I was laughing about this one this week. Bought a new chair that I got for a discount because there is a tear in the back. Told hubby I can darn it, if I can find a color of thread or yarn to match. We both started laughing. Who'd bother to darn a sock now when it is much cheaper to buy them by the dozens at wal-mart or some such? I hated darned socks, anyway, because no matter how good you are at it, it's still a little lumpy feeling! Some times it is "Thank heaven the "good old days" are gone!"
Both my wife and I are retired dinosaurs and not fans of the disposable mentality of modern society. Both remember the days when many folks got along fine with treadle powered sewing machines, kerosene heaters, the luxury of coal fired steam heating boilers, unheated bedrooms with big featherbeds, the water & soap saving virtues of wringer type washing machines and the charm of wood fired cookstoves. We both prefer standard transmission cars and trucks, with hand cranked windows, the long gone vertical vent frontmost window, a manual choke, throttle, and spark advance. I'm quite willing to buy merchandise that will last 3 X the Walmart type stuff, if I can be certain it will last 5 or more times the cheesy stuff.
Below is a quote from a fellow in the Smokey Mts. of N.C. gently complaining to LL Bean about their current model for merchandising. His grammar and spelling might not be the best, but I somewhat share his sentiments{
Compairing some old LL bean things to the new.I was at a older friends house ,we were looking at some of his old LL Bean stuff and some of his and my new things. As you know there is a lot of changes,the old is just made better.I have been all over the world and used and had things made for me in other countrys .The things made in the USA are just made better,not chepely as made outside the US. Your Co. started out with things made by your Co. in the U.S. Of very good quality that was your thing then. I am sorry to say ,not so today. Yes you sill make some things here ,but you import so much that is not the right size or is poorly made . I have read so many reviews about your products,and a lot of them are telling you somthing you as a Co. know . The imports are NOT as good as USA. made products, to say nothing of the loss of US. jobs. I am so sorry this letter is so strong . But you need to change your ways ,and bring it back to the USA. Before a lot of your loyal customers go to COs. that deal with products made in the USA. On a good note you have great customer service ,and your people are always so nice,they understand your problems and do there best to help. . Thank you for that.
XXX- Bill
