Levis 505 Jeans

[davrow]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

I was going to say the same thing, I read the flyer when it comes in the mail. I've often thought about trying a pair of Duluth's jeans.