Howies Gear

they have a fantastic level of after sale care for when your board's edges fall off or the topsheet delaminates, or your £400 jacket falls apart at the seams, but my point is that if they were any good in the first place that wouldn't happen.

The world would be a very boring place if it were perfect, which is what you are demanding in your products. I think there is always a chance in any product there is some catatrosphic flaw which will lead to failure, which is why warantees are offered. If such flaws are endemic then point at the company and say its shit. That is what a company's rep is built upon at the end of the day, which translates into customer confidence and sales. Howies certainly don't have that reputation, and while there have been mutterings that quality has suffered under the ownership of Timberland, I think that is more down to a suspicion of increased commercialism (from the reputation of the Brand that now owns it) than actual real degradation of quality. Call it the placebo effect. I doubt much of their clobber gets returned, but I also doubt there are companies out there that have such complete faith in their product they refuse to have it returned (or are allowed to by law). Would be an interesting marketing tool though.

I believe Howies still operate with incredible degrees of integrity and they are a brand I'll always look to buy from.

Good luck on the new Bristol store Howies peeps. Next time I'm down there I'll look in (and after this speech, I expect free stuff)

Edit: Oh and the catalogue is always a damn good read