First, do you see anything wrong here?…
Right, the pants are different lengths. Despite what it may look like in the photo they are lined up evenly at the top. Let me explain…
When I first saw the following video on Bombproof $20 Outdoor/Tactical Pants! from Chris at PreparedMind101 I was excited! So excited, in fact, I went online to LAPoliceGear.com and purchased two pair of these operator/tactical pants (in different colors). Of course, that was before we went super broke a few weeks back. 😉 Here’s the video so you understand my excitement…
Second, I ordered two pair to save on shipping and they arrived in good time. Moreover, the pants looked to be in good shape. There was only one problem: one pair was significantly longer than the other pair… by at least two to three inches. And, since I’m short, I noticed!
In my ever-growing wisdom, I’ve learned to check tags before aimlessly assuming things are correct and ripping them off. To my amazement, the tags on both pair of pants were correct: 34/30… yes, I’m short and getting fatter too. Let’s not go there.
Obviously, the pants did not match the tags. Just to be sure I wasn’t crazy, I got out a tape measure and measured the inseams of both pairs. The ones that fit correctly had a 29-30″ inseam (depends on whether you stretch the pants or not) whereas the other pants that were too long had about a 32″ inseam. Certainly, the pants that were too long did not match the tags.
No big deal, I figured. Stuff happens.
My return/exchange experience…
I went to their return policy and noted that in order to get an exchange I had to both return the original pair of pants at my own expense AND order a new pair of pants also paying for shipping. I don’t know about you but by my math that means I’m paying shipping three times for the same pair of pants!
As I felt this was a bit unfair I contacted them via chat and pointed out my concern. Long story short, because I was a first time customer she said that they would refund the shipping charges on the replacement pair of pants after I ordered them, which they did. Yes, this was a bit of hassle but it worked out ok. Too bad they don’t point this out in their policy. In actuality, they mention it’s the exact opposite: they don’t refund shipping on the original item. Of course, I’m not sure what the process is now that I’m a return customer because things aren’t right with the exchanged pair of pants either!
The new pair of pants…
Just to be sure it wasn’t a problem with the colors I originally choose, I opted to order another pair of 34/30 pants in a different color. When the pants arrived I actually set them aside for a week or so because I figured they were correct. Well, the picture above is actually of the exchanged pair of pants alongside the original pair of pants that do fit correctly. Again, the tags were correct and the inseam measured long on the replacement pants.
To be fair, the shorter pants had been washed once so maybe they shrunk just a bit but the longer pants are still too long and it’s quite noticeable when I put them on.
This, as you might suspect, has me quite disappointed and a bit unhappy. So disappointed, in fact, that I haven’t even bothered to request an exchange or to return them. After yet more shipping charges I’m not sure it’s even worth the hassle. I might just get somebody to take them up.
The pants that fit right also have a problem…
Now, these operator/tactical pants did seem like a very good deal at a good price… if you can get pants that actually fit. Anyway, I had a chance to wear them over the weekend and noticed something peculiar: one half of the zipper started to pull away from the seams! This began to leave a noticeable hole.
I thought, this can’t be right! But just to be sure I wasn’t wrong I looked at the replacement pair of pants (the ones that are too long) and the zipper is as I would have expected… no holes and the zipper was sewn well.
So, now I’m super unhappy. I have one pair of pants that fit but the zipper is coming undone after a single use, whereas the other pair of pants are too long. What a bummer.
As for any of their other products, I haven’t a clue. The pants, however, aren’t living up to my expectations. Buyer beware.
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