The TRUTH about “Lifetime Warranties”

[@Anonymous-ti8yw]

Even better with Patagonia is if you just show up in store with the item you don’t have to fight with internet forms and shipping. They just take it and for me they sent it to a local repair shop they partner with in Portland. They patched it up there and then asked if I prefer it be shipped to my home after or picked up. It was honestly a great experience. I’m not paid terribly well, but buying something that will last and knowing that when I it breaks down they will repair is makes the extra cost worth it.

[@AlasdairSun]

Yep, I’ve done this with numerous items of clothing from them. Dropped off at the store and it was repaired and mailed back to me after a month or two and I never paid a cent. a few of the clothes were jeans that I worn holes in from riding my bike, not a manufacturing or design failure. Some stuff they’ve deemed beyond repair and gave me credit instead! They’ve definitely got me as a customer as long as this policy (as well as others) is in place!

[@alanricker3823]

Same experience for me in Portland. Brought in some well loved garments & they repaired them all no questions asked. Key is purchasing their products offseason to make them affordable.

[@vangildermichael1767]

I think (Patagonia ) looks at this issue like. If you actually need to redeem some kind of "warranty", then we must be doing something wrong. All their clothes are "top shelf". I think last time I bought a couple shirts. A person could even sell back their used clothes and they will sell them (as used clothes, some discount I forget how much). But their stuff is so "rock solid" it can go through more than one user.

[@patrickc888]

Jansport honored their lifetime warranty and fixed up my > 10 year old backpack with new straps and bottom lining. Shout out to them! Best ~$35 I've ever spent on a product!

[@FutureProofTV]

this is awesome! we've heard good things from Jansport customers

[@patrickc888]

@FutureProofTV Glad to hear that! If the team does a follow-up, give Jansport a shout out! Also, please keep up the great videos. Well-researched and no-nonsense. Hope the baby and mom are doing well!

[@Tazallax]

Dang, that's awesome! If only school-aged me paid attention to that. Might have saved my parents some money on new backpacks.

[@BrokenFootRailfan]

Yes! The zipper broke on my 10 year old backpack and they repaired it at no cost. The shipping was also free. And the warranty states that if they aren’t able to fix the product they will replace it.

[@talyla1815]

They sent me an entirely new backpack completely free since mine was unrepairable! It's great

[@juanarriaga2123]

I bought a 10+ year old Patagonia jacket at a thrift store. The zipper broke and Patagonia fixed it and shipped it to me fixed it. The zipper was not the same color but I liked that gave it history, same story for a nano puff just repaired it.

[@CanadaFree-ce9jn]

The company is happy that you rescued their jacket and gave it a new life rather than seeing it go in the landfill.

[@TheSJCieply]

I've actually had several unrepairable issues with Patagonia clothing, mostly a "glute blowout", because I use their cycling clothes. Every single time I just went into the Patagonia store gave it to the cashier and I got a new one in a day or two. I've even gotten a replacement for clothes that were already replaced through this warranty and broke again. It's that warranty that keeps my buying more of their stuff.

[@whisperpone]

this is why I don't trust companies that offer warranties anymore, instead I'll trust them if they offer a straightforward repair program, which my preferred shoe brand does (you literally just mail the item to the repairs address and include your return address on it and they fix or replace the product and mail it back)

[@FutureProofTV]

yo! mind if we ask what brand this is?? may or may not be making a video on shoe repairs hahahaa

[@CanadaFree-ce9jn]

@@FutureProofTV Allen Edmonds, Red Wing, LL Bean all offer a re-sole option. Should we pay something towards it? Of course! We expect to wear down our soles, but the cost of a re-sole is cheaper than buying a new pair.

[@isdeirinnme]

@@FutureProofTVI believe Chacos, Birkenstock, REI, Osprey, and Patagonia all have repair programs too

[@memathews]

@@FutureProofTV Danner has a resole option on many of their boots and Salmon also has a resole program.

[@austinpeter]

Bared Footware down here in Australia does similar. If it's wear and tear like needing a resole you do pay a little but way better than needing new boots.

[@paladinsrage4646]

I notice that smaller businesses tend to honor their warranties, big companies know they can get away with scamming us unfortunately

[@GameFuMaster]

SOME big companies. Seems like at least Patagonia repairs/replaces the product

[@sotonin]

@@GameFuMaster So does north face.

[@jimsutter2748]

I worked for a Sears Hardware in the early 2000's, we used to get people who would bring in buckets of rusty and broken Craftsman tools that they bought at yard sales. We would diligently replace every one under their lifetime warranties. I remember spending entire days sorting through sockets because the policy wasn't giving a set out, but only individual parts that I had to individually scan. We would then dump the junk ones into a 55-gallon drum in the stockroom, which would get picked up for scrap metal every couple of weeks.

[@MomIrregardless]

craftsman still does this.

[@jimsutter2748]

@@MomIrregardless Sort of.... you can still replace broken sockets and some of their tools, but not things that are just old and rusty and obviously bought at a yard sale. Sears also doesn't own the name "Craftsman" anymore.

[@centradragon]

That must have been a fun job while it lasted! Sears was a really cool store back then. A little frustrating to replace rusty Craftsman tools people found at garage sales, though - I'm surprised that rust wasn't considered outside the scope of the warranty!

[@cuseyeti_one8three]

Gee, I wonder why they went bankrupt?

[@GeneCash]

@@cuseyeti_one8three Because Eddie Lampert used up all their money and put them into unrecoverable debt to buy K-Mart and other shady things.

[@samfreed5193]

You are cutting and drying the peat. This is a risky endeavor because a strong rainstorm can destroy all your effort. "cut and dry" or "home and dry" means you have your fuel supply for next winter - you are sorted.

[@Daria-bg3ds]

Thank you, I had no idea what the origin of the saying was.

[@memathews]

I was told it came from firewood, but peat sounds like an earlier origin. Thanks!

[@freshtodeath88]

I bought a winter coat from Columbia. They couldn’t fix it. They give me the value of the coat in a gift card. I bought that coat 5-10 years ago. I still had the receipt in an email

[@amyx231]

Columbia has a warranty for that long?! Dang! I love their sweats!

[@freshtodeath88]

@ They have a limited lifetime warranty.

[@Harrison-kt5xr]

I cannot remember ever buying a product based on a warranty. I don't want the hassle of having to return something, so I buy things based on what I know about the product. This has served me well for at least 45 years. If I cannot find information about a company, then I assume I'm risking a loss.

[@stevedgrossman]

I shop for quality over price for most items. I am a "boomer" (born in '64). I also live in a country where there are still tailors and "shoemakers" in every neighborhood. It's cheaper for me to get something fixed (if I can't do it myself) than deal with shipping something back.

[@isgonrain]

@@stevedgrossman I'm with you, but also keep in mind when you say "country" with tailors and shoemakers, you're just describing any big enough city. Where I live in Chicago USA there's a few cobblers and tailors just within a 10min bikeride, and I'm not even close to downtown.

[@stevedgrossman]

@@isgonrain I lived in the US for 18 years (Seattle), and it was impossible to find someone to do simple mending. Also, what do you pay in Chicago? Probabaly quite a bit. I paid the equivalent of $9 to have a zipper replaced in a winter jacket.

[@kevinprasetyo7862]

As someone from weak customer protection service country, I just assume they don't have warranty in first place.

[@isgonrain]

@@stevedgrossman It's honestly been awhile, but I've had shoes resoled a couple times, a custom suit made and tailored, various denim items repaired as well as leather wallets repaired, and it never felt all that bad price-wise. It's possible it's gotten worse, especially since covid.

[@evey0259]

Arc'teryx has been amazing for me. My dad passed down an Alpha SV jacket that after 20-odd years began to come apart and delaminate. I sent it to them for repair (cost about $9 in shipping,) and was unfortunately told that it could not be repaired and had to be replaced. I was issued a voucher for like $600 some-odd dollars which allowed me to buy a non-climbing Gore-Tex jacket that much more readily fit my needs. For that reason they have a customer for life.

[@davisbrowne1906]

As in, you haven't bought a product from them but call yourself a customer?

[@skartimus]

Warranty is generally only meant for manufacturer defects. It has to be that way, the few people that take advantage of that ruin it for everyone else. Repair is a great option to curb that.

[@joermnyc]

As a teenager I bought a set of Craftsman Screwdrivers from Sears. Craftsman’s lifetime guarantee was the best around. A few years later the smallest flathead one chipped at the blade end. I took it back to Sears and they took about 10 minutes to figure out “oh we still sell that set.” So they pulled the same screwdriver out of one of those and just gave it to me and returned the broken one with the rest of the box. 🤷‍♂️ Of course now I have no idea since someone else owns the name and Sears is gone.

[@justayoutuber1906]

The Craftsman name is owned by horrible Stanley/Black and Decker now.

[@anarchy_of_dirt]

Craftsman will absolutely still honor their warranty. However if you have a USA made tool, you can choose a new Chinese made replacement or a refurbished USA made replacement.

[@jermnotgerm4]

not only does Darn Tough Vermont Socks have a great warranty policy, their socks are also amazing, especially if you’re used to cotton/blend socks. if you’re interested in buying lifelong items then they are a great place to start.

[@sotonin]

You just reminded me i have a ripped pair of these socks i need to send in!

[@amyx231]

Ive lost 2 pairs already. 😢 I won’t have any to mail back by the time I need to! 😅

[@supermodestmouse]

I ordered a few pairs and have been loving them! My feet get colder than the rest of my body so their thicker socks are just great. Also, their boot cut over the calf socks don't sag on me like regular crew sized ones. I bought about 2 dozen pairs now that I rotate through.

[@redwinedrummer]

I had a great warranty experience with North Face. I had a 2017 jacket peel its waterproof layer. Wrote in a warranty request in 2023 and they only requested for some pictures and information on the garment tag. No questions asked, no receipts. A few days later, they sent a gift certificate with the full amount. They didn't even ask me to send the old jacket back. Fortunate also to have sent in a warranty request to MDF, a medical device manufacturer. An 8-year old diagnostic tool broke from wear and tear. Wrote in a lifetime warranty claim then had the replacement parts in the mail for free, also no questions asked. Not even pictures. Thankfully some companies still honor lifetime warranties.

[@joepiekl]

The funny thing is that a lot of these 'lifetime warranties' are literally just what the law says in the UK. Anything sold has to be 'fit for purpose' and last for a 'reasonable amount of time.' Which is basically another way of saying the 'lifetime of the product.' When it's been tested in court, around 6 years has been deemed a 'reasonable' expectation for something like a washing machine.

[@churblefurbles]

No they often went well beyond based on the assumptions of a high trust society with social controls through shame.

[@bloodgain]

The US has this, too, as do many common law jurisdictions. It's called an "implied warranty", and it's codified in the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). It can be explicitly disclaimed with terms like "as is" or "with all defects", which is usually only for used goods. It's also harder to disclaim than most people think, as it has to be done conspicuously and cannot contain "unconscionable" disclaimers (e.g. release of liability for injury when used in a way a normal consumer would expect to use it). Express warranties can replace the implied warranty in limited ways, but they must meet the requirements of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which in a lot of ways ensures warranties are as good as an implied warranty or default to that standard. So yes, they can limit the warranty period, but saying "lifetime of the product" basically just says "we're offering the implied warranty of merchantability". We have also continued to strengthen this; I imagine we'll crack down on the use of "lifetime warranty" somewhat before long, since that's exactly the kind of deceptive language that led to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. It may, in fact, already be a violation that has not been fully tested in court yet.

[@snipe63]

To all those that leave or unsubscribe because the videos are "just negative", well we are in the end stage of capitalism. Where the products are getting expensive but cheaply made or we are getting less product, subscriptions or accessories are the best way to squeeze money out of the consumer, companies are *forced* to increase profits and give those profits to shareholders, and its getting harder to do things yourself because legality things or patents on the craziest things. There is no quick solution, but most solutions at least require for the buyer, you and I, to be uncomfortable until you are self sustaining or can afford local.

[@RealShaktimaan]

We have been at the end since the start of capitalism. It's never going to end

[@lukehTM]

holy shit youre so annoying its like only you know the truth or sumn

[@key099able]

I don’t even follow world news, I don’t need unnecessary negativity if I can.

[@star9732]

I thought earth was their only shareholder .

[@LeakyWadersAdventureClub]

People are just soft and now that we have a plethora of information at our hands its made them even softer. People that "avoid" negative stuff are usually the same that fall for the obviously fake stuff. Capitalism isn't going anywhere but it will get modified slowly. Corp greed is killing most of society and people once feeling it enough will react, but so far people are making just enough to not feel the need.

[@rungo0]

I had a Le Creuset dutch oven (bought massivly discounted years ago) that had a pretty good chunk of enamel come off the cooking surface. They denied a warranty claim because there was "scortching" on the BOTTOM of the pot - the warranty wouldn't cover it becasue it had been used for cooking

[@thewhimsicalcat4815]

8:22 Did anyone else catch that? “loosy goosey” when talking about Canadian goose 😂

[@memathews]

There was also a "puff" mention in the discussion of Canada Goose--writers having a field day!

[@ccahua]

As a customer, Patagonia has straight up repaired, replaced/exchanged or credited based on their guarantee for >20 years. Most of the time self-repair, tears or upcycling looks cooler though; patches and battle scars are a memorable thing. Only thing not repairable is delliminated jackets, I wish they ditched them altogether and mainlined old skool waxed cotton - Halley Stevensons/British Millerain or cotton/poly - mil, Fjällräven.

[@adareadorou4965]

In Spain by law we have a 3-year warranty in all technological products and 2-year warranty in everything else. And a 15-30 days return policy.. and I think it's illegal to not return the money if the customer asks for it. On top of that, during the Holiday season we usually have a 2-month return policy in most big chains (from December to February).

[@donkeyhobo34]

I'm in love with you

[@MoonBunnyLovers]

What happens when the company rejects a claim? Or somehow takes away from the customer? My riding mower (~$2,000 USD) had a plastic part break, it was covered under warranty, I had to take it to a shop. The shop did not fix it. I took it back to the shop and pointed specifically what to fix, they fixed it. And they added 30 hours of run time to the engine that only had about 150 hours on it. 30 hours is almost when I change the oil and do other maintenance. So they essentially added unnecessary wear on the product that shortened it's life... All to replace a plastic piece that will break again by design. Warranties alone are not an answer. You need an outlet for honest manufacturer defects to be fixed without getting punished for it. I have no recourse. I left the shop a bad review... That's all I can do.

[@adareadorou4965]

@MoonBunnyLovers In Spain we have a Defender of the Consumer. Companies don't usually reject warranties (bc it's illegal). But if they do, you take your case to the Consumer's Defender and they fight it for you. That's a public organism, so it's completely free.

[@donkeyhobo34]

@@adareadorou4965 I want to give you babies

[@solitivity]

More companies need to be like Patagonia. I've never purchased any of their products, but the No. 1 thing I can't stop thinking about is how they not only care for their customers, but that their solution for damaged products is to genuinely and correctly repair them, as well as give you all the tools and resources to repair them yourself. I'm a computer engineer and I run my own electronics store (where I sell and repair all kinds of devices and accessories) and environmental sustainability and electronic and product waste is a big thing for me so I love to see that Patagonia is effectively being environmentally friendly with their repair/product warranty structure.

[@WowIndescribable]

Shout out to two companies that have stood by their products for me. REI and Tilley Both of them stood by entirely replacing products for me 20 years after my purchase from them, even though I had since moved from California to Ireland. These replacements were quite a few years ago do not sure if things have changed since then, but even though they required proof of the issue (in both cases, products worn literally threadbare), they were friendly and I would classify them as 'no hassle' and fully standing behind their customers and products.

[@tintinsdream55]

It's too bad the quality of Tilley has gone down so much (and manufacturing moved overseas) since they were sold a few years back.

[@faithrider94]

Zagg screen protectors were totally worth it when shipping on a "lifetime" replacement was like 5 bucks, but now they charge 20 bucks for shipping the replacement, and i can get a pack of 3 equivalent screen protectors for half the shipping of zagg's screen protectors...

[@godeelofthedeep584]

At least from my perspective, working in fast-fashion retail, our return policy was restrictive because we got so many people trying to return obviously used/torn/stained items. And we were allowed to refuse returns. I heard from a Nordstroms employee that they couldn't and often had to refund people for stolen merchandise that they brought in to return. If you're in the general clothing industry, returns are a huge loss. We're used to having incredibly lax return policies in the US, but once you see it from the store-side, you wonder how much each company's losing.

[@MK-rt2gm]

In Maine, we have an Implied Warranty. That is why you should not buy an extended warranty. As our laws cover up to 4 years for most things and 10 for major appliances

[@Outdoor_MED]

Darn Tough is true to their word on LIFETIME WARRANTY

[@FutureProofTV]

darn TOOTIN

[@Erdie5]

I have an old Columbia jacket that I love. The zipper wore out at the bottom, as they do. Nowadays they have the damning "This Limited Lifetime Warranty lasts for the practical life of the product." but back when I inquired about repairing it, it was more inclusive. I just wanted the zipper fixed, but they would only offer me a credit to buy a new coat. I don't want a new coat. I like my coat. Ended up having a local tailor put a zipper on for $30 and I'm wearing the coat today. I've heard Columbia isn't very good anymore, which is a shame. I don't see this coat wearing out anytime soon.

[@artyomarty391]

They're not your slaves or personal tailors lmao

[@zabmcauley5647]

Interesting! Last year I had an issue with a zipper on a old Columbia coat and they sent me a new zipper and covered something like $20 to cover the repair

[@Erdie5]

@@zabmcauley5647 Nice, that's what I wanted them to do! Oh well, I didn't pay much to have it repaired locally I guess.

[@Erdie5]

@@artyomarty391 "will be repaired or a Virtual Merchandise Credit will be issued." I mean, that's what it says on their website. And they did offer to give me a credit, I just didn't want a credit, I wanted the first option.

[@Hamsteak]

You should have seen the return policy with costco. People just take complete advantage over it. They're starting to change it. Now we actually need to show proof of purchase

[@Killer_Space_2726-GCP]

My former coworker's girlfriend took extreme advantage of this. She would wear things until she didn't like them, eat half a block of cheese then just bring it back, and other things.

[@jmal]

​@@Killer_Space_2726-GCP These are the types of people who ruin lenient return policies for everyone else.

[@Micahangelina_]

IKEA was the same but then they changed it.

[@seazonegranec]

I clicked but the title didn't say it was a scam :(

[@selectorbreezy9894]

Only fans will get this

[@kamaleldineltayeb935]

@@selectorbreezy9894only fans !😏

[@AmazingJellyfish]

@@selectorbreezy9894OnlyFans 😂

[@fr3shSwag]

​@@selectorbreezy9894what if I'm not subscribed to their OF

[@15743_Hertz]

It's like taking a trip back to the 1930s when the item was repairable and usually done by the consumer. They had mad skills back then and the product was manufactured to last. It'll be interesting to see how this "new" policy shakes out in the coming years.

[@sarahwatts7152]

A note on LLBean returns from a Mainer: 1. They figured out the Goodwill issue quickly, so any tag with black permanent marker couldn't be turned in; 2. They resell the useable items that get returned to this day at a smaller-than-you-would-think markdown at the outlet mall in Freeport (I assume there are other stores of this type in the country)

[@pjlacey3990]

My husband had a Eureka backpack with a lifetime warranty. He sent it back for repair 3 times in 20 years. They said after the third repair that that would be it. The lifespan was up. He still has the backpack. The zipper has NEVER failed in all its years. Husband is a high school teacher with loads of books and marking and a laptop to haul around. Also Tupperware. I use to get exchanges on broken pieces. Not sure if they still do that?

[@Tom_TTT]

I submitted warranty claim for a 6 year old Canada Goose jacket that the cuffs were worn out and had no issues with the process. Patagonia has even taken back products over a year old and given 100% refund back to the original credit card because I wasn’t happy. Lululemon has provided gift receipts for products that didn’t last long. I love all three companies.

[@footpath0592]

Ifixit just replaced a broken tool in my kit for no cost to me. One email with receipt and a picture. Love it.

[@animationcrate]

North face is actually really good with their warranties. They don’t really care where you got it as long as it’s authentic, and they’ll either replace it or repair it or offer you the MSRP in store credit if they don’t have an alternative. The cool thing about the items they keep is that they use it for their renewed program where they patch together several items that were damaged and create one of a kind items that they resell on their renewed site. It’s pretty cool and fits their mission statement on being environmentalist. I’ve seen 15 year old jackets get warrantied out no questions asked. It’s p definitely neat

[@mikeandyy]

It is unfortunate that some people have taken advantage of companies' programs that were designed to help consumers. Now, we have these garbage return policies, and it hurts the consumer in the long run. I will say I recently sent a jacket off to get repaired by Arcteryx, and it was a fantastic experience, I replaced the zipper that I had accidentally wrecked (even let me pick out my own colour of zipper) and also repaired a hole that I had burnt in from a campfire. All at no cost to me, which was much appreciated.

[@CanadaFree-ce9jn]

I am honest if the issue was caused by me. I email and ask how much to repair/replace. Never had to pay a single cent.

[@mikeandyy]

@@CanadaFree-ce9jn ya I was honest about it being my fault. They still were super helpful!

[@colegreene2153]

People returning products often are the problem. I know people that shop online and order small, medium, and large and just return what doesn’t fit

[@JackupTraining]

My old Leatherman was replaced. I actually wanted it repaired, but they sent a new one. No receipt, no questions asked. Amazing! I bought another one after that. Gopro also replaced my camera. ASUS replaced a battery in my laptop, although it was beyond the warranty. Can't complain about those...

[@CanadaFree-ce9jn]

Same here, but I've bought about 10 Leathermans. lol You know it is too many when you don't know the exact number. lol Long time Super Tool 200 user, then Wave/Wave+/Charge, and now on to Surge.

[@kennytheamazing]

You got lucky with Asus. They're actually well known for their ridiculous RMA process now where they will reject it the repair for unrelated reasons or try to upsell you massively.

[@BBoPPo88]

You can also just take your jacket into a patagonia store and the employee basically does all the paperwork for you but will also make the call on whether you need to get it replaced or repaired. My friend took in his absolutely tattered jacket and they looked at it and said "it will cost us more to repair this since we get charged per hole" and gave him full priced credit based on what he brought in. He got to pick a new one. I've gotten a few holes patched up myself, they mail it back to your house for free

[@Tuggie2]

My father had bought multiple Stanley brand thermoses and I sent in for replacements do to a handle being broken or some other malfunction and got them replaced and he's been dead for 10 years, didn't ask for proof of purchase or any such BS. Granted, I know that the new thermoses are cheaply made inferior products to the ones my father bought but still good to know they honor their warranties of 50 year old products

[@GO-FYT]

I can attest to the Patagonia repair process. Got a hand-me-down jacket and the glue/stitching for the chest pocket had come apart. We went in to the store and they helped us submit a repair request. Got the jacket back a few weeks later good as new. I also love this process because it gives your clothing more character. Another store doing this is Levi’s. The Levi’s store near me has a tailor and they can patch old jeans or repair just about any other piece of Levi’s clothing for a small charge. I just hope they expand this as I think it only exists in a few stores.

[@Jedwoods]

I've made warranty claims on a few tools, including both Leatherman and Gerber, and had the tools replaced quickly and efficiently. I've also done with the Stanley bottles and last year I was even able to get a warranty replacement on the cap from a nalgene bottle after it split. Every time I've done this I've told friends or family and had the response "oh, I wish I'd done that when mine broke, I just bought another one," which is exactly what the companies are hoping for.

[@qbrt]

Patagonia also does repair fairs at their stores, I dj'd one in San Francisco, you can bring in any outdoor gear from any company and they'll repair it free of charge, they repaired my REI rain flap on my tent. They're expensive, but seem like a decent brand.

[@metalsnakezero]

I believe it from a small company making a pretty specific item (like a bicycle) but not from a big one. But as said in the video, being honest of what the company is able to do and where they want their customers to do.

[@Sqeezy3]

I work in electronics retail and I fill out warrany claims and send it to companies. The stuff that people pull out their peach emoji is sometimes unbelieveable.

[@mykol3034]

I've used Craftsman's lifetime warranty maybe twice. I had a ratchet that stripped out and a breaker bar I found at the scrapyard. The tools were older but the hardware store near me swapped them out with new ones without any questions. I also have a good relationship with the people in the store so it was no problem. I told the employee there that the breaker bar was found broken and he said it was no problem. I figured if it wouldn't be replaced I'd just throw it away but got a new one without an issue.

[@Kewrock]

Stanley/Fuller Tools "lifetime warranty" does not mean YOUR lifetime. It means the lifetime of the tool. So if the tool wears out, they deem it's reached it's useful lifetime. So it's not returnable/warrantable. I had a ViceGrip that the rivet wore out and the tool got too loose to use.

[@AirshipFury]

We took up Tupperware's lifetime warranty a decade ago, but since the pitcher we returned was discontinued, they gave us the next closest thing in terms of monetary value...which was a tumbler.

[@epeefencer1]

I bought a Tilley hat in early 90s. Three years later it fell off my head and went into the tractor mower on the orchard. It was ripped to shreds. I took it to their store and they just handed me a new one. Fast forward 30 years. That hat wore out from sun and sweat and time. They don’t have a store anymore. I had to cut off the top and send in a picture of it destroyed, then laid $15 (?) to ship a new one. Worth it for me.

[@macnkeebs]

ooh, i can imagine how much frustrations consumers have in trying to fix a zipper slider --- try doing it on a wedding dress. it's not easy! i do like that model though as it means "hey, we back our product enough to fix it because it's meant to last, not be thrown away at the mildest inconvenience" while also adding a new skill to those who are interested enough to make the attempt.

[@isdeirinnme]

I worked for Deckers which owns UGG in 2011-12 when they transitioned from unlimited lifetime warranties to limited ones. Appeals to denied items were re-reviewed at the office (at least early on). Some people were PISSED. One woman in particular was already abusive to CS staff as she was abusing the return system by going to thrift stores to find grody old Uggs for like $20 to return and then probably selling the new ones for a profit. She pretty much bullied her way into getting what she wanted because “the customer is always right.” 🙄 She got worse after the transition because we cut her hustle off. Switching to a new backend system designed for bulk orders instead of individual orders made the situation even messier because it generated a new account every time. She wasn’t the only one abusing the system but she alone was a factor in the switch to limited warranties. But also, the quantity of Uggs had dramatically dropped and they no longer stood by their products. The quality was/is no better than a cheap off-brand like Bearpaws but cost ~$200.

[@SomebodyHadToSayIt99]

Canada goose replaced a Langford Parka i purchased in 2016 with a brand new one in a different color and size (my request) free of charge. I paid $995 for the parka and my out of pocket cost for the replacement was $0. Dropped it off at their location in SOHO NY and got it in the mail 2 months later. The jacket had normal wear on the sleeve seems and had some dark marks that would not come off in the wash. Great warranty in my experience.

[@jeannettegory8185]

That's good to know. I had mine shipped half way around the world and the container got wet. The fur trim on mine fell apart, and the cleaners did their best to wash the mold out of the coat. Wonder if they would do anything for me.

[@suzysizzle]

I used the Lululemon lifetime trade in program. It was super easy. Brought in an old sports bra, they asked why I brought it in. I mentioned the program and that I outgrew the bra (which was over 10 years old but stellar condition). They checked out the garment and offered me a giftcard for the going price of one of their new bras ($75). No receipts necessary. I highly recommend using the program if you keep your items in very good or like new condition!

[@kaw8473]

Those three words were the bane of my existence while working at an outdoor outfitter. People would bring back 3 year old hiking boots and want a refund because the lace snapped and I knew I had about 3-5 minutes before I had to get my manager.

[@MomIrregardless]

2:44 awwwwww! you were so convincing!! you really had me going for a moment there! ah, nostalgia , i shall enjoy you!

[@casey6556]

It is worth noting as a fellow Canadian myself that in Quebec, all goods sold to the consumer have a warranty for the “reasonable life of a product” BY LAW under the Consumer Protection Act

[@cmurphymcse]

Well done video. The one additional thing to keep in mind regarding retailers in general. Some retailers like Nordstrom, Costco & REI do have very good return policies and because of that have a loyal following of repeat customers. Other lower price retailers also have a following of loyal customers due to their low prices. Customers who shop at those discount retailers usually don't expect the same level of customer service compared to their higher price counterparts and may not expect the same level of service regarding their return policies. Both camps have their place. The retailers that were caught in the middle are (or were) the retailers that have struggled or closed their doors. I truly believe most people are good honest people who are not looking to take advantage of loopholes. Any company should be more concerned in building their customer base versus corporate profits and outrageous CEO salaries. The employees of these companies are their most valuable asset and with a loyal customer base everyone benefits.

[@EVANHIRSCHMANG]

haven't returned anything in years tbh. If companies make good products, you theoretically don't need a warranty ever

[@SweBeach2023]

They are still made by humans, and no one starts a master.

[@miguelbaeza65]

Sears used to offer lifetime warranty on Craftsman tools. They worked. My dad would always buy a leaf racker and since he's a lawn maintenance, he used it for a year, bring the broken racker, and get a new one. Same with tools he would buy. They would last a long time, but Sears granted his broken tools

[@Swimdeep]

Your father’s behavior is an abuse that led to the change in policy.

[@MinistryOfMagic_DoM]

Fortunately Lowes bought Craftsman and still honors this deal. They also honor it for Kobalt, their in store brand. There is a similar deal for Pittsburgh from Harbor Freight. Your father was using this deal exactly as it was intended. Because he was willing to buy their tools he was going to give them more money over time than he took back from warranty repair. That's why they still do it.

[@fookorf]

@@Swimdeep you're a corporate cock sucker. Sears should make their tools last more than a year. They're the one's who chose to make crap quality tools and give them a 'lifetime warranty. '

[@AlexHider]

REI is still the real deal, they really will take your stuff and fix it. Also their membership is completely worth it.

[@emptycl0ud9]

MEC also changed their policies on repair on their in-house merchandise, they can't repair anymore. Their new stuff isn't as solid as their old stuff.

[@curiousfirely]

This change was part (not all) of why I've stopped shopping at MEC.

[@TOBI199621]

darn tough i love you ❤️❤️❤️

[@wh0_am_152]

Nalgene is amazing, had a water bottle melt (that had $12 USD spent on it) in dishwasher 4 years after purchase, no hassle, another one was shipped... I now find myself to have purchased another 9+ of these... For practical reasons... Probably.

[@orismj]

I’m 100% with you about the Patagonia approach - much more honest with the right values(for me).

[@RandomCanEHdian]

I use Ridgid power tools for work. They're note quite Milwaukee, but they're good (and made by the same parent company). I use Ridgid because they have a "Lifetime Service Agreement" - you have to register them, but even if they stop making that model, at a later date, you'll get the updated one, free, later on.

[@MoonBunnyLovers]

Have you ever used that LSA? I tried but turns out I didn't register my tools. Sadly. So I fixed it with a KZbin video. And I went and registered my newer Ridgid tools that I had digital receipts for lol... Sadly it's not a Husky tool you walk into Home Depot without a receipt and swap, no questions asked (well unless you get the random new hire and you have to go talk to the guy that usually works tools)

[@doctechno2241]

Patagonia almost universally has solved the warranty issue with their stance on repairing items. One of the biggest issues, like you pointed out, is that warranty policies get abused --- you see a ratty jacket in a thrift shop, send it in, and for most companies until recently, you would get a new one. Patagonia, on the other hand, will just send the ratty jacket back but with the specific problem the sender requested fixed repaired. Note that the jacket will still overall be a ratty, nasty jacket that is unsuitable for wear. That simple policy to repair instead of replace destroys the reseller market and abuse of warranties. It shifts the onus of the repair to extending the life of the product to the point where through sheer natural use, the product is no longer worth using. More companies should note that actually following through with a repair and reuse policy actually works and builds serious brand loyalty.

[@myxochi]

I had a claim against a defect in a Canadian Goose jacket that they took in (reluctantly - but they agreed that the flaw was a flaw of the original coat) through the original store where I purchased the coat. Then, once they had it, they said that it was “natural wear and tear” even though I had only worn it once, AND that they didn’t have the same colour of fabric to make the needed repair….but, if I paid for the repair and the shipping back to me….all at my expense…they’d be willing to do “a repair”!!! Since I had only just bought it, I decided that I would pay for it, BUT I will never buy Canada Goose again!!

[@Proton_Decay]

I have A LOT of technical apparel that I bought right around 13-15 years ago. The bigger issue I think is that synthetic materials break down over time (in a bad way), and sustainability initiatives seem to go out of their way to avoid discussing this. Forever-chemicals used in synthetics are a problem as they break down but only into smaller pieces not true decomposition. For example waterproof coatings inside rain jackets break down 100% of the time in less than 10 years in my experience, and faster if you do not wear it (polyurethane for example separates on a mollecular level like milk/cream - and after only a couple of years of sitting in a box may disintegrate when flexed. Sneaker midsoles are notorious for this. I have 3 rain shells in a bag from different brands that rain plastic dust when picked up). Waxed cloth is 100% sustainable, will last multiple decades, and functions well if maintained. The same R&D that created synthetics that work well on day-1, if applied to organic materials like wool and cotton, could yield sustainable materials that perform similarly on year-20 because they do not suffer the same fundamental decomposition problem.

[@Thatguy-cb4qs]

Then you’d only buy one.

[@douglasneville6068]

Arc'Tyrex, I bought a jacked over 20 years ago and after 2010 my ski trip caused the pocket to tear. They gave me a credit to replace it, no receipt needed. I usually buy their products just for that fact.

[@JohnSandovalesq]

I learned about Darn Tough socks this year. I started by buying three pair, and almost immediately replaced all my socks with them. I never thought I would spend almost $300 US on socks, but they're seriously great quality and after reading/seeing their lifetime guarantee and how it works, well basically I won't ever have to buy another pair of socks unless I decide I want a new color. As for Patagonia, I only have a few items from them, mainly because their stuff is expensive, and I had no idea about their warranty and that it was that good. Honestly, I'm ok with paying a bit more for something if I know they'll stand behind their products like that.

[@yvonnezimmer7246]

My Jansport rolling/convertible backpack is coming up on being 16? 17? years old. Back in the day we bought it with a 25 year warranty. Took it to the store and confused the crap out of that poor salesperson. They didn't sell Jansport anymore and it took her having a colleague and then the manager help her until they knew what to do with it. It's all fixed now!

[@Madeleinewith3Es]

I bought a pair of Heatwave sunglasses from a surf shop where I worked. Best glare-blocking lenses I've ever had and wore them regularly for over a year. I fumbled them and dropped them and a small piece of trim on an arm fell off so they're unwearable. Life happened and it took me months to get to their customer service, asking if they had replacement parts for those, since they sell extra lenses and parts for other models. Guy got back to me that my color was out of stock, so they entirely replaced the sunglasses! 10/10 would recommend.

[@houserhythm]

Best warranty I know of is Goruck's - they'll cover any of their products, no original owner or receipt required. And not just manufacturing defects, but also accidental damage. Snagged your bag on a sharp rock and ripped it open? Just send it in and they'll have it repaired or replaced. Then again you're kinda paying for that upfront - a pretty basic (feature-wise) backpack, not made from any luxurious materials, is upwards of $300...

[@andrew6xrv]

At Target, Cat & Jack clothings one year quality guarantee has lead to people bringing in garbage bags full of used clothing to return simply because their kids have outgrown it.

[@AgonxOC]

As far as Canada Goose, I have seen them replace a 10 year old Jacket (OG owner) that was sent in for repair for a zipper. They sent a brand new one. That was about five or six years ago.

[@FlaviaSaplacan]

I had good experience with Patagonia, they repaired a 1 year old pair of pants that had the seams coming appart. They paid for me to ship the pants and sent it back for free. Not even asked me for a bill or proof that I bought the pants.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I worked for REI for 15 years. “Lifetime of the product” gives the employees of the store the ability to look at the jacket (or whatever) and determine if the materials are so worn that the product is essentially “dead.” It means the company can say “nope, sorry, this product is at the end of its life, we aren’t going to replace/repair.” In general for regular clothes, pants/shirts (not jackets or outerwear) lifetime of a product is around 70 washes.

[@brandinojam24]

I never once used a lifetime warranty nor remember which products have them regardless if it was advertiesed.

[@patricklippert8345]

Remember someone who worked at a car part shop saying that there were these two parts that were basicially the same quality but one had a 5 year warranty but cost way more. If the part broke down in that window they'd still come out ahead since you paid more for it.

[@darthnixilis304]

I always assume a company will find a way to say whatever the problem was is my fault and isn't covered.

[@artyomarty391]

actually it almost never happens this way at least not in the west. I think the main reason for this is that the person who is taking your return, has no interest in the game. Smaller companies are actually more difficult

[@MagicDrummerDancer]

Fair enough, Canada Goose paid for shipping and repaired my jacket after I ripped a big hole on the sleeve. I had to pay for a ”cleaning fee” and maybe some 10-40€ I guess. But, the jacket looked brand new when it came back so I didn’t complain at all. The process was actually very smooth.

[@lydsfizz]

As a parent i get it lol 😂 10:34

[@jimboha]

I bought a backpack with a lifetime warranty, used it for a couple years. Then noticed that MANY of the seams were blowing out. I fixed the first one, then the next one. But I decided either the material was not strong enough or the seam ovevlap was insufficient, or something related to construction or materials. I contacted the manufacturer who claims that the life of the backbpack was only 3 years and that I was lucky to get 4 years out of it. What?!!! Why so short lifetime? So no warranty repair/replace - but they did offer me a discount coupon good off the full manufacturer's suggested retail price. Who buys things at full price?!! But they did inform me that they have learned so much more about assembling packs and that the newer ones did have longer lifetime. Right.

[@jeannettegory8185]

Cutco has a great warranty (disclaimer: my husband sold their products in the 90s). Not only do they sharpen their knives for free but replace damaged ones that can't be repaired. He had a hunting knife buried in a drawer for years, a chuck out of the cutting edge of the blade. I sent it in hoping they could sharpen it down to that point and they sent back a replacement.

[@Muralath]

We have a lot of “lifetime” or very long guarantees in Thailand, just to see the companies close within a few years of opening.

[@jpprice14duh]

Zippo is the legitimate lifetime warranty company.

[@Kebersox]

Mind blown that Patagonia has a good reputation. I had to fight for just partial refund for a rain jacket that delaminated within 5 yrs. According the them that was its life span. I said fine, i’ll just go online and deal with the return that way, and only then did they offer any sort of refund. And i still had to negotiate the 50%. They are no different to other retailers. Canadian REI had their “rock solid” guarantee. Any cashier could tell you about the abuse of it.

[@TheChellomat]

As for infinite guarantees Outdoor Research I've never had an issue to exchange with clothing that had issues! Normally they requested to get the product back to inspect, but lately they request images instead which is easier.

[@logankrastel9609]

Kind of outta left field not being a clothing company but Vortex Optics warranty is the bomb. 100 Unlimited lifetime warranty, fully transferable, no receipt needed. If there's a problem with the optic they don't care who's fault it is or what happened. send it in to get repaired or if unrepairable then replaced and if they don't make the exact optic anymore you'll get their current next best thing. Their "fine print" consists of they wont warranty any deliberate damage or any cosmetic only damage that doesn't effect the optics function. I've never seen them reject a warranty claim.

[@DannChewie]

Ice breaker (a New Zealand founded, outdoorwear brand) and their socks had a Lifetime warranty which recently changed to 12 months or 1 claim, receipt required. These socks werent cheap either, around $25USD a pair. I recently claimed back a pair I had from 2018 which they replaced as it had holes in the heel but I doubt they will replace it again as their new policy is in effect....

[@SamRainer]

Ironic that I got an Arc'teryx ad on this video weeks after they denied fixing the zippers on two products of mine because of wear and tear nowhere near the issue...

[@Ally-ug3nq]

Great 👍🏼 video 🎥 and looking forward to deeper dive videos 😊🎉❤

[@simply-the-max]

I'm amazed by Ospreys lifetime warranty. I bought a used backpack from a private seller and one of the straps was missing. I asked Osprey for a replacement and to send me an invoice - instead they just delivered me the items FOR FREE! The do not guarantee that the replacement parts are in the same color or shape. But I was really impressed how smooth everything went. I have many brand new backpacks of Osprey for international travels and can be assured that they will care about me as a customer.

[@hizzousekakashi8836]

Having to pay for shipping on my not even a week old turtle beach gaming headphones back in the day is why I never got another set from them again.

[@natel42069]

I feel like companies are looking mostly in the short term, like ya if less people return your products you WILL save money but this also could end up being a deal breaker for some making people just not nuy your product which could lose you MORE money in the long term

[@JIm-w1b]

Radio Shack used to have a lifetime warranty on all of their products. I'm old fashioned, I bought a cassette deck in 1972 and used it until it gave trouble in about 1985. The guy at the store acted like I just crawled out of a sewer, said my deck was old, dirty and a useless proposition to get it fixed. So I threatened to get a lawyer and I guess they took me seriously, Radio Shack sent me a store credit voucher for $100 and said that was all they could do. I was lucky they did even that. But later, I bought speakers that were advertised at 75 watts, what burned out, because the inside elements were rated at only 5 watts, what was stamped right on them, and this time, Radio Shack flatly refused to do anything about it. Tried to BS me about a difference in amplifier watts and acoustical watts. I'm glad they went out of business

[@Wrv1th46]

I had a rip on my Arcteryx Alpha SV. I contacted support and after 2 weeks of going back and fourth they replaced the whole Jacket and took the damaged 1. this happened a few months ago.

[@ttopero]

Something window companies did a long time ago was to only warranty the windows as non-transferable. This meant that people who replaced them to sell saw the warranty voided upon transfer, for something that should be a long term durable! Many examples over the life of the Millennial😉

[@ttopero]

Back in the day (last millennium), I was able to replace my Oakley M-frames 3x (second hand from a friend too) over 5 years for $9.99 each time. It made me a loyal customer until they refused to even sell me the parts at full retail so I had to throw them away!😐