Bellevue based Eddie Bauer to call it quits. (Seattle: houses, buyers)

[70Ford]

Eddie Bauer, which opened its first sporting goods store in Seattle in 1920, has reported annual losses for the past three years. The stock has dropped more than 80 percent on the Nasdaq during the past 12 months, giving the company a market value of about $23 million. A potential buyer may shut down some Eddie Bauer stores, or close all locations and continue to operate the company’s catalog business, one of the people said.

Eddie Bauer Said to Be in Talks With Potential Buyers (Update3) - Bloomberg.com

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Dang it!

[seattlenextyear]

Oh great. Now what am I going to wear? I can't buy ALL my clothes from REI....

[jenlion]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

Oh great. Now what am I going to wear? I can't buy ALL my clothes from REI....

No, you can't, because REI will be next, at this rate!

Man, I know people that work in their corp office that are going to have a very tough time finding another job.

This is just crazy. I know everything was over-the-top for a long time and we're due what we're getting, but man, the burden is too random, too uneven, and getting too big.

I keep expecting I'll wake up and have the obvious answer one day. Seems like it should be so simple: we have enough land, enough talent, enough food, enough shelter for everybody, and there should be some clear, fair action we can take to fix everything. But it always seems to stay firmly out of grasp. There are just too many lazy b*stards, too many cheats, too many liars, and too many selfish people on the low end and on the high end -- it's impossible to make a socialist or a communist system work fairly. Only have to remember my crazy welfare sister to know that it would never work right. But then why does the lady at EB that I know with the infant, in the middle of a divorce from a major jerk, have to figure out who-knows-what when there are empty houses boarded up other places? This SUCKS. This should not be so hard to figure out. Why is it?!

[pw72]

Your "headline" is misleading. While shutting down completely was mentioned as an option, I don't believe that is the real plan. They are not calling it quits, they are looking for an investor. I fully expect the brand to continue.

[LongDawson]

REI used to sell stuff made locally, like the Trager (not sure of spelling) and Roffe and so many other great products that were of excellent quality. They became the king of "Made in China" and their product quality is very low. I feel uncomfortable going to REI. Filson seems to have dabbled in overseas garments but realized that their base is smart, and they want Made in Seattle. Eddie Bauer just sells the same crap you can buy at Sears. They need to return to their roots. University graduates are working in Seattle for $12.00 per hour, and these are very capable people. Also, Americans bought into the lie that we need to fund wars to attack arabs, and that alone has caused a tremendous loss for everyone's bottom line. We can't fund this empire crap. Time to take care of our own. Don't support REI until they return to local sourcing, same for Eddie.

[Heiwos]

Originally Posted by LongDawson

Also, Americans bought into the lie that we need to fund wars to attack arabs, and that alone has caused a tremendous loss for everyone's bottom line. We can't fund this empire crap.

I hope those Americans are learning a fine lesson now.

Eddie Bauer never had anything I was willing to pay a premium for.

[Ira500]

If they do go under I will miss the Eddie Bauer outlet stores. Some very good deals there at times.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by LongDawson

REI used to sell stuff made locally, like the Trager (not sure of spelling) and Roffe and so many other great products that were of excellent quality. They became the king of "Made in China" and their product quality is very low. I feel uncomfortable going to REI. Filson seems to have dabbled in overseas garments but realized that their base is smart, and they want Made in Seattle. Eddie Bauer just sells the same crap you can buy at Sears. They need to return to their roots. University graduates are working in Seattle for $12.00 per hour, and these are very capable people. Also, Americans bought into the lie that we need to fund wars to attack arabs, and that alone has caused a tremendous loss for everyone's bottom line. We can't fund this empire crap. Time to take care of our own. Don't support REI until they return to local sourcing, same for Eddie.

Ok, so that leaves me with...American Apparel? Thin, tight fitting t-shirts made for meth addicts? No thanks!

REI gives me back part of their profits and treats their employees well. They also help fund a lot of local non-profits and support the community. I have trouble putting them in with the "bad guys"

[Ira500]

...American Apparel? Thin, tight fitting t-shirts made for meth addicts.

You suppose they might want to use that line in their advertising?

[ElektroDragon]

OOPS! Now I feel bad for never shopping there.