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
Mike A
I’ve owned my Grip6 belt for just over 3 years (as of this review). It has not remotely failed me and I can’t imagine wearing another belt. In my opinion, it’s the perfect belt and it’s versatility is unrivaled. I’m proud to support this product and company and I fist bump anyone I come across that wears Grip6.
Joshua
This is why I chose to replace all my belts with a Grip6 belt. Could I have purchased cheaper belts? Yes, but I would not have received the same complements that I have received for my Grip6 belts and buckles. I wear business dress on a regular basis and these belts look terrific with my suits and dress pants. It’s awesome to have something so smartly designed crafted in the USA and to know that the people behind the product back it with a lifetime guarantee! I will continue to recommend these belts and supply my five sons with them.
Kevin
I am proud to have purchased a product that is of lasting quality and made in the USA. Article is spot on, wasn’t that long ago you could find all kinds of things made in the US, now it is a challenge. Thanks for for being environmentally conscious and keeping the homeland productive. Great philosophy and product. Happy to recommend to everyone.
Mike
I love my belt.
I’ve had it for a couple of months. The price seems fair – even fairer after reading this.It looks as good as the day I first got it.
I wish I’d bought more. As I don’t live in the States and can’t justify the international postage, I’ll have to wait until a friend visits. Of course I don’t need another belt; I love the look of the wooden buckles though.
Henry Lim
Impressive design, simple yet effective, now i dont need to buy costly branded belts anymore (they dont feel as comfy anyway)…. plan to add more to my collection of 3.
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