While in South Korea I had a wardrobe malfunction which proved quite disappointing.
I went to the bathroom at a South Korean restaurant and discovered a lot of fine dust on me under my heavy windbreaker when I left. I assumed it was dust that might have come from the hand dryer. Nothing like that had happened before but since I was in a foreign country, I figured anything was possible. I dusted myself off and went my merry way.
The next time I used my heavy wind breaker on another cold day in Korea, I discovered more dust when I took it off. Good grief! I hadn't used a hand dryer so could I have somehow shed dry skin? That much? Is that even possible? It never happened when I lived on the mainland. I dusted myself off again and put the windbreaker away.
When I got home I put the coat into the laundry with all our fleece jackets, etc.
What a shock to find all our coats were covered with tiny flecks of white powder.
We couldn't figure out where it was coming from until I looked at my Eddie Bauer coat very carefully in the sunlight.
It seemed to be coming from inside, under the black netting.
I cut the netting away to see how that lining had deteriorated. The fine dust was on all our other jackets that was in the laundry with it. I'd followed all the washing directions carefully through the years. The outside of the coat is pristine, but the inside makes it unwearable. It took three washings to get the other jackets clean again.
I wrote to Eddie Bauer, but they said I could return it to get what it's worth now and that it's not expected to last forever. Forever is probably about 10 years for this jacket.
What a disappointment! I used to like Eddie Bauer before, but I'm going to look for another brand to replace it.
Any suggestions?
I went to the bathroom at a South Korean restaurant and discovered a lot of fine dust on me under my heavy windbreaker when I left. I assumed it was dust that might have come from the hand dryer. Nothing like that had happened before but since I was in a foreign country, I figured anything was possible. I dusted myself off and went my merry way.
The next time I used my heavy wind breaker on another cold day in Korea, I discovered more dust when I took it off. Good grief! I hadn't used a hand dryer so could I have somehow shed dry skin? That much? Is that even possible? It never happened when I lived on the mainland. I dusted myself off again and put the windbreaker away.
When I got home I put the coat into the laundry with all our fleece jackets, etc.
What a shock to find all our coats were covered with tiny flecks of white powder.
We couldn't figure out where it was coming from until I looked at my Eddie Bauer coat very carefully in the sunlight.
It seemed to be coming from inside, under the black netting.
I cut the netting away to see how that lining had deteriorated. The fine dust was on all our other jackets that was in the laundry with it. I'd followed all the washing directions carefully through the years. The outside of the coat is pristine, but the inside makes it unwearable. It took three washings to get the other jackets clean again.
I wrote to Eddie Bauer, but they said I could return it to get what it's worth now and that it's not expected to last forever. Forever is probably about 10 years for this jacket.
What a disappointment! I used to like Eddie Bauer before, but I'm going to look for another brand to replace it.
Any suggestions?
I would think it would have been to their advantage to completely refund your cost for that coat....even at it's age. Now they have lost a customer and probably others who have heard your story.
ReplyDeleteShame on Eddie Bauer. I've always been an LL Bean person.
ReplyDeleteI probably would feel that badly about a new coat after ten years, but I sure would be wondering what exactly that lining is made of.
ReplyDeleteTry L.L.Bean - they have a remarkable return policy and customer service. I had bought a barn coat there years ago and lost the extra buttons. They sent them out to me, offering to replace the coat even. Love 'em!
ReplyDeleteMary
Hi Mary! Thank you for your recommendation. Looks like almost everybody likes LLBean.
DeleteIt biodegraded. I am sorry. Yes, if you want a light but warm coat, try Land's End. They offer a wide variety of warm windbreakers.
ReplyDeletePS: They went bankrupt, and the new folks running the company obviously don't care.
ReplyDeleteWe are all made to wear down. My knees tell me that.
ReplyDeleteI also would like to recommend CLEan. They stand by their clothes no matter how many years later.
ReplyDeleteThat was a misprint on the previous comment. It should have read LLBean.
ReplyDeletePatty
Too funny! I did wonder what company CLEan was.
DeleteYup, you should've purchased from LLBean! Best customer service on the planet.
ReplyDeleteGood to know. Thanks Kay.
ReplyDeleteMy husband had an elderly friend in San Diego whose name was Eddie Bauer and his store had been named after him for years before the Eddie Bauer company was even around. Yet they sued him to stop using his name and they won the suit because, of course, my husband's friend didn't have enough money to fight them. The man's business had nothing to do with clothes or anything that would compete with the big conglomerate but they still wanted him shut down. Needless to say I do not ever trade with them.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! That's terrible, Annie!
DeleteBlessings, A sad commentary on how quality is sacrificed for profitability.
ReplyDeleteMy only advice would be to go for quality over name brand.
Wow. That's crazy. I have twenty year old coats that I still wear. I keep things forever. I would also be upset. This is some sort of material that was probably very inferior right from the start. Who knows what it was made from. I don't buy from Eddie Bauer because I prefer Land's End. My jacket that is twenty years old is a Land's End and still looks like new.
ReplyDeleteI have heard good things about Canada Goose but they make winter wear!
ReplyDeletewhat a pain in the butt! Sorry about that!
ReplyDeleteHow long did you have the coat? Do you always machine wash it? have found that machine washing can cause clothes to wear out faster than dry cleaning.
ReplyDeleteThe washing directions call for machine washing and I haven't even washed it all that much or even used it in the last 8 years.
DeleteI had a lining fall apart but it was an older jacket. Stuff that falls apart can make a big mes.
ReplyDeleteAmazing that it lasted 10 years then just suddenly disintegrated. I like LL Bean for quality and service.
ReplyDeleteExpensive but true lifetime garments: BELSTAFF
ReplyDeleteGosh! I've never heard of that company.
DeleteWe have a Eddie Bauer not far from here. It's alright but I only got one thing on clearance
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Hawaiian air had anything to do with the problem?
ReplyDeleteArt's coat is fine though. Then again... you never can tell.
DeleteThis looks like the breathable lining used on GoreTex. I have had Eddie Bauer coats for along time and have never had that happen.
ReplyDelete