I've literally spent thousands of dollars at LL Bean over the years but not anymore.
- I ordered a pair of pants that wasn't as advertised but I liked them and so I ordered 3 other pairs in different colors. Each color fit differently than the first pair AND differently than each other. This is just plain poor quality. I never had quality issues with them before the last few years.
- Another issue is that their sizing is extremely inconsistent from one style to the next. You literally HAVE to try something on whereas it used to be so consistent that the same size was good through their whole inventory.
- If you shopped at LL Bean for years because their clothing was relaxed and fit you even if you weren't 5'10 and 120 lbs. You can just forget about it now. Most of the women's clothes are slightly fitted' and are difficult to fit into comfortably unless you are a model. Those of us who helped build LL Bean are being forgotten about.
- Very few shoes or boots are available in wide anymore
It goes on and on. If the prices went down as fast and as low as the quality it may not be as disappointing

As a long time customer, I am not happy with an issue I had with placing an order through the 800 number. Customer Relations was not at all helpful and did not resolve the issue. Customer satisfaction is no longer a priority. I spoke to a "supervisor," and she did nothing to resolve the issue.

I am sorry to say that LL Bean has lost a long time customer. I have been shopping there for more than 35 years.

I am very disappointed in LL Bean.

This was once a great company with quality products and service, but not anymore.

First they trashed the lifetime guarantee, and in their notice to customers about it, insulted anyone who had ever returned anything. Since most of the items they sell are for seasonal use, the new 1-year guarantee is essentially good for 3 months. Think about that for a while.

Then they forced us LLBean credit card holders into a new company with higher interest rates, fewer benefits and poor service. But you can bet that LLBean gets a bigger cut of the credit card action. No concern whatsoever for their customers though.

I recently returned two t-shirts for exchange because their XL is actually a XXL. After two weeks I hadn't heard a word about the exchange and had to call them. They couldn't even offer an excuse, and finally shipped the two size L shirts but refused expedited shipping. In all, over three weeks to make the exchange.

Product quality is in the dumper. The jeans I just ordered are made of cheap, thin denim and have permanent creases up the inside of the legs that can't be ironed out and get lighter with each wash. Navy-blue colored shorts from the same order are seriously faded after only two washes. I will not return these items, I'll just keep them around as reminders why I don't buy from LLBean anymore.

I have LLBean products in my closet that are at least 30 years old and still get used. But there will be no new items. Poor product quality, incredibly poor customer service, ridiculous shipping times, inflated prices and a worthless guarantee have all contributed to making me a FORMER customer.

I've shopped at LL Bean for over 30 years because of the quality and durability of their products. Their products lasted for years e.g., tweed wool blazers, wool dress pants, solid leather belts, heavy cotton khakis, etc. I can now buy the same quality flannel shirts and khakis at Walmart, as sold by LL Bean, for a third of the price. I will seriously miss LL Bean, especially at Christmas. I use to buy most of my Christmas gifts from them and you knew you were giving quality gifts.

Good old reliable LL Bean! Find products online especially sheets from LL Bean for years and extremely happy with the results. They carry excellent products and have a good customer service for returning items!

Update 12/2019: Ugh. I purchased some European slippers based on the size chart on the brand-specific LL Bean website. They were a size too big. I went to the manufacturer's website and saw that their size chart was different, and indicated that I needed a size smaller. I phoned LLBean and was told I had to pay for another pair (more than $100) to exchange them, and send the others back. When I received the new slippers and contacted LLBean to see where my refund was, I was told it would be up to 4 weeks before I get it. They have the ability to track the package and see that it arrived, but they would not. So I have now changed my opinion of them, after more than 30 years, to "meh." I doubt I will be shopping here again.

Original review: I have been an LL Bean customer since the 1980s. It's true, sadly, that the quality of some LL Bean clothing and shoes has declined in recent years, since the advent of large-scale manufacturing in China. But their customer service is still excellent! I ordered some Wicked Good Moccasins (a truly high quality product, still) that were about a size too big. Since I had followed the size recommendation on the website, I was annoyed that I would have to pay $6.50 for return postage. I did a Chat with a customer service rep and explained the size discrepancy. She arranged for a smaller size to be sent rush delivery (two days), and told me to put my wrong-size slippers in that box for return. No charge, no delay, no mistrust. Just great service.

In the old days Bean would take anything back, at any time. No matter how beat up it was. Because so many horrible people cynically took advantage of that returning tents after vacation and that sort of thing they have changed their policy. But they do still guarantee their goods. Many years ago I phoned LLBean to ask whether they could repair my favorite pair of Bean penny loafers, which were so worn that the sole was coming off on one. They told me to send them in for replacement. They sent me a brand new pair!

There are 2 main reasons why I will not use LL Bean anymore unless they have something I cannot find anywhere else. First: I am now forced to use the Canadian site and this means a big change in communication during the prep and shipping. Last couple of times there were 3 days between ordering and getting confirmation that my order was being prepared. No way to check online where it was at. Online status indicated that one of my items was now out of stock. Had to contact LL Bean to know what was going on. Then - no estimated arrival time until a couple of days before delivery. Poor process for online retail. Second: some favorites from previous years (T Shirts) now done very cheaply. Organic cotton T Shirt this year nothing like what I got in the past. Other cotton favorite now mixed up with modal and spandex. Not a good experience overall on my 2019 purchases.

Almost fell out of my chair this morning. The Bean heirs are now so greedy that they are now distribution their cheap LL Bean products through other retailers. Want to buy some cheap Chinese Bean outdoor gear at your local Staples office supply store? You're going to be able to... no kidding. And their products will a
So be sold at Sheels and other outlets. First, they trashed the quality of their goods, then they raised the prices... for many of the same products you can get at Walmart, but with a Bean Tag sewn in. For someone raised on the old Quality LLBean, this HURTS.

This is not my fathers LLBEAN. I've heard the stories of quality goods guaranteed for life
But now you need to go to Eddie Bauer (or even Target) to get a company that stands behind it's products. Prices are about the highest I've seen for standard quality and shipping costs seem to be among the highest among competing brands.
Apparently management nearly drove the company into the ground tolerating bogus returns from the garage/resale set of scum they had as customers. They found a simple solution that probably will not work long term which is to rip people off moving forward.
Newsflash: Look at your reviews you has been, down East dinosaur of a company.

I'm another 30+ year customer who is now fed up with LLBean. The quality has definitely gone down... but certainly not the prices. Customer service/returns is now a joke with them looking for any possible excuse not to hold to their "guarantee." A word to the wise: Do Not purchase Any pet product (leash, toy, bed etc.) and expect them to honor any return whatsoever. Once it's pet related, they'll say the guarantee does not apply. Sheesh!

Bought a pair of hiking sneakers. They fell apart after a few months of wearing them. Tried to return them within the one year warranty and they did not honor the warranty. Don't bother buying shoes from them if you think they will honor the return. They gave a whole spiel about why they wouldn't accept the return. Paid 3 times the price for the warranty when I could have got them for $50 from the manufacturer. They discontinued the shoes too because they knew they had defective craftsmanship. Will not buy from them again because they jack the price up for a warranty they will not honor.

My autistic son received an official letter from LL Bean banning him from shopping there for life because he 'created a scene' when he tried to return hiking boots that he wore TWICE!
He wanted his money back because the waterproofing was defective and his feet got soaked AND a side seam was tearing out. They argued that he bought them 3 months ago and hiking boots should be replaced every 3-6 months. These boots showed no wear whatsoever on the treads and were very clean. He bought them in January when we were in Maine, but didn't wear them until May.
Yes, he lost his temper and swore at the manager before he stormed out.

LL Bean should offer Free Shipping Always like they used to because they are so slow to process orders. I'm a long time customer- 30+ years- and Bean used to be one of the fastest shippers around. I can remember complaining to Amazon.com a couple of years ago that they were slower than Bean! Orvis gets my orders processed and shipped same day if I order by 2pm. Bean's products aren't all ' that' - definitely not worth the wait- which will further deter anyone from tolerating their snail mail shipping service.

The seller shipped me two separate orders of women's pants. One of which were made fitted while the other one was made larger than before and came in a different quality of material. These were my repeated orders and I had to send them back, one after another. When I called the customer service, the first one slammed the phone down stating that I was shouting at her while the next one played hard of hearing as when you say something she says she doesn't have the items in her hands. After calling in to confirm their return for refunds, the customer service can even go the extra mile to tell me to go check with my bank!

I decided to invest in a capsule wardrobe my first choice was llbean. I ordered a linen shirt I washed it as said and noticed after the first wash the stitching was horrible. I ordered another linen shirt from the company everlane and took a photo side by side of the difference in stitching the quality is amazing different! I had to pay $10 more but the everlane shirt is going to last much much longer without a doubt. Needless to say I did not go with llbean for my capsule wardrobe I will never order from them again. I will continue to purchase from ethical companies like everlane that take pride in their quality not their wallet! The white linen shirt is from everlane the blue one is from llbean need I say more!

My grandfather introduced us to LLBean with the famous boots. All of us have them, loved them and wore them for years. Bean has been the family go-to for generations. All my dad's hunting coats were Bean. My first backpacking tent in 1979 was Bean. My son's first down sleeping bag was Bean. My wife's blouses were Bean. My twin daughters' early outdoor gear was Bean. Our LLBean credit card annual review showed we averaged $6000 a year (maybe more earlier when I bought outdoor gear). It was good stuff.

My wife made our first returns ever to Bean last year - the quality white cotton blouses she had bought for years were now almost see-through and looked like they were made from tissue paper. She returned the two blouses. Bean gave her a hard time, but gave her a store credit and she tried others. Twice more, and the quality was so poor she asked for a refund, which after 60 days was grudgingly credited back. This weekend my daughter was out in the snow and sitting around a campfire with friends, just like the LLBean ad. The Jacket started smoking - her friends hollered at her - the jacket side melted! No one else had a problem sitting around the campfire!

My wife called Bean customer service to return the coat and Bean refused, with "Susan" from customer service saying "It would be common sense you don't wear our coats near a campfire." Really? The coat was purchased before Bean did away with the "guaranteed for life" promise. "You have our word on it." With hundreds of Bean products in our household, we believe the current operations of Bean have destroyed a good company. We will move on to Deluth Trading, MooseJaw, and hell, even JCPennys is better.

We still have the receipt. The coat is Primalft Pckaway Hooded Jacket TC*******. Don't buy this. Don't buy from them at all

I sat on this before writing and posting, but it's still just not right.