Yeti vs RTIC (Houston, Dallas, Austin: 2015, buy, prices)

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Texas is to coolers what Switzerland is to analogue watches. Texas just makes them better. Not only is RTIC and Yeti from Texas but so is Igloo, the most generic of them all. 3 of the big 4 from Texas, the last one being Coleman.

But the more time passes, the more RTIC and Yeti are becoming rival companies.

Yeti’s general argument: RTIC is a knockoff brand, they directly copied Yeti’s design and lowered the price to make a cheaper version. Get the original

RTIC’s general argument: Yeti fans are paying for the brand. Those coolers aren’t worth near what they’re priced at. Why pay for Yeti when you can get something that’s as good for so much cheaper?



My opinion: Brands and designs always get copied, but this is good for competition. Not only is Yeti now having to adjust their prices, they also have to compete to get better, as not only is RTIC just as good, they’re arguably better. Competition is better for the consumers both for their wallet and experience. I side RTIC. Plus I’m from Houston so I’m biased a bit.

For those wondering, Yeti is headquartered in Austin, where it’s flagship store is. RTIC is headquartered in Cypress where it’s flagship store is. And Igloo is headquartered in Katy. Yeti also has a storefront in Dallas while not having one in Houston. Of course that’s because Houston has its RTIC store there as mentioned. And both have storefronts throughout the USA. RTIC also handles most of their logistics themselves, with 5 fulfillment centers across the country while Yeti mainly uses outside companies to handle their logistics. Yeti came first, RTIC started expanding into more products. Besides that, companies are extremely similar even the logo looks nearly identical. RTIC has the nice logo though due to the polar bear.

[EDS_]

RTIC was hammered in court for blatantly ripping off Yeti by copying a number of products. So you know right off the bat RTIC practices poor ethics.

I have a Yeti soft bag cooler that will keep beer, water etc. cold all day on the boat. I have two roto-molded Yeti coolers that will keep the same cold all weekend. They are quite amazing.

ETA - I looked it up via settlement RTIC redesigned a number of copied products.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by EDS_

RTIC was hammered in court for blatantly ripping off Yeti by copying a number of products. So you know right off the bat RTIC practices poor ethics.

I have a Yeti soft bag cooler that will keep beer, water etc. cold all day on the boat. I have two roto-molded Yeti coolers that will keep the same cold all weekend. They are quite amazing.

ETA - I looked it up via settlement RTIC redesigned a number of copied products.

RTIC was merely slapped on the wrist via court. They’ve since went nationwide and opened full fill end centers everywhere. Safe to say it was a mere slap on the wrist. While I thin they did design it a little too similar, this allows competition as you see with anything of any industry.

I don’t think a company that charges so much for a product practices good ethics either. No monopoly practices good ethics.

[grampaTom]

I have both. I cannot tell any difference in performance.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

RTIC was merely slapped on the wrist via court. They’ve since went nationwide and opened full fill end centers everywhere. Safe to say it was a mere slap on the wrist. While I thin they did design it a little too similar, this allows competition as you see with anything of any industry.

I don’t think a company that charges so much for a product practices good ethics either. No monopoly practices good ethics.

Please don't misuse well defined economic terms. There is zero evidence Yeti ever had or tried to employ anything like monopolistic pricing power. They didn't restrict output. The spent huge money on R&D. They did not buy and close competitors etc. In other words Yeti did not behave like a monopoly.


Agreeing to a cash payment, wholesale product redesign and eating existing inventory is not a slap on the wrist.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by EDS_

Please don't misuse well defined economic terms. There is zero evidence Yeti ever had or tried to employ anything like monopolistic pricing power. They didn't restrict output. The spent huge money on R&D. They did not buy and close competitors etc. In other words Yeti did not behave like a monopoly.


Agreeing to a cash payment, wholesale product redesign and eating existing inventory is not a slap on the wrist.

You can barely even notice the differences in the redesign. If you put a 2015 RTIC next to a 2020 RTIC, I would barely be able to tell them apart if I didn't know. Instead of having a downward curve on the chest, it's now upward. the differences are very minor.

The cash payment was undisclosed, but literally 2 years after the settlement, RTIC multiplied in size as a company AND even expanded their product line. I'm not seeing how RTIC got any more than a slap on the wrist.

YETI was a monopoly at its time whether intentional or not, and RTIC gave them fair competition who not only lowers prices for consumers, but also improves product. YETI had to invest in leaking prevention since RTIC added this to it.

I'm not a fan boy of either, but I'm neither seeing how RTIC was "hammered" given they multiplied as a company since the lawsuit, and virtually kept the same design. Nor do I see bad ethics for increasing competition which is proven better for consumers including here. I'll have to disagree here.

[Sogno]

I prefer Pelican over either of these. Better latches, to name just one.

[Trainwreck20]

Yeti was never a monopoly - as mentioned, igloo and coleman sell coolers. So it was it made them a 'monopoly' when they made a better cooler?

That said, I do fine with a Coleman - it keeps my drinks iced all day at the lake and that is what I need.

[TexasRedneck]

I owned a Yeti - gave it away. Have an RTIC. Honestly, I fail to see the hype in either - you can buy a LOT of ice for the premiums they charge.

[C24L]

Yeti but i prefer Coleman