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
Katherine
I bought (1) single belt for my boyfriend for Christmas. Products made in the USA are very important to him. I bought it knowing it was more expensive than other belts but it was a gift after all and it “checked the boxes” for the recipient. Fast forward to Christmas. He LOVED the belt. He loved the style, design, color AND that it was made in the USA. He was SO happy with the product that I have since bought a second one and I am having a hard time holding on to it until Valentine’s Day. I suspect he will be receiving a “just because” gift this weekend.
Jose
I bought my first grip6 belt over 1 year ago. I’ve used it 5 days a week since and it still looks like new. I like this product so much I bought 2 more buckles and 2 more belts since. $35 for a belt that will last 30 years with the guarantee that it has is well worth it. $3.5 a year.
Velvet
PLEASE keep up the great work! Keep the quality, keep taking care of your own, and keep it in the USA!
I think they are very fairly priced and I’m happy to pay for what will last! There’s too much cheap junk out there these days.
Great job guys. ?
Ron Lamb
I have never been more pleased about a product that I have purchased in the last decade. The belt is terrific looking but more than that has worked perfectly since I first received it. I have purchased one for my son this Christmas and can’t wait for his view as well. I am anxious to reach out to Grips soon to ask about producing a custom logo that I think will be fun to share with other family members and friends. I am happy to endorse and to let you know how great it is that a company and its leadership still care about every facet of the process. Thanks for taking the time share your story but even more for allowing us to say thank you so much. All the very best from Lake Forest, IL Ron
Mike
What a superior product. I have had my belts for over a year and could not be happier. I have started buying these belts for my son, because I know that the quality of these belts wil last him a lifetime. Not to mention as he grows the belt will be able to adjust with him.
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