I purchased shirts from LL Bean - dress shirts - and all of them developed a specific defect. A set of holes (little tears) appeared - regularly spaced around the collar. On six different shirts. In the same place.

I sent pictures to customer service, asking whether there had been other reports of poor quality with these shirts. There was no meaningful response.

After years of purchasing from LL Bean, I have now shifted to other companies.

I purchased Waterproof 650 Down Gloves for cold-weather hiking. Some of the reviews said the gloves didn't keep hands warm, and I should have paid attention. These gloves are okay at 50 degrees but if the air temperature is any lower, my hands got very cold within about two minutes of being outside. I'm very disappointed and am returning the gloves.

Recently bought a sweater online that offered free shipping to Canada and found the US price tag still attached. I got charged $310 (cdn) for a $169 (usd) product… essentially overcharged by $50 after exchange and tax. I won't be buying again fro LL Bean.

Takes a week and a half now to receive merchandise. Countless mis-marked clothing sizes, order filling mistakes, etc. An American legend gone bad. Time for new management and new clothing designs/colors. Same old stuff year and year. They do still have a few great products though and that keeps me going back every now and then, but they're in trouble for the long run.

Update: They have fixed their shipping issues. I received an apology and gift certificate to help. Updating my review to 3 stars.

LL Bean does seem to cater to small women. If they do offer larger sizes, they are usually out and they dont' often come in the same color choices. Also, if you return something you paid for with Paypal they only offer store credit or a check that takes 7-10 days to get to you, which is dark ages stuff. I have only ever run into the with them. Stuck in the dark ages it seems all the way around.

Changes delivery date 3 times! Ordered July 26. Now they say sept. 5th "maybe"! What the hell? Why should anyone have to wait 5-6 weeks for their child's birthday gift? Of course when I ordered it was going to be delivered by Aug 2. Another shady as hell Republican owned company only concerned with THEIR pockets rather than those hard working customers who fill them!

Just got off a chat with LL Bean's customer service about some boots of theirs that are only five years old and are starting to fall apart and was told they "are not repairable." Great. Bean used to stand by their products, but apparently no more. So sad, another reputable company gone down the drain. Guess I'll have to find another brand...

I was very impressed with L. L. Bean!

I plan to revisit some day, when I'm a bit more flush (with cash, like I was last time I shopped there via catalog).

As you might expect from a long-established proud rural Maine company in those days (nearly all the great clothes I bought were made in USA), both design and build yielded some of the best clothes I've ever owned. I feel like a slob compared to how I dressed then, lol.

Old Nordstrom comparable. Reliable, prompt... Long ago.

Selection: B+
Quality: A
Customer Service: A
Pricing: Fair

Has the LL Bean family sold the company? Everything about doing business with them is different. Famous quality and superb customer service are NO MORE. My latest boots from them bite into my ankles so I returned for an exchange. Three phone calls of 10 to 15 minutes on Hold. One call never answered. One dropped call and finally the answer they had not processed the return they had received a week before so pay the bill. They have become Kmart. I can just go to Kmart to buy cheap Chinese boots.

Returned two products, ordered one more and was to receive a refund on the one product upon return. Did not get a refund. Talked to any number of people, thinking the last time it was actually worked out, saying i would be refunded by check. As most others say, good quality/good product, but forget customer service or anything involving accounting. Even though i have enjoyed their product over the years, i will not be placing anymore orders with them.:-(

Everything I've ever purchased from L. L. Bean has been top quality. From boots to backpacks, whether it's for hiking or back-to-school, the products are made to last. The backpack I got my daughter in the 4th grade lasted through high school, it was used daily and carried some very heavy loads. I still use it for travel and day trips, straps and zippers in good shape after all this time. My husband's snow boots lasted 15 years before they needed to be replaced. Good, quality items.