The Cost of Quality.
At $35, some may consider our belts to be expensive. Rather than expecting our customers to accept that, we are going to get into the nitty-gritty and explain what goes into our belt pricing.
Before we jump into this head first, we want to share some interesting statistics.
- 70% of the clothing Americans bought in 1980 was made in the United States, whereas now it's about 2 percent. (In 1960 98% of our clothing was made in the U.S.)
- In 1960 10% of an average American's gross income went towards clothes, in 2017 that number was down to 3%.
- In 2016 the labor cost to manufacture a pair of jeans in Bangladesh was $1.80/hr. In America, it was $25.00/hr.
First things first, our goal is to make quality products that will last a lifetime. We get tired of hearing the phrase "they don't make things like they used to!" Our belt is designed to withstand everyday rigors for up to 30 years. We accomplish this by using the highest quality materials, entirely sourced from the USA.
At GRIP6 we have an amazing team of engineers that design and build a lot of the machines that make our belts. A key component of making a product that is designed to last 30 years is running exhaustive quality control checks on all of our products. Nothing leaves our shop without being individually checked for any faults, or defects.
It's challenging to make a product that will last a lifetime without being able to oversee its production. That's why we decided to make our belts in the USA. Not only are we able to maintain high production standards, but we are able to give back to the employees that make our products. We're a small business, but that doesn't mean we don't take care of our own. We pay competitive wages, offer health and dental insurance, and we are constantly ensuring that they have a safe work environment.
Speaking of the environment, we do all we can to utilize as much post-consumer product as possible. That includes everything from recycled paper packaging to soy-based inks for our dealer catalogs. There isn't a governing body that requires us to meet these standards. We set them ourselves and we do them because it's the right thing to do. They cost a little more money than using virgin materials but the long-term costs are too significant to ignore.
Every product at GRIP6 is backed by an unlimited lifetime guarantee. We refer to this is our A3 Guarandamntee. The A3 stands for Any Time, Any Reason, Any Condition. Whether you just don't like it or it was shredded while you were fighting off a bear (looking at you Leonardo DiCaprio) we'll take it back like a prodigal son.
Moral of the story?
Our craftsmanship is on trial with every belt we produce. We are responsible for making sure your belt works better and lasts longer than any other belt you've worn, and we do everything we can to ensure it will.
When you buy one of our belts you're not getting just a belt. You are getting our word that we have done everything we can to make this the finest, most functional belt you have ever owned. You are getting a promise from us that if your belt ever does fail, we will replace it, no questions asked. You are getting hours of research, design, and testing, along with our commitment that we will continue to responsibly produce quality products, right here in our own backyard.
96 comments
Gary Klimeck
Day 3 with my new Grip6 and and I convinced my Dad to buy one too.
I was wearing a 511 Tactical but then I saw the Grip6.
Zippo
I’ve been a huge supporter and aficionado of Grip6 products for well over a year. I’ve reviewed the belts, abused the belts and put them to the test. They are as claimed folks. They’re of the highest quality materials and workmanship, they flat out work, they are light weight, durable, stylish and they employ a once lost pride in MADE IN THE U.S.A.! This, to me, is very important. Having become a victim of NAFTA, and watching literally MILLIONS of jobs go over seas and beyond our borders, I would pay even more for these belts than the fine folks at Grip6 are asking of their lifetime warrantied belts and accessories. In closing….If you want to try this belt at a discount, you can use my personal Discount Code: ZIPPO20 for 20% off your order (Sale Items and Custom Buckles are not eligible for the discount) This IS the last belt you’ll ever buy. How do you put a price on something that’s built and designed to last a lifetime and that supports manufacturing in the USA? You can’t! Cheers! Zip~
Mike Oser
I was a manufacturers sales rep to the home furnishings industry! I watched all of my customers move business off shore. Hope we start slapping tariffs on imports! I own several of your belts! Hope u continue to mfg in USA!
Bill Grace
Interested in a belt
Dj
Love the belts but if you had one about 1/2 inch wider for my work pants it would be even better. Thanks!
Kevin
My favorite belts. So thin you don’t even know it’s there. So strong you don’t have to think about whether it will do its job.
Mikal
Belts are too thin, buckles are great
Mike
I’ve had a Grip6 belt for almost a year. I love it! As a retired Military guy, I can attest to this belt being the best I’ve ever owned. In fact they should become a mil std. issue! It will be the last belt I will ever need and started adding buckles for different occasions. Well done Grip6! Hooya!
David Gasper
At $35.00 it is a bargain for a belt that will last!
Greg Haltom
I’ve had my Grip6 Belt for about a week. I love it, and will be ordering more.
Noel T
Thanks for explaining and I an in. Made in the USA is way to go!
Derek
I never thought $35 was all that much… But I’ve had mine for some time now and I still absolutely love it. It’s the only belt I wear anymore. Great product!
Albert Escamilla
Well worth the $35 and then some.
Pedro Jaime
I don’t really care about the reasons you have to make your product “expensive”, we are in the USA and have the choice of buying or not. What makes a difference, is that you take your time to explain for it. And the results are: YES, I AM GOING TO ORDER MINE. Thank you.
Todd Cook
The belts and buckles are the best and love that they are interchangeable. I have have no issue with the pricing anf supporting USA. Lastly they work, never slip, they are best.
Timothy Vaughn
Worth every penny. Gladly pay a little extra for quality and made in America.
Tim
Love the idea and would love to use one, but shipping etc for overseas makes it even more expensive. Are there any plans to expand into the UK market?
Chris Haile
I have seven of your belts and buckles. They are a quality item and are worth every penny. So long to Leather belts If you don’t have a Grop6 product, why not? Too pricy you say? Stay out of Starbucks for a bit and save up a few scheckles and get one of these belts. You won’t be disappointed!
FRank
Do you make a buckle with the Vietnam Sevice Ribbon ?
Dan Carroll
I love your belts. I love your ethics even more. Your business is a throwback. Reminds me of an incident years ago when LL Bean still was solely a Maine businesss. My dad’s colleagues gave their retiring boss a gift certificate to get a fishing canoe. At a return visit to the store months later to buy fishing gear, he mentioned to a salesperson that he was having some stability issues with his LLBean canoe. That salesperson said let’s take a look. Went to the parking lot to see the canoe and said: “We sold you the wrong canoe.” He proceeded to have this scratched up canoe replaced with a brand new canoe of a different model. A3 at its extreme. A customer for life. That’s the dedication and ethics that Grip6 is trying to emulate. In my mind you a successfully doing that. Congratulations on your success. I hope 2018 is a great year for Grip6 and it’s employees.
Chheng Pech
My name is Chheng Pech and I am a diesel mechanic at Swift Transportations. I often get asked by family and friends why I buy tools from a distributor that charges so much for their tools, such as SnapOn, Mac or Matco tools? Very much like the Grip6 belt for one they are made in U.S. of A. From experience, these tools are more durable, less likely to fail, made from higher grade of materials than those tools that are made in other countries like China, Japan, Mexico, etc. Also the warranty on these expensive tools are amazing, no hassle, fuss or questions for free defect no matter the cause. My Grip6 belt have all these qualities and attributes of a well built, precise tool. I have no doubt that if my belt should fail from any defect, that it will be replace with no questions asked. I trust my Grip6 belt to perform flawlessly for many years. I trust the people who have created, designed and make these belts due to my experience of wearing my belt everyday. The quality of the Grip6 belts and the material used to make the belts is unsurpassed! $35 for a belt that lasts forever and has a lifetime warranty is “not” expensive! So worth every penny!
Alexis
I got mine with Kickstarter, so two years ago roughly? Still in great shape. The belt has molded a little to the shape of my body, but no fraying issues, still looks clean and held up to a variety of different pants. Buckle itself has a little wear, but nothing obvious. Certainly no structural damage on either the belt or buckle.
I also have metal allergies, notably nickel, and haven’t run into any issues like I do other belts.
Can’t say enough good things.
Landon Williams
I like that you made this blog. I took the time to read and understand. But prior to reading it, over the past two years, I purchased 5 belts and buckles, a business pack, and I won one through one of your promotions. I will continue to support Grip6. I will continue to give the belts as gifts. I won’t ask questions. I love the product, the history, the Vision. By the way are you hiring?
Mark
A friend of mine recommended the belt. In the tight knit community we function in, we take recommendations seriously and support USA made items. The price point for the quality and a literally forever belt is well worth it. The response from ‘Dave’ on 3 Jan, must have been written after sniffing glue and eating crayons. These belts are not only great quality, but made by good people in the USA! Keep up the good work Grip6!
E T Bradley
I own 4 of these belts and have given another one to a friend. The best ideas are usually head slapping simple, and this belt is one of them. I wish i owned a piece of this company.
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