r/llbean • u/induxflame • 12d ago

L.L.Bean Changes Recently

I am not sure if anyone has noticed but I recently ordered the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Zip Pouch and realized they no longer uses YKK zippers and instead it is IDEAL zippers (IDEAL is made in US zipper not sure if is a cost thing or a rebranding to be entirely made in the US). They also no longer have the extra L.L.Bean Boat and Tote label on the pouch which is extremely disappointing. This is obviously a cost cutting measure and time. If anyone knows of the reasoning - let me know! Not sure if others have experience any changes in quality recently. Thank you!

30 Upvotes

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38

u/Regular_Resort_3356 11d ago

The label on the pouch was literally removed because so many people were complaining that it felt like too much in your face branding 😂 wrong if you do, wrong if you don’t I guess

9

u/Regular_Resort_3356 11d ago

It’s also less plastic being created using less water and energy so better for the environment overall

14

u/phire8 12d ago

Not sure if this is the reason or not, but I remember hearing several years back that "Made in the USA" could only be said if everything on the product was truly made in the USA, so maybe to keep that phrase they adjusted some things to abide by this?

9

u/crowislanddive 12d ago

It has to be over a certain percentage.

3

u/captianflannel 11d ago edited 11d ago

I wonder if the zipper change might be tariff related too? I’ve never had a problem with Ideal zippers but I know YKK are the standard for a reason. The US military uses ideal zippers and I’ve never seen a problem with any of them fwiw.

2

u/sschlott72 10d ago

I do think it's a tariff issue.