L L Bean these days...

[mrcvs]

Went into an L L Bean store earlier today.

My understanding is that it outfitted hunters and fishermen and became a 24/7 store to provide licenses to sportsmen very early in the morning.

Well, the yuppy magnet that it was...only a few fishing poles, items that were overpriced at 50% off, and a sanitized view of the world, no doubt corporate mandated, that, despite their heritage, you would never know that firearms, ammunition, or component parts thereof ever existed on this planet.....plus good that are not made in this country, for the most part.

Needless to say, I did not exactly open my wallet today in this yuppy emporium.

[Road Rat]

They used to be an up-scale store with quality products at a quality price. Now, most of their stuff is "imported" - I'm guessing from China.

I no longer has any interest in them!

[policerevolvercollector]

The flagship store in Freeport ME sells longguns/ammo. They even sell used long guns & have a gunsmith onsite. Some REALLY nice shotguns in there.....

[madmikeb]

Bean lost any business that I may have given them years ago when they stopped selling handguns. Evidently they didn't think that have a legitimate sporting purpose.

[ditrina]

Yeah.. They ain't the only ones.. Ambercrombie & Fitch also went down that road.. When I was a kid I could not wait to go to Manhattan to " THE STORE".. A bit of history lost..

Founded in 1892 in the Manhattan borough of New York City, , by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, Abercrombie & Fitch was an elite outfitter of sporting and excursion goods, particularly noted for its expensive shotguns, fishing rods, fishing boats, and tents. In 1976, Abercrombie & Fitch filed for bankruptcy, finally closing its flagship Manhattan store in 1977.

Now It's all about the Jeans!!

[Arik]

They had guns? I always thought it was like outdoor clothing store.

[Salty RI]

I used to run up to Freeport a few times a year, I haven't been there in years, I still make a few trips a year to the Kittery Trading Post.

[shouldazagged]

I still occasionally buy a turtleneck or polo shirt from them, and have a light fleece jacket of theirs I like if there's not much wind. For the most part their catalog now seems to be pitched to those who only drive their Land Rovers to the tennis club or nail appointments.

Don't even mention Eddie Bauer to me.

[M29since14]

Back in my dog-walking days I purchased a Bean "Maine Warden's Parka," or something like that, for my winter walks in the worst weather. It was a disappointment. After a couple winters of freezing in the thing, I ended up buying a better parka from Cabela's for less than half the price. Can't say for sure but I believe they were both imports - maybe not the Bean. I don't remember any more. Unfortunately, the Bean just didn't cut the mustard. I've never been close to their store, but the merchandise in their catalogs seems to have "deteriorated" over the years to where I see little of interest and can hardly stand to browse through one. I guess they have found their market - and it doesn't include me.

[policerevolvercollector]

Originally Posted by Salty RI

I used to run up to Freeport a few times a year, I haven't been there in years, I still make a few trips a year to the Kittery Trading Post.

KTP is a REAL outfitter despite the fact it is surrounded by the outlet mall.

[kaaskop49]

Bean seems to be hurting. Their catalogs are barely 1/3 the size they used to be. If you buy the same clothing item year-to-year, you can see the drop-off in quality and construction (not the correct word). Also, shipping is now free. Wonder if they're going the way of "The Sharper Image," an emporium of expensive knick-knacks.

Macy's also carried firearms years ago. I remember a rack of Model 70s back in 1969. Don't know when this stopped. GCA '68 killed a lot of gun business in our country. One could also buy liquor by the case in Macy's, as my grandpa did to provide gifts to his good customers.

[Salty RI]

Originally Posted by policerevolvercollector

KTP is a REAL outfitter despite the fact it is surrounded by the outlet mall.

Some really good fried clam's too, and you have the Maine Diner just about an half hour north.

[Salty RI]

Originally Posted by M29since14

Back in my dog-walking days I purchased a Bean "Maine Warden's Parka," or something like that, for my winter walks in the worst weather. It was a disappointment. After a couple winters of freezing in the thing, I ended up buying a better parka from Cabela's for less than half the price. Can't say for sure but I believe they were both imports - maybe not the Bean. I don't remember any more. Unfortunately, the Bean just didn't cut the mustard. I've never been close to their store, but the merchandise in their catalogs seems to have "deteriorated" over the years to where I see little of interest and can hardly stand to browse through one. I guess they have found their market - and it doesn't include me.

If you want a real warm coat Bean's Main Guide coat is so warm, if it isn't at least -10 degrees you can't zipper it up. I bought one and ended up giving it away, it was way too warm for me, they had another coat, it was gore tex and it was a pull over with a hood, I wore that thing every winter for about 30 years, finally my wife threw it away because it was starting to look like a rag, they don't make it anymore.

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I had my 1973 vintage L. L. Bean Longer boots resoled recently, price was reasonable, quality workmanship, they even replaced one of the tabs.

[HOUSTON RICK]

LL Bean still sells the best dress shirts. I do not see Bean as a real outfitter store anymore that is just a lost heritage that arises in advertising.

[chief38]

After being a loyal "Beaner" for 35 years I now rarely place an order with them anymore. Up until 10 or 15 years ago just about everything they sold was high quality, made in USA goods - and worth the high prices they charged because of the quality, material, staff and policy's. Today they are still selling very high priced items except that now almost 100% of their goods are imported and NOT the same wonderful quality they once were.

With Costco, the Internet and other modern day sources, better items can easily be gotten at 1/2 the prices they charge. Not that I have looked at their books, but I'll bet that compared to 15 years ago LL Bean is only a shadow of their former Company. What a shame!

Pretty much the same scenario applies to Orvis as well. Their prices are just NOT justified by the imported lower quality of goods they currently sell. In fact my kids bought me a belt and a shirt from Orvis and I was so upset with the quality vs what they paid I respectfully returned the items with a note. They send me an apology note and a $25 gift card - that I doubt I'll use.

[smutt]

Here's what Abercrombie & Fitch Company used to sell.

[JackM]

Filson flannel shirts, made in the US: $100 and up. LL Bean flannel shirts, imported, $40 or so. And you can return the Bean shirt ten years from now and get your money back, no questions asked. Pricing and marketing are pretty much what it comes down to. LL Bean's problem, at least with the older crowd, is trying to maintain their homespun image while selling products almost exclusively made elsewhere. It must be pretty jarring for a 60-plus guy who gets an LL Bean shirt for Christmas with a tag that says, "Made in Vietnam".

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by policerevolvercollector

The flagship store in Freeport ME sells longguns/ammo. They even sell used long guns & have a gunsmith onsite. Some REALLY nice shotguns in there.....

I'm not sure anybody in flyover country ever realized that LL Bean ever sold guns or anything to guns . . . News to me, and I still wear a pair of LL Bean cold weather hunting boots that I've had for 34 years.

[george minze]

Originally Posted by ditrina

Yeah.. They ain't the only ones.. Ambercrombie & Fitch also went down that road.. When I was a kid I could not wait to go to Manhattan to " THE STORE".. A bit of history lost..

Founded in 1892 in the Manhattan borough of New York City, , by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, Abercrombie & Fitch was an elite outfitter of sporting and excursion goods, particularly noted for its expensive shotguns, fishing rods, fishing boats, and tents. In 1976, Abercrombie & Fitch filed for bankruptcy, finally closing its flagship Manhattan store in 1977.

Now It's all about the Jeans!!

Sadly the demise of old line outfitter stores rest on both the new management and us (the consuming public) I remember the St.Louis A&F in the 60's it was a great outfitter store....Had a outlet for LEO to buy S&W and Colt off duty revolvers at the no tax reduced price...L.L Bean on the other hand suffered from internet sales of outdoor equipment...So they went to the no. 1 store buying public...Teens and young adults...Neither group was that interested in hunting and fishing.by and large...Not enough to specialize any more in that market...Like Banana Republic and you find the same change..l..Outdoors sales to young hip type clothes....Look what happened to "The Cockpit" (AVEREX) same thing, you see very few if any Cockpit stores any more....I have heard they still have a on line operation far smaller than the original stores and mail order....I think the buying public bears some of the blame, as we are constantly looking for a mimic line of specialty clothes.l...Human nature I guess....All three of those stores were at one time men specialty orientated stores. ..Now they are for hip young types...
Spending daddy's money while Daddy complains why aren't there any more Man's specialty stores...Changing of the times....Sad isn't it??? Target marketing has always been around. The target has just changed..Who spends the most money on clothes and accessories?? I'll tell you...The Young hipsters, with Daddy's credit card. Now Daddy goes to work in real casual and the man's specialty and suit market is getting tougher by the day..Old guys rant I guess...

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I have one of their old brown canvas duffle bags that has got to be pushing 30 years old. Can't bring myself to htrow it away as it still works (but is beat up beyond ugly). Used to wear nothing but their dress shirts with the flap front pocket but the quality fell off so bad that I quit years ago. Have ot ordered anything from Bean in many years. My tobagging days are long since past and the adirondack chairs sink into the mud so I guess I'm done

[NZshooter]

Originally Posted by smutt

Here's what Abercrombie & Fitch Company used to sell.

And in Chicago!!

[policerevolvercollector]

Originally Posted by Salty RI

Some really good fried clam's too, and you have the Maine Diner just about an half hour north.

That's right!!!!

[Rangerpat]

Over the years the only things I have ever purchased from L.L. Bean are three pairs of their Maine Hunting Shoe. They are still well made but are now called Bean Boots by L.L. Bean (more PC sounding).

I was looking at the wrong page, they still carry the Maine Hunting Shoe (pg. 51 in their Fall Preview 2014 L.L. Bean Hunting)

[tacreload]

Originally Posted by mrcvs

Went into an L L Bean store earlier today.

My understanding is that it outfitted hunters and fishermen and became a 24/7 store to provide licenses to sportsmen very early in the morning.

Well, the yuppy magnet that it was...only a few fishing poles, items that were overpriced at 50% off, and a sanitized view of the world, no doubt corporate mandated, that, despite their heritage, you would never know that firearms, ammunition, or component parts thereof ever existed on this planet.....plus good that are not made in this country, for the most part.

Needless to say, I did not exactly open my wallet today in this yuppy emporium.

Any time I see the word "Corporate"or "Corporate Mandated"I pretty much see a long downhill ride with little to no brakes,at least in my experience.Not usually good for anyone involved except for those at the top telling those at the bottom what's good for them.

[sophie]

Never could afford LL Bean merchandise. Still can't and the sale catalogs go in file 13.

[turbo6]

My friends aunt has worked there for many years. I think sales have been down a lot and their corporate strategy has changed. As a result they aren't the same. Its a shame, but I think overall I'd be more upset if they disappeared entirely.

Plus, as mentioned, KTP is another alternative for whatever LL Bean lacks.

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2

[GaryS]

My Game Warden Parka is the warmest winter coat I've ever owned. Actually, I've owned three of them over the years. One of the best Bean features is their lifetime no questions asked guarantee. The first coat I had a pocket liner tear after about five years. They gave me a new coat. The second one, someone with a cigarette got to close to me and burned a hole in it. The gave me a refund because they were out of my size and style in Freeport. I took the refund and went to the outlet store in Portland where they had one my size. That one is starting to have a zipper problem. I'll send it back and they'll either fix it or offer me a new one.

There firearms are very high end, much more expensive than I can afford or even want to. But, there are still a lot of other things that they sell that I like.

Originally Posted by M29since14

Back in my dog-walking days I purchased a Bean "Maine Warden's Parka," or something like that, for my winter walks in the worst weather. It was a disappointment. After a couple winters of freezing in the thing, I ended up buying a better parka from Cabela's for less than half the price. Can't say for sure but I believe they were both imports - maybe not the Bean. I don't remember any more. Unfortunately, the Bean just didn't cut the mustard. I've never been close to their store, but the merchandise in their catalogs seems to have "deteriorated" over the years to where I see little of interest and can hardly stand to browse through one. I guess they have found their market - and it doesn't include me.

[mrcvs]

If L L Bean were like it was...or still should be, it would make a trip to the mall (in this case, an outdoor shopping mall in Saucon Valley, Pennsylvania) at least somewhat bearable!!! The wife can go clothes shopping, and I could handle a few side by sides, maybe an old Smith & Wesson, pick up some primers and a pound of gunpowder. No such luck now. The way L L Bean is these days, my wife is far more likely to go want to hang out there than I.

[BaldEagle1313]

I used to get quite a few items of clothing from them. Online, of course. I like their L.L. Bean brand casual Dockers-style pants better than actual Dockers, and far, far better than what you might get from Sears, JC Penney, Target or Walmart. They fit me much better. I found them all to be of good quality and long-lasting. I was also impressed that the one time I had to call with a question I got a human being who was helpful, polite, answered my question and was easy to understand.

That said, I haven't bought anything from them in about 4 years - I just haven't had the need. So it's entirely possible things have changed.

[Coaltminer]

I ordered from their catalog in the the 60's, before I was 20, looked forward to receiving their catalog in the mail. They were a mainstay of New England life, where I was raised. Now it's junk mail. Their gear was legendary, they fixed anything you bought for life, it seemed, they weren't just a company, they were a companion in the field. I'm old, guess those days are gone, but it makes me feel good to remember them.

[NCTexan]

I like and buy some of the products that LL Beans sells. Shoes, shorts and casual shirts.

Like everyone, I can choose where I shop or choose to bypass. Mostly I make the decision based on value, quality, convenience, and service.

Every once in a while I will choose not to shop a business that has gone out of its way to support a point of view that I oppose.

Reading this and other threads regarding one business or another... I find it odd that so many people have such hostile feelings and their reasons. It seems that almost no business is immune.

"Boycotting" a store that does not sell hand guns or sells products not made in the USA dramatically limits my shopping choices for clothing, food, electronics, tools, or just about any other kind of gear.

I figure the only loser in that would be me... But it's a free country (for now).

[zzzippper]

It is just a matter of the ebb and flow of capitalism. Look at the companies that are gone (Woolworth's, Kresge's, Venture), and the soon to be gone (J.C. Penny, Sears). Yet BassPro, Cabela's, and Sportsman's Warehouse are expanding. Business goes where the money flows. I'm willing to bet that if A&F thought they could compete with BP and Cabela's at selling guns they would still be selling them.

[SmokeStack Lightning]

I've got 2 'Woolrich' shirts I bought 30 years ago from Bean which I still wear every Christmas Holiday. (yeah, they still fit, sized M)

Their merchandise and quality of service has lacked ever since the early 90's.

Back n da day, Bean replaced a pair of 'Ray-Ban' Aviator sunglasses no less than 4 times for me over the years.

But, I doubt a company which still does $1.5b in sales (2012 statistics) is hurting too much.

[GaryS]

Boycotts usually don't work because the people boycotting generally don't shop in them anyway. How many people who want to boycott Walmart actually shop there? How many of the protesters in front of Hobby Lobby last week have ever stepped foot in one?

On the other hand, buycotts work better. When people called for a boycott of Chik Fil A, supporters went there in droves. Sales went up.

Originally Posted by NCTexan

I like and buy some of the products that LL Beans sells. Shoes, shorts and casual shirts.

Like everyone, I can choose where I shop or choose to bypass. Mostly I make the decision based on value, quality, convenience, and service.

Every once in a while I will choose not to shop a business that has gone out of its way to support a point of view that I oppose.

Reading this and other threads regarding one business or another... I find it odd that so many people have such hostile feelings and their reasons. It seems that almost no business is immune.

"Boycotting" a store that does not sell hand guns or sells products not made in the USA dramatically limits my shopping choices for clothing, food, electronics, tools, or just about any other kind of gear.

I figure the only loser in that would be me... But it's a free country (for now).

[ChuckS1]

You guys oughta realize by now LL Bean's targeted demographic are not gun buyers. It'$ a clothing store who wants a younger, upscale customer who wants "casual Friday" and dressy weekend wear. Most of us on this forum are after more of an "Elmer Fudd" look, sounds like. Try Duluth Trading Post.

[Salty RI]

Originally Posted by ChuckS1

You guys oughta realize by now LL Bean's targeted demographic are not gun buyers. It'$ a clothing store who wants a younger, upscale customer who wants "casual Friday" and dressy weekend wear. Most of us on this forum are after more of an "Elmer Fudd" look, sounds like. Try Duluth Trading Post.

I still wear a red and black wool coat, I never did have a matching hat with ear flaps.

[Marshwheeling]

I used to buy a lot of mail-order stuff from Bean about 30-35 years ago. I bought a pair of shoes that were perfectly satisfactory. I bought many pairs of khaki pants, which had an easily expandable waistband, a nice feature for a guy whose clothes tended to, erm, shrink prematurely.

The one LL Bean product I still have is their Moose River hat, a silver-belly fedora that I still wear.

Other than that, they have pretty much dropped off my radar. Iy's been at least 20 years since I even looked at a catalog. I don't remember why I stopped buying their stuff, but at some point it no longer met my needs.

[REM 3200]

Originally Posted by M29since14

but the merchandise in their catalogs seems to have "deteriorated" over the years

Yes, but they made up for it by raising the prices.

[GaryS]

Some of the people in this thread sound like people who used to bash Rush Limbaugh. I'd ask them when they listened to him, and invariably the answer was "never".

My wife knows fashion design and textiles. She buys a fair amount of stuff from Bean because of the quality and the fact that they have a lifetime warranty. That's good enough for me.

[Kitgun]

Their jeans, dress shirts,rain gear, coats and hats all are quality items fairly priced and yah they do still replace stuff after years of wear & tear. The place ain't prefect but it beats the local mall. And.. you can even open carry when you shop LL Bean on line.

[kozmic]

I've been wearing their jeans almost exclusively for almost 30 years and still wear the LL boots I got on my honeymoon 29 years ago (with only one resole). I like their henleys and flannel shirts. Lady Koz wears their p js and has had a barn coat for a dozen years. I bought a Double LL fly rod along time ago and it's still a fav of mine.

We've been to Freeport a handful of times and have bought a ton of stuff on line. They opened a store not too far from here and get there a few times a year.

I consider them a very viable retailer for some stuff. Other things are drastically overpriced or not up to their "old" quality level.

One plus is that they have one of the best customer service and return policies out there.

[bgrafsr]

Originally Posted by smutt

Here's what Abercrombie & Fitch Company used to sell.

I have one with the same stocks. My number is 35729SA. I had it converted to .45 Colt though many years ago.