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
Julie Duncan
Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I don’t think $35 is a high price to pay for the quality one is getting with this belt. You will pay around $20 for a crappy “leather” belt at Wal*Mart or other store (made overseas), and it MIGHT last a year or two. Also, I didn’t notice any typos or grammatical errors on your website, which is impressive. Will be ordering a belt soon. Thank you for offering a rare thing – quality with integrity.
Tommy
I’ve spent $35 and more on belts that are far inferior to Grip6 for both quality and style. I own two Grip6 belts and plan to buy them when needed from here on out. The only reason I ever wear an old school belt is when I know I’m going to be getting filthy in the garage.
Bradley
I have always been a firm believer in you get what you pay for. I would much rather pay 35$ for a belt that works and will last the test of time than to pay 10$ for a belt at Walmart that doesn’t do a good job holding my pants up and that I will have to replace in 6 months. The fact that they are made in America and help to keep food on the table of American families is well worth the 35 dollars imo. Keep up the good work Grip6!
John Covele
If this belt was the same as another $15 belt with equal quality, then I would expect to pay – well around $15. Maybe $20 because of the Made In USA part. This is NOT just a “piece of metal and nylon”. There is NOT another belt that I know of at ANY price that is: equal quality, made in USA, interchangeable belts/buckles, custom engrave-able options, thin and strong, infinitely adjustable with no flap sticking out, etc. Money is worth spending when you are getting something unique that will also last, and you can feel good about it for the other reasons stated in this article.
Ken Brown
I’m a long time customer. Dont wear anything else. Love every one of my belts, especially the three custom buckles I have. Just waiting for some bright straps to buy more. Just happened on a light blue one you have in one of your ads and after asking found that some are still available, so I ordered one. Would like some colors to match the buckles, especially orange.
Very happy customer. Well worth the price!!
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