Inflation or rip off or something else?

[u/ElectricalMemory6947]

Bought a well known high-end BIFL jacket in 2012. After 14 years, it’s showing signs of wear. I send it in to the manufacturer to see if any of it is covered under their “lifetime“ warranty. During the process to start a claim, they want every single piece of paper that came with it like the booklet/paper tags, 3-4 different pictures of the jacket, copy of receipt, and must be dry cleaned before sending the jacket to be assessed. Surprised they didn’t ask for the plastic bag it was sold in.

The cost to repair is half of what I originally paid for it. Same jacket in today’s money costs $897 more than what I originally paid. Ridiculous….what do I do?! Scrap it altogether and buy a jacket for a couple hundo and call it a day?

EDIT: Going to prioritize the zipper and the cuffs, which are the most important and see if they’ll do those two things only. Hopefully it’s not a “fix all or nothing” scenario. Wish me luck!

[u/BrilliantJob2759]

If they're not actually going to honor the warranty, I'd personally take it to a local tailor I trust instead.

[u/ThrownAway17Years → u/BrilliantJob2759]

Lifetime warranties almost never cover normal wear and tear. It’s a 14 year old jacket that’s been through god knows how much use. And OP has a chance to basically get a decently repaired jacket for half the cost of the original, and is still complaining.

[u/RIPK2so]

Name the company?

[u/SMELLSLIKEBUTTJUICE → u/RIPK2so]

I'd guess Canada Goose

[u/BecauseISaidSo888 → u/RIPK2so]

Really need to name and shame these shysters

[u/Ohmu → u/RIPK2so]

If this were turnout gear for firefighters the cost would be about right, for a standard upmarket jacket this is insane.

[u/ThrownAway17Years]

If it’s a limited lifetime warranty, I’m fairly sure they mean for defects in material and manufacturing. It wouldn’t cover normal wear and tear and damage caused by the customer.

[u/Background_Effort942]

Sounds ridiculous to me unless you REALLY love that jacket!

You could possibly take it to a tailor/seamstress to see what they would charge to repair it. Would probably be a lot cheaper.

[u/ssessd]

Was it covered under warranty or not?

[u/CarryMeNerd → u/ssessd]

14 year warranty huh where you buying your jackets my man?

[u/ssessd → u/CarryMeNerd]

OP said “lifetime“ warranty.

[u/CarryMeNerd → u/ssessd]

that means lifetime of the product, hasn’t meant lifetime of the buyer in over two decades.

[u/ssessd → u/CarryMeNerd]

You and I may differ on how long we would reasonably expect a thousand dollar jacket to last.

[u/Who0pWh00p → u/ssessd]

Lifetime of my bloodline lmfao

[u/CarryMeNerd → u/ssessd]

zero people have brought up or are talking about how long we expect a jacket to last. please pay attention.

you have zero information on how long I expect any jacket to last, therefore you cannot possibly differ. reading can be hard sometimes huh?

as to what we actually ARE talking about, are warranties, again NOT expectations big guy, that help?

[u/ssessd → u/CarryMeNerd]

"please pay attention."

Oh hey! Guess what button I hit when someone gets snippy like that? Starts with b and ends with lock. Bye!

[u/xNOOPSx → u/CarryMeNerd]

Arcteryx and Fjallraven both seem to have actual lifetime warranties on their stuff.

[u/CarryMeNerd → u/xNOOPSx]

For Fjällräven, the limited lifetime warranty means the lifetime of the product, not the lifetime of the buyer.

this is from Fhallravens website

https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/customer-service/warranty/

always amazes me how quickly people jump to parrot misinformation they heard some moron at the gas station say, especially when it’s jumping to defend a billion dollar company that doesn’t give a fuck about you.

[u/xNOOPSx → u/CarryMeNerd]

I was in Fjallraven and the guy was getting his pants fixed up for the 5th time. They were pants he work framing houses and doing concrete for work. So, like I don't know what to say other than it was working for him. 🤷

[u/CarryMeNerd → u/xNOOPSx]

My source; the company’s own website

your source; “I saw a guy fixing his pants once”

[u/Honest-Pressure-1483]

honestly sounds like a rip off to me.

[u/CarryMeNerd]

lmfao absolute buggery. name and shame

[u/FollowingTough6500]

Check a local store sewing store, show them pictures of the jacket (now that you already have them) and ask what it would cost. Then get your jacket back in case it is a lot cheaper. In most cases it is.

[u/xNOOPSx]

I bought an Arcteryx Sidewinder in 2008ish. They opened a store nearby and offered a refresh service. I gave them my jacket, no receipt or anything else needed. They sent it off and about 2 to 3 weeks later my jacket was returned with the lower draw cord and a few other things fixed free or charge. They also washed and resealed the jacket. All free. It wasn't a cheap jacket, it's even less cheap now, and I expected a charge for something, but they covered it all.

That said $360 seems like a lot for repairs - $23 for a draw cord cap! Do you like the jacket? Can you get something comparable for $360?

[u/ElectricalMemory6947 → u/xNOOPSx]

Guess I should’ve also mentioned they make you pay for dry cleaning before shipping it and if you don’t do it they’ll clean it and bill you. Who knows how much they’d charge for that!

[u/Accomplished_Emu_658]

What was reason to deny warranty?

[u/ElectricalMemory6947 → u/Accomplished_Emu_658]

This was their response:

The Quality Assurance team has completed the inspection of your product. While all or some repairs are not covered under warranty, we are able to offer our repair services for a fee so you can continue to enjoy it.

[u/Accomplished_Emu_658 → u/ElectricalMemory6947]

Ask for clarification on the denial.

[u/stanleyelephant]

warranty usually refers to manufacturing defects, not wear and tear. if any of this damage was caused by a defect in the manufacturing, then you can argue that they should cover that.

[u/Massive_Mongoose3481]

Wonder what the charge to return it unrepaired is ... $318 ?

[u/ElectricalMemory6947 → u/Massive_Mongoose3481]

Surprisingly it’s no charge to return it even if I opt not to do anything but I did have to pay to ship it to them, plus have it dry cleaned beforehand.

[u/Massive_Mongoose3481 → u/ElectricalMemory6947]

At least they aren't holding it ransom. Seems like an excessive repair bill to me but, I don't (can't afford to) buy almost $1000 jackets. I do have a fall type coat I think I paid $200 for about 15 yrs ago that's still in great shape considering how I've treated it. Guess if the rest was in good shape, you like the coat and the the alternative is twice the cost, getting a "basically new" coat back might be worth it.

[u/millenialismistical]

Can you take it to an alterations place and get a quote for the same work?

[u/Conscious-Loss-2709]

Get it back and bring it to a local seamstress 

[u/Smuchelle]

Then what does their warranty claim to cover, manufacturing defects only?

[u/ElectricalMemory6947 → u/Smuchelle]

Manufacturing defects like faulty zippers/bottoms/snaps, structural stitching issues, defects in fabrics and components. Doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, accidental damage or negligence etc

[u/Smuchelle → u/ElectricalMemory6947]

That explains it then. Try a local tailor, should be much cheaper.

[u/userfakesuper]

So after 14 years of using the jacket daily (and in season), this is not warranty stuff. This is normal wear and tear and I know of NO warranty that would cover wear and tear unless it specifically states that.

[u/Cute-Information-780]

Bro just buy a Carhartt

[u/8amteetime]

32 Degrees is having a sale today. A puffer winter parka is $25. The puffer winter jacket with a hood is $20.

I stopped buying name brand outerwear with logos years ago because I refuse to spend a hundred dollars for that logo.

[u/ElectricalMemory6947 → u/8amteetime]

14 years ago I bought it for the quality and BIFL aspect. If it was good for explorers, it was good enough for me! It’s trendy I guess, which explains why it’s double the price now.