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
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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