# Companies you're loyal to that haven't/rarely let you down. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150 "2014-06-19T15:28:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/21 "2014-06-19T17:39:09Z")
Chevy trucks. I’m pretty meh about the rest of GM’s output, but have a quarter million miles on the current one and it doesn’t hold the record of the five that I’ve owned. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/22 "2014-06-19T18:00:21Z")
Panasonic. In my experience their electronics may not be the very flashiest or most feature rich, but they’re extremely solid and well designed. I’ve had everything from 1980s era 9-pin Panasonic dot matrix printers and Technics tape decks (a Panasonic brand) up through a 50" full 1080p plasma televsion that I got in 2010, with some other stuff thrown in there, and every one has worked as advertised, and been durable and reliable. Ruger is a solid gun manufacturer as well- it’s basically an unwritten guarantee that their guns will work properly and be reliable as well as be value priced. They may not be sexy, and they may be a bit on the big and heavy side, but if I actually had to be in a gunfight, I’d be confident that a Ruger would fire, be reasonably accurate and function properly. Can’t say that about all guns, and and certainly not ones in their price range. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/23 "2014-06-19T18:06:09Z")
Discount Tire. If there’s one near you in the US, you should be patronizing them. Never lets me down. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/24 "2014-06-19T18:32:11Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > Virgin Mobile. > > I can’t say enough nice things about them. Ditto from me on this one. I really like their business model, it makes so much more sense to me than what most other cell providers do. I’m going to mention _Angie’s List_. Every service provider I have found through Angie’s List has been first-rate. They may not give you the lowest price out there, but the work is always solid, and that’s worth a lot to me. Just the confidence that this gives me when I’m looking at hiring a plumber or electrician is worth the annual fee that Angie’s List charges. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/25 "2014-06-19T18:36:25Z")
Doc Martin’s. Only shoes that can last at least a year for me. Good return policy when my SO needed a different shoe. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/26 "2014-06-19T18:43:51Z")
Charles Schwab American Express ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/27 "2014-06-19T18:46:01Z")
Land’s End. They are not fucking around with that “satisfaction guaranteed” thing. I had a great heating blanket - worked great, you could barely feel the wires, got really warm, two different zones, etc. Well, one day it died. I’d had it a good 8 or 9 years, but I figured, hey, I’ll call them just in case - maybe I can get a replacement controller if that’s the problem, or, I dunno. It says “satisfaction guaranteed”, right? I’d bought the thing long enough ago that they had no record of my purchase. _They gave me a full refund anyway_. I figured it wasn’t going to be much, since they said they’d have to give me the last price they sold it for - I was even worried that I’d spent more sending it back to them then I’d get. $290, baby. For a blanket _they had no evidence I bought from them_. I suppose it was cheap for them for the good publicity and keeping me as a lifetime customer, which they certainly did. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/28 "2014-06-19T19:03:26Z")
Ford. My dad worked for them, sure, but in all of the new and used Fords my family of 4 have gotten since the 80s, all of them have been great cars. Except one, the Escort I had just had a shit transmission. But the Aerostar, the Tauruses, the 500, the Focus and especially the Escape have been long-lived gems. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/29 "2014-06-19T19:17:43Z")
\*\*Paper-Mate \*\*ball point pens. The ten-packs cost a little more than Bics, but they are greatly superior. Really cheap store-brands hardly work at all, are a waste of money. When \*\*Personna \*\*razors went out of business, I had to buy a gross of them from an online source that still had them. Much better than Giletteror any of the others. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/30 "2014-06-19T19:43:37Z")
REI Chaco Sandals ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/31 "2014-06-19T19:51:52Z")
Zenni Optical – Bought many a pair of glasses from them, for both me and my husband, and have been thrilled with their products and service every time. Very affordable, professional and prompt. Also great with handling problems. Aldi – Love their prices, selection and business model. I wish we had one where we live. They’re so amazing that we seek them out whenever we must travel out of town for doctor’s visits. AAA+ ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/32 "2014-06-19T19:53:21Z")
Toyota since 1980 IBM \> Lenovo laptops Sony since 1970’s (TV) ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/33 "2014-06-19T20:07:42Z")
Amazon - since the beginning Overstock - never disappointed with any purchase Verizon - over 10 years Expedia - tried another company once, with disastrous results (stupid gnome and his fine print) Bruce’s Sweet Potato Pancake Mix - haven’t used any other mix for 10+ years Hostess - my go-to comfort food since childhood, still the same even after the change of ownership Wells Fargo - one branch was a disappointment, but all others and their online service have been stellar. Customer for over 20 years. [SFGate.com](http://SFGate.com) - just realized I’ve been reading it for 15+ years. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/34 "2014-06-19T20:13:54Z")
**Dunder Mifflin.** When I ordered my usual twenty-four pound cream letter stock, there was a watermark of two cartoon animals making love on the paper. I called and a nice gentleman assured me that next shipment I would be getting would be free, and that the cartoon depicting the two animals was highly inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/35 "2014-06-19T20:16:46Z")
SAS (San Antonio Shoe Company) shoes. They last forever and are always comfortable. Plus, they’re made in the USA! Nordstrom’s. Good service, good clothes, no questions asked refund/return policy. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/36 "2014-06-19T21:13:30Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Land’s End. > > \ > > $290, baby. For a blanket _they had no evidence I bought from them_. > > I suppose it was cheap for them for the good publicity and keeping me as a lifetime customer, which they certainly did. Was that before or after Sears bought them? I noticed a distinct difference in materials quality in some of their shirts after the Sears purchase. And I agree with whoever suggested Discount Tire. They’re really the standard by which all tire places should be judged. Excellent service and they stand behind the tires they sell. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/37 "2014-06-19T21:34:19Z")
A couple more: - Amazon (me too) since they were only/mostly books - Newegg - Crutchfield (best customer service ever) - Levi’s 401 button fly, shrink-to-fit, straight leg, plain old pants, since 1968 - AAA auto insurance since 1982 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/38 "2014-06-19T21:46:21Z")
Toyota and Panasonic have both been mentioned, so I’ll just “second” them. Extreme reliability. Also, T-Mobile. I’ve been with them since before they were T-Mobile (they were called Voicestream around here), and they never cease to give me MORE services every year for LESS money. The latest addition: they just sent me a note saying, “we’re adding free worldwide data roaming to your plan, no charge.” Excellent customer service, too. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/39 "2014-06-19T22:10:31Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Was that before or after Sears bought them? I noticed a distinct difference in materials quality in some of their shirts after the Sears purchase. > > And I agree with whoever suggested Discount Tire. They’re really the standard by which all tire places should be judged. Excellent service and they stand behind the tires they sell. I did notice that they weren’t quiiiiite as nice in quality after Sears bought them. However, I believe they’ve been spun off again. But this was just a few months ago. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150/40 "2014-06-19T22:18:26Z")
Levi’s - yes the quality is not what it used to be, it’s still the best Microcenter - fair pricing, honest advice Maglite - Over the last 25 years I’ve had multiple relationships, 3 kids, 3 homes, 3 cats, 2 dogs, 5 jobs, and ONE Maglite [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-youre-loyal-to-that-havent-rarely-let-you-down/691150.md?page=3)