Lighthouse Uniforms: Mariners, Cadets, and Shipmates—STEER CLEAR
I’m a 20 year USCG‑licensed captain and outdoor educator, and Lighthouse Uniforms just earned itself a permanent place on my “never again” list. Here’s why you should keep your hard‑earned money (and your crew’s appearance) far away from this outfit:
Inflated Shipping & Phantom Fees
- $15.91 to ship one cap and one shirt—then a surprise $4.20 “handling” fee for the privilege.
- Returning the exact same parcel via USPS cost $11.80—over four bucks less than their outbound charge. Pure markup.
No Local Drop‑Off—Even If You Live Next Door
I’m not even five miles from their Seattle warehouse. Lighthouse still forced me to pay for shipping both ways “because we have no storefront.” That’s customer disservice in its purest form.
Wrong Size Hat and Wrong Size Shirt
- Their size‑7 ½ cap was massive on a head that fits that size across multiple premium brands.
- They also sent a mismarked shirt that didn’t match the labeled measurements.
- Lighthouse’s solution? “Pay nearly $45 in new shipping and fees” to fix THEIR mistakes. Outrageous.
Overpriced Gear
Even before the shipping circus, Lighthouse’s uniform pieces were significantly more expensive than comparable items from other reputable suppliers—and that’s without factoring in the extra fees above.
“100 % Guarantee” Loaded with Asterisks
Sure, they’ll refund—after deducting every penny of shipping and handling. A guarantee that costs the customer is no guarantee at all.
Scripted, Inflexible Customer Support
Every email was a copy‑and‑paste apology with zero accountability. I even had to demand confirmation that any refund would go to my credit card rather than store credit.
The Verdict
Value: Sub‑par and overpriced.
Sizing: Unreliable.
Policies: Customer‑punishing.
Attitude: “We’ve got your money—good luck.”
Mariners, Academy Cadets, USCG officers, and anyone who needs reliable uniform gear: DO NOT buy from Lighthouse Uniforms. I’m taking all future business elsewhere and advising every trainee, deckhand, and officer I work with to do the same. Your time, money, and professional appearance deserve better.
2 Likes
Back in the day (60s, 70s) Lighthouse was the go to place for MM & USCG uniforms. Went to their little store many times. I would order from Alaska and was always satisfied. To bad they aren’t as good anymore.
Update – Owner Contacted Me After Seeing My Google & Yelp Reviews
After I posted negative reviews on Google and Yelp (before sharing the story here on gCaptain), the owner of Lighthouse Uniforms phoned me unsolicited to discuss my experience.
- Why Local Pickup/Returns Aren’t Allowed
He explained that Lighthouse permanently closed its retail storefront during the COVID shutdowns and later suffered a warehouse fire. Since then the operation has been re‑tooled so every transaction—purchases and returns—goes through shipping only. While I understand the upheaval, the policy still forces Seattle‑area customers to pay shipping they could easily avoid.
- Offer to Refund My Shipping Costs
He offered to reimburse both the outbound and return shipping fees. I haven’t seen the credit yet; I will update this post once (or if) it hits my card.
- Requests to Remove Reviews
During the call he repeatedly asked me to delete my negative reviews. I told him I would remove the Google and Yelp posts only after the refund is completed—but that I would retain my gCaptain review and simply update it to reflect the new information. This update fulfills that commitment.
Current Assessment
- Pricing & Value: The owner said their higher pricing reflects the realities of a small business that can’t match big‑box volume discounts. I understand that—but it remains a fact that many Lighthouse items cost considerably more than comparable gear from other suppliers. Readers can weigh that explanation against their own budgets and decide for themselves.
- Sizing & Quality: My original issues remain unresolved.
- Rigid Policy: Shipping‑only model continues to penalize local customers.
- Customer Service: Outreach is appreciated, but it came only after public criticism.
If the promised refund appears, I’ll note it here. Until Lighthouse adjusts its pricing, sizing accuracy, and customer‑cost burden, I maintain that mariners, cadets, and officers should shop around before committing uniform dollars to Lighthouse Uniforms.
Unfortunately, local brick and mortar stores are being replaced by the online only, phones answered in India model.
No shipping charges with Amazon Prime, or at some eBay stores.
Driving in traffic and paying for parking is often more expensive than shipping charges.
Local brick and mortar stores have always had huge mark ups, and sometimes they are thieves price gouging at every turn. Other times they are cheaper and faster than Amazon or eBay.
.
