Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean and Lands' End

[LuckyTheDog]

Does the world need all three?

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/06/22/daily5.html

I'll miss Eddie Bauer if it does not emerge from Chapter 11. But, on the other hand, L.L. Bean and Lands' End sell pretty much the same stuff.

[SKKY]

1. I used to think Lands´ End was better than L.L. Bean...

...then they started selling Lands´ End at Sears. I´m not busting on Sears, but it took Lands´ End a notch or two down after that.

[KamaAina]

2. The one the world doesn't need is L.L. Bean

Heiress Linda Bean is an anti-choice whackjob, I'm afraid.

[tigereye]

19. oh crap, I didn't know that

:(

[DeepBlueC]

23. I love L.L. Bean

I love the products and the customer service. Uncomditional guarantee. And I have a very very soft spot in my heart for the state of Maine where I spent four wonderful years in school.

[Symarip]

3. I have no love for any of them

As long as Ben Sherman and Fred Perry are in business, I'll be clothed.

[LuckyTheDog]

4. I am a white guy over 40

I am required to wear Lands' End and Eddie Bauer. It's a rule.

[Symarip]

5. You haven't made 'it'

Until you own a vehicle named after a clothing brand. Go forth and consume.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

18. Don't worry, once you lose your job

or turn 50, you don't have to any more

[triguy46]

25. I've worn Land's End button down oxfords for 22 years....

2 times a year we hit the Eddie Bauer Outlet in Santa Fe and do our semi annual work clothes shopping.

[GOPisEvil]

21. I'm not skinny, so Ben Sherman is out.

Eddie Bauer has clothes that fit me. I go to their outlet store all the time.

[TrogL]

6. We need to start picketing all three

They're mixing fabrics.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Eddie Bauer is for skinny people under 40

I no longer feel comfortable wearing anything but their T-shirts. Land's End, which has retail store near Minneapolis, is my standard supplier of casual wear. LL Bean is a higher-priced version of Land's End, and I don't like the politics of the owner, even though their swimsuits last longer than the ones from Land's End.

I think all three are hurting, though. Every day at least one of them sends me an e-mail ad announcing a huge clearance sale.

[Moondog]

8. Bauer has had it. It is done for. A moment of silence for Eddie B, and then let's move on.

There is a difference between LE and LLB. Several, actually.

LE sells preppy clothes. And some outdoor clothing. LLB sells outdoor clothing, and some preppy stuff.

LLB also sells some serious foul weather gear, serious outdoor shoes, serious winter sporting goods (several styles of snowshoes anyone?), and last but not least, some decent fishing gear if you chase trout.

LLB's trout stuff isn't as upmarket as Orvis', but it is serviceable. Their flies are good, and the prices are fair. Orvis' stuff is uniformly excellent, but pricey. You can go even more upscale than Orvis, but that gets beyond what I'm willing to pay. LLB is the sweet spot on on the bang-for-your-buck scale when it comes to this stuff.

Last, but not least, LLB, the last time I was in their Portland, ME store, had a stocked indoor trout pond. With brookies. That appeared to be healthy. So they get points for style, too. 'Nuff said.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

10. I like the LLB fleece jackets...........

I'm getting ready to replace the fleece my folks bought me back in 1992. I think they paid around $70 for it. The one I'm looking at, with all the same features as the old one, will cost me a whopping $69!!

[Flaxbee]

9. Of all of them, I'd like Eddie Bauer to survive. For one thing

they make nice dress shirts that actually fit my husband (he's tall and has long arms).

LL Bean should go bye-bye. Land's End is OK, but as another poster mentioned, their quality slipped once Sears bought them...

[Missy Vixen]

11. I don't care for Sears, either, but we'll shop at Lands' End till we die

Their clothes wear well, are classic, do not require a lot of extra care, and fit. Their housewares, luggage, bedding -- excellent.
Their customer service is even better. We have had nothing but positive experiences with them.

We love Lands' End. We hate Sears, but we love them.

[peacefreak]

12. Oh geez,,,

I feel like a walking commercial. Eddie Bauer top, Bean jeans & shoes. They were all bought at the thrift store, though.

[Catshrink]

13. Hooray for Goodwill!

I'm wearing some pretty nice clothes these days most from the Goodwill that cost a meager fraction of department store or catalog price. Here the Goodwill's have sale days every other week where everything is half price. So I pay $2.50 for shorts, $3.00 for shirts, $3.50 for slacks, and $4.00 for jeans. They have nearly all brands. Some of nicer stuff is priced individually. So, a pair of Lauren jeans might be tagged at $10 but go for $5 on sale days. Can't beat it.

[OmahaBlueDog]

14. I shop the heck out of Lands End

The first thing we did when we moved to Omaha was order Lands End Squall parkas for everyone. It was an excellent investment.

[Brigid]

17. I love Lands' End.

I buy almost all my clothes from there, and have for years. :)

[AwakeAtLast]

22. Those are worth every penny!

signed, shivering in Indiana. ;)

[OmahaBlueDog]

26. They really do keep you warm in -10 below

[bluedigger]

15. If you are just talking about casual clothing, probably so.

I have no experience with EB or LE, but LLB has always been a pretty decent corporate citizen for Maine. The present heiress, Linda, is a nut job, but the company itself is probably fairly progressive (as the corporate world goes), with her out of the equation. And their products and customer service are of a high standard, I've found.

[bluedigger]

16. Dupe.

[XemaSab]

20. Columbia

:D

[DeepBlueC]

24. Why not?

Only Bean has serious outdoor gear & camping equipment and runs courses on outdoor activities.