Brooks Brothers New Policy

FYI - Sounds like brooks brothers is coming out with a new policy on replacing shirts with elbow tears. See below

I own 7 BB Lux Slim Fit non iron shirts (all less than 1 year old). Last month one of the elbows tore and I swapped it out at BB no questions asked. Last night I went to BB on Madison as i wanted to swap out two others with this problem. Immediatly the woman told me I couldn't return these --- she said that I bought them in December 2009. After telling her that they were less than 1 year old I asked to speak with a manager.

Manager told me the shirts had alot of wear and were more than 1 year old. Clearly he knows more than me about when I bought my shirts and how often I wear them. Apparently Brooks seems to think their shirts are sold the month they are made(they can tell when they are made by looking on the inside of the shirt). I told him this was not the case. He told me he would make a one time exception and that they would swap out the shirts.

They told me I couldn't do this again. Their new policy is THEY WILL ONLY SWAP OUT SHIRTS LESS THAN 60 DAYS OLD. He went on to say that these shirts will get about 40-50 wears if propery cared for. That they are not made to last longer than a year. I originally bought these shirts for a bunch of reasons---but one of these reasons was that I would be able to return the shirt if the elbow tore in the first year of wear.

Don't get me wrong- I'm not the person that returns everything and takes advantage of lenient return policies ---however I feel like a dress shirt should last longer than 6 months---if you can't stand by your product---you should stop making it---or come up with a way for it to last longer.

When I opened up the new shirts--they both were marked 9/10. Over 10 months old. I had to go back to the guy to teach him a lesson.

Moral of the story for me---time to find a new shirt maker. I'll try CEGO next. No point in dropping $700 at BB on shirts every year only to have my shirts die young.

Has anyone else heard of this new policy?

I'll get the guys name--- you can go to the Madison ave store and ask him yourself or you can call if you are from out of town. Why would I make this up? What's in it for me?

Are your shirts non-iron? Are we comparing apples to apples here?

The Manager told me these shirts are meant to last a year. That if you want a shirt that last 10-20 years you shouldn't buy a non-iron shirts. He said the non iron shirts are treated with a chemical that weakens after multiple washes and will eventually rip at the elbows. He said some people buy shirts that are too short---that expedites ripping. He said some people use starch or an iron---and that weakens the material and expedites ripping. He also said not to dry them too long---as that weakens the material as well. He said people buy the non irons for convenience of not having to take them to the cleaners.

The only thing im guilty of is drying my shirts in the dryer instead of letting them hang dry. Maybe i'll try that going forward and my shirts will last 1 year instead of 6 months.

Are your BB shirts non-iron?

This may be possible. I was thinking this as well. I like the slim fit look--Id rather not sacrafice style for a more reliable "baggier" shirt.

To answer your first question:

When I bought the shirt at brooks brothers I was under the impression that they would honor their promise that if the elbows go---the'll replace the shirt.

Just like when I buy a belt at Alden--they sell me the belt and say "if the belt falls apart over time "we'll fix or replace it" ---I expect to go back to alden if my belt falls apart (from normal wear and tear) and for them to fix or replace it.

If BB guarantees their product- I expect them to honor their policy- and not give me shit about it. And if they are going to change their policy. Fine. I'm just giving people on these boards the heads up that their old policy will not be in effect for long.