As we get into winter coat season, keep in mind that some of the major brands offer lifetime warranties on their products. Companies like The North Face, Columbia, and Patagonia (among others) will repair defects in either workmanship or materials on their products, no matter how long ago you purchased the item. All it costs is the postage to get the item to their repair center. If they can't repair it, some will give you a credit to replace your item. Plain old wear and tear isn't covered under the warranty.
Just recently, the zipper on my primary winter jacket, which I had bought about four years ago, had started splitting open while I was wearing it. I shipped it to the manufacturer, which cost me $18 with insurance, and they not only replaced the zipper but all of the velcro, which had become a little frayed. I hadn't even asked about the velcro.
It was surprising to me when I found out about the program, and it was even more surprising that there were no hoops to jump through and they didn't try to get out of making the repair. They even did more than I asked them to do.
So if you have a winter coat that has some issues, see if the manufacturer has a warranty before you spend money on a new one. It could save you some serious cash and give your jacket a little more life.
September 30, 2017 at 11:41AM
