Anyone notice quality control problems in Chinese made linens?

[aquart]

My mom has been buying bed in a bag sets, one after another and every damn one has had to go back because they are so horribly, ineptly, careless sewn. One set lasted a whole three weeks before coming apart at the seams.

Are we the only ones experiencing this shoddiness? Are there places to go where the quality is better?

[Savannah_H]

1. reply

They smell like toxic chemicals.

[babylonsister]

2. I hear the checkers are good. nt

[physioex]

3. No....Pretty much everything is "Made in China"...

And you are right the quality is terrible.....

[Tyo]

4. Bed in a bag?

Try spending a little more and reading the lables. Bed in a bag is pretty much by definition garbage. It's not so much made in China as getting what you pay for. And believe me I'm the first to wonder why big pieces of cotton cloth should cost so much but that's the way it is.

[aquart]

12. So, $160 is the right price for coming apart at the seams?

And any fool, like my mother (you did get this is my mother we're talking about?), who buys a coordinated set of linens should expect the stitching to be basically worthless?

How nice to live a life where paying more is the easy choice.

[Tyo]

40. Sooo

you spend $160 and get something that falls apart right away or you spend $250 or $300 and you've got something that will last you for a few years. Which makes the most sense? It's not the easy choice, but what's the alternative? Like I say, I have no idea why you can't get good sheets for $100, much less $160 but there you are.

Google sheets and you should be able to track down some of places that will give you a good product at a reasonable price and maybe even one made in USA. That's what I'm going to do next time. I don't like the $250-$300 sheet thing any more than you do. I think our problem is letting the big chains take crap and mark it up and pass it on to us. We need to rediscover the concept of serious shopping rather than just heading down to the mall or the local discount store and taking what they choose to sell us.

[Eurobabe]

13. Kind of like bathing suits

esp. bikinis (which I gave up a LONG time ago anyhow) but these little triangles cost upwards of 80USD.

They are ALL made overseas. It's insanity.

[tabasco]

29. (which I gave up a LONG time ago anyhow)

:cry:

[Eurobabe]

34. yeah

I wore them BC (before children) but not after, my kids killed my skin!!

A sleek black one piece makes it for me. :hi:

I leave the butt floss to my daughters. LOL. They look great! ;)

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

5. I found a great set of sheets of Egyptian Cotton made in Turkey

600 thread counts on QVC. Fair price too.

[aquart]

15. I do like Egyptian cotton. But...

The sheets are easy.Our problem is comforter, shams, bedskirt. We're looking for damask sheen, a bit formal...a bedroom from her secret dreams.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

21. The Company store has quality items made in Wisconsin.

I've purchased 2 down comforters and a down bathrobe that all wear like iron.
http://www.thecompanystore.com/story.asp
~~In the 1800s, our European ancestors settled along the scenic bluffs of western Wisconsin, on the banks of the Mississippi River. From their Scandinavian homeland they brought traditional skills and values passed down from generation to generation.
To endure the often brutal Wisconsin winters, they naturally began handcrafting the warm down comforters and featherbeds they knew so well in the "old country." This strong sense of tradition and craftsmanship was the foundation for what would become The Company Store.

In 1911, we opened our doors as The La Crosse Garment Company and, in the spirit of our ancestors, took pride in the products we made. For six generations we've been committed to making and bringing you the very best products. Guaranteed!

To this day, we craft natural cotton and large-cluster European down into the ultimate sleeping pleasure—right here in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This gives us total quality control. And, we still believe in putting quality, value and the customer first.

edit~ Looks like only the down products are still made state side. Heck.

[aquart]

28. Checked them out last night. Great stuff.

But not the shiny damask/brocade frou frou that will gladden my mother's heart.

[SoCalDem]

30. We still have some Wamsutta & Fieldcrest sheets from our wedding gifts

we got married March 1, 1970 ..

'nuff said :rofl:

[phillysuse]

6. Pay more and buy American! Don't buy Chinese made products

For example:

Dreamscape Bed In A Bag Set

Price: $79.99

Description

This handy bed-in-a-bag set offers you an instant room redo! Twin and XL Twin sets include one pillowcase and one sham; full and queen sets include 2 pillowcases and 2 shams. Polyester/cotton; comforters are reversible and have polyester fill. Washable. Made in USA.

[billyoc]

7. Of course not, why would I buy such things?

http://www.sealy.com/PillowsAndMore/pillowsAndMore.aspx

[WorseBeforeBetter]

8. I've had good luck with...

The Company Store and Pottery Barn linens. I admit to not checking labels though -- they're probably made in China!

[143tbone]

9. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING made in China

is really bad quality. And I say that because of personal
experience. I've had a product break down after one day. I
have had products made of questionable metals that do weird
things. On and on. I will no longer buy anything made in that
country and I will do my damnest (sp?)not to buy anything made
by a corporation. I've had it!

[aquart]

17. All businesses are incorporated.

We have to be for tax purposes.

And people who work their asses off 80 and 90 hours a week to make or sell the best product at the most competitive price should not be lumped in with this blind hatred of "corporations."

[DaveJ]

38. People usually mean publicly traded corporations

As opposed to private companies that are incorporated. The mom and pop business I'm working at is incorporated but we do not have to work to make anonymous shareholders rich, just our bosses.

[143tbone]

41. Right, I should have said

the big box stores. The big chains. You all know who I mean.

[sandnsea]

10. Ross Dress for Less

You can pick up good quality linens for very cheap, and they do last. I just bought Tommy Hilfiger twin sheets for $8.00, and a nice suede comforter set for $18. I've never had any problem with stuff from Ross. I have blouses that have lasted for over 5 years and still look great.

[MagickMuffin]

11. Unfortunately I purchased some sheets from Ross and had a bad experience

They're on my bed right now, so I checked the label and they were made in Spain.

When I first bought them I washed them to get the sizing out. I used cold water and a low dryer setting.
After I put them on my bed I noticed that they had a defect. The bottom sheet has tiny little bumps that are scratchy so now I turn them inside out, but the bumps are still there.

[piesRsquare]

14. That's why they were at Ross

The stuff at Ross has defects. Sometimes those defects are barely noticeable, but it goes to Ross to be sold at a lower price for the very reason that it has a defect somewhere.

[sandnsea]

18. Mostly they're close-outs

No defects at all.

[sandnsea]

19. That's unfortunate

I can remember that happening to sheets I bought 20 and 30 years ago. Pills on sheets is not unique to Ross or Spain.

[MagickMuffin]

22. Another problem I have with most of my sheets is fur from my cats

Weirdest thing I've ever seen. No matter what I do, I can't get the fur off. These are suppose to be 100% cotton. I never had the problem until just recently. Sometimes the fur balls up, sometimes it just clings to the entire ensemble.
I really get annoyed when it gets on my pillowcases. Sometimes the fur will get caught in my eyelashes, which in turn tries to get in my eyes. I hate when that happens.

I have paid good money for my bedding. I wish I got what I paid for, instead I got stuck with sub-par bedding.:cry:

[sandnsea]

24. It's very frustrating these days

You really never know for sure what you're going to get, regardless of brand name or not, that's for sure. That's one reason I shop Ross. I figure if I don't like an $8.00 set of sheets, oh well, better than not liking a $30 set. Even more for my own bed which is a queen size. You know sheets used to be a cotton/polyester blend. I think the polyester made it easier to brush stuff off the bed. Maybe that would help with the kitty problem. I have to keep my bedroom door closed or my dog gets up on my bed. The couch and chair in the spare room are not enough lounging space for her apparently. They're worse than kids that way.

[MagickMuffin]

25. Well I only bought that one set at Ross, can't remember the brand name

and they are 60% cotton and 40% polyester. They have a paisley design printed on them. Maybe that's the problem, because the print isn't woven into the fabric.:shrug:

My all cotton sheets I got at Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target. The set I got at BBB, the comforter is velour on top and cotton on the bottom. The top isn't a problem but the bottom attracts a lot of fur, which gets attracted to the sheets and pillowcases.
The comforter from Target is a black and white design on top with a solid black bottom, same thing happens with it. I've washed it at home and try to get as much off as I possibly can.

Perhaps I should gave Ross another try and only buy 100% cotton.

I've never had these problems with bedding before until just recently. Makes you wonder just what the hell is going on.

[notadmblnd]

43. sounds like my throw rugs tht turn into velcro once they're washed

I think it's because they're made from recycled plastic.

[SoCalDem]

31. Garage sales are great for finding older (good quality) sheets

When we first got a king sized bed, I sold all my queen sized (except for a few for the guest room) ..dirt cheap too..

I have also bought sheets from time to time at garage sales when people were moving.. I got a set of great sheets for about $5 (Cal-king size)

[Stephanie]

16. Anyone had kitchen matches from India EXPLODE on you?

The matches are so weak, the heads fly off as you are striking them or as you are shaking them out.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

20. I had one light up , break, and go right over my hairsprayed hair,

and drop behind me. Yikkes!

[KoKo]

26. In the last three years the last of American Makers of bedding have shut down

in the Southeast. There's nothing left except Fieldcrest..and I think they just closed down and have gone to China. We're flooded with low quality Chinese sheets, comforters and towels now. The dyes used on these products have a bad chemical smell and the cotton in the comforters (bed in a bag)is thin and badly woven.

I've seen really big dumping of Chinese clothing, bedding a shoes starting last year in the stores. I figure it's all our Debt the Chinese have been funding and they are now asking for payback since the Mortage Loans are imploding. They were funding our treasury to enable the Housing Bubble. It all ties together that shutting down the last textile mills in the South started when the Housing Bubble started reaching it's peak.

Don't know where you can find the kind of bedding your are looking for. The Company Store in Wisconsin that another poster mentioned sells great stuff .....but not Dream Bedroom, high fashion kind of look.
A few years ago the quality was better but it's going to get worse as the imports have to be made cheaper as our dollar goes down in value.

Good luck... I figure I'm stuck with my old sheets and comforters for many more years and will have to start patching them when they wear out...given the stuff I've bought and had to return for the same reasons in your OP.

[OzarkDem]

36. Try Country Curtains

They make their products in Stockbridge, MA. I think you can even custom order items.

http://www.countrycurtains.com/jump.jsp?itemID=206&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=108&iSubCat=206&page=1

[KoKo]

42. OMG...I still get their catalog and had my whole house decorated with them

when I lived in CT and NY YEARS AGO! I'm wondering how many DU'ers would buy from there.

I think they still "sew it there in Stockbridge"...but the fabric they use NOW comes from China. But, a good tip for folks who don't know who they are! THANKS! :thumbsup:

Here's the Link...for folks who might want to look at their "bedding/Curtain/Comforter line." And if you don't like it...you can pack it up and ship it back for a refund!

http://www.countrycurtains.com/catalogrequest/catalogrequestmain.jsp

[aquart]

27. Got a brand name to avoid?

I use Ohio Blue Tip

[murielm99]

23. Yes.

I bought a set like that, at a store where I have bought linens for years. The last set I bought there lasted 12 years.

The new ones lasted a couple months. The comforter did not just come apart at the seams. The cloth wore thin and actual holes developed. Never again!

[spinbaby]

32. Organic cotton sheets from Target

They're a bit pricy--I think we paid about $50 for a queen-sized set--but we've had ours for months and they're great sheets with a nice silky feel to them and they hold up well in the wash. Best of all, they're made in the USA!

[Javaman]

33. No not at all, they work perfectly will in my radiology lab.nt

[elehhhhna]

35. indentured labor shore ain't what it used to be.

[Contrary1]

37. I've purchased linens and other items from Overstock.com

and thought the quality was pretty good for the price. Shipping is low. (Today it is $1.00) They promise a full refund on defective merchandise.

I would guess that their stuff is probably from China also, as most item descriptions indicate "imported".

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

39. Picked up a 2 inch memory foam king bed pad there. Made in USA.

OhhhYA!