norfolk dumpling Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I've not bought any of their products for some years but recently wife bought me slippers and I bought a pair of casual shoes and both started to fall apart within a couple of weeks of use. I see from the labelling both were manufactured in far off places so shouldn't be surprised but quality very very poor. Barbour didn't want to know when we contacted them. Wasn't able to take back to store as slippers picked up a few scares from our terrier - after stitching failed - and shoes were bought 100 miles away and I just can't be ***** to return. BUT when I go looking for a new shooting coat later this year is this brand at bottom of the pile now?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Used to work in a factory near to the Barbour one. We made all the canvas/leather accessories - such as the bags & slips & belts (not footwear though) Most of that line of products is now farmed out to other parts of the globe for manufacture. Jackets themselves are still ok as they are still made onsite in Jarrow. There is a good factory shop there that can be the source of many bargains....last time I was in I got swmbo a pair of brogue shoes & a pair of high leg boots - £29 per pair as discontinued stock. The factory shop is also good for one-off "rep's samples" that they use to gauge interest from the retail chain & other buyers ETA: Send the slippers back asking for exchange - not merchantable quality. The fault was not the terrier marks, it is the busted stitching. The shoes, likewise. Phone the shop & request that they have them picked up, or you can send them back at their expense. Sale of Goods Act again! Ask for a full refund & shipping costs. If neither of the above want to play get onto CAB & get them to draft a letter on your behalf Edited March 13, 2016 by saddler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I've not bought any of their products for some years but recently wife bought me slippers and I bought a pair of casual shoes and both started to fall apart within a couple of weeks of use. I see from the labelling both were manufactured in far off places so shouldn't be surprised but quality very very poor. Barbour didn't want to know when we contacted them. Wasn't able to take back to store as slippers picked up a few scares from our terrier - after stitching failed - and shoes were bought 100 miles away and I just can't be ***** to return. BUT when I go looking for a new shooting coat later this year is this brand at bottom of the pile now?? Can you put a picture up of the casual shoes and slippers, hard to know how they could fall apart in only two weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I have had a couple of Barbour items in recent times, a lightweight coat, the surface of which went horribly slimy and got all over everything (horrible green sticky slime - not like the old wax at all) and a bag which had (and still has) dreadful quality leather parts, 'brass' catches that were just plated. No more Barbour things for me. For bags etc, Brady still make a reasonable product, though that is not as good as they once were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Hamster - both items were boldly stitched and the thread used broke or the knots came undone. SWMBO does a lot of sewing and basically restitched them and both are back in daily/weekly use. My post was basically gauging PW opinion or knowledge of Barbour products. There have been posts on Hunter and Le Cham goods now they have moved production to far off places - with the game fair season starting and I need 2/3 items how many of our old favourites do we now not trust? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Iv a 'good' jacket, from the international range I bought 3 years ago. Quality is right up there with it, but it is from the fashion/designer lines rather as country/work side so it's maybe not a fair guage. It's the dearest item of clothing iv ever bought (£240), and I wear it at every chance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margun Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Hamster - both items were boldly stitched and the thread used broke or the knots came undone. SWMBO does a lot of sewing and basically restitched them and both are back in daily/weekly use. My post was basically gauging PW opinion or knowledge of Barbour products. There have been posts on Hunter and Le Cham goods now they have moved production to far off places - with the game fair season starting and I need 2/3 items how many of our old favourites do we now not trust? I got a pair of monty slippers for Christmas and the same happened. Same as you the woman about the house stepped in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I have had a lot of Barbour stuff over the years and the quality has been outstanding, two of my best brogues are Barbour as are a few jackets. Where they do sub contract out (shoes ?) I believe they are very stringent in making sure the quality doesn't suffer. I firmly believe that there are thousands of fake Barbour items being sold out there including ebay but personally I'd be happy to never wear anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungle The Bear Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Musto for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Musto for me +1 My original Musto done maybe 30 years - Faded and a bit tight now, it is still largely watertight and remarkably 'tear free'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I find Musto inconsistent, two clay shooting jackets have been excellent but shirts frayed way too early and a jumper sprang a hole in it within weeks ! On the whole they're quality gear though if a bit on the too colourful side. The thing with Barbour is if you go to a specialist shop and see the jumpers, shirts, jeans, fleeces, etc, up close you just cannot fail but be impressed by the sheer quality of both the material and construction. Despite admittedly now being more or less a fashion brand they still tend to be quite "country" and elegant looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buze Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Iv a 'good' jacket, from the international range I bought 3 years ago. Quality is right up there with it, but it is from the fashion/designer lines rather as country/work side so it's maybe not a fair guage. It's the dearest item of clothing iv ever bought (£240), and I wear it at every chance... Likewise, I have a waxed coat, bought from their shop for around that price -- apart from redoing the waxing last winter, it's been great. I also have a couple of their waxed caps that I like, bought at several years interval; they have slightly different cuts but both of them have been /everywhere/ and underneath -- and they are still perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 The most faked brand ever, unless you got it from an authorised dealer chances are it's snide and will fall apart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 The most faked brand ever, unless you got it from an authorised dealer chances are it's snide and will fall apart No idea where the nearest shop is... buy online - direct from Barbour. They have a list somewhere of all the known fake websites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris1961 Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) They used to be of good quality but alas no more made in China I believe I had a motor cycle jacket lasted for twenty years but now they are substandard and over priced the problem is finding the genuine article and not Chinese ripoffs Edited March 14, 2016 by chris1961 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Bought a (used) Hoggs coat (from lksopener on this forum) last September and I cannot remember a day since when I have not worn it. Been out in the worst of Weathers and remained warm and dry to such an extent that I have been known to nod off wearing it waiting for Pigeons to put in an appearance - Superb quality and, if it ever wears out, I would not hesitate to buy another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) Primarily a "fashion" brand now like belstaff. I use proper army surplus stuff which cheaper and well made. Edited March 14, 2016 by Wingman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Nephew has had one of those Barbour Linhope jackets for 4 or 5 seasons now; hasn't let him down yet. Nice jackets. When my current Musto gives up the ghost ( 8 years and counting ) I may get one, or save up a bit and get a Fortis ( CC ) jacket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Shot 1958 Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 Wife bought me a pair of leather Barbour boots £140 first time I wore them I scuffed one of them nothing to serious so I took them to a cobbler and he said that he could not repair it as the boots were made of reconstituted leather and that they would have been made in India ,I told him what they cost and he just laughed saying that for an extra £50 or £60 he could of made me a pair using real leather that would last a life time. On the other hand I have other Barbour items jackets and bags that have lasted well I suppose it's because they were made in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 I bought a cotton shirt in the factory shop. Looks lovely for the first five minutes then looks like I've slept in it for a week. Made in Vietnam on the label. Never again even in the factory shop it wasn't a cheap shirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 They used to be of good quality but alas no more made in China I believe I had a motor cycle jacket lasted for twenty years but now they are substandard and over priced the problem is finding the genuine article and not Chinese ripoffs It's a motorcycle jacket I have - granted, I wear it for good, so doesn't get much abuse apart for when I'm abit drunk... but it's still like new. The quality and construction is very good - not sure how it would last if I used it as a biker jacket though... It's not waxed either - but is waterproof (and it is, very!) Deffo agree re. price - Barbour is abit steep... but its to keep the exclusivity of the brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 I bought a cotton shirt in the factory shop. Looks lovely for the first five minutes then looks like I've slept in it for a week. Made in Vietnam on the label. Never again even in the factory shop it wasn't a cheap shirt. Ditto. Expensive shirt; creases at the drop of a hat. Can't wear it in car before going out as seatbelt makes it look as if I've slept in it. Won't be buying another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clanchief Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 Most of the kit labelled Barbour International, is cheaply made fashion items similar to BHS quality, the wax jackets that are Barbour and do not have the international part are ok and last well. Though Barbour would be my last choice, I would opt for Musto or Le Chameau, or maybe Harkila if my bonus stretched, and I do have a nice Paramo jacket for fishing that I would not put near a thicket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minghis Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 Without wishing to defend Barbour I do feel many of the issues are likely to be due to fake product. There is an awful lot of it out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 Without wishing to defend Barbour I do feel many of the issues are likely to be due to fake product. There is an awful lot of it out there. I concur except I do wish to defend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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