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]

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]

attn Ditrina

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]

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]

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]

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]

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...