STORE WARS: Bonobos vs. Thrift Stores
Starting March 13th and running through April 2nd, Dappered.com is hosting a bracket based tournament with the purpose of eventually crowning the all around Affordable Men’s Style Retail Champ for 2012. For a full introduction see this post. The bracket on the right will be updated as the tournament progresses. Click on it for the full size. Make a case for your preferred competitor in the comments section, but don’t forget to vote at the bottom of each match up. On with today’s showdown:
Strengths: Customer service. Unparalleled, unheard of, and some might argue, unnecessary levels of customer service. Real life people (the Ninjas) on the other end of the phone who are knowledgeable and ready and willing to help. Wildly fast shipping. Return policy that allows you to return your purchase, whenever, for any reason (like if I gain 45 pounds in early 2015 and I want to return my crocodandies?) An incredible social media presence. A clean looking website. A unique fit for their chinos that some swear by. Made in America, slim fit, oxford cloth button downs. Creativity both in product and the marketing of their product. Smart and fun. Was screaming along to be a #1 seed this year until…
Weaknesses: Their prices. And this is a recent switch. Codes and deals have dried up, and as awesome as the Bonobos experience is, not everyone wants or has the funds to pay $90 for a pair of pants. Their website has also been an Achilles heel. It’s crashed and burned like a NASCAR jet dryer during some pretty inopportune times. That, and unlike their old website, the new one doesn’t show you what sizes are available until you pull down a menu and select what you’d like. Kinda annoying.
Strengths: Well, it’s kinda hard to beat the prices. Shopping at thrift stores can almost feel sporting. It’s a bit of a hunt. A good clean addiction for some, and those same some are usually really, really good at thrifting. One of the last outposts to find high quality, made in the USA stuff at a price that’s (more than) affordable.
Weaknesses: The inconsistent, manic nature of thrifting. Can really depend on where you live and what types of thrift stores you have access to. The risk is you turn into the sartorial version of a stubborn, weekend hacker on the golf course. All it takes is one great outing, and you then spend the next few months trying to replicate that one awesome trip to no avail. Or, you’re really good at it, know where to look, and are surrounded by solid inventory, and you make out like a champ.
Your votes determine who goes on to the next round. Cast your ballot below. Voting ends at midnight ET.
UPDATE: Thrift Stores prove a #5 seed wasn’t too generous, as they pull the first upset of the tournament.
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Store Wars: Bonobos vs. Thrift Stores
- Bonobos (44%, 557 Votes)
- Thrift Stores (58%, 736 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,262
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Eh. Never found anything in a thrift stores (we don’t have a lot of these around here) and Bonobos is too expensive. I don’t know…
I will always be loyal to local thrift stores. About a month ago I came home with a three piece tweed suit in shockingly great condition and an antique desk all for $50. The suit needs the services of a good tailor and the desk needs to be refinished but neither are difficult tasks to complete.
I’m torn… On one hand I love my Bonobos pants, on the other they aren’t making it as easy to get it cheap as they used to.
On one hand I love thrifting and I’ve found lots of great stuff there… On the other I’d rather the rest of you stick with regular stores and don’t compete to find the good stuff 🙂
Went with thrift stores for the value, but, uhhh… yeah… You’ll never find anything good so stay home.
Its the thrill of the hunt for me. Thrift is hard to beat. Although, at Bonobos, you know you’re getting quality. Sizing is another issue, but definitely quality. I went with thrift. Close matchup so far though.
In the spirit of half off Wednesdays at the Salvation army, thrift store wins.
bonobos for their ridiculous customer service… and nice wool pants
Thrifting ALL THE WAY
Customer service goes a long way. Bonobos
I’m voting for Bonobos for two reasons:
1. I’m willing to drop 80-90 bucks on a pair of pants that fit me perfectly when I’m not built like someone who can seamlessly fit into an off-the-rack item.
2. Their pants are made in my city. I’m all about helping to foster the return of the Great American textile industry.
Bonobos for sizing availability! You have to be a small and thin man to regularly luck out at thrift stores.
1. Bonobos has some unique stuff you’re unlikely to find in any thrift store.
2. Gotta think of what your time is worth. I’m not gonna spend $100 worth of my weekend to save $50 on pants.
Thrift stores it is. I haven’t found it in my heart to spend that much on a pair of pants yet, so I will gladly find things like the $5 cashmere blazer that I’m wearing right now from Goodwill!
Huh. It won’t let me vote, and I tried 2 different browsers. I can try it at home, but it just says 355 votes with 181 for thrift stores. A result I’m satisfied with, of course.
Really?! Thrift stores winning??
Joke.
My local community thrift store has 50% specials twice a month and “Spin the Wheel of Savings” every Wednesday with chances to get 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% off your total purchase. Bonobos’ fancy pants can’t beat that with a stick.
lol
I TRIED being a Bonobos customer on several occasions and each time I clicked away dissapointedly. Awful experience, awful company. You’ll find better product and better fit in thrift stores.
Just bought a new pair of shorts, a rugby and knockaround blazer from the salvation army for 10 bucks. All brand name and quality material. You cannot beat that.
I’ve never found anything worth buying from Bonobos. Even during their big sales, all the good stuff in my size was totally gone. And they certainly don’t make it easy – last I checked, sorting by size availability was still impossible.
Thrift stores all the way, baby.
I guess I was too distracted by how awesome I look in my $8 cashmere blazer, $6 NWT J.Crew chinos, and $10 Allen Edmonds to get the joke.
Gotta go with Thrifting. Yes, you can strike out multiple times. But when it pays off with a slim fit 3-piece suit ($14), Express Producer pants ($5), and Hickey Freeman dress shirt ($6) in one shot, it more than makes up for the off days.
This is the hardest match-up for sure! They are both so good, but so different. This is going to be so hard to pick.
If you’re at work, and someone else has voted in your building, there’s a chance the system is recognizing you and that other person as one in the same. Give it a shot at home later on?
(And two readers in ONE building? Hope that thing is built safely. Any kind of accident and we could lose 1/3 or our readership.)
I’m going with the thrift stores. Inconsistancy aside, I actually enjoy the hunting around…makes it that much better when you find items that are worth while. Bonobos is still great though! 😀
Worked from my phone. Probably an IP thing.
Really, a third? Did you get a whole bunch of new readers? 😉 As if I weren’t already compulsively refreshing Threads and reading the new .com posts before getting out of bed, now I’m glued to the Store Wars battle. Yeah, Joe. You’re doing something right, in case you need me to speak to your Dappered supervisor on behalf of you.
“all the good stuff in my size was totally gone. And they certainly don’t make it easy – last I checked, sorting by size availability was still impossible.”
Hmm… sounds a lot like thrifting…
Voting for thrift stores. Sitting in my office wearing FL wool pants, BB shirt, and blazer. Total cost: under $30. And have been getting complements all morning. Priceless.
Woops, typo. RL pants, not FL.
Again this is a totally personal vote, at my height I’ve never found a single wearable item at a Thrift Store.
Joe you know exactly how I’m voting, especially because I’m wearing thrifted seersucker shorts from j. Crew.
Glad to see Thrift Stores leading. Goodwill/Salvation have the strength alone to pull it off, but if you factor in smaller, “national” shops like Plato’s Closet or Buffalo Exchange, Bonobos doesn’t stand a chance in my eyes.
I’m all for thrift stores, although it’s my wife who does most of the shopping. I’m sat here wearing a (real) pair of Prada jeans she picked up for 9 dollars. My closet is full of Ralph Lauren shirts all from thrift stores.
I’m a thrifty SOB4LIFE. My best find came about two months ago when I stumbled upon a killer pair of Allen Edmonds cap-toe oxfords for $8.99. One brown polish and they’re my new favorite pair of shoes.
Bonobos’ clothing is completely overrated. The customer service is absolutely first rate, but I only know that because how often I’ve had to return items.
I know we all have different preferences driven by our own tastes and body type, but if anyone else out there keeps seeing Bonobos held in high esteem and saying to yourself “I don’t get it,” I want you to know you’re not alone.
Honestly……. Im jealous.
I guess my issue with thrift stores is the fact that I never have the time. 90 hour work weeks limits my shopping time, which I would rather spend working out or relaxing.
95% of my shopping these days is either at Whole Foods or online.
Bonobos quality struggles at the low end (over priced) of their products. And finding anything on their website now in your size is a horrible experience. Thrift stores are undervalued by those with poor thrift options in their city or not enough time to filter through the weeds.
I do think this might be an unfair advantage to Thrift Stores primarily because you really need to include “Thrift Stores + A Good Tailor” vs. Bonobos.
All in all, I voted for Thrift Stores and expect them to have a landslide victory.
The thrift stores in my area all receive donations from the Department stores with tags still attached. I’ve walked in and obtained a Brooks Brothers suit for $10, a Burberry Sports coat for $5, and countless quality designer pants and shirts for $4, and I’m a hard size to fit. 20 inch neck 32 inch sleeve, 48 inch coat, 45 (now 38) inch waist with 28 inch inseam.
ddc
I think whether or not thrift stores are a good option depends strongly on your location – if it’s on your way home from work, you can stop in frequently and browse, knowing you’re not going to leave with something every time. If, on the other hand, it requires going out of your way (for me, having no car and living in a city means I’d have to spend over half an hour traveling to one), it is not worth it considering how difficult it can be to find good items.
Do explain — unless you were doing this during the post-Tgiving crash where their site went down for a while, I’m very surprised. Their customer service is simply the best, hands down, according to many here and elsewhere. Awful experience, but awful company seems like an overreach, as does finding “better product and better fit” in thrift stores, particularly since your first sentence implies you’ve never actually purchased something (i.e., been a customer).
For the purposes of this poll, thrift stores have to win — it’s a no-brainer. Much cheaper, can find good stuff, etc.
However, where I live (try Bonobos stuff on in person; thrift stores don’t really work here) and and my differing comfort with price-point (particularly when given good customer service), Bonobos wins personally.
I love Bonobos, but can’t justify paying full price for their stuff, so I voted for thrift stores, where I’ve found some great pieces for pennies. Although, I would like to exclude Salvation Army, since they hate us gays.
Except unlike Bonobos, the thrift store doesn’t make me pay $100 for a pair of pants.
My first good blazer was from Goodwill and I only paid six bucks for it.
That thing’s been with me through earthquakes in Tokyo (yes, the one from last March), job interviews, first dates and a ton of other awesome experiences. I have to go with thrift stores on this one.
Just picked up a wool and cashmere Zegna sport coat for $9.
Make nice with some folks in the thrift stores and you will get great customer service, maybe even a phone call to let you know when new shipments come in.
“Did you get a whole bunch of new readers?” Well played Nicholas. Well played… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxAKFlpdcfc
I’d actually disagree with your first point there. Bonobos has some unique things, but the thrift store could literally have anything. Even things from Bonobos. *Mind blown*
Time is definitely money. BUT, being a college student, my time isn’t worth much actual cash. I make as much money as i can and I thrift in my spare time. Also, I enjoy the act of thrifting. I realize this isn’t for everyone, but I don’t go solely to save money. As Joe said above, it’s about the sport.
I absolutely love thrift stores. You may go 5 or 6 times and find nothing, but, that 7th time. Man, that last time will be magic. Last week I pickup up some very stylish brown slip on loafers, a beautiful pair of light brown monk straps, and a grey slim fit blazer. Total: $20
More like a golf clap, tops. =D
Hmm all this love for thrift stores i might have to check one out sometime
In honor of this thread, I stopped by my local thrift store yesterday and ended up picking up a couple of banana republic shirts for $4 each. Thrift stores all the way.
If someone gives Bonobos to a thirft store instead of sending it back under their insane return policy.. something is wrong, lol.
Thrift stores take this one by far. It may be a unique experience, but after starting to read a certain style blog, I opted for a cheap, $4 blazer from a thrift store to see if i liked wearing them. I put it on a week later, and check in the pockets, and find $2000 in neatly folded $100 bills. The Ninjas may be awesome, but theyre not THAT great.
I would say thrift stores all the way. Oddly enough, I am a hard size to fit, and I have much better luck finding second hand custom clothing than buying off the rack sizes, so thrift it is.