L.L. Bean................made in Mexico??? (Lewiston, Scarborough: hotel, school, camping)

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by MRVphotog

I believe the LL Bean boots, I have several, are still made in the LL Bean factory up in Brunswick.

About 6 years ago many thought LL Bean had lost it way. Bean felt the comp was now the Land's End, Eddie Bauer's of the world so they started focusing more on clothes rather than what got them where they where....hunting and fishing. They even converted the Hunting and Fishing store(separate building) to kid's clothes. Fortunately after a couple of year smarter heads prevailed and they switched it back.

I believe starting this spring Beans will be embarking on a major expansion in the area where the current Outlet Store is.

I was there this past Summer and they were putting up the steel framework for a new building, behind the main building at that time.

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by Zymer

I was there this past Summer and they were putting up the steel framework for a new building, behind the main building at that time.

Yup, as you will see, that's just part of the expansion. I saved an article in the Portland Press Herald which has an architectual image of the expansion..it's quite amazing.

[ribbets]

and you can't beat the LL Bean warranty, never had a problem returning something for replacement or exchange.

[forest beekeeper]

My parents are faithful Red-Wing boot customers. Moving up here my DW's employer requires Red-Wing that they buy her new Red-Wings every year. She loves the Red-Wing dealer in Brewer. She has taken me there and I would agree that they do seem to be a good source of boots.

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

The official company history is here:
L.L.Bean: Company Information: Background

Just this summer I read an article about the history of shoe factories in Maine. Unfortunately I can't remember where I saw it, but there must be lots of info online. Dexter, Bass, all of them now sell non-US products. They've been driven out of business by overseas competition.

Dexter Shoe was once owned by Harold Alfond, I believe. Some time back, it was sold to billionaire Warren Buffet. They took the name, assets, etc., and put several hundred workers out into the streets.

[Unhappycamper]

I worked for LL Bean last year. I was talking to some old dude who has worked returns for years. He said after the first Christmas with foriegn goods (4-5 years ago) there was a record number of returns. There were letters, phone calls, e-mails the works all written to LL Bean about how upset they were.

[Unhappycamper]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

Wonder if they're made in Mexico. Do most people buy those with the rubber over the top of the foot? They remind me of a duck bill.

Most of their shoes are from Brazil.

[ribbets]

I wasn't giving them a quality award, just real easy to return their products

[oceanfit185]

Originally Posted by MRVphotog

Bean makes alot of their stuff in Maine in a factory in Brunswick but as you found out, not everything. It's been this way for years.

Are you sure?

I was always told Beans has OEM outsourced 99% of their stuff since day one.

the manufacturers L.L. Bean is doing business with probably moved their production oversees a long time ago.

But Beans has done a lot to keep the company in Maine. They could easily have call centers and corporate offices in other states. But they keep them here. Maine isn’t the most business friendly state out there.

[Zymer]

Alfond- I was just reading about him recently, I think he donated a lot of money toward education.

Bean- seems to me I recall reading that out of the very first hundred pair of boots sold, way back when, practically *all* were returned.