Levis 505 Jeans

oosik · Mar 9, 2014

Last time I put my jeans on I noticed a change also. The button would no longer fit in the button hole and the zipper wouldn't zip up!!! I've gone completely to Duluth Trading - firehouse pants. They wear forever and as I found out recently will stop an angry chain saw - I still got cut but did not loose a leg.

JDgreen227 · Mar 9, 2014

I have always had a really difficult time finding jeans that fit because my ideal waist is a 35...something hard to find in most brands. Have not purchased a pair of Levis for twenty years because you pay a huge premium for the name. IMO the best jean for the buck are Wranglers. BTW, it's not a surprise that any product gets more cheaply made these days...my GF recently purchased some new shoes at a DSW store, she told me they cost about $60 a pair. Fricking insane...a few square inches of leather, the rest manmade materials and they were imported. Know what baffles me? Imported clothing and shoes, etc are made with dirt-cheap labor, so why are so they so expensive?

Tollster · Mar 9, 2014

Brand loyalty, what's that?

firedog · Mar 9, 2014

jlgurr said:
Common practice today. Make it lighter, thinner, shorter, smaller, etc.

Yep. They just keep making clothes smaller and smaller.

jlgurr · Mar 9, 2014

MikePA said:
DirecTV has costs other than what they pay providers, e.g., labor. It's not always in pursuit of profit, which seems to be a popular pejorative, that appears to make some people feel better. I often wonder if these same people walk into their local store and accuse the local owner of the same 'evil motive'. Profit is what keeps paying the bills. To the consumer, why a company raises prices is irrelevant, even if it could be known, instead of information-free speculation.

Yes, it's greed. Sorry but 61% increase is not reasonable for any product or service. My salary and my cost of living does not even increase that fast. If my employer didn't reduce or hold cost every year we would be out of business. We manufacture a product from raw materials that are more costly every year, our labor rates increase every year in the form of raises but yet we are still selling some of our oldest products at the same price we started with in 1998. We do it by being more productive.

All our customers pay the same price. New "subscribers" don't get our products at 50-75% off for the first year of their business either.

Larry Caldwell · Mar 9, 2014

I haven't bought Levis for years, ever since their price went up and their quality went down. Fashion jeans have no place on the ranch. My last set of jeans were two pair of Key and one pair of Carhartt with double layer chaps on the legs. I have had them since last fall, and they are wearing well. They cost me less than $20 a pair, on sale at Coastal Farm.

Red Horse · Mar 9, 2014

My biggest issue with Levi-in addition to the price- is they reduced the number of belt loops-that puts a strain on the remanining ones and if you are at all active, they end up pulling out.

for those of you in No'east, I was in BJ's Wholesale last summer and bought two pairs of their Lanesboro brands. i think they were around 18 bucks- have been wearing like iron. Made in Mexico So much for Levi and their inflated price.

Happy Gilmore · Mar 9, 2014

I still have good luck with my Wranglers from Walmart, I've cheapened my spending over the years and hey, they wear well.

Oaktree · Mar 9, 2014

bullbreaker said:
There Wranglers have a lot of room in the azz !

With me it's more legs/thighs. Dunno why, but Levis seem to be made for guys with really skinny legs...I have to get several waist sizes too big to even get my legs in them, much less be able to move with them on. Wranglers or Walmart-brand jeans fit just fine.

Pilot · Mar 9, 2014

Just bought 2 pair of jeans at Costco, $13.99 per pair. Used to get jeans from Lands End but the pockets wore out in a short time. Costco jeans the pockets last, but I suspect the pants don't last as long as some well known brands. But at $13.99 a pair, who cares?

davrow · Mar 9, 2014

Pilot said:
Just bought 2 pair of jeans at Costco, $13.99 per pair.

I second this. Surprisingly high quality feel. I hadn't worn jeans since I sold out to corporate life 30 years ago, but needed some now that I have a 'ranch'. Saw these on a visit to Costco and couldn't believe the price. Snapped up two pair and am very happy with them.

No Costco in your neck of the woods? They are available online, too:
Kirkland Signature

brown40 · Mar 10, 2014

No one has mentioned sizes in mens jeans over the last 2 decades... I lost a bunch of weight last summer and actually took measurements to go shopping for stuff that'd stay up without making pleats:

The measures are understated by about 10%! A 34-36 fits a 38 inch waist. I know they've always fudged for women's clothes, but when did they start doing mens? Do the majority of male consumers not prefer a measure to be on? If it was lumber, pipe, sugar or fuel, wouldn't a consistent 5-10% "fudge factor" put a distributor under? Yet our cumulative vanity actually reinforces it in clothing?

Strange times indeed. And yes, the fabric & quality on the jeans from the late 80's & early 90's is at least 50% thicker, stronger & more accurate & consistent in measure & fit... they were even made here... only drawback is the darned tapered legs I used to like, I no longer like...

Bird · Mar 10, 2014

I wear Dickies short sleeved coveralls 90+% of the time, and they, too, have cut back on the depth of the front pockets. I paid a tailor $10 each to deepen the pockets. I noticed they are made in Guatemala. So when the ones I have wear out, I may be through with Dickies.

I did recently buy 3 pair of those $17 Wranglers from Walmart. They appear to me to be as good as any jeans, although I've not used them enough yet for a valid evaluation.

And after many years, 4 months ago, I got rid of DirecTV and went to Charter cable. Some say it's not greed on the part of DirecTV, but I'd have to disagree. They just kept easing upward on the price periodically. At least twice when I called, they agreed to very small discounts for awhile. But then 4 months ago, they jumped the price $26 a month and when I called and told the gentleman I talked to that maybe it was time I changed companies, he said there was nothing he could do. And we didn't even have any of the so-called premium channels except Starz/Encore for the Western channel. So I changed, then called DirecTV again to cancel their service. The lady I got that day tried everything she could think of to get me to change my mind, including cutting my bill by $60 a month for the same service. I told her she was just too late; I'd have stayed with DirecTV if it hadn't been for that last $26 increase. So now they keep sending me mail saying they miss me and want me to come back, offering a $200 gift card and much lower rates.

I learned a long time ago to never say never so I might consider DirecTV again some day, but it's highly unlikely. We now have twice as many channels, including all the premium channels for less money.

MikePA · Mar 10, 2014

jlgurr said:
Yes, it's greed. Sorry but 61% increase is not reasonable for any product or service. My salary and my cost of living does not even increase that fast. If my employer didn't reduce or hold cost every year we would be out of business. We manufacture a product from raw materials that are more costly every year, our labor rates increase every year in the form of raises but yet we are still selling some of our oldest products at the same price we started with in 1998. We do it by being more productive. All our customers pay the same price. New "subscribers" don't get our products at 50-75% off for the first year of their business either.

My point is, whether it is greed or not is irrelevant as is getting mad and starting threads to vent frustrations and the relationship between the price increase and your salary and what your company charges for its goods and services. I know this approach flies in the face of almost every discussion forum on the Internet. Either the product or service is worth the price or it is not, which can be different for each person, and not right or wrong. I learned a long time ago, when I sold a set of snow tires on vehicle specific wheels, a product or service is priced according to what someone is willing to pay and not what the product or service costs.

brin · Mar 10, 2014

My wife and I have noticed the changes in products a lot lately...Just bought some deodorant and the container said ..." New Look " when we got home I compared it to my old container...same brand...and the new one with the supposed new look was 1 oz. less... Always notice when they say...New Look or New packaging or New and Improved...check the product and we have found it is less quantity and the packaging was to cover it up...

I think it is inflation...and instead of raising prices the manufacturers are reducing the amount of product they are selling....WE just did notice pasta used to package 16 0z. to the package...Now it is 13 oz. so it ruins all recipes...now you have to buy two and use some extra or make a smaller recipe...If they raised the prices instead of cutting quantity I wonder how high our inflation would be ...????

Welshman · Mar 10, 2014

When I started reading this thread, I was quite surprised, because of a recent experience: In the last few years, I too have noticed a decrease in quality in "jeans". I rarely buy my own clothes - my wife does most of the clothing shopping. I've got about six pairs of jeans of various "vintages" and brands. My oldest pair are Levi's and while still in decent shape have "shrunk", particularly at the waist

)). The others (Lee, Wrangler, etc.) have issues - holes in the pockets at the seam, wearing through in the thighs, etc. I asked my wife why she didn't but Levi's and she told me it was because of price, but for my birthday last year she bought me a pair of Levi's. I immediately noticed that they were a much heavier weight of fabric than my others, and after wearing them for a while, told her not to bother with the other brands in the future.

It turns out that the "model" I have are 550's (as opposed to 501's). Since I don't pay any attention to these things, I went on the Levi website this morning and found out that these are "relaxed fit". While a bit of a blow to my ego, it occurred to me that perhaps the 501's have evolved into more of a "fashion jean" where the quality isn't as important as look. What I do know is that these 550's are a well made product and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another pair.

I hope this helps.

dmccarty · Mar 10, 2014

oosik said:
Last time I put my jeans on I noticed a change also. The button would no longer fit in the button hole and the zipper wouldn't zip up!!! I've gone completely to Duluth Trading - firehouse pants. They wear forever and as I found out recently will stop an angry chain saw - I still got cut but did not loose a leg.

Wow. I was about to say the same thing about Duluth. I have wanted to try a pair of their pants for working outside and when they had sales at XMAS I bought a couple of pairs. I am impressed with the pants, tough, comfortable and roomy. The first two pairs where the heavier cloth which is great for cold weather but I bought three pairs of the lighter cloth for warmer weather. I love the pants, the wifey hates them because they have thigh pockets. :laughing::laughing::laughing: The thigh pockets are useful so I don't care what they look like.

I have not worn jeans since I got the second set of pants.

I think I am done with jeans.

The fire hose pants also have very DEEP pockets which are really, really, nice.

The shirts I like are getting harder and harder to find. I could not find Rugby shirts that I like but Duluth has long sleeve Polo shirts that work so I bought a bunch of them as well. I am really impressed with the quality of Duluth's products. Time will tell, but I think the pants and shirts will last quite a few years. I have shirts I have bought from other companies that have ripped at the collar after 1-2 years not to mention badly shrinking and these were not inexpensive shirts.

Later,
Dan

JDgreen227 · Mar 10, 2014

Not trying to hijack the thread, but something that really ticks me off today is the constant barrage of junk mail I get from providers like DirectV, Frontier, etc. who send out offers like "$19.95 high speed internet" or $29.95 a month for basic DTV service....and they limit those offers to NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. I have been a customer of both for two years now, and my basic DTV service is $46 a month and keeps creeping up...no contract. When I contact them and ask for the $29.95 a month rate, they tell me "oh no that is just for new customers" and know what Frontier charges me for dog-slow DSL service....$34.99 a month plus all the surcharges, etc. Will they give me the $19.95 rate...H*** NO.

NoTrespassing · Mar 10, 2014

brin said:
My wife and I have noticed the changes in products a lot lately...Just bought some deodorant and the container said ..." New Look " when we got home I compared it to my old container...same brand...and the new one with the supposed new look was 1 oz. less... Always notice when they say...New Look or New packaging or New and Improved...check the product and we have found it is less quantity and the packaging was to cover it up...

I think it is inflation...and instead of raising prices the manufacturers are reducing the amount of product they are selling....WE just did notice pasta used to package 16 0z. to the package...Now it is 13 oz. so it ruins all recipes...now you have to buy two and use some extra or make a smaller recipe...If they raised the prices instead of cutting quantity I wonder how high our inflation would be ...????

I agree with the inflation comment. With the fed "printing" billions every month how could there not be inflation?

Kevin

Happy Gilmore · Mar 10, 2014

dmccarty said:
Wow. I was about to say the same thing about Duluth. I have wanted to try a pair of their pants for working outside and when they had sales at XMAS I bought a couple of pairs. I am impressed with the pants, tough, comfortable and roomy. The first two pairs where the heavier cloth which is great for cold weather but I bought three pairs of the lighter cloth for warmer weather. I love the pants, the wifey hates them because they have thigh pockets. :laughing::laughing::laughing: The thigh pockets are useful so I don't care what they look like. I have not worn jeans since I got the second set of pants.

I think I am done with jeans.

The fire hose pants also have very DEEP pockets which are really, really, nice.

The shirts I like are getting harder and harder to find. I could not find Rugby shirts that I like but Duluth has long sleeve Polo shirts that work so I bought a bunch of them as well. I am really impressed with the quality of Duluth's products. Time will tell, but I think the pants and shirts will last quite a few years. I have shirts I have bought from other companies that have ripped at the collar after 1-2 years not to mention badly shrinking and these were not inexpensive shirts.

Later,
Dan