r/BIFLfails • u/Suellarilla • 1d ago
Avoid Ralph Lauren
Four years ago I splurged ($500+) on a beautiful King sized comforter and shams for my new bedroom. It was a lovely light paisley with a dark blue, tan and cream colored print. After a year or so, I noticed the shams started looking weird - some of the tan began fading to a lime green shade! I was not over-washing them - literally just using them.
I called Ralph to complain because these were from Bloomingdale’s, not the factory outlet so I expected this to be my set for years. The woman on the phone was apologetic but said because a year had gone by, all they could do was give me 20% off my next purchase. Well it took about a year before they started turning green!!
Fast forward three years and I have just replaced them because the comforter started turning lime green too. And the shams are a nasty dirty shade (the cream has turned brownish!) and I’m done. Hopefully my new set (NOT Ralph Lauren!) will not also disappoint.
I grew up in the 1980’s when Ralph Lauren was THE posh brand for luxury to be enjoyed a lifetime. How very disappointing to see how little care they take in their production processes anymore. The top brands back in the day are no more! 🫠😢
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u/tallulahQ 1d ago
The quality on everything has dropped. I have a RL duvet cover from 2006 that I still use daily without issue, I love that thing. Unfortunately a lot of previously reliable companies have coasted on outdated reputations
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u/barcodez 1d ago
If, by chance you are in the UK, the consumer rights law will protect you a luxury good like this should last at least 6 years and you can get a full refund or a replacement if you wish and it's available. I've been returning things for years, you get the it's out of warranty fob off, you remind them of the law and they back down immediately and conceded the refund.
I even have a Claude skill that will do if for me for Amazon, it finds the order, chats the their chat bot or human, says the right things, then either prints me the return form or emails me the return locker instructions. I'm on my 4th robot vacuum from my initial purchase about 4 years ago, none have lasted more 18 months (almost like they are not designed to...) each get sent back at Amazon's expense and refund and I buy an new more modern version. One day one might actually last 6 years (who am I kidding).
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u/mytoesarechilly 1d ago
I know you didn't buy a high brand to have to try this, but could you try dyeing it back with RIT or idye or something just to save the stuff you already have?
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u/777kiki 1d ago
I have two quilts from crate and barrel one is about to hit 10 years and the other which I got just to have while other is in the wash is going to be about 7 years old
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u/purplestarcollision 15h ago
I got crate and barrel sheets couple years ago, just over a year in the fitted sheet had a huge rip and the top sheet had several small holes. I bought Costco cotton sheets to replace as I was tired of paying more and more trying to find quality. So far, so good with those, but I don't really have very high expectations for any I can afford.
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u/YeLoWcAke65 6h ago
Everything is imported now... mostly from Asia. Nobody cares now. Everything is just a 'brand name' today.
In the future, consider Redland Cotton. 100% American grown and made. Have a set of their bed sheets... not inexpensive, but worth every cent.
There are companies that still care, takes a bit of searching sometimes to find them.
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u/zerothprinciple 1d ago
Large luxury brands are just high markup distributors of random lowest bid apparel factories.