L.L. Bean: Layoffs possible

More competition with better products at a better price. We mostly buy outdoor gear elsewhere.

Fewer customers with fewer dollars. Less variety and service. Try to buy hiking pants with a 30inch inseam - they neither sell nor will they hem to length. Bean is still good about returns, and we return more clothes as the quality has been disappointing.

The main store and downtown is nicely decorated and more parking has been added.

Too much monkeying with customer product feedbacks on llbean.com . I have seen many low mark yet respectful product reports get removed.

Bean has lost its Maine roots. It used to be about the outdoors not clothing.

The Bush economics continues.

It is simple. When they made most of the stuff in Maine, I paid extra. Now they make most of it in China, but did not lower the price.
If I'm buying Chinese, I buy at Walmart.
They will lay off before Obama and the Dems have total control

Martial Arts wrote:

The Bush economics continues.

Has nothing to do with Bush, Please give it a break already. LL Bean has a policy to replace 100% guaranteed any of their products. Though not too many people take them up on this. Also their prices are very high but the quality of their merchandise is much better overall. They pay their employees decently and alot of people have made careers there. They are generous to employees (at least up in Freeport) that I know of.

Old Navy Guy wrote:

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Has nothing to do with Bush, Please give it a break already. LL Bean has a policy to replace 100% guaranteed any of their products. Though not too many people take them up on this. Also their prices are very high but the quality of their merchandise is much better overall. They pay their employees decently and alot of people have made careers there. They are generous to employees (at least up in Freeport) that I know of.

It is the fault of George Bush and all who voted for him.

It figures, Obama gets elected and the whole economy stats to tank. Stupid gay loving liberals.

Obama equals Doom wrote:

It figures, Obama gets elected and the whole economy stats to tank. Stupid gay loving liberals.

The economy "starts to tank"...where have you been? It's been tanking for a year now. Wake up.

It is a capitalistic system in which we live, at least for now. They will be judged appropriately in this system. I agree that Beans has compromised it's quality. This happened long before most people can recall. I worked for Eddie Bauer prior to the compromises they made to product quality. Companies, like people, eventually fail due to lack of character and/or quality. The vail has been lifted long ago for people who care to look. Beans chose to lower both quality and alter choices of product. This will be tested in the free market at a quicker pace now due to the depression. They will not break ties with China until we are at war, and they cannot compete with Walmart. Therefor they will suffer.

Worked there 21 years and was harassed as a gay male countless times----H.R. suggests you look for another place to work.Dirty little secret- maines sacred cow

lhs mom wrote:

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The economy "starts to tank"...where have you been? It's been tanking for a year now. Wake up.

Yes about 12 months after the dems took over congress. Remember the good old days of 4.5% unemployment, low interest rates, rising stock market and real estate.The 401k going through the roof, changing jobs when YOU wanted to change jobs, cheap gas. The cities and towns asking for overides to build new schools, not just to maintain services. Then Nancy and the Nimrods took over Congress and put Barney the Blowhard in charge of the banking comittee. A comie in charge of the banking comittee, what could go wrong?

Beaner wrote:

Worked there 21 years and was harassed as a gay male countless times----H.R. suggests you look for another place to work.Dirty little secret- maines sacred cow

Ever since the gay activists knocked down little old ladies in California and broke up church services, nobody cares anymore.

Beaner wrote:

Worked there 21 years and was harassed as a gay male countless times----H.R. suggests you look for another place to work.Dirty little secret- maines sacred cow

Who would stay in a job that they were harassed in for 21 years?

test

Most frequently used word describing products in any L.L. Bean catalogue- "imported".'Nuf said.

Chris wrote:

Most frequently used word describing products in any L.L. Bean catalogue- "imported".'Nuf said.

Well said!

Problem of foreign made goods due to consumers not companies

The actual manufatucing plants are moving to other counties. Seriously, who do you know in the US that makes clothes anymore? LL Bean and other clothing companies can't find US companies who can make in quantity the items they sell and they certianly cannot get them at prices we (the consumer) are willing to pay. Just look at the only company that is doing well- Walmart- the company that sells clothes at the least quality for the least money.

SO true. Wake up and smell the roses. If you who complain so easily, and think you are such nice, decent, smart people would realize that it's your very own buying habits that sends manufacturing elsewhere.

Come on folks, you want to earn solid, union wages, receive good benefits, vacations, and drive SUV's,but don't want to do the manufacturing work, Well, then somebody else will have to do that work. There's lots of somebody elses all over the world who will do the work for less, have less or no paid vacation, drive small cars or take public transportation, live in smaller homes.... hey folks, you want the best all the time - pay up or shut up.

You can't blame the politicians or the US companies who are forced to outsource or close down.

Accept your role in this. Go buy a Bean canoe, all the gear and enjoy the Summer on the water knowing you did the right thing for once in your life.

Complaining just makes you look like an 'arrogant American".

I agree w/Kevin from San Mateo, Ca. Bush was a lme duck his last 2.5 years when the Democrats took over Congress. The Main Stream Media won't tell you this. They just keep telling you about how Bush $ucked, not that the Democraptic Congress screwed things up and now we're paying for this. It was 4.5% unemployment when the Democrats took over. Now it's 8.5% and climbing. That's not even including homeless people and those who stopped looking and probably are on welfare now. They're unemployed as well even though they're not accounted for anymore. The real unemployment figure if you count the last 2 groups is probably in the range of 14-18%. Of course the media won't tell you this because they're protecting their darling Obama. His popularity rate is down to 50% favorable. Just give it time and he'll be as popular as Bush and the honeymoon between him and media will be over if things don't improve fast.

Very well said Tony!!!! And the reason there are no manufactoring plants in the US any longer is due to companies like LL Bean sending their work oversees.

Martial Arts wrote:

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It is the fault of George Bush and all who voted for him.

You must have breaking bricks with your head.