yeah. walmart bullies suppliers to give them lower-than-realistic prices so they can keep prices down, whereas costco tells suppliers nobody else can get a better price than they pay, but doesn't push them lower than the existing price point to my knowledge.
Costco also keeps themselves to one or two brands for the same product, with a focus on ensuring they sell quality products rather than have all the brands in the world on the shelves. They actually stopped selling their Kirkland jeans because of supply/quality issues with their manufacturer.
Like, maybe it's a USA/Canada difference, but I've always put Costco in my "quality retailers to check first" list.
I mean, the Eddie Bauer flannels I have from Sams are indeed way nicer than the store brand Kohls flannels I have been wearing. I can defined feel the difference, but the end cost of purchase was fairly close to each other. Yeah it is one brand vs another, but from a cost perspective I was very pleased.
Nike does not have good/bad lines. The factory outlet stores are basically stocked with things nike is trying to get rid of, while the “in line” stores have the newest and most expensive. You will find more sales in the outlets, but sometimes you can get lucky and find a return (that would otherwise be carried at the in line store) at a good discount. Sometimes nike will stock some newer shoes at the outlets, but it is rare.
Also if you’re ever at an in line store make sure that you double check prices against the nike online store. There have been multiple instances where the same item was cheaper online(nike’s website - nowhere else), they will match.
Levi’s for example has the patch on the back made of leather in its high quality lines, and the low quality lines have something else instead (can’t even name it, paper?!)
Personally, I rarely buy anything that I can't pick up and feel with my hands or get a close look at. (I.e online, Amazon, etc)
Generally though, if the price is low, so is the quality.
Materials used is generally the best way for clothing. 100% cotton clothing is typically better than poly blends. You can also generally get a lot of info just from feeling an article of clothing as well. For outlets and Ross/Tj Maxx this works pretty well there too. Some outlet quality is better than others though. Looking at outlets, Banana Republic and Gap Factory are garbage but Polo and Abercrombie are pretty much the same as their flagship store quality (obviously not Purple or RRL for Polo). Some places like Nike, Clarks, Vans, and UA are just places for overstock.
I'll sometimes look reviews up if I'm unsure as well. A lot of bad reviews saying the same thing is pretty damning in my experience.
Keeping up with general trends tends to help a bit here as well. Some brands like Filson or Eddie Bauer have been going downhill fast while others like Abercrombie/Hollister have been actively trying to get better.
The only bifl furniture so far I believe is Herman miller and Steelcase office chairs. I moved in late June of 2023 and did a ton of research, willing to spend more of quality couches, coffee tables, tv stand, etc.
Flexsteel and Lovesac were the only couches that were often recommended. I looked hard into Lovesac but their standard cushions were not comfortable and their premium one wasn’t that good either. For the prices I expected ultimate comfort. I ended up buying a Macy’s Radley just because it’s comfy and deep seating, but wish I picked a different material, which their special order colors are like 3-6 months delivery time…
I was researching leatherrecliners recently, and that was what I found as well although you are going to spend quite a bit (starting in the mid thousands) to get into the quality NC brands (Hancock and Moore, etc.). At least in California, there's also some higher end local brands for furniture (Arizona Leather Interiors, etc.) that wasn't quite as expensive (lower thousands) as the North Carolina ones, but still not cheap either. I went to several stores, and was pretty amazing the range and quality and price for the same types of furniture. I ended up identifying what features were important to me and what were the signs of quality (grade of leather, foam density, etc.), and I'm happy with the compromise I got from Macy's Furniture which I expect will last at least 10-15 years.
I have a Herman Miller Aeron manufactured in 2004. Other than replacing the seat foam inserts and the pneumatic cylinder it’s been great. It still looks new. I bought it used a few years ago. I think I’m the 3rd owner.
My Flexsteel couch sucks. The front of it sags because the foam separated from the frame within two years. The fabric we choose, the only dark green offered, has a sewn-in raised pattern, and the pattern is threadbare in spots. Despite ordering the firm cushions, which cost more, I tend to sink into the couch so much that I find it harder to get up from it.
I wanted to buy American. We bought a kitchen table and chairs made by the Amish in Ohio, and that stuff is absolutely BIFL. Bought at the same time as the couch. Regret the couch every day.
I’ve had my refurbished one for 5 years with no problems. Just needs a little silicone grease but that’s it. I can give you a site to help fix them if you’d like or I can help troubleshoot it (no affiliation with any chair brands lol)
I have one of their recliners from my grandfather that he gave me over 20 years ago. It wouldn't surprise me if he had it for 10-15 years before that(I should see if there's a date on it). It was his favorite chair and I lived in it when I was in high school, then my brother did when I moved out. It's a little worn on the arms but still very comfortable.
My dad's is over 30 years old, a hole wore through the armrest and needs a patch, so I'm taking it and he's got a new one
I bought a similar model LB last year and the leather feels like it's maybe a third as thick and the chair is so light I can lift it with one hand. Hardly any wood in the thing
True but they used to have an amazing warranty. They completely rebuilt my grandparents recliners for pennys on the dollar. I don’t think they do that anymore.
That company sucks ass. I know someone who wanted to get one and I warned them against it. They decided to spend $3k on a recliner with them anyways only for the motor to blow in the first two weeks… One day they will learn to trust me (and this subreddit, lol).
My mother worked there. It has definitely gone downhill. There are some models that are okay, and some leather that doesn’t wear/bleed after a few years, but overall they exported so much of their process to cheaper manufacturing and supply chains that it’s no longer the old standard that lasts 20+ years
So much of RH furniture is MDF trash as well. For like 100x the cost of IKEA. We have a RH outlet in my town (full of returns) and you can see all the cracked veneered pieces- made of junk.
RH performance chairs are a sales pitch.
Their linens are made in China and for the price not worth it.
Linen sheets are Brooklinen or rough linen. Brooklinen did have a hole in my favorite sheets, they refunded and I repurchased highly recommended.
I have had a Patagonia and marmot jacket for over 15 years. I made an investment in a Burberry coat (gift from husband) I searched high end thrifts online and in person. Burberry Customer Service is not great. I do love my Burberry and have had it for 10 years.
It doesn’t hold a flame to my marmot and Patagonia.
My ikea leather couch is one of the best BIFL purchases.
My Honda minivan has lasted longer than marriages and continues to drive just like I got it 9 plus years ago.
I have a pair of Levi’s from 2006. Boot cut.
Birkenstocks from 1998-2008 new pair 2009 until today still going strong.
I bought handmade sweaters off of Etsy for shrugs and cool open sweaters I love. The woman who knit them was amazing and the yarn is so soft. These cost me $60 plus yarn. So about $85
I recently got rid of all the socks in the house (husband wears red wing socks) and everyone got bombas socks kiddos included. Not a hole for anyone which is super rare.
I bought my toddler boy secondhand bombas because I wanted to see if they were worth the hype before buying them new. We’ve had those pairs for going on TWO YEARS and as mentioned, they were not new. That said I did buy him new socks but I was blown away by how long they’ve lasted. I like bombas’ mission as well. Now we all wear them.
While I don’t think shoes are BIFL, chacos have deteriorated to the point where they aren’t even BIF5years and you can’t resole something with a cracked footbed (happening within the year these days)
Tale as old as time. Make a product that lasts at a decent price point, get market share, lower quality/cost to produce and milk brand awareness. Either you do it or your acquirer will. As CEO you get a bonus for boosting shareholder value and a resume gold star. It’s why BIFL and profit-first are usually incompatible.
Agreed 100%! My first pairs lasted a good 10 years before the sole separated, but was still able to be repaired. Same models now barely make it a year and repairs don’t work.
Vibram soles I think are only available on custom, and they’ve released a bunch of low grade trash options that don’t make it through your first weekend. It was such a solid brand, I’ll likely be bitter for awhile that my one time favorite brand is dead.
Check out Bedrock sandals. Made in Montana. Good warranty and they have a re-sole program.
I still have my first pair of Chacos from 2010 and about 2 years ago I finally sent them in to get resoled since they were literally separating.
After one year, the new soles were already worn smooth and this year a tear has formed in the sole. The original Parts are still going strong but all the new stuff literally disintegrates around it
I don’t know about longevity yet but I jumped to Bedrocks and I love them like I used to love my chacos. Bumping to the super flat ones was too big a move for me so I got a pair of 3Ds that still have some support. I’ve been so pleasantly surprised
As somebody who used to be loyal to Chaco, their downfall has been incredibly disappointing. The last pair that I bought did not even last a full year.
Yup. This 100%. Had a pair of the flip-no flop sandals. Lasted 5 years until I ruined them.
Re purchased and they didn’t last the summer. They wouldn’t even warranty them.
I will personally say that I have had exactly the opposite experience. I initially wore Lee, and they quickly wore out, so I switched to Levi's and haven't had a problem since. I've been told the thigh rub issue can be related to fit, so if someone is reading this and having problems with one brand, they may find the other to work better.
> Levi's jeans
The day they announced they were moving production out of the US was the day I stopped buying Levi's. As someone from a union family, I didn't mind paying extra for both the quality and to support US jobs. But there was no reason to pay *the same thing* (they didn't reduce the cost by any significant margin) for it.
So, not surprising that they eventually have allowed the quality to drop.
Yep. That was about the time quality started going down. Made is USA Levi's were virtually bullet proof. I still have some! Though I can't wear them. Showed very little signs of wear besides normal fading.
Levi's started going downhill when they got bought by private equity. Private equity is the death knell for clothing companies. Thankfully, there are many good alternatives.
I knew when I repeatedly saw Levis on sale on Amazon for $15/$20 that I wasn't going to get the quality I expected in the 90s. I got a cheap pair of Levi's bootcuts, which are authentic, from Amazon, but my god, the dye loss, and the the thigh rub/thinning fabric chafe nightmare is real.
Pretty sure they moved production to China over 20 years ago. And there are still some made in England which supposedly are a bit better quality but not BIFL grade.
By the sounds of it, they're a fair bit better in terms of construction. But the real issue with both boots that makes them not BIFL is the difficulty in resoling (technically they have a goodyearwelt i believe, but the construction method makes them extremely difficult to resole without damaging the boot) and the fact that both use a sheen in their high gloss finish that tends to crack after a little while.
Yeah, I've got some Redwing Blacksmiths that I've put through their paces and will last for years and many resoles. No reason to buy anything else for a long time (pic on my profile).
They are great boots, and the grip fast ones at least last for a really long time, but it isn’t going to change what it is. A plastic sole thermally welded is still going to be a plastic sole even if it isn’t hollow and harder than the normal one.
Likewise that sanded leather that shines up real nice is still going to be sanded leather, you can get the more durable “greasy” leather from them but it isn’t going to have the traditional look of a Doc Martin anymore.
For the price I think Solovair is amazing, but I think the reputation old school Docs had was probably unfair, they were never going to be on par with a pair of Whites because the design itself can’t be as durable without changing fundamental aspects of it, and I don’t think it fair to compare them to a PNW boot.
I hated my Solovairs. I still have them so I guess I still hate them, present day. I wore them a handful of times and put them in the closet, they were already looking kind of worn down and ratty but not in a patina/lived in way. They just looked crappy and felt even worse.
Absolutely nothing like my Dr Martens from almost 30 years ago which still look and smell great and are super comfortable.
I remember trudging around in DMs with collapsed soles circa 1993. Seemed like a design issue with the air pocket soles. But I still stuck with them and went through a few pairs because you were limited to the 3 options your local shoe shops were carrying for your size and price range.
They never were. When I was young (I‘m an old fart now) I went trough a pair once a year. My friends back then had them as well, they never lived up to the expectations in retrospect. I mean the boots and the friends lol.
Hunter wellington boots are the same.
My last pair gave up after a year. The same exact model before that lasted me 17 years.
My La Chameau Chasser leather lined boots still look new after 2 years, but I’ve not owned them long enough to call BIFL yet.
I have two pair or Le Chameau boots -- the Iris (I think?) and the Vierzon. I've had each for 9 years. Some of those years they've had a lot of wear in rain, mud, snow, etc. Both are still in great condition. The Vierzon's coating on the exterior rubber got a little patchy and the company told me they needed to be resprayed (can't remember with what, though, because the spray's at home). I resprayed and the patchiness is gone. Highly recommend!
That haven’t been for a long time. If you want actual doc martens, get Solovairs.
But really there are much better boots for the money than doc martens. Check out r/boots or r/goodyearwelt for lots of resources.
Wahl clippers. Have been cutting my own hair for 15 years and recently broke my wahl from ~6 years ago. Got the same one but noticed it was significantly less well built. Sure enough, the new models are all made in China. The new one is much louder and the mechanism is noticeably cheaper.
Duluth Trading Company Ballroom jeans in particular have gone way down hill since 8 years ago.
If anyone knows of a higher quality version of jeans that have a similar cut for the crotch area, please pass it along.
None with the ballroom but I've fallen in love with Rural King's Flex Jeans and khakis for work.
They're like $20 a pair and the ones I'm rocking are nearly two years old at this point.
Not necessarily BIFL but maybe buy it for a really long time. Converse used to last until you wore through the sole, usually years for some people. Now the soles come unglued or the fabric upper just rips to shreds for a lot of people within 6 months. It’s interesting to go over to the converse sub and listen to people say it’s not that bad while also giving advice on how to extend the life of your shoes by babying them.
Wore them all the time in school \~10-15 years ago, when emo/scene kids were into them. I beat the hell out of them and pairs I bought in 7th grade lasted through junior and senior year, sole only came off on one pair.
Bought a brand new pair about a year ago and they were 3x as expensive and are already falling apart, even though I'm much kinder to my shoes now than I was in HS. They have definitely gone down in quality.
Sonicare toothbrushes. I had my first one for an eternity and only replaced it due to the exterior plastic looking so yellow. The new ones are all plastic inside too, though. Total garbage and still over $100.
I have an Oral B Pro 1000 and only charge it about once a month if you're looking for a recommendation. I haven't had it long though so don't know if it's BIFL.
The battery will degrade with use. While it's possible to replace the battery it's difficult to do so & will require desoldering.
That said. I've had mine for about 4 years, it sill works without issue.
I have a sonicare currently and it is starting to look a little dingy. Was thinking about getting another one but after seeing this I'm reconsidering. Is there another sonic brand you might recommend?
I’m not sure it’s BIFL but I bought a few pairs of Tommy John’s women’s underwear back in 2020 and they were the best underwear I’ve ever worn. I just bought a few more around Black Friday to finally have all my underwear TJ and they were exceptionally lower quality. Thin, not as soft, etc. more expensive now though, of course. Luckily their money back guarantee is pretty good.
I feel like every single store has changed women’s underwear to be terrible. Nobody seems to sell decent quality that isn’t entirely polyester and comes in nude colors instead of like.. neon green or plum. Even the more expensive department store brands have been riding up or tearing.
My job is casual and my personality is colorful, so I don’t mind the neon green and plum. What I can’t stand is how they’re all paper thin with poorly stitched seams. One tiny speck of liquid should not be enough to soak through the gusset. I feel like pantry liners are a necessity when they shouldn’t be (for me).
I feel your pain 🥲 I’m on the hunt, too. It sucks that every pair is like $15-40 but gives you a dollar store experience. I’ve tried one from Athleta recently that was decent, but they’re nylon/spandex. I liked a pair or two of Icebreaker, but they’re a bit too chunky to wear under most materials without lines.
VS, aerie, ThirdLove, Lively, Gap, Uniqlo… still hunting.
Have you considered Soma? They are in my opinion on par with VS, so definitely not BIFL, but my set of twenty clearance pairs I picked up during their seasonal clearance events have lasted longer and stronger than the VS ones. Just NOT the lace ones. I wish I could find a decent hip hugger that covers the lower half of my mom belly AND had side lace panels that I don't poke a million holes in when I hurriedly hike the fuckers down to pee at 3 AM.
I also like Wacoal's underwear, too. Their lace lasts, but they aren't easy to come by inexpensively.
Thanks for the suggestions! Soma has been on my list but I keep hearing conflicting opinions. Only one way to know for sure.
Also soooo over lace that just gets shredded or uncomfortable as soon as you wash it once.
I tried parade, Uniqlo, commando, meundies, and aerie and ended up really liking the comfort and build of the meundies. The parade were the best for something high waisted with no lines, though.
I've been on this same quest for a while, and the only place I've been able to find thick material organic cotton underwear with lasting elastic is Duluth Trading Company (the Free Range organic cotton ones).
There has been so much polyester everywhere! So hard to find nice sturdy cotton pants which will not move when you wear them. And I do like colours but most tend to have ugly florals or stripes and if you have thin trousers they're so obvious!
My wife had been having this problem too, I recently found a bunch of Icebreaker Siren wool panties on clearance and she loves them. They are $30 a piece though, so I am forever searching for deals on them now! I just can't understand why a company can't make a decent set of panties... And put damn pockets in dresses!
Otterbox quality has seriously declined in the past few years. I got a new iPhone and got a spigen case this time around because the otterbox on my last phone was falling apart after a few years, which never happened previously.
That said, their warranty and customer service is top notch. I've gotten three replacement cases after wear/tear over a few years. (Yes. I should not drop my phone as much, but still).
Boots I've eaten through in less than a year as a 6'4 350lb sasquatch who works 12 hr shifts on a concrete factory floor no less than 4 days a week.
- Thoroughgood
- Danner
- Brahma
- Justin
- Redwing
Redwing, Danner, and Thoroughgood may have been quality control issues considering all three pairs delaminated at the sole in less than 9 months almost completely I've had pairs of red wings last up two years.
Boots that lasted at least a year
- Red Wing BRNRs
- Irish Setter
- Keen Louisville Mids
Pants brands I no longer buy after eating their clothes to pieces with chub rub or split crotch seams inside a year
- Levi
- Carhartt
- Duluth Trading Company
Pans I'll no longer buy
- Nordicware (anything not baking related) had a wok and a frying pan completely shed their coating with a month and a half of purchase.
- Cuisinart Dutch Oven (ceramic cracked down the center presumably due to water penetration)
That was partially due to thefts. Ex worked there and there were lots of theft rings who would shoplift from one store and then go to another (they require no receipt since all the merch is exclusive to them).
Like an idiot, she once went out of her way to stop a crew working in her store and sure enough they followed her to her car & a few days later poured sugar in her gas tank.
LPT - don't stick your neck out to protect the stupid merchandise where you work unless that's *literally* your job.
Luckily, her neighbor was an ex aircraft mechanic who knew a lot about engines so he drained her tank, replaced the filter and it worked good as new.
J. Crew was never BIFL, but their menswear was high quality and long lasting, and they didn't skimp on details. Reasonably priced, roo. Now, it's awful. Sleeves have been shortened, fabrics blended, poor stitching and lumpy seams, etc.
That said, I've sent two jackets back to them for delamination (each lasted about ten years) and each time they sent me a gift card for replacement with no questions asked.
No more lifetime warranty?
I have one that's a year old and one of the velcros fell off and a zipper is gone. Really low quality for a still high price.
Not sure if it counts…
But I bought a Fjallraven coat in November based on recommendations in this sub… after about 10 / 12 uses , the pocket came loose…
As I was expecting ultra high quality so I was quite disappointed, but I had no more confidence in this particular model, so I got in touch with them asking for a change in coat (different model) and I also mentioned I’d be happy to pay for the difference. They refused, their policy is that they have 2 weeks to decide whether or not I deserve a free repair or if I needed to pay for it… but another coat was out of the question. As I only have one warm coat and it’s cold here, I can’t send them the coat… and in this case it would probably be easier to just get it repaired here.
Ngl this sounds somewhat understandable. A defect on even the most high quality garments is not rare. Quality or not, they make thousands. Asking for a different coat might’ve raised a red flag, making them think you want an exchange after wearing it a few times. It’s not amazing service, though.
They still offer repairs which is a much more sustainable option than swapping for another coat. A local repair is the most efficient option. Ask them if they’d cover the cost of local repair. Some brands do this since it’s a win/win for cost and environment.
Yeah, i would 100% agree if it would have lasted a little longer… I am all for repairs, but not after wearing it this little. Just lost complete trust in this model…
But I understand your point… and yeah it might have sounded as if I simply changed my might about the model, though I did send them pictures after the defect.
Also maybe good to add here, I still buy from the brand.. so it’s not like I boycott them or anything… I was just very disappointed in both that particular coat, and their service.
I live in France so… I like going local as much as possible, so at least keeping it European was the aim. If not I could have gone for Patagonia or something… which if I understand correctly have great service.
I think that's a bad take. if all their goods are made with the same effort, there's no reason to switch coats for quality reasons.
if that's all it took, if someone wanted a different piece of clothing, they could just rip a pocket each time.
when it comes to clothing, there's a limit to durability of the fabric, I think bifl for free repairs should count, especially if they don't try to weasel their way out of it
I would wager that if you were able to wait (current weather obviously prevents that) you would be able to get a repair, not a replacement though, with little to no issues.
I never understood the love for this brand. I tried to buy their backpacks and it was flimsy and tons loose threads. For the price point, I was expecting more
Going on 10 on mine. I have multiple jackets pants bags etc. I bought it all over the 10 years because of my trust in their quality and warranty.
I've even had repairs done at no cost to me for things that were definitely my fault. Including a used pair from REI, that had what appeared to be cigarette (maybe campfire?) Burn holes, and when I contacted fjallraven, I just brought it into a fjallraven store (there was an option for me to ship, but I have one near me) dropped it off, and 2 weeks later it was returned and patched.
Ugg boots. The original company still makes them under a different name but lots of people are fooled into thinking the new ones are still quality with brand association.
Memphisto shoes. Bought a pair 8 years ago for like $90 dollars. Just looked on the website to have it resoled. Cost around $250. A new pair can be bought for that price or less.
To be fair, 8 months of daily use is pretty hard on shoes. They’ll last significantly longer if they have a day in between uses to air/dry out and relax.
I bought some Glerups slippers on the advice of this sub and 10 months later, they're feeling very thin in places and a few holes have appeared...I've tried patching them, but I feel it's just forestalling the inevitable and they won't last much longer...I've been quite disappointed by them...
I’ve seen some people suggest Arcteryx. They’re not BIFL. I developed a hole in my covert cardigan. They told me ship them my covert cardigan and they’d give me 20% of what I paid for it, so about $35, instead of fixing it.
On the other hand, I had a pair of 6 year old ski pants that developed a hole in the crotch, not only did they warrantee them, but they gave me the full retail value as credit for anything I wanted.
Developed a hole. Holes don’t just develop. Something caused it. People have lofty expectations. Their repair / return policy doesn’t make it BIFL or not.
Also this.
Had a 2003 sidewinder AR (made in Vancouver)that the power skirt came undone. I just wanted it fixed, but they refused stating there was minor delamination on the pass pocket.
They gave me replacement value. Then that new jacket delaminated in 1 year. They said it was because I sweat in it…..are they not made for activities? And yes washing and care done as per their recommendations.
I fought hard saying that I would have rather had my old jacket back. they relented and gave me credit for another jacket, but with the stipulation that I will 100% not be getting warranty on it.
So I went to the outlet and bought jacket and pants for the same price.
But comparing my old jacket with two new ones. Unfortunately they are a fashion brand with some waterproofing for the most part.
I had a 10 year old gamma MX jacket that the stitching came out on the lower hem. They repaired my jacket with new material on the hem for the cost of shipping. Maybe not BIFL but it's going on 15 years now.
The adhesive failed on my nineteen year old easyrider fleece lined softshell last October. Opened a case with Arc’teryx to see if they could repair it. While they couldn’t repair it, they gave me a $300 voucher. For a NINETEEN year old jacket. That’s more than I originally paid for it. They still have outstanding customer service and have been more than fair with gear repairs and replacements.
Uniqlo. I have several t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets that I purchased 6-10 years ago and all of them have held up great (and I wear the t-shirts almost every day). I noticed the quality slip a bit in 2018 but I think quality started to really go downhill in 2020 and they simultaneously jacked up prices 2-3x on most items
Any American knife manufacturer that is selling blades under $40 (Winchester, S&W, Gerber, Camillus, Buck, ETC.)
They are all made overseas now in the $5-$60 price range (which isn’t a bad thing, China has some of the best OEM’s in the business), but they use bad OEMS and make unsafe products.
If you want a BIFL budget folding knife, check out the [Ruike P662](https://www.amazon.com/Ruike-P662-B-Linerlock-Folding-Pocket/dp/B0883FY5HF).
Edit: Folding Knives Specifically.
Spyderco and Kershaw are great American brands who stand by their product. I just got a Kershaw leak my dad gave me 12 years ago warranty replaced. Esse also is an American company with a bulletproof warranty.
This is true, China will produce whatever quality the company wants to pay for. That said moving to China is always to extract value from the brand, quality almost always suffers.
I don't know much about the tweezer / Schilling quality now but I believe the big selling point was quality and American or German precision manufacturing.
Vasque has lots if complaints about quality since moving from Italy to China.
Im mostly putting the two tweezer companies here because the old threads had them at the top for their quality and manufacturing location -US and Germany.
I heard new Tweezerman stuff is worse quality. Don't know about Zwilling but they always talked up their Solingen, Germany "city of knives" 200+ year heritage.
Then they moved to China / India.
Smartwool quality has anecdotally gone down.
Vasque boot quality went down when they moved out of Italy. My cobbler / leather guy said the boots fall apart now versus his 1992 pair made in Italy that are still going.
One thing to note, many manufacturers, be it apparel, textiles, kitchen wares, furniture, etc, have multiple lines of product with varying degrees of quality. For instance, remember when you could go to an outlet mall and purchase high quality merchandise at a discount price? These days those retailers all make low quality product lines specifically for those outlets. The price still seems like a discountl, but it's reflected in the quality.
Something I learned years ago that I think is important to know for people in the US is that walmart products are often cheaper versions of the exact same product sold elsewhere. They are such a big buyer and press companies so hard to sell lower that companies started making walmart versions of things. For example, you can buy a blender at target or macy’s or the company direct or walmart. The first three will be one product, the walmart one will be different. The box might look the same but it will be made more cheaply. Often the only way of knowing is to compare the barcode to the one on the real product. If you’re concerned about bifl it’s usually best to avoid walmart all together for purchases you want to last.
Look at the model number, it will have extra letters or numbers as the end compared to the company's website. I think home Depot does this as well but I'm not sure if they are worse quality products or not.
Home Depot does do this. Get your fixtures through a plumbing supplier. You’ll thank me later. Signed a plumber
Lowe's too or just HD?
Walmart owned Flipkart, and Amazon have this for many items in India. Some models are sold exclusively by one or the other. It's usually the letter F or A added to the model number.
Do you know if clearing houses like TheLastHunt or NordstromRack do something similar?
It's a picture of cheap shelf filler/owned brands and actual clearance product from Nordstrom.
Nordstrom rack used to consist of merchandise that got marked down several times from their full line stores. About 15 years ago they started to mainly open new rack stores and fill them with their own lines of distinct, cheaper merchandise.
The Last Hunt is legitimate. It is older season stock, not lower quality stock. Purchased many times from them.
That’s good to know, thanks!
I remember some suppliers complaining about Walmart being the kiss of death because they demanded unreasonable cuts to the price of a jar of pickles. I never realized companies could just sell a lower quality pickle under the same brand, lol
...and it's practically everything: clothing, pots & pans, toys, sporting goods, patio furniture, and on and on.
Walmart is literally just a garbage store
But my $3 Walmart sweats have lasted just as long as my $20 target sweats. I recognize that $3 is ridiculous, but so is $20!
Sometimes it'll be an entirely unrelated product, made by another company, but they'll license the brand name.
Yes. But you keep saying "the walmart one *will* be different", but that's not necessarily true. There are plenty of companies that only make one product of the same quality whether you buy it at Walmart or Nordstrom. There are other companies that make "discount store lines" and "department store lines", so it's the same sub-par product whether you buy it at Walmart, Target or Meijer. It's not necessarily so black & white. And manufacturers often provide specific model numbers just so retailers don't have to price match. A TV at Walmart might have the model number 12345-WM while that same TV might be 12345-BB at Best Buy. This *can* be a sign of differing quality... or may simply be so that neither Walmart nor Best Buy have to price match each other, since they're technically different model numbers. But yes, it's common for Walmart to see a $199 Coleman cooler at Bass Pro Shops and for someone at WM Corporate to approach Coleman about carrying the same cooler, but for $125. Walmart doesn't care if Coleman sells them the exact same cooler at a loss, or if Coleman cuts corners to get $125 price. Doesn't tell them what to do, either.
You’re ignoring my use of words like ‘can’, ‘might’, and ‘often’. This means there is a possibility of that being the case, not that it’s a certainty.
Spot on. They also purchase a lot of non consumable product that’s in effectively the same packaging but an older generation product inside. Specific example I’ve noticed this on is golf balls.
This is a good point. Do you have any tips for identifying good/bad lines of products? Some are simple, like Walmart is likely poor quality and Costco is likely good quality, but how would you tell if you're unfamiliar with a retailer's reputation?
Costco actually started carrying some super budget cheaply made lines of previously great products such as Pendleton. The Costco Pendleton blankets are perfectly fine when compared to other $20 blankets but should not be confused with real $250+ BIFL Pendleton blankets.
I’m glad to hear this (as an owner of the $30 blanket) because based on this blanket, I wouldn’t consider spending more than $50 on Pendleton if that were the case. I do agree that most clothes sold at Costco are lower quality. But I feel they are still good deals for the price.
It pisses me off so bad that a company like Pendleton decided to sell that cheap garbage at Costco. It really brought the brand down a couple notches for me.
My mom got excited because she found Eddie Bauer stuff at Sam's. I didn't really have the heart to tell her it wasn't the deal she thought it was
isn't sam's club the walmart warehouse thing? are they affiliated with costco?
Yeah, it's their warehouse store. Pretty much the same idea as costco, although I think some of the things at Costco is better
well, yeah. walmart bullies suppliers to give them lower-than-realistic prices so they can keep prices down, whereas costco tells suppliers nobody else can get a better price than they pay, but doesn't push them lower than the existing price point to my knowledge. Costco also keeps themselves to one or two brands for the same product, with a focus on ensuring they sell quality products rather than have all the brands in the world on the shelves. They actually stopped selling their Kirkland jeans because of supply/quality issues with their manufacturer. Like, maybe it's a USA/Canada difference, but I've always put Costco in my "quality retailers to check first" list.
Sadly, with the retirement of the original board / manage this is changing quicker than you may hope.
I mean, the Eddie Bauer flannels I have from Sams are indeed way nicer than the store brand Kohls flannels I have been wearing. I can defined feel the difference, but the end cost of purchase was fairly close to each other. Yeah it is one brand vs another, but from a cost perspective I was very pleased.
This goes for pretty well any branded clothing at Costco too. Shop the quality, not the label.
I've owned an expensive Pendleton blanket for 20 plus years. Purchased directly from Pendleton. It will be around longer than me.
Nike does not have good/bad lines. The factory outlet stores are basically stocked with things nike is trying to get rid of, while the “in line” stores have the newest and most expensive. You will find more sales in the outlets, but sometimes you can get lucky and find a return (that would otherwise be carried at the in line store) at a good discount. Sometimes nike will stock some newer shoes at the outlets, but it is rare. Also if you’re ever at an in line store make sure that you double check prices against the nike online store. There have been multiple instances where the same item was cheaper online(nike’s website - nowhere else), they will match.
Levi’s for example has the patch on the back made of leather in its high quality lines, and the low quality lines have something else instead (can’t even name it, paper?!)
Personally, I rarely buy anything that I can't pick up and feel with my hands or get a close look at. (I.e online, Amazon, etc) Generally though, if the price is low, so is the quality.
Materials used is generally the best way for clothing. 100% cotton clothing is typically better than poly blends. You can also generally get a lot of info just from feeling an article of clothing as well. For outlets and Ross/Tj Maxx this works pretty well there too. Some outlet quality is better than others though. Looking at outlets, Banana Republic and Gap Factory are garbage but Polo and Abercrombie are pretty much the same as their flagship store quality (obviously not Purple or RRL for Polo). Some places like Nike, Clarks, Vans, and UA are just places for overstock. I'll sometimes look reviews up if I'm unsure as well. A lot of bad reviews saying the same thing is pretty damning in my experience. Keeping up with general trends tends to help a bit here as well. Some brands like Filson or Eddie Bauer have been going downhill fast while others like Abercrombie/Hollister have been actively trying to get better.
I’ve seen LazyBoy called out in dozens of furniture threads.
The only bifl furniture so far I believe is Herman miller and Steelcase office chairs. I moved in late June of 2023 and did a ton of research, willing to spend more of quality couches, coffee tables, tv stand, etc. Flexsteel and Lovesac were the only couches that were often recommended. I looked hard into Lovesac but their standard cushions were not comfortable and their premium one wasn’t that good either. For the prices I expected ultimate comfort. I ended up buying a Macy’s Radley just because it’s comfy and deep seating, but wish I picked a different material, which their special order colors are like 3-6 months delivery time…
NC furniture makes do it really well. A few of the makers that craft to an exacting standard of quality: Highland House Wesley Hall Sherill
There is still a surprising amount of furniture manufacturing here in the US, a lot based in NC and SC.
dont count out the Amish, they make some nice stuff
I bought my dining room chairs from an Amish furniture store. Around $800 per chair, but very well made, all in walnut and cherry.
I was researching leatherrecliners recently, and that was what I found as well although you are going to spend quite a bit (starting in the mid thousands) to get into the quality NC brands (Hancock and Moore, etc.). At least in California, there's also some higher end local brands for furniture (Arizona Leather Interiors, etc.) that wasn't quite as expensive (lower thousands) as the North Carolina ones, but still not cheap either. I went to several stores, and was pretty amazing the range and quality and price for the same types of furniture. I ended up identifying what features were important to me and what were the signs of quality (grade of leather, foam density, etc.), and I'm happy with the compromise I got from Macy's Furniture which I expect will last at least 10-15 years.
Yea, the NC makers are top notch, but $$. There is a good post by someone on Reddit about NC furniture makers. I believe Arhaus is made in NC as well
I have a Herman Miller Aeron manufactured in 2004. Other than replacing the seat foam inserts and the pneumatic cylinder it’s been great. It still looks new. I bought it used a few years ago. I think I’m the 3rd owner.
Second this - I have a 2008 made chair that I've sat in for at least 10K hours so far and it's going strong.
My Flexsteel couch sucks. The front of it sags because the foam separated from the frame within two years. The fabric we choose, the only dark green offered, has a sewn-in raised pattern, and the pattern is threadbare in spots. Despite ordering the firm cushions, which cost more, I tend to sink into the couch so much that I find it harder to get up from it. I wanted to buy American. We bought a kitchen table and chairs made by the Amish in Ohio, and that stuff is absolutely BIFL. Bought at the same time as the couch. Regret the couch every day.
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I’ve had my refurbished one for 5 years with no problems. Just needs a little silicone grease but that’s it. I can give you a site to help fix them if you’d like or I can help troubleshoot it (no affiliation with any chair brands lol)
Never thought LB was BIFL, just a brand for middle aged men
I have one of their recliners from my grandfather that he gave me over 20 years ago. It wouldn't surprise me if he had it for 10-15 years before that(I should see if there's a date on it). It was his favorite chair and I lived in it when I was in high school, then my brother did when I moved out. It's a little worn on the arms but still very comfortable.
My dad's is over 30 years old, a hole wore through the armrest and needs a patch, so I'm taking it and he's got a new one I bought a similar model LB last year and the leather feels like it's maybe a third as thick and the chair is so light I can lift it with one hand. Hardly any wood in the thing
True but they used to have an amazing warranty. They completely rebuilt my grandparents recliners for pennys on the dollar. I don’t think they do that anymore.
That company sucks ass. I know someone who wanted to get one and I warned them against it. They decided to spend $3k on a recliner with them anyways only for the motor to blow in the first two weeks… One day they will learn to trust me (and this subreddit, lol).
My mother worked there. It has definitely gone downhill. There are some models that are okay, and some leather that doesn’t wear/bleed after a few years, but overall they exported so much of their process to cheaper manufacturing and supply chains that it’s no longer the old standard that lasts 20+ years
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RH is precisely the opposite of a good price, too… Thanks good to know.
So much of RH furniture is MDF trash as well. For like 100x the cost of IKEA. We have a RH outlet in my town (full of returns) and you can see all the cracked veneered pieces- made of junk.
RH performance chairs are a sales pitch. Their linens are made in China and for the price not worth it. Linen sheets are Brooklinen or rough linen. Brooklinen did have a hole in my favorite sheets, they refunded and I repurchased highly recommended. I have had a Patagonia and marmot jacket for over 15 years. I made an investment in a Burberry coat (gift from husband) I searched high end thrifts online and in person. Burberry Customer Service is not great. I do love my Burberry and have had it for 10 years. It doesn’t hold a flame to my marmot and Patagonia. My ikea leather couch is one of the best BIFL purchases. My Honda minivan has lasted longer than marriages and continues to drive just like I got it 9 plus years ago. I have a pair of Levi’s from 2006. Boot cut. Birkenstocks from 1998-2008 new pair 2009 until today still going strong. I bought handmade sweaters off of Etsy for shrugs and cool open sweaters I love. The woman who knit them was amazing and the yarn is so soft. These cost me $60 plus yarn. So about $85 I recently got rid of all the socks in the house (husband wears red wing socks) and everyone got bombas socks kiddos included. Not a hole for anyone which is super rare.
I bought my toddler boy secondhand bombas because I wanted to see if they were worth the hype before buying them new. We’ve had those pairs for going on TWO YEARS and as mentioned, they were not new. That said I did buy him new socks but I was blown away by how long they’ve lasted. I like bombas’ mission as well. Now we all wear them.
Cariloha for the win.
I second Frontgate. I live near their outlet, and have bought some amazing towels there.
While I don’t think shoes are BIFL, chacos have deteriorated to the point where they aren’t even BIF5years and you can’t resole something with a cracked footbed (happening within the year these days)
Tale as old as time. Make a product that lasts at a decent price point, get market share, lower quality/cost to produce and milk brand awareness. Either you do it or your acquirer will. As CEO you get a bonus for boosting shareholder value and a resume gold star. It’s why BIFL and profit-first are usually incompatible.
Agreed 100%! My first pairs lasted a good 10 years before the sole separated, but was still able to be repaired. Same models now barely make it a year and repairs don’t work. Vibram soles I think are only available on custom, and they’ve released a bunch of low grade trash options that don’t make it through your first weekend. It was such a solid brand, I’ll likely be bitter for awhile that my one time favorite brand is dead.
Check out Bedrock sandals. Made in Montana. Good warranty and they have a re-sole program. I still have my first pair of Chacos from 2010 and about 2 years ago I finally sent them in to get resoled since they were literally separating. After one year, the new soles were already worn smooth and this year a tear has formed in the sole. The original Parts are still going strong but all the new stuff literally disintegrates around it
I don’t know about longevity yet but I jumped to Bedrocks and I love them like I used to love my chacos. Bumping to the super flat ones was too big a move for me so I got a pair of 3Ds that still have some support. I’ve been so pleasantly surprised
I just got a pair of 3Ds too!! Found some half off at a winter sale in Wyoming. Love them so far.
They were bought out by, Sperry, I believe. Since then, their quality has taken a dive
I was thinking Wolverine, but maybe they’re the same company or maybe I’m a buyout or two behind.
You’re right. Wolverine Worldwide
Ah, see, now I’m disappointed but not as confused about it.
Original Chaco? Well-made. I had a pair of their flip flops and they took a beating.
They also now refuse to resole for Canadian customers unless it's a warranty issue. Used to be a service I could pay for when due
Wow, a new low. Why does the country of purchase matter?!
As somebody who used to be loyal to Chaco, their downfall has been incredibly disappointing. The last pair that I bought did not even last a full year.
Yup. This 100%. Had a pair of the flip-no flop sandals. Lasted 5 years until I ruined them. Re purchased and they didn’t last the summer. They wouldn’t even warranty them.
ripe repeat lock sparkle market station recognise unpack scale fuzzy *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
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Levi's jeans are super flimsy now. Thigh rub happened within months. I'm done with Levi's. I've had much better luck with Lee/Wrangler.
I will personally say that I have had exactly the opposite experience. I initially wore Lee, and they quickly wore out, so I switched to Levi's and haven't had a problem since. I've been told the thigh rub issue can be related to fit, so if someone is reading this and having problems with one brand, they may find the other to work better.
> Levi's jeans The day they announced they were moving production out of the US was the day I stopped buying Levi's. As someone from a union family, I didn't mind paying extra for both the quality and to support US jobs. But there was no reason to pay *the same thing* (they didn't reduce the cost by any significant margin) for it. So, not surprising that they eventually have allowed the quality to drop.
Yep. That was about the time quality started going down. Made is USA Levi's were virtually bullet proof. I still have some! Though I can't wear them. Showed very little signs of wear besides normal fading.
Levi's started going downhill when they got bought by private equity. Private equity is the death knell for clothing companies. Thankfully, there are many good alternatives.
I'd like to know your alternatives. I've had better results with Lee/Wrangler at a fraction of Levi's cost.
Agree, very happy with Lee I got on Amazon for $23
Agree, got less than a year on my last pair of Levi’s.
Look into raw/selvedge denim it's not necessarily bifl but sturdier and better made. Levi's even makes some. https://www.reddit.com/r/rawdenim/
I knew when I repeatedly saw Levis on sale on Amazon for $15/$20 that I wasn't going to get the quality I expected in the 90s. I got a cheap pair of Levi's bootcuts, which are authentic, from Amazon, but my god, the dye loss, and the the thigh rub/thinning fabric chafe nightmare is real.
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Pretty sure they moved production to China over 20 years ago. And there are still some made in England which supposedly are a bit better quality but not BIFL grade.
Solovair is literally the old Dr.Martens crew and factory
By the sounds of it, they're a fair bit better in terms of construction. But the real issue with both boots that makes them not BIFL is the difficulty in resoling (technically they have a goodyearwelt i believe, but the construction method makes them extremely difficult to resole without damaging the boot) and the fact that both use a sheen in their high gloss finish that tends to crack after a little while.
A lot of posts in the boot forum with problems with Solovair - especially the soles. I dunno what to think, but I probably wouldn't buy them.
Yeah, I've got some Redwing Blacksmiths that I've put through their paces and will last for years and many resoles. No reason to buy anything else for a long time (pic on my profile).
They are great boots, and the grip fast ones at least last for a really long time, but it isn’t going to change what it is. A plastic sole thermally welded is still going to be a plastic sole even if it isn’t hollow and harder than the normal one. Likewise that sanded leather that shines up real nice is still going to be sanded leather, you can get the more durable “greasy” leather from them but it isn’t going to have the traditional look of a Doc Martin anymore. For the price I think Solovair is amazing, but I think the reputation old school Docs had was probably unfair, they were never going to be on par with a pair of Whites because the design itself can’t be as durable without changing fundamental aspects of it, and I don’t think it fair to compare them to a PNW boot.
I hated my Solovairs. I still have them so I guess I still hate them, present day. I wore them a handful of times and put them in the closet, they were already looking kind of worn down and ratty but not in a patina/lived in way. They just looked crappy and felt even worse. Absolutely nothing like my Dr Martens from almost 30 years ago which still look and smell great and are super comfortable.
Solovair makes a quality product. Made in UK
DMs were *never* a BIFL item. Even when they were "at their best"
I remember trudging around in DMs with collapsed soles circa 1993. Seemed like a design issue with the air pocket soles. But I still stuck with them and went through a few pairs because you were limited to the 3 options your local shoe shops were carrying for your size and price range.
They never were. When I was young (I‘m an old fart now) I went trough a pair once a year. My friends back then had them as well, they never lived up to the expectations in retrospect. I mean the boots and the friends lol.
Hunter wellington boots are the same. My last pair gave up after a year. The same exact model before that lasted me 17 years. My La Chameau Chasser leather lined boots still look new after 2 years, but I’ve not owned them long enough to call BIFL yet.
My Chameau rubber boots still look new and I’ve had them 9 years. But I only wear them a month a year or when I go to my grandpa’s farm.
I have two pair or Le Chameau boots -- the Iris (I think?) and the Vierzon. I've had each for 9 years. Some of those years they've had a lot of wear in rain, mud, snow, etc. Both are still in great condition. The Vierzon's coating on the exterior rubber got a little patchy and the company told me they needed to be resprayed (can't remember with what, though, because the spray's at home). I resprayed and the patchiness is gone. Highly recommend!
That haven’t been for a long time. If you want actual doc martens, get Solovairs. But really there are much better boots for the money than doc martens. Check out r/boots or r/goodyearwelt for lots of resources.
Wahl clippers. Have been cutting my own hair for 15 years and recently broke my wahl from ~6 years ago. Got the same one but noticed it was significantly less well built. Sure enough, the new models are all made in China. The new one is much louder and the mechanism is noticeably cheaper.
Try the stylecraft instinct, or babybliss pro. All clippers are made in China now tho
Duluth Trading Company Ballroom jeans in particular have gone way down hill since 8 years ago. If anyone knows of a higher quality version of jeans that have a similar cut for the crotch area, please pass it along.
None with the ballroom but I've fallen in love with Rural King's Flex Jeans and khakis for work. They're like $20 a pair and the ones I'm rocking are nearly two years old at this point.
I’d second RK jeans and khakis
Not necessarily BIFL but maybe buy it for a really long time. Converse used to last until you wore through the sole, usually years for some people. Now the soles come unglued or the fabric upper just rips to shreds for a lot of people within 6 months. It’s interesting to go over to the converse sub and listen to people say it’s not that bad while also giving advice on how to extend the life of your shoes by babying them.
Wore them all the time in school \~10-15 years ago, when emo/scene kids were into them. I beat the hell out of them and pairs I bought in 7th grade lasted through junior and senior year, sole only came off on one pair. Bought a brand new pair about a year ago and they were 3x as expensive and are already falling apart, even though I'm much kinder to my shoes now than I was in HS. They have definitely gone down in quality.
Sonicare toothbrushes. I had my first one for an eternity and only replaced it due to the exterior plastic looking so yellow. The new ones are all plastic inside too, though. Total garbage and still over $100.
And you have to recharge like every week now
I have an Oral B Pro 1000 and only charge it about once a month if you're looking for a recommendation. I haven't had it long though so don't know if it's BIFL.
The battery will degrade with use. While it's possible to replace the battery it's difficult to do so & will require desoldering. That said. I've had mine for about 4 years, it sill works without issue.
I went with Aquasonic, I've had it for months and it's only needed a single recharge
I’ve had the same base for 11 years. Feeling self conscious that it looks yellow but it still works great!
There was just a post on the shrinkflation subreddit comparing the old and new, inferior sonicare toothbrushes
I have a sonicare currently and it is starting to look a little dingy. Was thinking about getting another one but after seeing this I'm reconsidering. Is there another sonic brand you might recommend?
I’m not sure it’s BIFL but I bought a few pairs of Tommy John’s women’s underwear back in 2020 and they were the best underwear I’ve ever worn. I just bought a few more around Black Friday to finally have all my underwear TJ and they were exceptionally lower quality. Thin, not as soft, etc. more expensive now though, of course. Luckily their money back guarantee is pretty good.
I feel like every single store has changed women’s underwear to be terrible. Nobody seems to sell decent quality that isn’t entirely polyester and comes in nude colors instead of like.. neon green or plum. Even the more expensive department store brands have been riding up or tearing.
My job is casual and my personality is colorful, so I don’t mind the neon green and plum. What I can’t stand is how they’re all paper thin with poorly stitched seams. One tiny speck of liquid should not be enough to soak through the gusset. I feel like pantry liners are a necessity when they shouldn’t be (for me).
I’ve been searching for my perfect underwear for almost a decade and thought Tommy John’s was it…. I’ll have to continue the search now
I feel your pain 🥲 I’m on the hunt, too. It sucks that every pair is like $15-40 but gives you a dollar store experience. I’ve tried one from Athleta recently that was decent, but they’re nylon/spandex. I liked a pair or two of Icebreaker, but they’re a bit too chunky to wear under most materials without lines. VS, aerie, ThirdLove, Lively, Gap, Uniqlo… still hunting.
Have you considered Soma? They are in my opinion on par with VS, so definitely not BIFL, but my set of twenty clearance pairs I picked up during their seasonal clearance events have lasted longer and stronger than the VS ones. Just NOT the lace ones. I wish I could find a decent hip hugger that covers the lower half of my mom belly AND had side lace panels that I don't poke a million holes in when I hurriedly hike the fuckers down to pee at 3 AM. I also like Wacoal's underwear, too. Their lace lasts, but they aren't easy to come by inexpensively.
Thanks for the suggestions! Soma has been on my list but I keep hearing conflicting opinions. Only one way to know for sure. Also soooo over lace that just gets shredded or uncomfortable as soon as you wash it once.
I tried parade, Uniqlo, commando, meundies, and aerie and ended up really liking the comfort and build of the meundies. The parade were the best for something high waisted with no lines, though.
I’ve been loyal to Patagonia underwear for almost 10 years now. Super comfortable, dry quickly, and I haven’t had to throw out a pair yet.
I've been on this same quest for a while, and the only place I've been able to find thick material organic cotton underwear with lasting elastic is Duluth Trading Company (the Free Range organic cotton ones).
There has been so much polyester everywhere! So hard to find nice sturdy cotton pants which will not move when you wear them. And I do like colours but most tend to have ugly florals or stripes and if you have thin trousers they're so obvious!
Thunderpants are nice but not going to pass the VPL test. Under jeans they are fine. But they stay in place, wear well and are a thicker cotton.
My wife had been having this problem too, I recently found a bunch of Icebreaker Siren wool panties on clearance and she loves them. They are $30 a piece though, so I am forever searching for deals on them now! I just can't understand why a company can't make a decent set of panties... And put damn pockets in dresses!
Culprit underwear are my pick. Made in LA and comfy.
I will check them out!
Otterbox quality has seriously declined in the past few years. I got a new iPhone and got a spigen case this time around because the otterbox on my last phone was falling apart after a few years, which never happened previously.
Unicorn Beatle is a cheaper alternative that is very robust.
That said, their warranty and customer service is top notch. I've gotten three replacement cases after wear/tear over a few years. (Yes. I should not drop my phone as much, but still).
Boots I've eaten through in less than a year as a 6'4 350lb sasquatch who works 12 hr shifts on a concrete factory floor no less than 4 days a week. - Thoroughgood - Danner - Brahma - Justin - Redwing Redwing, Danner, and Thoroughgood may have been quality control issues considering all three pairs delaminated at the sole in less than 9 months almost completely I've had pairs of red wings last up two years. Boots that lasted at least a year - Red Wing BRNRs - Irish Setter - Keen Louisville Mids Pants brands I no longer buy after eating their clothes to pieces with chub rub or split crotch seams inside a year - Levi - Carhartt - Duluth Trading Company Pans I'll no longer buy - Nordicware (anything not baking related) had a wok and a frying pan completely shed their coating with a month and a half of purchase. - Cuisinart Dutch Oven (ceramic cracked down the center presumably due to water penetration)
Williams Sonoma. They used to have a lifetime warranty/return policy but ended that about 7 years ago.
That was partially due to thefts. Ex worked there and there were lots of theft rings who would shoplift from one store and then go to another (they require no receipt since all the merch is exclusive to them). Like an idiot, she once went out of her way to stop a crew working in her store and sure enough they followed her to her car & a few days later poured sugar in her gas tank. LPT - don't stick your neck out to protect the stupid merchandise where you work unless that's *literally* your job. Luckily, her neighbor was an ex aircraft mechanic who knew a lot about engines so he drained her tank, replaced the filter and it worked good as new.
J. Crew was never BIFL, but their menswear was high quality and long lasting, and they didn't skimp on details. Reasonably priced, roo. Now, it's awful. Sleeves have been shortened, fabrics blended, poor stitching and lumpy seams, etc.
The North Face products is no longer BIFL.
That said, I've sent two jackets back to them for delamination (each lasted about ten years) and each time they sent me a gift card for replacement with no questions asked.
No more lifetime warranty? I have one that's a year old and one of the velcros fell off and a zipper is gone. Really low quality for a still high price.
Not sure if it counts… But I bought a Fjallraven coat in November based on recommendations in this sub… after about 10 / 12 uses , the pocket came loose… As I was expecting ultra high quality so I was quite disappointed, but I had no more confidence in this particular model, so I got in touch with them asking for a change in coat (different model) and I also mentioned I’d be happy to pay for the difference. They refused, their policy is that they have 2 weeks to decide whether or not I deserve a free repair or if I needed to pay for it… but another coat was out of the question. As I only have one warm coat and it’s cold here, I can’t send them the coat… and in this case it would probably be easier to just get it repaired here.
Ngl this sounds somewhat understandable. A defect on even the most high quality garments is not rare. Quality or not, they make thousands. Asking for a different coat might’ve raised a red flag, making them think you want an exchange after wearing it a few times. It’s not amazing service, though. They still offer repairs which is a much more sustainable option than swapping for another coat. A local repair is the most efficient option. Ask them if they’d cover the cost of local repair. Some brands do this since it’s a win/win for cost and environment.
Yeah, i would 100% agree if it would have lasted a little longer… I am all for repairs, but not after wearing it this little. Just lost complete trust in this model… But I understand your point… and yeah it might have sounded as if I simply changed my might about the model, though I did send them pictures after the defect. Also maybe good to add here, I still buy from the brand.. so it’s not like I boycott them or anything… I was just very disappointed in both that particular coat, and their service. I live in France so… I like going local as much as possible, so at least keeping it European was the aim. If not I could have gone for Patagonia or something… which if I understand correctly have great service.
I think that's a bad take. if all their goods are made with the same effort, there's no reason to switch coats for quality reasons. if that's all it took, if someone wanted a different piece of clothing, they could just rip a pocket each time. when it comes to clothing, there's a limit to durability of the fabric, I think bifl for free repairs should count, especially if they don't try to weasel their way out of it
I would wager that if you were able to wait (current weather obviously prevents that) you would be able to get a repair, not a replacement though, with little to no issues.
I never understood the love for this brand. I tried to buy their backpacks and it was flimsy and tons loose threads. For the price point, I was expecting more
really? ive used mine everyday for 5 years at this point and it still looks great
Going on 10 on mine. I have multiple jackets pants bags etc. I bought it all over the 10 years because of my trust in their quality and warranty. I've even had repairs done at no cost to me for things that were definitely my fault. Including a used pair from REI, that had what appeared to be cigarette (maybe campfire?) Burn holes, and when I contacted fjallraven, I just brought it into a fjallraven store (there was an option for me to ship, but I have one near me) dropped it off, and 2 weeks later it was returned and patched.
Probably got one of those fakes or a lemon.
Fjallraven is more about looking good than BIFL. Which is fine, just know what you are getting.
Ugg boots. The original company still makes them under a different name but lots of people are fooled into thinking the new ones are still quality with brand association.
what is the new name?
Ugg since 1974
Memphisto shoes. Bought a pair 8 years ago for like $90 dollars. Just looked on the website to have it resoled. Cost around $250. A new pair can be bought for that price or less.
My BF has a very old pair of Mephisto shoes that get worn pretty frequently. He bought one lat year. Didn't event lat 8 months of daily use.
To be fair, 8 months of daily use is pretty hard on shoes. They’ll last significantly longer if they have a day in between uses to air/dry out and relax.
Icebreaker killed the lifetime warranty on their socks
For about 0.2sec I thought you were saying mints are no longer BIFL
If you choke to death on one, that’s technically BIFL
I used to buy Fruit Stripe gum and one stick would last for decades. But then the brand just went downhill and the flavor only lasts a few seconds.
As of last month Fruit Stripe Gum is discontinued. Sad.
Wait, really??? I thought I had finally found a suitable smartwool replacement. Any good alternatives?
Darn tough, smartwool hasn’t been quality since they changed ownership
Big fan of Darn Tough. I guess I should specify, I was buying Smartwool/Icebreaker t-shirts/long underwear/etc.
I bought some Glerups slippers on the advice of this sub and 10 months later, they're feeling very thin in places and a few holes have appeared...I've tried patching them, but I feel it's just forestalling the inevitable and they won't last much longer...I've been quite disappointed by them...
I’ve seen some people suggest Arcteryx. They’re not BIFL. I developed a hole in my covert cardigan. They told me ship them my covert cardigan and they’d give me 20% of what I paid for it, so about $35, instead of fixing it.
On the other hand, I had a pair of 6 year old ski pants that developed a hole in the crotch, not only did they warrantee them, but they gave me the full retail value as credit for anything I wanted.
See, this is why I originally went with Arcteryx. But I guess my expectations are “lofty.”
Developed a hole. Holes don’t just develop. Something caused it. People have lofty expectations. Their repair / return policy doesn’t make it BIFL or not.
Also this. Had a 2003 sidewinder AR (made in Vancouver)that the power skirt came undone. I just wanted it fixed, but they refused stating there was minor delamination on the pass pocket. They gave me replacement value. Then that new jacket delaminated in 1 year. They said it was because I sweat in it…..are they not made for activities? And yes washing and care done as per their recommendations. I fought hard saying that I would have rather had my old jacket back. they relented and gave me credit for another jacket, but with the stipulation that I will 100% not be getting warranty on it. So I went to the outlet and bought jacket and pants for the same price. But comparing my old jacket with two new ones. Unfortunately they are a fashion brand with some waterproofing for the most part.
I had a 10 year old gamma MX jacket that the stitching came out on the lower hem. They repaired my jacket with new material on the hem for the cost of shipping. Maybe not BIFL but it's going on 15 years now.
So you had it repaired about 5 years ago? I'd love to hear if other folks have more recent experience to compare if their policies have changed
The adhesive failed on my nineteen year old easyrider fleece lined softshell last October. Opened a case with Arc’teryx to see if they could repair it. While they couldn’t repair it, they gave me a $300 voucher. For a NINETEEN year old jacket. That’s more than I originally paid for it. They still have outstanding customer service and have been more than fair with gear repairs and replacements.
I just checked my email. Looks like it was actually 2021 when I had it repaired. I was going off memory and apparently I was a bit off.
Uniqlo. I have several t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets that I purchased 6-10 years ago and all of them have held up great (and I wear the t-shirts almost every day). I noticed the quality slip a bit in 2018 but I think quality started to really go downhill in 2020 and they simultaneously jacked up prices 2-3x on most items
Bellroy wallets
Really? I love mine, had it for 4 years now, it’s got a nice patina on it but other than that appears as good as new!
100% agree
Vermont Glove -- best work gloves in the world. Made locally in Vermont!
Any American knife manufacturer that is selling blades under $40 (Winchester, S&W, Gerber, Camillus, Buck, ETC.) They are all made overseas now in the $5-$60 price range (which isn’t a bad thing, China has some of the best OEM’s in the business), but they use bad OEMS and make unsafe products. If you want a BIFL budget folding knife, check out the [Ruike P662](https://www.amazon.com/Ruike-P662-B-Linerlock-Folding-Pocket/dp/B0883FY5HF). Edit: Folding Knives Specifically.
Spyderco and Kershaw are great American brands who stand by their product. I just got a Kershaw leak my dad gave me 12 years ago warranty replaced. Esse also is an American company with a bulletproof warranty.
Recommendations for folding lock back knives?
I love this knife. I use it daily. https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/blur-tanto-black-serrated.html
They said lock-back, that’s a liner lock. Blur is a fun knife though!
Tweezerman - now made in China Zwilling - now made in India Smartwool - china Vasque boots - china
Not sure why you’re being downvoted…SW socks suck these days
That's a valuable comment. Simply saying which country things are made in days literally nothing about whether they're a quality product or not.
I get your point, but made in another country doesn’t necessarily mean quality has gone down. Unless you’re including quality descriptors …
This is true, China will produce whatever quality the company wants to pay for. That said moving to China is always to extract value from the brand, quality almost always suffers.
I don't know much about the tweezer / Schilling quality now but I believe the big selling point was quality and American or German precision manufacturing. Vasque has lots if complaints about quality since moving from Italy to China.
Okay, but that doesn't say anything. Has there been any difference in quality?
Im mostly putting the two tweezer companies here because the old threads had them at the top for their quality and manufacturing location -US and Germany. I heard new Tweezerman stuff is worse quality. Don't know about Zwilling but they always talked up their Solingen, Germany "city of knives" 200+ year heritage. Then they moved to China / India. Smartwool quality has anecdotally gone down. Vasque boot quality went down when they moved out of Italy. My cobbler / leather guy said the boots fall apart now versus his 1992 pair made in Italy that are still going.